2009 South Carolina Gamecocks
2008 Record: (7-6, 4-4)
Coach: Steve Spurrier, 5th year (28-22 at South Carolina, 170-62-2 overall)
Off. Coordinator: Steve Spurier (5th year)
Def. Coordinator: Lorenzo Ward (1st year)
Returning Starters: 12, (5 offense, 6 defense, punter)
Ret. Starting Quarterback: No
Offense: Steve Spurrier has been looking for a starting quarterback since he arrived in Columbia. Sophomore Stephen Garcia (6-2, 219) might finally be the guy. Garcia was a big-time recruit who hasn’t been able to stay on the field due to legal trouble. He has a big arm and great mobility. The Gamecocks should be able to throw the ball, but the running game has to improve. They finished last in the conference last season, rushing for just 94.1 yards per game (112th in the nation). Freshman Jarvis Giles (5-11, 183) was unreal in the spring and will likely share duties with junior Brian Maddox (5-11, 224) to open the season. At receiver, they lose TE Jared Cook to the NFL and return talent, but little experience. Sophomore Jason Barnes (6-4, 199) provides the size and talent and now has to produce on the field. Up front, the Gamecocks return three of five starters, but must cut down on the 39 sacks they allowed last season. They added a new line coach in Eric Wolford, which can’t hurt.
Defense: The defense returns six starters from a unit that allowed 21.1ppg (31st in the nation) and 291.9 yards per game (13th in the nation). Up front, they return three of four starters including big senior DT Nate Pepper (6-1, 300). They do lose LB Jasper Brinkley, but return senior LB Eric Norwood (6-1, 252), who led the team in sacks with nine and recorded 75 tackles last year. They also lose two key secondary members in CB Captain Munnerlyn and safety Emanuel Cook. They return just one starting secondary member in junior FS Chris Culliver.
Outlook: The Gamecocks open with a road game against NC State, then take on Georgia on the road. They also face Florida Atlantic and SC State at home-two gimmes. Getting Florida at home is a benefit and they also end the season with a tough non-conference game against Clemson. If Garcia can stay out of trouble, this should be a very productive and exciting offense. The defense is another story with all the losses, but they should be adequate. Anything less than a 7-6 season (last year’s record) will be extremely disappointing.
2009 Tennessee Volunteers
2008 Record: (5-7, 3-5)
Coach: Lane Kiffin, 1st year (0-0 overall)
Off. Coordinator: Jim Chaney (1st year)
Def. Coordinator: Monte Kiffin (1st year)
Returning Starters: 13 (7 offense, 5 defense, kicker)
Ret. Starting Quarterback: Yes (Jonathan Crompton)
Offense: The Vols hired a brash young coach in Lane Kiffin, who appears to be the opposite of Phil Fulmer. Fulmer won a national championship with Tennessee in 1998, but finished with a 5-7 record last season. He also produced the worst offense since 1964 so Kiffin enters a situation where there is some talent, but they don’t match up with the elite of the conference. Senior QB Jonathan Crompton (6-4, 228) was supposed to be the next great Vols qb, but threw for just 889 yards last season. He has all the tools but will need help. At running back, senior Montario Hardesty (6-0, 215) returns after an injury-prone career. He’ll be pushed by sophomore Tauren Poole and true freshmen Toney Williams, Bryce Brown and David Oku. At receiver, they need somebody who can stretch the field. Junior Gerald Jones (6-0, 199) led the team with 30 receptions, while Austin Rogers (6-2, 190) was limited to just 14 receptions, after catching 56 in 2007. The front line returns four of five starters led by senior center Josh McNeill (6-4, 280).
Defense: The defense returns just five starters from a unit that was outstanding, allowing just 16.8ppg (10th in the nation) and just 263.5 yards per game (3rd in the nation). That unit will now be led by Monte Kiffin, a defensive genius in the NFL and father of Lane. They do lose six starters, but return SEC Defensive Player of the Year, safety Eric Berry (5-11, 203), who tied for the lead in the nation with seven picks. Up front, junior Chris Walker (6-3, 232) should have a breakout season, after recording three sacks off the bench last year. Senior Dan Williams (6-3, 327) added 8.5 tackles for loss last year and returns to dominate at tackle. The other tackle is a concern as they moved former end Wes Brown (6-4, 257) over to play tackle. At linebacker, they return just one, but he’s a good one. Senior Rico McCoy (6-1, 220) recorded 87 tackles last season and is the leader of the defense. They have talent in the secondary along with Berry, and also return junior Brent Vinson (6-0, 201), who started in 2007 at corner.
