BRYANT BULLDOGS FOOTBALL
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Bryant University's football program competes at the Division I FCS level as a member of the America East Conference, representing the Smithfield, Rhode Island campus established in 1863. With an enrollment of 3,751 students, the Bulldogs field a 100-player roster under head coach Chris Merritt, who leads the program's fall-season competition. The university's relatively compact student body creates a tight-knit athletic culture where football operates as a central component of Bryant's Division I identity in the Northeast.
Coach Chris Merritt oversees a program that balances competitive FCS football with the demands of competing in America East, a conference that includes several other transitioning and established programs. Bryant's roster of 100 players reflects the resources committed to building a sustainable Division I FCS operation, with student-athletes representing the athletic and academic standards of a university founded during the Civil War era. The Bulldogs' home venue serves as the program's base of operations as they work to establish consistent competitiveness within their conference structure during the fall season.
KEY FACTS
| School | Bryant University |
| Sport | Football |
| Conference | America East Conference |
| Division | D1-FCS |
| Location | Smithfield, Rhode Island |
| Venue | Home Venue |
| Head Coach | Chris Merritt |
ROSTER (2025-26)
| # | Name | Pos |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Vladimir Acosta | OL |
| 5 | James Anderson | QB |
| 84 | Sterling Anderson | WR |
| 83 | Braxton Bartz | WR |
| 76 | Kieran Bill | OL |
| 87 | Matthew Bowes | TE |
| 86 | Peter Braz | WR |
| 25 | Khalid Campbell | RB |
| 4 | Markiel Cockrell | RB |
| 8 | Zyheem Collick | WR |
| 28 | Jake Croke | WR |
| 85 | Brady Crowley | TE |
| 79 | Ryan Dirksen | OL |
| 12 | Ridge Docekal | QB |
| 7 | Aldrich Doe | WR |
| 11 | Elijah Elliott | RB |
| 54 | Jon Fagley | OL |
| 85 | Bryson Fields | WR |
| 25 | Collin Fitts | RB |
| 14 | Shamar Fowles | WR |
| 63 | Aleks Freyman | OL |
| 86 | Jase Hannigan | WR |
| 67 | Kale Hauserman | OL |
| 58 | Destyn Hoggard | OL |
| 20 | Omar Jefferies | RB |
| 24 | Dylan Kedzior | RB |
| 10 | Jaden Keefner | QB |
| 83 | Koby Keenan | TE |
| 60 | Brennan Kurtz | OL |
| 81 | Connor Lennon | WR |
| 69 | Colin Maher | OL |
| 74 | Nickolas Molina | OL |
| 32 | Connor Muldoon | WR |
| 9 | Brennan Myer | QB |
| 13 | Carter Neuman | TE |
| 88 | Maximus Nosler | TE |
| 49 | Ethan O'Brien | RB |
| 15 | Owen O'Toole | QB |
| 18 | Nate Owens | WR |
| 19 | Alfredo Perez | WR |
| 77 | Anthony Perez | OL |
| 6 | Todd Phillips | WR |
| 81 | Zachary Powell | WR |
| 55 | Matthew Rau | OL |
| 23 | Teddy Richardson | QB |
| 3 | Tristen Riley | WR |
| 94 | Amin Abbassi | DL |
| 94 | Tyler Abbondanzio | DL |
| 16 | Reggie Allen | LB |
| 39 | Chase Aston | DB |
| 11 | Gideon Bedada | DL |
| 55 | Xavier Belton | DL |
| 98 | Gustavo Bravo | DL |
| 10 | Elijah Brown | DB |
| 56 | Toby Brown Jr. | DL |
| 35 | Scott Buchanan | DB |
| 57 | Jack Buttine | DL |
| 8 | Ezra Carter | DB |
| 17 | Jesse Denobile | DE |
| 99 | Hollis Dirstine | DL |
| 97 | Jamy Eme | DL |
| 37 | Michael Ferry | DB |
| 47 | Michael Fileppo | LB |
| 43 | Brendan Flanagan | LB |
| 59 | Ryan Geary | LB |
| 91 | Michael Grant | DL |
| 7 | Kaden Hamilton | DB |
| 68 | Jayden Hazelwood | DL |
| 2 | Dorian Helm | DB |
| 31 | Dirk Hoenkirk | DB |
| 45 | Owen Howlett | LB |
| 32 | Dixon Hudson | DE |
| 20 | Sean Hunt | DB |
| 12 | Samuel Isiguzo | DB |
| 24 | Darrell Jackson-Mitchell | DB |
| 15 | Jalen Johnson | DB |
| 1 | Azarel Juste | DB |
| 27 | Trey Krause | DB |
| 92 | Nathan LaPlante | DL |
| 17 | Leroy Lee | DB |
| 13 | Liam Lindo | DB |
| 41 | Drake Lusk | LB |
| 48 | David Matesic | LB |
| 23 | Omaris McMiller | DB |
| 3 | Olatunde Mkparu | DB |
| 26 | Michael Nwaogwugwu | DB |
| 45 | Anthony Ottinot | LB |
| 9 | Michael Otty | DL |
| 4 | Brandon Perkins | LB |
| 96 | Isaiah Pierre | DE |
| 46 | Ben Pipolo | DL |
| 62 | Nick Porada | DE |
| 38 | Marcel Reed | DB |
| 5 | Lonnie Rice | LB |
| 45 | Scot Belford | PK |
| 90 | Joe Cortese | LS |
| 34 | Sean Cowie | LS |
| 80 | Jack Donnelly | PK |
| 36 | Kristian Karoglan | PK |
| 93 | Clark Miller | LS |
OTHER SPORTS AT BRYANT
AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PROGRAMS
MORE FOOTBALL IN RHODE ISLAND
Browse all NCAA Division I football programs in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island Football ProgramsFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What conference does Bryant Football compete in?
- Bryant Bulldogs Football competes in the America East Conference conference at the NCAA D1-FCS level.
- Where does Bryant play football home games?
- Bryant Football plays home games at Home Venue in Smithfield, RI.
- Who is the head coach of Bryant Football?
- The head coach of Bryant Bulldogs Football is Chris Merritt.
- When was Bryant Football program established?
- The establishment date for Bryant Football is not currently available.