The Kent State roster story
In 2016, 55 of 104 roster spots were filled by Ohio players not previously rostered elsewhere in the data. On the 2026 roster, 54 of 111 fit the same definition. The number of players previously rostered elsewhere changed from 0 to 14.
Of the 14 players previously rostered elsewhere, 5 are from Ohio.
The median hometown distance moved from 159 mi in 2016 to 162 mi on the 2026 roster.
Before and during the portal era
2016–18 compared with 2021–25
- In-state, not rostered elsewhere
- Previously rostered elsewhere
| Measure | 2016–18 | 2021–25 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state, not rostered elsewhere | 43.8% | 31.7% | |
| Previously rostered elsewhere | 1.3% | 17.3% |
The 2026 roster
- 254 miAverage hometown distanceAverage hometown distance among 106 located players.
- 53.2%In-state53.2% of players with a known home state are from Ohio.
- 35.8%Backyard35.8% of players with a located hometown grew up within 100 miles of campus.
- 12.6%Previously rostered elsewhere12.6% of the roster appeared on another college roster in an earlier season.
Where Kent State ranks
Homecoming Radius over time
The median hometown-to-campus distance, by season. The dotted line is the FBS median.
Roster composition over time
Where the in-state lens draws the line: home-state players with and without an earlier college roster, out-of-state players with and without one, and players with unknown geography. This chart begins where stable athlete IDs make transfer detection possible; the radius chart above carries the official-archive geography farther back.
Where do Kent State's players come from?
| Season | Roster | In-state | Rostered elsewhere | Radius |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 111 | 53.2% | 12.6% | 162 mi |
| 2025 | 103 | 36.9% | 16.5% | 254 mi |
| 2024 | 115 | 40.7% | 21.7% | 167 mi |
| 2023 | 102 | 29.4% | 23.5% | 269 mi |
| 2022 | 101 | 30.0% | 14.9% | 255 mi |
| 2021 | 110 | 34.3% | 10.0% | 258 mi |
| 2020 | 105 | 32.7% | 5.7% | 265 mi |
| 2019 | 104 | 34.6% | 3.8% | 266 mi |
| 2018 | 100 | 35.0% | 3.0% | 274 mi |
| 2017 | 115 | 43.5% | 0.9% | 220 mi |
| 2016 | 104 | 52.9% | 0.0% | 159 mi |
| 2015 | 100 | 61.0% | 1.0% | 120 mi |
| 2014 | 99 | 66.7% | 1.0% | 120 mi |
| 2013 | 101 | 62.4% | 0.0% | 120 mi |
| 2012 | 106 | 59.4% | 0.9% | 120 mi |
| 2011 | 104 | 58.3% | 1.0% | 125 mi |
| 2010 | 104 | 44.2% | 1.0% | 200 mi |
| 2009 | 103 | 39.8% | 0.0% | 220 mi |
In-state shares use players with a known home state. Radius uses located hometowns.
Where the roster grew up
Located hometowns on the 2026 roster, with campus marked and the Homecoming Radius circled.
Homecoming Radius: 162 mi