Outlook: The Vols non-conference schedule opens with Western Kentucky at home and then follows that with UCLA at home. They also have to take on Florida on the road, which could get ugly after Kiffin’s comments concerning Urban Meyer cheating. They also take on Ohio at home, along with Alabama and Ole Miss on the road. They should be improved and with eight home games, they have a shot at a bowl game.
2009 Vanderbilt Commodores
2008 Record: (7-6, 4-4)
Coach: Bobby Johnson, 8th year (27-56 at Vanderbilt, 87-92 overall)
Off. Coordinator: Ted Cain (8th year)
Def. Coordinator: Jamie Bryant (2nd year)
Returning Starters: 18 (8 offense, 9 defense, punter)
Ret. Starting Quarterback: Yes (Mackenzi Adams)
Offense: The Commodores return an experienced quarterback in senior Mackenzi Adams (892 yards passing), but he will have to caddy this season for sophomore Larry Smith (6-2, 216). Smith finished the season with a solid performance against Wake Forest and started the Music City Bowl. Senior running back Jared Hawkins (5-10, 195) led the team with 593 yards and that’s after missing the final two games with a foot injury, that also kept him out in the spring. At tight end, they return sophomore Brandon Barden (6-5, 245), who caught 28 passes. The passing game gets a lift from transfers Tray Herndon (Minnesota) and Terence Jeffers (Connecticut). They’ll need those players to contribute because they don’t have much returning. The offensive line returns five starters including junior Reilly Lauer (6-6, 275), who was a former defensive end.
Defense: The defense returns nine starters from a unit that allowed just 19.6ppg (21st in the nation) and 319.6 yards per game (30th in the nation). The big issue is that they have to replace corner D.J. Moore and safety Reshard Langford , who moved on to the NFL. Up front, they return all four starters including senior DE Broderick Stewart (6-5, 228), a natural pass rusher (5 sacks), who broke his leg in a November loss to Tennessee. At linebacker, they return senior Patrick Benoist (6-0, 220), who led the team with 109 tackles and sophomore Chris Marve (6-0, 228), who was a freshman All-American. The secondary is led by senior CB Myron Lewis (6-3, 205), who has 25 consecutive starts, and recorded five sacks and five picks last season.
Outlook: This is a pretty good team stuck in a very good division. They just don’t have the offensive firepower to make an impact. What they do have is a schedule that features Western Carolina and Georgia Tech at home, along with Rice and Army on the road. They may need to sweep that slate to make a bowl game this year with such a tough conference schedule.
2009 Alabama Crimson Tide
2008 Record: (12-2, 8-0)
Coach: Nick Saban, 3rd year (19-8 at Alabama, 110-50-1 overall)
Off. Coordinator: Jim McElwain (1st year)
Def. Coordinator: Kirby Smart (2nd year)
Returning Starters: 15 (4 offense, 9 defense, kicker, punter)
Ret. Starting Quarterback: No
Offense: It took Nick Saban two seasons to get the Crimson Tide back into the national picture. They may take a step back this season with just four starters returning from an efficient offense that averaged 30.1ppg and 355.8 yards per game (63rd in the nation). Junior Greg McElroy (6-2, 220) will take over for long-time starter John Parker Wilson. He lacks great arm strength, but has good touch and knows how to manage a game. He’ll have an outstanding receiver back in sophomore Julio Jones (6-4, 210), who caught 58 balls for 924 yards and four TD as a freshman. They do need to find a starting-caliber running back. Sophomore Mark Ingram (5-10, 215) appears to be the guy unless incoming freshman Trent Richardson can step up. He set a freshman record with 12 rushing touchdowns and also added 728 yards in 2007. Up front, they return just two starters. They lose All-American LT Andre Smith and will look to juco transfer James Carpenter (6-5, 305) or freshman D.J. Fluker (6-5, 340) to take over.
