American Announces Roster And Fan Engagement Opportunities For 2025 American Kickoff In Charlotte

IRVING, Texas – Some of the nation’s top college football players and coaches will convene in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the 2025 American Kickoff, which will be held Thursday and Friday, July 24-25 at the Charlotte Convention Center.

And once again, the American is inviting fans to participate in the annual event to start the college football season.

Twenty-eight student-athletes are scheduled to attend this year’s Kickoff, which will be held in Charlotte for the first time. Media sessions will begin at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday and will continue Friday morning with press conferences with the 14 head coaches. Commissioner Tim Pernetti will deliver his remarks Friday at 8:15 a.m. ET.

In addition to the Friday press conferences, student-athletes and coaches will be available for breakout sessions during specified times on Friday and upon request during their scheduled Thursday-afternoon block.

Fans will be able to experience the 2025 Kickoff in-person to gain unprecedented access to players and coaches. Fans will have the opportunity to sit in on press conferences, take part in photo opportunities and enjoy meet-and-greets with the student-athletes and coaches.

Fans who wish to attend the 2025 Kickoff can register at www.TheAmerican.org/Kickoff

Six of the 28 attending student-athletes attending this year’s Kickoff earned all-conference honors last season, including Tulane offensive guard Shadre Hurst, Memphis defensive lineman William Whitlow Jr. and Navy defensive lineman Landon Robinson, who were first-team all-conference picks in 2024.

Eight of the American’s 14 teams will have their projected starting quarterbacks in attendance. The six returning starting quarterbacks in attendance include Navy’s Blake Horvath, who rushed for 1,246 yards and 17 touchdowns last year; UTSA’s Owen McCown, who had 25 touchdown passes as the Roadrunners’ starter in 2024; East Carolina’s Katin Houser, who led the Pirates to five wins in their last six games of last season; UAB’s Jalen Kitna, who started the last eight games for the Blazers and threw 17 touchdown passes; Tulsa’s Kirk Francis, who has 2,552 passing yards and 15 TD passes in 15 career games; and Temple’s Evan Simon, who threw for 2,032 yards and 15 TDs in 2024.

The attending quarterbacks also include two talented transfers. Memphis’ Brendon Lewis earned All-Mountain West honorable mention accolades after registering 3,065 yards of total offense at Nevada last year. Florida Atlantic’s Caden Veltkamp, meanwhile, was the 2024 Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year at Western Kentucky after passing for 3,108 yards and 25 touchdowns last year.

Live coverage of the American Kickoff will air Friday, July 25, at 8 a.m. ET/7 a.m. CT on ESPN+ as Maria Trivelpiece, Rene Ingoglia and Leger Douzable interview coaches and student-athletes from all 14 teams.

ATTENDEES LINEUP

subject to change

UAB

Head Coach Trent Dilfer

Jalen Kitna QB

Denver Warren DT

Army

Head Coach Jeff Monken

Kalib Fortner LB

Andon Thomas LB

Charlotte

Head Coach Tim Albin