KSU’s #2 Amari Odom finding a pass. Memorial Stadium, IN, September 6th, 2025 Photo Credit: KSU Athletics
All eyes will be on the Owls’ quarterbacks in football’s home opener against Merrimack on Saturday at Walens Family Field at Fifth Third Stadium.
Now over the hump of a demanding two weeks to open the season, featuring road losses to Power Four opponents Wake Forest and Indiana, Kennesaw State finds itself with an unexpected quarterback controversy.
Georgia Southern transfer and former Indiana starter Dexter Williams II started each of the first two games for the Owls, posting an underwhelming stat line of 13-of-35 passing for 148 yards and no touchdowns.
After the first two drives in last week’s loss saw the Owls gain just five total yards on offense, redshirt sophomore and Wofford transfer Amari Odom took over for Williams II at quarterback.
Odom impressed, throwing for 176 yards — higher than Williams II’s season total — on 10-of-16 passing with an interception, helping lead all three of KSU’s scoring drives.
“Amari did some good and some bad,” Owls coach Jerry Mack said. “It wasn’t all good, it wasn’t all bad. The way he willed us to some first downs from standpoint of [using] his legs — he was decisive with some of the throws that he threw [as well]. [I] was really impressed with his chance to stand in the pocket and deliver passes, we all know that he can do great things with his legs, but what he did with his arm was as impressive too.”
When asked about who would take the first snap on Saturday, Mack said the decision is yet to be made, but he expects both quarterbacks to make an appearance.
“Right now we’re still going back-and-forth on exactly how that’s going to pan out,” Mack said. “We’ll go through the course of the week, really Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, those are the tough practice days, and we’ll try to see who’s going to run out there first. Regardless of whoever runs out there first, we anticipate both of them getting an opportunity to play with the [first team].”
Coming into Fifth Third Stadium to face the Owls on Saturday is Merrimack, a program which operates as an independent in the Football Championship Subdivision, a classification lower than KSU.
Despite making the move to the Football Bowl Subdivision last season, the Owls find themselves looking to snap an eight-game losing streak to FCS opponents dating back to 2022, the program’s last full season as a member of the classification.
The Warriors bring a 1-1 record into Saturday, with a narrow loss to FBS Kent State, 21-17 in Week 1, and a convincing 31-6 win over Division II opponent, Saint Anselm last week.
Starting quarterback and Maine transfer Ayden Pereira is off to a strong start at MC, throwing for 415 yards on 35 of 58 passing with two touchdowns and no interceptions through two weeks. The junior also leads the Warriors in carries and rushing yards, 141 on 27 attempts.
“[Pereira] does a really good job of making people miss and finding open receivers in scramble drills,” Mack said.
Running backs Brendon Wyatt and DeMarcus McElroy have split carries in the backfield to this point in the season, combining for 156 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries.
Junior wideout Seth Sweitzer is off to the best start to a season in his career, leading MC in receiving yards with 140 yards, already greater than half of what he had in his most productive season.
More than anything Mack said the Warriors stand out the most in the trenches.
“Merrimack plays extremely tough and extremely hard,” Mack said. “Their offensive line does a really good job of coming off the ball, trying to create creases, trying to create gaps. Defensive line, pad level is one thing — you can tell they’re stressing because they’re getting underneath people, bigger offenders, and they’re finding a way to continue to stay in the backfield and shed some blocks.”
Saturday will be Mack’s first home game as Owls head coach, something he said he hopes is the start of building on the conference’s best environments.
“We’re extremely excited to get in front of the fanbase,” he said. “Not only just our fans, our local supporters and boosters, but also just our students. We talk all the time about how we want to make Fifth Third Stadium one of the most hostile environments to play in, in Conference USA, and I think on Saturday evening that’s where it all starts.”
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