Defense: The defense returns nine starters from a unit that allowed just 14.3ppg (7th in the nation) and 263.5 yards per game (3rd in the nation). They have a big front three, led by mammoth senior NT Terrence Cody (6-5, 365). Sophomore Dont’a Hightower (6-4, 250) is an inside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme and can play end as a pass rusher in passing situations. In the secondary, they return three of four starters including senior Javier Arenas (5-9, 198), who also led the SEC with 650 yards in punt returns (3 TDs).
Outlook: The Tide will face Virginia Tech in Atlanta to start the season. It doesn’t get much tougher than that. It gets easier their next two games when they host Florida International and North Texas at home. They also host Chatanooga at home late in the season. Home games against South Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas are winnable. The key games will be a home contest against LSU on Nov. 7 and a road game at Ole Miss. This is a good team that you can never doubt because of Saban and that defense.
2009 Arkansas Razorbacks
2008 Record: (5-7, 2-6)
Coach: Bobby Petrino, 2nd year (5-7 at Arkansas, 46-16 overall)
Off. Coordinator: Paul Petrino (2nd year)
Def. Coordinator: Willy Robinson (2nd year)
Returning Starters: 17 (7 offense, 9 defense, kicker)
Ret. Starting Quarterback: No
Offense: The Razorbacks return seven from a unit that produced just 21.9ppg (91st in the nation) last year. The key will be the quarterback and looks like sophomore transfer Ryan Mallett (6-7, 248), a huge signal-caller from Michigan will take over. He has a big arm and the ability to go deep, which should well-suit their receivers along with offensive coordinator Paul Petrino. The best receiver may be junior TE D.J. Williams (6-2, 251), who caught 61 receptions for 723 yards and three TDs. At running back, they have one of the best in the SEC in senior Michael Smith (5-7, 176), a burner who rushed for 1,072 yards, 5.2ypc and eight TDs. Up front, they return three of five starers though they lose All-American Jonathan Luigs. Junior DeMarcus Love (6-5, 305) will move from guard to right tackle, while senior Mitch Petrus (6-4, 315), who was ineligible in 2007, will move back to starting left guard.
Defense: The defense returns nine starters from a unit that allowed a whopping 31.2ppg (93rd in the nation) and 375.2 yards per game (72nd in the nation). Up front, they return all four starters from a unit that needs to step up. The anchor is All-SEC tackle Malcolm Sheppard (6-2, 280), who recorded 6.5 sacks last year. They also return all three starting linebackers including sophomore Jerry Franklin (6-1, 237), who recorded 87 tackles. They have to replace three starters in the secondary and could end up with freshman corners Darius Winston and David Gordon in the rotation if the older guys can’t get the job done. Junior Isaac Madison is the only returning starter at corner and is coming off a strong spring.
Outlook: The Razorbacks open with Missouri State in Little Rock, and also face Texas A&M in Arlington Texas along with Troy and Eastern Michigan at home. It’s a strange non-conference schedule, though the conference slate is very tough with road games at Ole Miss, Florida and LSU, which is absolutely brutal. Arkansas should be a bowl team, but not much more with this tough schedule.
2009 Auburn Tigers
2008 Record: (5-7, 2-6)
Coach: Gene Chizik, 1st year (first year at Alabama, 5-19 overall)
Off. Coordinator: Gus Malzahn (1st year)
Def. Coordinator: Ted Roof (1st year)
Returning Starters: 16 (7 offense, 7 defense, kicker, punter)
Ret. Starting Quarterback: Yes (Kodi Burns)
Offense: Gene Chizik takes over the program from Tommy Tuberville after two not-so-impressive seasons at Iowa State. The cupboard is not bare as they bring back junior Kodi Burns (6-2, 209) at quarterback. He threw for 1,050 yards last season for a unit that finished 99th in the nation in passing offense. He’ll be guided by offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, who runs a fast-paced offense, similar to the one he ran at Tulsa, who led the nation in total offense the past two seasons. Burns will have competition from junior Neil Caudle, who has been hampered by injuries during his career. At running back, they return senior Ben Tate (5-11, 217), who ran for 664 yards last season, who shared time with junior Mario Fannin (5-11, 226). At receiver, they have some experience but very little production. Up front, they return three of five starters including junior center Ryan Pugh (6-4, 280), one of the best in the SEC.
