2026 Position Preview: A New Era at Quarterback
8/10/2026 1:01:00 PM | Football
For the third consecutive season, the Chanticleers will enter the fall with a new starting quarterback. A quarterback room featuring experienced transfers and promising freshmen will compete throughout preseason camp as Coastal Carolina prepares for the 2026 season.
Deuce Bailey enters camp with familiarity in Coastal Carolina's offensive system after spending the 2025 season under head coach Ryan Beard and offensive coordinator Nick Petrino at Missouri State. Bailey appeared in three games for the Bears, completing 23-of-47 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns while adding 81 rushing yards and another score. He earned Conference USA Freshman of the Week honors following his first collegiate start after throwing for 278 yards and accounting for two touchdowns in a road victory over Middle Tennessee.
Tre Guerra joins the Chanticleers following a standout 2025 season at Tyler Junior College. The Keller, Texas, native led the Apaches to an 11-1 record, a Southwest Junior College Football Conference championship and a berth in the NJCAA Division I Football Playoff Semifinals while completing 216-of-347 passes for 2,811 yards and 24 touchdowns. Guerra earned NJCAA Second Team All-America honors and finished his two-year career with a 15-2 record as Tyler's starting quarterback.
Trever Jackson adds another talented option to the room. The former four-star recruit began his collegiate career at Florida State before transferring to Arkansas, where he saw action during the 2025 season. A product of Jones High School in Orlando, Fla., Jackson was recognized among the nation's top quarterback prospects and earned an invitation to the Elite 11 Finals.
The room is rounded out by freshmen Osiris Lopez and Luke McBride. Lopez enrolled early after becoming Massachusetts' all-time leader in career touchdown passes with 123 and participated in spring practice after arriving in Conway. McBride joins Coastal Carolina from nationally renowned Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas, where he threw for 3,396 yards and 39 touchdowns while helping lead the Cavaliers to the Texas 6A Division I State Semifinals as a senior.
The competition will continue throughout fall camp as the Chanticleers prepare to open the 2026 season on Sept. 5 at West Virginia.
Deuce Bailey enters camp with familiarity in Coastal Carolina's offensive system after spending the 2025 season under head coach Ryan Beard and offensive coordinator Nick Petrino at Missouri State. Bailey appeared in three games for the Bears, completing 23-of-47 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns while adding 81 rushing yards and another score. He earned Conference USA Freshman of the Week honors following his first collegiate start after throwing for 278 yards and accounting for two touchdowns in a road victory over Middle Tennessee.
Tre Guerra joins the Chanticleers following a standout 2025 season at Tyler Junior College. The Keller, Texas, native led the Apaches to an 11-1 record, a Southwest Junior College Football Conference championship and a berth in the NJCAA Division I Football Playoff Semifinals while completing 216-of-347 passes for 2,811 yards and 24 touchdowns. Guerra earned NJCAA Second Team All-America honors and finished his two-year career with a 15-2 record as Tyler's starting quarterback.
Trever Jackson adds another talented option to the room. The former four-star recruit began his collegiate career at Florida State before transferring to Arkansas, where he saw action during the 2025 season. A product of Jones High School in Orlando, Fla., Jackson was recognized among the nation's top quarterback prospects and earned an invitation to the Elite 11 Finals.
The room is rounded out by freshmen Osiris Lopez and Luke McBride. Lopez enrolled early after becoming Massachusetts' all-time leader in career touchdown passes with 123 and participated in spring practice after arriving in Conway. McBride joins Coastal Carolina from nationally renowned Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas, where he threw for 3,396 yards and 39 touchdowns while helping lead the Cavaliers to the Texas 6A Division I State Semifinals as a senior.
The competition will continue throughout fall camp as the Chanticleers prepare to open the 2026 season on Sept. 5 at West Virginia.
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
QB
/ FootballTuesday, July 28
Friday, July 24
Monday, July 20
Thursday, July 09
