Spring practice has officially commenced in Norfolk, marking a critical transition phase for the Old Dominion football program as it prepares for the 2026 campaign. Competing in the always deep Sun Belt East requires a combination of great execution and roster depth, and Head Coach Ricky Rahne is using this spring to dial in on both fronts.
Following some staff turnover during the offseason, the overarching theme of this spring is integration. The Monarchs possess a roster rich with returning experience and high-profile transfer portal additions, but realizing the group's potential will hinge largely on how quickly they adapt to new leadership and tweaked schemes. Let’s take a look at the storylines shaping Old Dominion's spring camp.
A Restructured Offensive Brain Trust
Some of the most consequential developments for the Monarchs have occurred within the coaching staff. Following offseason departures, Ricky Rahne elevated Kody Cook to the dual roles of Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach. Cook is a familiar face who previously served as the Monarchs' wide receivers coach, having arrived at ODU with a resume that includes stops as an assistant at Tennessee and as an offensive coordinator at Hutchinson Community College. As a former wide receiver and quarterback at Kansas State, Cook brings an inherently dynamic view of offensive spacing and distribution.
While Cook will call the plays, expect Rahne to remain heavily involved in the offense's day-to-day operation and overarching design. Rahne’s background as a seasoned offensive coordinator dictates that his fingerprints will remain on the offensive concepts and game-day scripting to help smooth the transition.
Surrounding Cook is an almost entirely revamped offensive staff. Phil Serchia takes over as the Offensive Line and Run Game Coordinator. Serchia, who spent the 2025 season as an assistant at Tennessee following a stint in the NFL with the Los Angeles Chargers, is tasked with instilling a physical edge in the trenches.
On the perimeter, the Monarchs brought in Michael Smith to coach the Wide Receivers. A respected veteran of the profession and a former standout receiver at Kansas State, Smith brings decades of experience, including significant coaching tenures at Arkansas and Kentucky. Rounding out the new appointments is Ryan Wilson, who assumes the role of Tight Ends Coach. Wilson is a familiar entity within the program, having previously served as an offensive quality control coach for the Monarchs before gaining valuable play-calling experience as an offensive coordinator at Hampden-Sydney.
The Quarterback Evaluation
The implementation of Cook's offense begins under center, where the Monarchs are hosting a highly competitive positional battle. The spring will serve as a proving ground for a room featuring distinctly contrasting skill sets.
Quinn Henicle, a a 6-2, 211-pound redshirt sophomore, represents the returning institutional knowledge. Henicle boasts the mobility and decisiveness required to operate off-schedule and navigate muddied pockets. Pushing him for the starting role is Jaxon Potter, a high-profile 6-5, 205-pound redshirt junior who transferred in from Washington State. Potter operates as a quintessential pocket passer, possessing the arm talent to stretch defenses vertically and challenge the tight coverage windows prevalent in Sun Belt secondaries.
The staff will also allocate valuable spring repetitions to redshirt freshman Gabe Dombek and true freshman Brooklyn Nace, utilizing this evaluation period to establish the depth chart hierarchy.
Skill Position Depth and Development
The supporting cast surrounding the eventual starting quarterback is arguably the deepest it has been in Rahne's tenure. At running back, Assistant Head Coach Tony Lucas oversees a multifaceted group. Devin Roche, a compact 5-7, 172-pound redshirt junior, returns as a proven commodity with the elusiveness to exploit perimeter seams. However, the dynamics of the backfield changed entirely with the arrival of Trey Hall, a 5-11, 185-pound senior transfer from Ole Miss. Hall brings SEC-caliber physicality and burst to the run game. Redshirt sophomore Maurki James and incoming true freshman CJ Jackson will also compete for rotational touches.