Defense: The defense returns seven starters from a unit that allowed just 18ppg (14th in the nation) and 317.8 yards per game (29th in the nation). Senior DE Antonio Coleman (6-3, 257) is one of the nation’s best pass rushers (six sacks) last year). They are strong at end and a bit questionable at tackle with two starters gone. At linebacker, they are thin but athletic. Junior Craig Stevens (6-3, 227) returns on the strong side, while athletic junior Josh Bynes (6-2, 233), who had three picks last year, is back as well. The secondary has great potential if they can keep everybody healthy. Junior S Mike McNeil (6-2, 205) and junior Zac Etheridge (6-0, 204), who had 75 tackles last year, are very solid.
Outlook: The Tigers face Louisiana Tech at home to start the season and also take on Mississippi State, West Virginia, Furman and Ball State at home. That’s the good news. The bad news is that they face LSU and Georgia on the road, along with Ole Miss at home. With a new coach and system, expect the Tigers to struggle some early on offense. Their defense should be good enough to keep them competitive.
2009 LSU Tigers
2008 Record: (8-5, 3-5)
Coach: Les Miles, 5th year (42-11 at LSU, 70-32 overall)
Off. Coordinator: Gary Crowton (3rd year)
Def. Coordinator: John Chavis (1st year)
Returning Starters: 13 (7 offense, 6 defense)
Ret. Starting Quarterback: Yes (Jarrett Lee).
Offense: The Tigers return seven starters from a unit that produced 30.9ppg and 368.1 yards per game (55th in the nation). They return sophomore QB Jarrett Lee (6-2, 216), who threw for 1,873 yards, but has been supplanted by sophomore Jordan Jefferson (6-4, 209). Jefferson started the regular season finale- a 38-3 Chick-fil-A-Bowl game win over Georgia Tech. He will also have several weapons back, including senior WR Brandon LaFell (6-3, 209), who has led LSU in receiving each of the past two years. He caught an SEC-best eight touchdown passes, while finishing with 63 catches for 929 yards. At running back, they bring back senior Charles Scott (5-11, 233), who rushed for 1,174 yards. He is the rare combination of being a bruiser with breakaway speed. Up front, they return three starters, including senior left tackle Ciron Black (6-5, 325).
Defense: The defense brings back six starters from a unit that allowed 24.2ppg (56th in the nation) and 325.5 yards per game (32nd in the nation). Former Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis takes over the defense and has made several changes. One of them was to move strong safety Harry Coleman (6-2, 205) to outside linebacker. Up front, they return just one of the four members. Senior DE Rahim Alem (6-3, 254) adds great pass rushing ability (8 sacks), while DT Charles Alexander (6-3, 310) adds bulk up front. At linebacker, Coleman (71 tackles) will helped a strong unit that also features senior Perry Riley (6-1, 240) and junior Kelvin Sheppard (6-3, 237). In the secondary, both starting corners return including senior Chris Hawkins, who picked off three passes last year.
Outlook: The Tigers open at Washington and then host Vandy and Louisiana-Lafayette. They also host Tulane and Louisiana Tech in what should be an easy non-conference schedules. Home games against Florida and Auburn should be tough, along with two huge road games against Georgia, Alabama and Ole Miss. This is an excellent team that does have some concerns at quarterback and on defense.
2009 Ole Miss Rebels
2008 Record: (9-4, 5-3)
Coach: Houston Nutt, 2nd year (9-4 at Ole Miss, 120-74 overall)
Off. Coordinator: Kent Austin (2nd year)
Def. Coordinator: Tyrone Nix (2nd year)
Returning Starters: 16 (7 offense, 8 defense, kicker)
Ret. Starting Quarterback: Yes (Jevan Snead)
Offense: The Rebels showed they were legit last season and now return seven starters to an offense that averaged 32.1ppg and 407.6 yards per game (29th in the nation). The leader on the offense is junior Jevan Snead (6-3, 215), who threw for 2,762 yards, 26 touchdowns and 13 picks in his first season, so he can only get better. He also has a few dynamic weapons to work with including senior WR Dexter McCluster (5-8, 165), who rushed for 655 yards and caught 44 passes for 625 yards and a TD. He’s the facilitator of the “Wild Rebel” direct-snap formation. Sophomore Brandon Bolden (5-11, 220), who ran for 542 yards as a true freshman, is settled in as the starter. Up front, the Rebels return three starters, but have to replace All-American LT Michael Oher. Sophomore Bradley Sowell (6-7, 310) is the most likely candidate to replace Oher at left tackle.
