Biff Poggi Using Familiar Formula As Niner Head Coach

Charlotte’s Biff Poggi has done a remarkable job in his first off-season as the 49ers’ head coach. His roster overhaul rivals Lincoln Riley and Deion Sanders, but is anybody aware?

Let me go on record and say two things.

First, I did not pick Charlotte to finish last in the AAC (not that my vote holds any weight). 

Second, I was one of the three people that asked Coach Biff Poggi a question during his media day press conference. 

It’s understandable why a typical college football writer would pick the 49ers to finish last in the AAC. 

They are coming off a 3-9 season, and the program is entering its first season in a bigger conference. 

These factors don’t usually bode well for a first-year head coach. 

However, rule changes to the transfer portal and a decentralized NIL infrastructure have significantly expedited the timetable for rebuilding teams in college football. 

Well, as long as you have the right guy leading the program. 

Take a look at Lincoln Riley. 

In one off-season, he overhauled a 4-8 roster into a team that produced a Heisman winner, an appearance in the Pac-12 championship game, and a trip to the Cotton Bowl. 

I will also mention that Coach Riley was praised for his efforts by national pundits. 

Another example is Deion Sanders. 

We’ve yet to see the on-field results for the Buffs, but he’s transformed the 1-11 roster he inherited by bringing in 51 transfers. Giving Colorado the #1 ranked transfer class for 2023. 

Coach Prime has faced much scrutiny from coaches and media members alike for his approach. 

And finally, Biff Poggi.

The coach you’ve probably never heard about until his viral moment at the 2023 AAC Media Days. 

The legendary high school football coach from the DMV/Baltimore area spent the last two seasons as the Associate Head Coach at Michigan. 

After helping the Wolverines earn back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances, Coach Poggi was named head coach at Charlotte.

Poggi has done exactly what Lincoln Riley and Deion Sanders have done, but there’s one difference. 

No one cares. 

Or maybe no one knows. 

Regardless, the off-season makeover the 49ers have put together includes 52 new players, 16 transfers from Power 5 schools, and 25 players from Saint Frances Academy or elsewhere in the DMV area. 

This is not the same team that went 3-9. I expect this team to take a massive step forward in 2023.

VIDEO: Charlotte Recruiting Footprint

I’ll say one last thing. 

And I know this doesn’t translate to wins on the field. 

But if I’m going into a bar fight and can only take one set of players from AAC media days. 

I’m hands down taking the group of guys that were representing Charlotte.

They were some big ol’ dudes!

#BadCompany

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