A school-record three Charlotte 49ers were named preseason all-Conference USA by the league's 14 head coaches. Sophomore kicker Jonathan Cruz was voted the league's preseason Special Teams Player of the Year while Cruz, redshirt senior defensive end Alex Highsmith and senior running back Benny LeMay were named to the preseason all-conference team.
Cruz was a Second Team all-Conference USA selection and a C-USA All-Freshman team honoree as a rookie, last year. He set school records for field goals made of 40 or more yards (8) and 50 or more yards (3), hitting 17 total field goals.