Defense: The Rebels return eight starters on a defensive unit that allowed just 19ppg (20th in the nation) and 85.5 yards per game on the ground (4th in the nation). The front four loses All-American DT Peria Jerry, but they still return three starters and senior DE Greg Hardy (8.5 sacks), who is pass rush specialist. The Rebels led the nation in tackles for loss last season with 111. At linebacker, the Rebels return two of the three starters and senior Patrick Trahan (6-2, 225), Trahan had 29 tackles in limited play last season after coming to camp out of shape. The secondary will be a big issue this season. They return three starters from a pass defense that allowed 221 yards per game. Senior FS Kendrick Lewis (5-11, 192) led the team with 85 tackles and four interceptions last season.
Outlook: The Rebels host LSU and that’s the biggest reason they are picked first. This is a very good team led by an explosive offense and an opportunistic defense. They face Memphis on the road, SE Louisiana at home, along with Northern Arizona and UAB at home. There’s no reason why they can’t be 4-0 in their non-conference schedule and considering they miss Florida and Georgia, this could be a very special season.
2009 Mississippi State Bulldogs
2008 Record: (4-8, 2-6)
Coach: Dan Mullen, 1st year (0-0 overall)
Off. Coordinator: Les Keonning (1st year)
Def. Coordinator: Carl Torbush (1st year)
Returning Starters: 11 (6 offense, 5 defense)
Ret. Starting Quarterback: Yes (Tyson Lee)
Offense: The Bulldogs brought in Dan Mullen, who was an assistant and offensive coordinator at Florida, to try and bring Mississippi State from the bottom of the SEC. The key will be at quarterback, where they return senior QB Tyson Lee (5-10, 200), who threw for 1,519 yards last season. However, he’s limited at 5-10 and Tyler Russell, who was a 2009 Mr. Football in Mississippi, will be given every chance to win the job. The strength will be the running game, though they averaged just 100.6 yards per game last season (105th in the nation). Senior Anthony Dixon (6-1, 235) is a workhorse who should see more holes if they develop a passing game. Senior Brandon McRae (6-4, 205) is the leading returning receiver with 518 yards. The rest of the receiving group is raw, but they will see a lot of action in the new spread offense. Up front, they return just three starters to a line that was a trouble spot last year.
Defense: The defense returns five starters from a unit that allowed 24.7ppg (60th in the nation) and 327.5 yards per game (35th in the nation). They also brought in veteran coach Carl Torbush to handle the defense. Up front, they return two of four starters. Senior DT Kyle Love (6-1, 310) returns with two seasons of regular playing time under his belt. At linebacker, junior K.J. Wright (6-4, 245), who recorded 72 tackles and four sacks last year, is a potential star. The secondary returns just one starter in senior Marcus Washington and this is a major concern.
Outlook: The Bulldogs face Jackson State at home and then it gets difficult. They go right into the SEC schedule, taking on Auburn and Vandy on the road, before they host LSU. After that, they get back to the non-conference schedule, facing Georgia Tech and Houston at home. They also face Florida and Ole Miss at home. This is a tough schedule for a team that is rebuilding under a new head coach and brand new system. If they find a quarterback, with the new spread system, they’ll obliterate last year’s 15.3ppg average.
Sun Belt Conference
2009 Arkanas State Red Wolves
2008 Record: (6-6, 4-3)
Coach: Steve Roberts, 8th year, (37-47 at Arkansas State, 86-70-1 overall)
Off. Coordinator: Doug Ruse (8th year)
Def. Coordinator: Kevin Corless (8th year)
Returning Starters: 15 (6 offense, 8 defense, kicker)
Ret. Starting Quarterback: Yes (Corey Leonard)
Offense: ASU returns all of its major skill position guys from a unit that averaged 27ppg and 398.8 yards per game. The big question will be the offensive line, which returns two starters. They return both guards and senior TE J.T. Jordan (6-1, 274) should help in the running game due to his size. Senior QB Corey Leonard (6-1, 207) returns as the starter after an exceptional junior campaign. He threw for 2,347 yards with 16 TDs and also rushed for over 500 yards and four TDs. At running back, they return senior Reggie Arnold (5-9, 219) who rushed for 1,074 yards and seven TDs last season. They also bring back sophomore Derek Lawson (5-11, 214), who rushed for 695 yards and four scores in 2008. Senior receivers Brandon Thompkins and Jahbari McLennan each caught 32 passes last season and averaged better than 14 per catch.