The wide receiver room under Michael Smith is brimming with potential. Redshirt sophomore JJ Harrell, a 6-0, 195-pound transfer from Mississippi State, offers an immediate upgrade in boundary talent and vertical ability. He joins other playmakers like redshirt junior Zion Agnew, a 5-9, 160-pound receiver, and redshirt junior Kendall Harris, a 6-1, 200-pound target from Mercer. Additionally, the Monarchs will evaluate seniors like TJ Johnson (6-3, 180 pounds) to determine the final rotation.
At tight end, Ryan Wilson is evaluating a diverse group capable of altering offensive personnel groupings. Redshirt sophomore Lonnie Johnson (6-4, 230 pounds) and redshirt senior Leon Haughton Jr. (6-4, 227 pounds), a transfer from Maryland, will be critical in establishing the in-line blocking that Serchia’s run game demands while simultaneously functioning as reliable release valves in the passing attack.
Rebuilding the Trenches
No unit requires more immediate cohesion than the offensive line. Phil Serchia’s mandate is clear: identify the five best blockers and build chemistry quickly. The Monarchs have heavily leveraged the junior college and transfer ranks to facilitate this rebuild.
Key names to monitor during spring drills include redshirt junior Mason Thrush, a massive 6-3, 295-pound prospect from Hutchinson CC, and redshirt junior Logan Cox, a 6-4, 328-pound transfer from Kansas State. Junior Bubba Craig, a 6-6, 312-pound tackle from Arkansas, and junior Omarion Bender (6-3, 334 pounds) present the requisite size and anchor strength needed to neutralize the edge rushers prevalent in modern defensive schemes.
Defensive Continuity and Aggression
While the offense operates amid significant transition, the defense provides a stabilizing force. Defensive Coordinator Blake Seiler is entering the spring with the luxury of schematic continuity. His 3-3-5 alignment relies on pre-snap disguise, versatile second-level defenders, and aggressive perimeter tackling.
The defensive line rotation, managed by Victor Irokansi, will rely on the development of players like redshirt sophomore BJ Campbell, a 6-5, 235-pound edge prospect from Iowa Western, alongside interior anchors like senior Javen Gibson (6-2, 240 pounds) and sophomore Hunter Malecki (6-3, 255 pounds).
The linebacker corps remains the beating heart of Seiler's system. Redshirt senior Koa Naotala (5-11, 222 pounds) and redshirt junior Mario Thompson (6-0, 210 pounds) bring experience and tackling proficiency to the second level. They are joined by senior Montrell Chapman, a 6-3, 230-pound transfer from Mississippi State, who immediately bolsters the unit's physical profile.
In the secondary, Remington Rebstock and Kresean Reed are cross-training a deep defensive backfield. Redshirt senior safety Mario Easterly (6-0, 195 pounds) remains the unquestioned leader and back-end communicator. The Monarchs will also lean on quality cornerbacks, notably redshirt junior Zion Frink (6-0, 190 pounds) and redshirt junior Greg Johnson (5-10, 185 pounds) from Navy, to counter the conference's high-volume passing attacks.
Highlighting Key Newcomers
- ■ Targeted Portal Strategy: Old Dominion's approach to the transfer portal this cycle has been both aggressive and surgical. Rather than purely compiling depth, the staff has targeted specific positional deficiencies with Power 4 and high-level JUCO talent.
- ■ The Arm Talent: The evaluation of Jaxon Potter at quarterback will be interesting to keep an eye on, as his arm talent opens up portions of the playbook that were previously inaccessible.
- ■ Perimeter Upgrades: The addition of Trey Hall and JJ Harrell ensures that the Monarchs will not be outmatched athletically on the perimeter.
The ultimate success of the 2026 season may well be written by how effectively these key newcomers transition from spring initiation to fall execution.
The Bottom Line
This spring is not about winning a championship in March; it is about establishing the operational standard and system awareness required to compete for one in November. With Coach Rahne overseeing a significant transition on offense and Coach Seiler fine-tuning an aggressive defense, Old Dominion is laying the groundwork for a pivotal season in which many are expecting big things.
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