Why Charlotte 49ers football will start QB Trexler Ivey against Indiana this week

Trexler Ivey will be leading the Charlotte 49ers’ offense once again.

The redshirt junior quarterback who started late last season returns behind center for Charlotte football as it travels to Indiana at noon on Saturday. True freshman Deshawn Purdie remains injured and will not play this weekend, head coach Biff Poggi said in the weekly news conference, and the coaching staff is confident in Ivey.

Ivey, a Wake Forest native and Wakefield High School alum, played in 11 games and made five starts for Charlotte a season ago. He entered for an injured Purdie in the fourth quarter of last Saturday’s victory and led the 49ers to three straight touchdown drives.

“With his experience last year — all the things he did well, and didn’t do well — to carry over into games like this against a great opponent at Indiana,” tight end Colin Weber said Tuesday, “I think that’s huge for us.

“I say it all the time to a lot of people: Experience in the college world gets you a long way. And that’s why you see the transfer portal, for example, guys take more chances in the portal than they do for seniors coming out of high school. Experience, with (Ivey), is a big thing.”

Poggi said that Max Brown, the initial starting quarterback who transferred in from Florida and injured his throwing hand at UNC, also remains out. Top defensive back Dontae Balfour continues practicing with a club on his left hand.

Sophomore transfer Andre Washington will be the emergency quarterback for Charlotte against the Hoosiers on Saturday. The native of Hopkins, S.C., southeast of Columbia, started against the Niners for South Carolina State in last year’s opener and completed 6 of 17 passes for 59 yards.

“I just want to see us compete,” Poggi said. “Play 60 minutes, compete hard and do the things we’re working on with efficiency and tenacity. And that’s what it looks like. I think we’ve gotten better every week, but this is a really tough test.

“Big Ten football is a little different. They’re bigger. They’re more physical than the average bear.”

Los Angeles Chargers practicing at Charlotte this week

An NFL team is on the 49ers’ campus.

Jim Harbaugh, a good friend of Poggi, and his Los Angeles Chargers are practicing at the Charlotte 49ers’ facilities throughout the week. The Chargers are staying on the east coast as they play in Pittsburgh this week after defeating the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday.

Charlotte football is practicing on some different fields this week. Charter buses and police cars line up outside Jerry Richardson Stadium, where hints of powder blue and sunshine gold could be spotted just as easily as Niner green.

“I got an old guy walking around out there,” Poggi said with a smile. “I’m excited that he can be here. And they’re very grateful to be here, because making that trip back after the Panthers’ game, and then turning right around to play the Steelers is a tough transition.

“They’ll be here every day, and it’s good to have them.”

Charlotte extends athletic director Mike Hill

Mike Hill has signed a four-year extension with the Charlotte 49ers.

Since taking over as athletic director in 2018, Hill has guided the university through its transition from the Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference and overseen success, including 13 championships (among Charlotte’s 18 programs) over the past two seasons.

“With his trademark gold standard of excellence, Mike Hill has propelled Charlotte 49ers athletics, fostering a culture of excellence throughout our programs,” UNC Charlotte Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber said in a release. “His commitment to the success of our student-athletes and his vision for the future align perfectly with the university’s strategic goals. We look forward to a bright future for Charlotte athletics under his continued direction.”