CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern football will begin its 2022 campaign Saturday when it plays host to Western Carolina in a first-ever clash between the two schools at Buccaneer Field. Kickoff for Hanahan Appreciation Day sponsored by The Wren Group is set for Noon on ESPN+.

The Buccaneers enter 2022 under fourth-year head coach Autry Denson. He welcomes back 11 starters from a year ago, four on offense and seven on defense. Highlighting the returners is a quartet who was recognized by the Big South on its preseason squads. That group includes wide receiver Cayden Jordan, linebacker Garrett Sayegh and safety Hombre Kennedy, along with defensive lineman Anton Williams on the honorable mention team.

Charleston Southern was picked to finish in a tie for third in the preseason league poll, trailing favorite North Carolina A&T and Campbell in the six-team race. The Bucs shared third with Gardner-Webb.

Saturday's contest will be the first of four this year against first-time opponents. CSU will also line up for the first time in program history at North Carolina State (Sept. 10), at Eastern Kentucky (Sept. 17) and at Bryant (Oct. 15), a new affiliate member of the Big South for football this fall.

Williams, Kennedy and linebacker Jerome Rice III were named as team captains following a vote of the players towards the end of preseason camp.

Western Carolina is coming off a 4-7 campaign under now second-year head coach Kerwin Bell. The Catamounts, members of the Southern Conference, were picked to place fifth among their league contemporaries with six players garnering preseason all-league attention.

Killian McClatchey, Jack DeLongchamps and Justin Biegel will serve as this weekend's broadcast crew for the ESPN+ production.