KINGSTON, R.I. - Rhode Island's passing attack has been one of the most explosive in the country at the FCS level for the last couple years, and there is plenty of reason to think the trend will continue in 2023.

A year ago, quarterback Kasim Hill ranked 27th in the nation with 7.92 yards per pass attempt, and with the bulk of his targets back this fall, the Rams have plenty of familiarity returning. The one major loss is Second Team All-CAA Football selection Ed Lee, who is currently with the NFL's New England Patriots. The Rams will certainly miss his production and reliability (56 catches, 908 yards, 82.5 receiving yards per game), but there is significant quality depth on the roster.

Graduate student Kahtero Summers (Coatesville, Pa.) and redshirt senior Darius Savedge (Surry County, Va.) both established themselves immediately as starters last season after transferring to Kingston. Summers was second on the team with 42 catches for 675 yards while leading URI with six touchdown catches. He caught at least one pass in every contest and had three or more receptions nine times. Down the stretch, Summers had three touchdowns over the final four games of the season. 

Savedge started eight of the 10 games in which he played. An illness slowed him a bit last season, but he still finished the season with 19 catches for 218 yards and two touchdowns. He had three catches for 36 yards in the spring Blue-White Game and is back to full health to start the year.

Redshirt junior John Erby (Chester, S.C.) is a strong candidate for a breakout season with the offense. Expected to be a focal point of the offense before the start of 2020, he missed two full seasons due to freak injuries. Last season he played in all 11 games and made three starts, finishing the season with seven catches for 96 yards. He showed his explosiveness in the Blue-White Game in the spring, catching three passes for 69 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown from Kennique Bonner-Steward.

The Rams return three players who should carve out roles this season. Junior Jig Williams (Minneola, Fla.), redshirt sophomore Jamall Mensah (Episcopal, Va.) and redshirt freshman Marquis Buchanan (Providence, R.I.). Williams has been a key part of the special teams units in the 20 games he has played for the Rams, and his 6-3, 195-pound frame makes him a threat on the outside. Mensah has been productive in limited time on offense, catching eight passes for 55 yards and a touchdown in 12 games for the Rams. He can be utilized in the return game as well.  Buchanan - the 2021 Rhode Island Gatorade Player of the Year - preserved a redshirt season last year as he adjusted to the college level. One of the team's key recruits last year, look for him to see the field this season.

Arkansas State transfer Omari Walker (McKinney, Texas) is a speedster with three seasons of eligibility. He played in seven games over two seasons with the Red Wolves, recording three catches for 28 yards. A Junior Olympic All-American in track & field during his high school career, Walker has run a 10.5-second 100-meter dash.

Redshirt junior Gavin Sharkey (Allendale, N.J.) comes to Kingston from Harvard with two seasons of eligibility. He played 16 games for the Crimson as a receiver and punt returner, catching seven passes for 59 yards and returning nine punts for 65 yards in 2021. Sharkey did not play in 2022. Another transfer is Rian Black (Rockledge, Fla.), a redshirt freshman coming in from Coastal Carolina. After missing most of his freshman season with an injury, he played in the final three games of the season on special teams. Black had two tackles against East Carolina in the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl.

The Rams also recruited four true freshmen at wide receiver. Makai Bodden (Nantucket, Mass.), Alvarez Baker (Melbourne, Fla.) and Eddie Combs III (Orlando, Fla.). Bodden spent a prep season at the prestigious IMG Academy in Florida following a standout career at Nantucket High School before heading to URI in the spring. He was invited to participate in the Dream All-American Bowl at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, last January.

Baker and Combs were both part of the spring signing class recruited out of Florida by Mike Flanagan. Baker is an electric slot receiver who averaged more than 11.5 yards per catch as a senior, while Combs is an elite route runner and deep threat who averaged 16.0 yards per catch last fall. With a deep pool of veteran experience and young talent, Rhode Island has a variety of weapons in the passing game that should cause fits for the opposition in 2023.

Local product Tyler Poirier (Narragansett, R.I.) was an All-State player for the Narragansett Mariners before playing a prep season at Wilbraham and Monson, where in just seven games he had 33 catches for 673 yards.

Be sure to check GoRhody.com on Friday, July 14 for a look at the defensive line.