The flagship university of America's smallest state packs a mean punch on the football field.

Rhode Island football turned some heads during the 2021 season, and though it couldn't quite break a longstanding curse in terms of getting back to the postseason, there was little for the Rams to hang their heads about. The program took a giant leap, nonetheless.

Some of the more well-known names on the 2021 roster are back for 2022, too, and as they got a taste of consistent winning football a year ago, they now want a little more. 

The upcoming season could be a historic season for Rhody, and after some years to forget about in the college football basement, something to cheer about has been long-awaited.

Here's a look at what Rhode Island football will bring to the gridiron this season, as FloFootball previews every CAA football team ahead of this season's kickoff.

2021 Season Review

Rams head coach Jim Fleming has been a miracle worker on the URI sideline, turning what once was a downtrodden program into a competitive one over nearly a decade in Kingston. 

Rhody's seven wins in 2021 was its most since 2001 and marked just the third winning season for the Rams in 20 years. If a few more plays had gone their way, they likely would've been playing postseason football for the first time since 1985. 

The goal for the season ahead? Finish the job. 

The Rams' offense scored 25.2 points per game last season, as quarterback Kasim Hill thrived in his first full, non-COVID-impacted year at URI under center, with the former four-star recruit accounting for 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions. 

Tight end Caleb Warren was named to the All-CAA first team, even after missing three games, while cornerback Jordan Jones finished second in the conference (behind Villanova stud and future NFL Draft pick Christian Benford) in interceptions with six. 

Why URI? Here's why!

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The defense, though middle-of-the-road in most end-of-year stat categories, was prone to the single-game blowup, evidenced by the fact that it allowed over 40 points on three separate occasions - all of which, unsurprisingly, were Rhode Island losses. 

But, every time the Rams were able to hold foes to 24 points or fewer, they won, showing that Rhody was one of the CAA's more sneaky-dangerous teams in 2021 when firing on all cylinders.

Offense

It may be the year Kasim Hill shines. 

The 2017 Gatorade Washington D.C. Player of the Year had plenty of high-major programs trying to earn his pledge out of high school, but Hill stayed close to home and committed to Maryland, where he started 12 games in an injury-plagued two seasons with the Terrapins. 

There was a transfer (and subsequent sit-out year) to Tennessee, before his latest move to URI, where he's shown hints of stardom to earn the right to be called one of Fleming's best quarterback finds of his tenure. 

Hill's a two-way threat as a runner and a thrower, which made him one of the CAA's most electric players this past season, and with a clearance to throw the ball downfield, he ranked fifth in the FCS in yards per completion (14.5).

Now a redshirt senior, Hill has the proven ability to find the big play without making too many mistakes. 

Redshirt senior wideout Paul Woods (24 catches, 423 yards, one touchdown) was the recipient of many of those long balls last season, but Warren, who returns as the conference's top returning tight end, could be one of the most important players in the Rhode Island offense, as either a blocker for Hill (or talented sophomore tailback Jaylen Smith) when he goes on the run, or as a pass-catcher when Hill drops back in the pocket. 

Defense 

The Rhode Island defense is a bit hard to define for the upcoming year. 

Yes, it has the league's premier returning shutdown defensive back in Jones, a redshirt senior and Associated Press second-team All-American, and redshirt sophomore linebacker Evan Stewart, who tied for the Rams' team lead in total tackles with 88 to establish himself as one of the CAA's top freshmen on the defensive side of the ball. 

However, between those flashes of brilliance, like when Jones snagged two picks in Rhody's thrilling win over a ranked Delaware in Week 5 last season, lied some truly rough performances. 

Part of why those single-week breakdowns happened was because on some occasions, the Rams let opposing drives continue repeatedly. 

URI ranked near the bottom of the CAA in both opponent first downs allowed per game and opposing third-down conversion percentage, occasionally getting caught out in failing to get the defense off of the field and paying the price for it. Add that all to the fact that the Rams allowed nearly 4,000 yards of offense and 34 touchdowns in just 11 games, as well, and they could use a couple of additional core pieces to pair with the stars or emerging talents the defense has already. 

Nonetheless, additions like free safety and Columbia grad transfer Jordan Colbert, an All-Ivy League honorable-mention pick a year ago, show that the Rhode Island coaching staff is clearly trying to find out who those core pieces may be.

Wild Card

It has already been discussed how Hill has the potential to break out as an All-CAA quarterback in 2022, but a very important component of that - his wide receiver room - has a lot of intrigue around it heading into the season opener. 

Woods, Warren, Smith and redshirt senior Ed Lee make up the four returning URI players. They recorded at least 10 receptions last season, but joining them are an equal amount of transfers. 

How quickly those Kingston newcomers gel with Hill and adjust to the flow of the offense could be one of the main factors in Rhody's end-of-season positioning in the CAA standings. 

The most exciting new face looks to be former Saint Francis wideout Kahtero Summers, who led the Northeast Conference with nine receiving touchdowns on 44 catches for 674 yards a year ago in a standout season for the Red Flash. 

Joined by redshirt juniors Darius Savedge (Old Dominion) and DeJuan Ellis (Maryland), along with grad transfer Pedro Schmidt (North Dakota), fall camp will decide which picks will develop rapport with Hill the quickest - and, inevitably, see the field when URI plays Stony Brook on Sept. 1.

Game To Watch: Rhode Island Vs. Brown

Like a little bit of history with your college football? Then this 105-game in-state clash that has been playing games since 1909 might be the matchup for you. 

No, Brown doesn't play in the CAA, but the annual showdown between the two schools, known as the Governor's Cup, is the state of Rhode Island's version of an iconic college football rivalry. 

The Bears have dominated the all-time series (73-30-2), but the Rams are on a three-game winning streak for the first time since 2006-2008, a run that includes a 48-0 beatdown of Brown in 2018 that set the mark as URI's biggest win in series history. 

The games often are more hotly contested than that, however (like Rhode Island's narrow 31-28 triumph the very next season), and as Brown is looking to bounce back from a 2-8 season in 2021, there'd be no better way to jumpstart the efforts to improve than by beating its arch nemesis. 

Still, the meeting a year ago was the Kasim Hill show, as the Rams' signal-caller threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns on just 13 completions, with no interceptions. Warren caught five of those balls for 105 yards and a score.