FCS Football Front Page: The Latest News, Notes, & Recruiting Updates (Jan. 23)

The latest news from around FCS football, including Montana QB Clifton McDowell transferring to Temple

The FCS Football Front Page will deliver the biggest and most storylines from across the FCS throughout the offseason.

Each day we will bring you the top stories from around the country regarding FCS football. From coaching changes to recruiting updates, and everything in between the FCS Football Front Page has you covered.

Montana QB Clifton McDowell Transfers To Temple

Former Montana quarterback Clifton McDowell announced his commitment to Temple. He will have one season of eligibility remaining for the Owls. 

McDowell led the Grizzlies to the FCS National Championship game and helped Montana win its first Big Sky title since 2009. He completed 160-of-274 passes for 2,026 passing yards, 13 passing touchdowns, 753 rushing yards, and nine rushing touchdowns. He had a career performance against Furman in the FCS Playoffs with 326 total yards and two total touchdowns. 

McDowell transferred to Montana after one season at Central Arkansas, in which he saw action in six games for the Bears. He also spent one season at Kilgore College after starting his college career at Louisiana for two seasons. 

FCS All-American DB Cedarius Doss Enters NCAA Transfer Portal

Austin Peay defensive back Cedarius Doss officially entered the NCAA transfer portal on Jan. 19. He will have one season of eligibility remaining as a graduate transfer. 

Doss earned FCS All-American honors from Pro Football Focus and was a second-team All-Conference selection this season. He recorded 35 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, seven pass breakups, and one forced fumble. He was named the UAC Defensive Player of the Week against Stephen F. Austin on Sep. 23. 

Doss transferred to Austin Peay after spending one season at Tuskegee in 2019. In his first season with the Govs, Doss totaled 26 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, and eight pass breakups. The 5-foot-8, 176-pound defensive back signed with Tuskegee out of Ramsay High School in Birmingham, Alabama. 

Monmouth Officially Announces Lewis Walker As Defensive Coordinator

Monmouth officially announced Lewis Walker as the new defensive coordinator for the Hawks on Monday. It will be familiar territory for Walker, who coached defensive backs at Monmouth for five seasons.

Walker spent the last two seasons as the cornerbacks coach at North Dakota State. The Bison ranked top-three for passing defense in the MVFC the past two seasons and have allowed less than 190 yards passing per game in back-to-back seasons. He helped develop some notable cornerbacks for the Bison, including Destin Talbert, Courtney Eubanks, and Jayden Price.

Over his five seasons at Monmouth, Walker helped lead the Hawks to two Big South titles and developed three FCS All-Americans. He started his college coaching career at Columbia as a defensive assistant. 

3-Star QB Cody Pagach Commits To West Georgia

Three-star quarterback Cody Pagach announced his commitment to West Georgia on Sunday. He committed to the Wolves over offers from Washington State, Western Kentucky, Toledo, Pittsburgh, and UNLV.

The 6-foot-3, 192-pound quarterback is from Alcoa High School in Alcoa, Tennessee. He is the No. 103 quarterback and No. 58 player in the state of Tennessee, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. 

Pagach led Alcoa to the 3A Region 2 championship and earned 3A All-State honors last season. He recorded 14 passing touchdowns, four interceptions, and completed 65% of his passes for the Tornadoes. 

FCS Football Front Page: The Latest News, Notes, & Recruiting Updates (Jan. 22)

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