Saturday Night Chronicles: Wyatt Gedeon and Coastal Carolina – A Manufactured Heisman Campaign?

By Champ Jackson

Wyatt Gedeon, the star linebacker for Coastal Carolina, has been a lightning rod for controversy this season. His 84 tackles, 47 tackles for loss, and 21 sacks have propelled him into the national spotlight and given him the third-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy. On paper, it’s the kind of season defenders dream of, but a closer inspection tells a more complicated story.

From underwhelming performances in key games to accusations of stat-padding, Gedeon’s campaign has become a microcosm of Coastal Carolina’s season: high on flash but low on substance.

A Defense with Glaring Holes

Coastal Carolina’s defense has been anything but dominant this year, surrendering 343 points through 10 games, ranking them among the worst defensive units in the nation. Only a handful of teams have allowed more points, and Coastal is one of just four teams with a winning record to do so.

“What doesn’t make sense is how a defense giving up this many points can still produce a player getting this kind of national recognition,” said an anonymous AAC coach. “If Gedeon’s as dominant as they say, where’s the impact? Where’s the defensive improvement?”

Indeed, Gedeon’s stats—47 tackles for loss and 21 sacks—seem incongruous with a defense that leaks points at an alarming rate.

Adding to the skepticism, independent investigators have reviewed game footage of Coastal Carolina this season and identified troubling patterns. Home stat counters appear to be inflating Gedeon’s numbers, frequently crediting him with tackles and sacks where his involvement in the play was minimal or nonexistent. These inflated stats have bolstered Gedeon’s Heisman campaign, but they’ve also cast doubt on the legitimacy of his season.

Road Woes and Key Game Disappearances

Stat-padding accusations gain further traction when you examine Gedeon’s performances in big games, particularly on the road. In Coastal Carolina’s two losses this season—UNLV in Week 4 and Old Dominion in Week 7—Gedeon averaged just 6 tackles and 0.75 sacks per game, a far cry from his gaudy numbers against lesser competition.

Even in Coastal’s competitive matchups against Nevada and UNLV earlier in the season, Gedeon managed just 8 combined tackles. These road performances starkly contrast with his home games, where stat counters seem more inclined to inflate his involvement.

“When you watch the tape, it’s clear he’s not the same guy in big games,” said a Sun Belt assistant coach. “He’s nowhere to be found when the team needs him most, but then you see him put up ridiculous numbers against weaker teams. Something’s not adding up.”

The Quarterback Distraction

Complicating the narrative is Coastal Carolina’s recent quarterback change. In Week 9, the Chanticleers benched longtime starter Keke Fokou in favor of Austin Hurns. While the coaching staff officially cited performance as the reason for the switch, insiders and rival coaches suspect another motive.

“You don’t make a quarterback change this late in the season unless you’re trying to change the conversation,” said an anonymous AAC coach. “Hurns came in at the right time during the easy part of CC’s schedule. It feels like they were trying to distract from the fact that the national media was catching on to Gedeon’s stat-padding.”

Coach Jacob, Coastal Carolina’s fiery head coach, was quick to defend Hurns and didn’t mince words when addressing the criticism. “I’m sick of this narrative that Hurns isn’t good,” Jacob said. “For an outlet like Wait A Minute to push that kind of BS is incredibly disappointing. Hurns is our guy, and he’s proven that on the field.”

While Hurns has shown promise in his limited appearances, the timing of his promotion only deepens questions about Coastal Carolina’s priorities.

The Paschal Problem

While Gedeon’s numbers dominate headlines, another linebacker is quietly putting together a season that many believe is more deserving of Heisman recognition. Zach Paschal of North Texas (UNT) has been the cornerstone of one of the nation’s most dominant defenses, amassing:

• 72 tackles

• 31 tackles for loss

• 19 sacks

• 1 interception

• 2 forced fumbles

• 1 touchdown

Paschal’s production has come in 545 snaps, nearly 100 fewer than Gedeon’s 633 downs played. More importantly, UNT’s defense has allowed just 164 points through 10 games, showcasing the kind of team dominance that Coastal Carolina lacks.

“When you compare the two, it’s not even close,” an AAC defensive coordinator said. “Paschal’s numbers come from efficiency and dominance in real moments, not from padding stats against bad teams. He’s the guy who should be in the Heisman conversation, not Gedeon.”

Coastal Carolina’s Identity Crisis

The allegations of stat-padding aren’t limited to Gedeon. Coastal Carolina’s entire approach this season seems designed to prioritize individual accolades over team success. Whether it’s keeping starters in during blowouts, scheming plays to funnel tackles to Gedeon, or inflating offensive numbers with meaningless late-game drives, the Chanticleers appear more focused on optics than outcomes.

For Gedeon, the numbers may earn him a trip to New York, but they won’t erase the doubts about his legitimacy. Coastal Carolina’s focus on inflating individual stats over building a cohesive team might bring attention, but it won’t bring credibility.

A Questionable Legacy

Wyatt Gedeon is undoubtedly talented, but talent alone doesn’t make a Heisman candidate. His inflated numbers, lack of impact in big games, and the broader issues with Coastal Carolina’s defensive performance make it clear that his campaign is more style than substance.

Meanwhile, players like Zach Paschal of UNT continue to thrive under tougher conditions, proving that true greatness doesn’t need to be manufactured. The Heisman Trophy should reward players who dominate on every level—team, individual, and competition—and by that measure, Gedeon simply doesn’t measure up.

As the season winds down, Coastal Carolina and Gedeon will have more chances to prove their doubters wrong. But until then, the Chanticleers’ narrative remains the same: big numbers, bigger questions.

Gedeon worth the hype or nah?

• Nah, bruh, nahh
• Yes.