Defense: The defense returns eight starters from a unit that allowed 23.8ppg (53rd in the nation) and 336.5 yards per game (46th). Up front, they return three of four starters including senior Alex Carrington (6-5, 284), who was Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year. Last year, he recorded 19 tackles for losses and a league-best 10.5 sacks. At linebacker, the Red Wolves lost Ben Owens (87 tackles) to graduation. Junior Darious Glover (6-1, 220) is back after making 54 tackles. They feel sophomore LB Michael Adams (6-1, 245) has a bright future. The secondary returns three of four starters including junior safety M.D. Jennings (6-0, 172), who recorded 67 tackles and three pikcs. They also have a pair of senior corners in Paul Stephens and Daylan Walker.
Outlook: The Red Wolves open with a home game against Mississippi Valley State, which is followed by a road game against Nebraska. After a bye, they open their SBC schedule with a home game against Troy, in what could be their game of the year. They also face Iowa and Louisville on the road. ASU also takes on Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee State on the road.
2009 Florida Atlantic Owls
2008 Record: (7-6, 4-3)
Coach: Howard Schnellenberger, 9th year (46-48 at Florida Atlantic, 148-125-3 overall)
Off. Coordinator: Darryl Jackson (1st year)
Def. Coordinator: Kirk Hoza (1st year)
Returning Starters: 10, (6 offense, 3 defense, punter)
Ret. Starting Quarterback: Yes (Rusty Smith)
Offense: The Owls returns six starters on offense, including senior QB Rusty Smith (6-5, 212). Smith threw for 3,224 yards and 24 TDs last year though he needs to cut down on the interceptions (14) and improve the completion percentage (53.8). Smith’s favorite target returns in Cortez Gent (6-2, 170), who caught 60 passes for 935 yards and nine TDs. Senior TE Jamari Grant (45 receptions) is also back, but he’s listed second on the depth chart behind senior Jason Harmon (6-3, 215). Harmon was coming off a torn ACL last spring, after catching 63 passes and five TDs in 2007.At running back, they need to replace Charles Pierre, a 1,000-yard rusher last season. Sophomore Alfred Morris (5-11, 222) moves from fullback to tailback. He had just seven carries as a freshman, but ran for 131 yards on 18 carries in the spring. Up front, senior LG David Matlock (6-3, 290) is the only returning starter. The offense will go as far as the line takes them.
Defense: The defense returns three starters from a unit that gave up 28.7ppg (81st in the nation) and 400.4 yards per game (92nd). Senior Josh Savidge (6-2, 285) is the only returning starter from the line and junior Dino Cox (6-3, 240), though undersized, did have one start at tackle last year. The Owls have three new starters at linebacker. Senior Edward Bradwell (6-1, 200) had the most experience last year with 41 tackles and a sack. In the secondary, they return two starters including sophomore Tarvoris Hill. Junior FS Ed Alexander (6-1, 171) led the team with three interceptions last year.
Outlook: The Owls take on Nebraska and South Carolina on the road to start the season. They also take on UAB on the road and Wyoming at home in their non-conference schedule. They have a tough roadie against Troy in late November and will also host Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee. The Owls have some talent, especially at the skill positions but the holes and lack of experience on defense will cost them.
