CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Citadel football program launches the 2025 campaign on Saturday, Aug. 30, hosting FCS defending national champion and preseason No. 1 North Dakota State at Johnson Hagood Stadium.

Headlined by SoCon Preseason first-team selections OL Mike Bartilucci, LB Je'Mazin Roberts, DB Cale Williams and P James Platte along with second-team choice KOR Braylon Knauth, the Bulldogs return a number of key starters across the board. Notably, cornerbacks Bradlee Jones and Melvin Ravenel join Williams in a loaded secondary while Chris Iverson, Josh Cole and Jordan Marks round out a solid defensive line; offensively, Bartilucci anchors a veteran front line featuring Nico Rodriguez-Pena, Sawyer Whitman and Darwin Murillo while WR Javonte Graves-Billips and RB Garrison Johnson Sr. serve as key ballcarriers.

"In 2025, the Bulldogs are committed to showing up every day with a blue-collar mindset built on grit, effort and pride to deliver consistent, tough and disciplined football," head coach Maurice Drayton said. "The Citadel will define success based on our relentless pursuit of perfection, daily work ethic, and a pound-the-rock identity that drives consistent performance on the field."

Across two seasons at the helm, Drayton orchestrated immense strides for the program, ending his second campaign holding claim to the Silver Shako (vs. VMI), the Big Dog Bowl (vs. Wofford) and the inaugural Lowcountry Boil Bowl, a recently-created trophy designed to enhance a longtime local rivalry with crosstown adversary Charleston Southern. Additionally, two players -- P James Platte & LS Nathan Tokar -- scored All-American honors for their stellar performances on the season.

Following the season opener against the top-ranked Bison, the Bulldogs quickly shift gears for conference play, challenging SoCon adversary Samford on the road on Sept. 6. The Citadel later hosts Mercer for Parents' Weekend on Sept. 20, battles VMI in the Military Classic of the South on Nov. 1, travels to Ole Miss on Nov. 8 and wraps up the home schedule with Homecoming against Wofford on Nov. 15