Monmouth University Football Players
Rack Up Awards Following
Stellar Season
BY TIM MORRIS
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Monmouth University’s football team made the most of its truncated
spring season. It included only four games, but in those
four games, the Hawks won the Big South Conference championship
for the second straight year. They received the automatic NCAA
Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Playoff berth in the process
and attained the program’s highest-ever national ranking at No. 10.
All this was done while playing through unprecedented circumstances.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the FCS decided to cancel the fall
season and opt for a shortened spring campaign. Besides the long wait
to play, players had to follow health and safety protocols daily and the
challenges that presented. It was not lost on Hawk Head Coach Kevin
Callahan what his players had to go through to get to and through the
2021 spring season.
“I can’t give enough credit for what they’ve done under very trying
circumstances, staying focused and performing as they did,” he
remarked.
The Hawks were certainly rewarded for their perseverance. They
went 3-0 in the regular season, averaging more than 40 points a game.
They clinched the playoffs and the conference title with a convincing
42-17 win over rival Kennesaw State.
The last four years, the winner of the Monmouth-Kennesaw State
game won the division title. Monmouth’s win tied the series at 2.
“We were in complete control in our conference games,” said Callahan.
Monmouth drew a tough seed, No. 2 Sam Houston State, and a
trip to Huntsville, Texas. Monmouth displayed tremendous tenacity,
falling behind the No. 2 seed 21-0 before staging a fourth quarter rally,
scoring 15 straight points. The team drove to the Sam Houston 9-yard
It was a loss, but for Monmouth (3-1), it gave the program further
validation.
“No one came away feeling we didn’t belong,” said Callahan. “We
clearly belonged. We felt we were just as good as them. We just ran out
of time.”
The shortened season and training camp caused Callahan and his
staff to make some adjustments.
“We wanted to give as many players as we could live reps,” Callahan
explained. “We made a point of playing a lot of players.”
The challenge for Monmouth’s potent offense was replacing
All-American quarterback Kenji Bahar.
“I can say I thought there would be a void there,” Callahan remarked.
To the rescue came freshman Tony Muskett who played like
the position like a veteran. “He had never played a college football
game before.”
However, Muskett was surrounded by talented players and complemented
them with his passing. Muskett averaged 250 passing
yards a game, throwing eight touchdown passes with no interceptions.
When it came to conference postseason honors, the Hawks dominated
again. Juwon Farri, who averaged 140 yards a game rushing with
nine touchdowns, was named Offensive Player of the Year. Muskett was
named Offensive Freshman of the Year. Callahan was the named Coach of
the Year for the second straight year. The awards didn’t stop there as Farri
and center AJ Farris were named Second Team All-Americans by STATS Perform.
Looking back on the season, Callahan saw an upside to all the turmoil
created by the pandemic.
“We developed team chemistry,” he said. “It brought us a lot closer.
There was a brotherhood. They came to work every day focused.”
Another upside is the impact the spring season can have on the fall
2021 campaign.
“There’s a buzz around the program,” said Callahan. “Everyone is really
looking forward to the fall. The players appreciated the opportunity to get
Monmouth’s 2021 fall season kicks off at Middle Tennessee on Satur-
25 against Holy Cross.
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