2009 Florida International Golden Panthers
2008 Record: (5-7, 3-4)
Coach: Mario Cristobal, 3rd year (6-18 overall)
Off. Coordinator: Bill Legg (2nd year)
Def. Coordinator: Phill Galiano (3rd year)
Returning Starters: 16 (9 offense, 6 defense, kicker)
Ret. Starting Quarterback: Yes (Paul McCall)
Offense: Florida International returns nine starters from a unit that averaged a pedestrian 24.7ppg and 316.9 yards per game (96th in the nation). They do return senior quarterback Paul McCall (6-1, 198), who threw for 2,332 yards last season with 15 TDs. He’ll have his top five targets back including sophomore T.Y. Hilton, who caught 41 passes, for 1,013 yards and seven TDs. The passing game should be fine; it’s the running game that needs to be rejuvenated. Sophomore RB Darriet Perry (5-9, 195), who rushed for 173 yards as a freshman, replaces Juilan Reams. It also helps that the offensive line returns five starters including junior center Brad Serini (6-3, 300), who has started every game for the past two seasons.
Defense: FIU returns six starters from a unit that allowed 28.3ppg and 369.1 yards per game. They lose five starters, but three of them are up front. The only returning starter is senior end Armond Willis (6-2, 225), who started eight games and had 31 tackles and a sack. They hoop to get a boost from juco end Thatcher Startling (6-4, 251), who should help a unit that registered only 18 sacks last year and couldn’t stop the run (156.2ypg). They also return senior end Reginald Jones (6-2, 264), who played just two games last season before suffering a foot injury. At linebacker, the leader is senior Scott Bryant (5-10, 220), who led the team in tackles with 89 and was named honorable mention All-Sun Belt. In the secondary, the Panthers return two starters including CB Anthony Gaitor (5-10, 178), who earned all-conference honors with five picks, including two for touchdowns.
Outlook: FIU faces Alabama and Rutgers on the road to start the season. They also face Toledo in their home opener and face Florida late in the season. In conference, they host Troy and head to Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee State. This should be a more explosive offense this year, but the defense has holes to fill. They face an incredibly tough schedule and while they are making progress, they still have a ways to go to get to Troy’s level.
2009 Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns
2008 Record: (6-6, 5-2)
Coach: Ricky Bustle, 8th year (32-50 overall)
Off. Coordinator: Ron Hudson (2nd year)
Def. Coordinator: Kevin Fouquier (3rd year)
Returning Starters: 17 (7 offense, 9 defense, punter)
Ret. Starting Quarterback: No
Offense: The offense returns seven starters from an offense that averaged 33.1 ppg game and 449.2 yards per game overall. The Ragin’ Cajuns lose three major stars on offense: QB Michael Desormeaux (2008 Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year), RB Tyrone Fenroy (school’s all-time leading rusher) and WR Jason Cherry (7 TDs). Sophomore quarterbacks Brad McGuire (6-3, 215) and Chris Mason (6-2, 200) along with redshirt freshman Blaine Gauthier will battle it out for the starting job. McGuire has the most experience with 233 yards rushing and 143 yards passing. Senior Undrea Sails (5-8, 200) will look to take over at running back. Six backs on the road have just 70 carries among them. The receiving corps, despite losing Cherry, is still talented. They could also use a big year from sophomore TE Ladarius Green (6-5, 220), who had 268 yards receiving last year. The good news is that the offensive line returns intact. Senior LG Brad Bustle (6-4, 295) and senior C Chris Fisher (6-3, 285) are both first-team all-league selections.
Defense: The defense returns nine starters from a unit that allowed 33.7ppg (104th in the nation) and 429.6 yards per game (105th in the nation). The experience is there, but the talent isn’t necessarily abundant. Up front, they need production from sophomore Derreck Dean (5-11, 295) and his linemates. At linebacker, they bring back senior Antwyne Zanders (69 tackles), an honorable mention all-conference pick and Daylon McCoy (6-0, 215), who had 69 tackles and four sacks at safety. He now moves up to linebacker and that leaves a hole at strong safety where sophomore Chris Richard is expected to take over. They do return both corners, though they still have issues against the pass.
Outlook: The Ragin’ Cajuns had a tremendous 2008, but it will be tough to match 2009 with all their losses on offense. They host Southern (1AA) to start the season and then face Kansas State at home. They also face LSU and Nebraska on the road. The Sun Belt seems like cake after those three tough games. They face Troy at the end of the season at home and Arkansas State on the road. The offense is young and the defense needs to improve for them to make a run again in the SBC.
