Bryant football aims to keep moving ahead after two rough seasons
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Will this be the season Bryant's football program starts to find its way in the Coastal Athletic Association?
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Third time's the charm, as they say. The Bulldogs went winless in league play in 2024 and squeezed out only a road triumph at Albany in 2025. Their journey back to relevancy begins Saturday night, Aug. 29, at Stonehill, a 6 p.m. kickoff at W.B. Mason Stadium.
Bryant ventures just up the road to Massachusetts looking to duplicate the 42-7 hammering it put on the Skyhawks when the teams last met 15 years ago. Stonehill was picked seventh in the preseason Northeast Conference poll, a former home for the Bulldogs before multiple realignment changes landed them in the same league as state rival Rhode Island.
"We're right there," Bryant coach Chris Merritt said on a Monday conference call. "It's going to be those pieces of execution and those depth issues that hopefully we've addressed in the offseason."
Bryant opened 2-1 last season before hitting the rocks, unable to extend the national momentum gained thanks to a stunning road upset of Massachusetts. The Bulldogs suffered consecutive two-point loss to Campbell and Towson, were handled at home by Maine and slipped away in the second half against Brown. Bryant's lone win the rest of the way came against the Great Danes in early November.
Quarterback health was an issue after September last season. Brennan Myer was knocked out with a broken collarbone and Ridge Docekal suffered an injury of his own. Jaden Keefner was suddenly taking the snaps after opening the year third on the depth chart. Myer is the likely starter against Stonehill with Keefner backing him up and freshman Bodhi Wolford pushing in the third spot.
"Brennan has done a great job and picked up where he left off," Merritt said. "He looks like he's played before."
OJ Ross (Long Island) and Kendrick Agenor (California PA) each pushed 1,000 rushing yards at previous stops in 2025. Sean Wilson (Virginia, Florida Atlantic) and Noah Branham (West Virginia) could emerge as pass-catching weapons at receiver and tight end, respectively. Bryant's recruiting has been on the uptick since completing its new Navigant Credit Union Field House, a gleaming collection of seats, suites and team amenities that sits behind the home sideline at Beirne Stadium.
"Big difference between my first six years here and last year," Merritt said. "It's gone from me trying to protect or shield the eyes of the recruits from half the stadium to me smiling as they open up their big eyes and see the locker room and the team meeting room.
"That's been a big punch in the arm for us."
The Bulldogs won't get to enjoy that setting until a Sept. 19 matchup with Princeton. They go to Army for a guarantee game next week and open CAA play at Hampton on Sept. 12. Bryant could be sitting pretty or in need of some help by the time the Tigers visit prior to a bye week into October.
"I am excited," Merritt said. "I really do like this group of kids."
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Bryant football aims to keep moving ahead after two rough seasons