2009 Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks
2008 Record: (4-8, 3-4)
Coach: Charlie Weatherbie, 7th year (25-46 at ULM, 70-109 overall)
Off. Coordinator: Vance Vice (1st year) and Jonas Weatherbie (1st year)
Def. Coordinator: Tony Reffett (1st year)
Returning Starters: 17 (7 offense, 8 defense, kicker, punter)
Ret. Starting Quarterback: No
Offense: The offense returns seven starters from a unit that produced just 23.7ppg (79th in the nation) and 337.3 yards per game (82nd in the nation). Head coach Charlie Weatherbie, who shook up his coaching staff, needs to find a quarterback. Junior Troy Revell (6-5, 218) did see some action last season backing up Kensmon Lancaster. Revell loses one weapon in all-conference TE Zeek Zacaharie (46 catches for 510 yards) to graduation. At wide receiver, they return sophomore Anthony McCalll and senior J.J. McCoy. They do return leading rusher Frank Goodin (5-9, 200), who rushed for 783 yards last year with five TDs. The offensive line returns four starters up front, anchored by junior LG Doug Stroud (6-6, 331).
Defense: The defense returns eight starters from a unit that allowed 31.2ppg and 444.7 yards per game (109th in the nation). They’ve switched to a 3-3-5 defense under new coordinator Troy Reffett, who came from New Mexico. The defense is designed to blitz from all over the field. Up front, they return all three starters including DE Aaron Morgan (6-4, 224), who had six sacks last season. At linebacker, senior All-Sun Belt performer Cardia Jackson (6-2, 240), who led the team with 127 tackles, adding four sacks. Senior Josh Thomas (108 tackles) and Theo Smith (49) also return. In the secondary, they return senior James Truxillo, who played just two games last year before tearing an ACL. They also return both cornerbacks in Nate Brown and Otis Stamps.
Outlook: The Warhawks faces Texas on the road to start the season and then those Texas Southern at home. Talk about opposite ends of the spectrums. They also take on Arizona State and Kentucky on the road in their non-conference schedule. Taking on Troy on the road doesn’t help. These changes by Weatherbie still may not be enough to turn this team back around.
2009 Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders
2008 Record: (5-7, 3-4)
Coach: Rick Stockstill, 4th year (17-20 overall)
Off. Coordinator: Tony Franklin (1st year)
Def. Coordinator: Manny Diaz (4th year)
Returning Starters: 19 (10 offense, 7 defense, kicker)
Ret. Starting Quarterback: No
Offense: The Blue Raiders return 10 starters on offense, but they have one big question. Who will play quarterback? They have to replace Joe Craddock, who threw for 2,677 yards and 15 TDs last year. New offensive coordinator Tony Franklin, who lasted just seven games at Auburn, takes over and tries to implement the spread. Junior Dwight Dasher (5-10, 204) will likely get the job, because he’s the most experienced and is an outstanding runner. However, he has completed just 38.6 percent of his passes in limited action. At running back, they return junior Phillip Turner (6-0, 211), who ran for 714 yards and 15 TDs last season. They are loaded at wide receiver led by senior Eldred King, who grabbed 51 catches for 598 yards last season. They also have five players who have combined for 188 catches and 16 touchdowns from last season. The line struggled last season due to inexperience, but it should be a strength this season with five returning starters. Add sophomore Jake Pardick (6-1, 281), who can push for time at center, and the Blue Raiders have excellent depth up front.
Defense: The defense returns seven starters from a unit that allowed 24.9ppg and 366.3 yards per game. They operate out of a 4-3 scheme, but will blitz from all over the field. They return both ends in Emmanuel Perez (6-1, 228) and senior Chris McCoy (6-4, 252). Junior DT Dwight Smith (6-2, 263) didn’t start, but he did have 7.5 tackles for loss off the bench. The defense is led by senior LB Danny Carmichael (6-0, 246), who made 75.5 tackles, including 11.5 for loss. However, they lost two other starting linebackers and will need somebody to step up. The secondary should be considered a plus, as they return all four starters. Senior corner Alex Suber grabbed two picks last year.
Outlook: Middle Tennessee State takes on Clemson on the road and hosts Memphis to start the season. They upset Maryland last season and now they have to go to College Park in the third game to take on the Terps. They also face Mississippi State right after facing Troy on the road in October. They face Arkansas State at home in their second-to-last game of the season. This is a decent football team that could surprise some people –if they can find a solution at quarterback.