Potential Playoff Contenders
While I am not a great writer, here is my first stab at consistently blogging on here. Read below to see some of the teams that I expect to make improvements in 2010.
MISSOURI STATE
MSU was on the right track in 2009 with a 6-5 overall mark and they return plenty of talent in 2010 to make a run at the MVFC title and potentially make some noise in the playoffs. Their only major loss is All-American TE Clay Harbor, a likely NFL Draft pick. Among the returning players includes 1st team All-MVFC selections OG David Arkin and LB Antoine Wilkinson and 2nd team selections DL Waylon Richardet and DB Skylar Smith. Wilkinson led the team with 113 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and 8 pass breakups in 2009. Smith was 2nd on the team with 94 tackles and broke up 5 passes. Richardet could be among the best in the nation in 2010 returning after posting 43 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks last year. They also return honorable mention All-MVFC QB Cody Kirby and P Jordan Chiles as the top returners. Kirby passed for 2,114 yards and 11 touchdowns but also threw 16 INTs last year. Not to mention the injuries that MSU suffered at RB. If Kirby can improve his pass efficiency and they can stay healthy at RB, this team is one to watch. Junior WR Jermaine Saffold, RT Jake Duron, LT Bob Shapel, RB Mikael Cooper-Falls, LB Adam Beauchamp, and FS Derek Miller give them a lot of potential stars to watch for.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
SDSU probably should have made more noise than they did in 2009 boasting a very talented squad that almost beat Montana in the first round. QB Thomas O’Brien is expected to lead the squad in 2010 and has a lot of talent returning starting with All-MVFC selections RB Kyle Minett, TE Colin Cochart, C Ryan McKnight, and potential stars RT Jon Fick and RB Tyler Duffy. Losing all 3 starting WRs will hurt along with losing LT Casey Knips and RG Casey Bender but there is enough talent here to challenge for the conference title. Defensively, they lose All-American and MVFC Co-DEF POY DE Danny Batten but return All-MVFC selections P Dean Priddy, SS Conrad Kjerstad (81 tackles, 5 INTs), LB Derek Domino (97 tackles), and they will get CB General Parnell (23 tackles, 4 INTs) back from injury. With Batten gone it will be up DE Jake Steffen (6.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks) and DE Antonio Thompson (5.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks) to step up. After a second place finish in 2009 this team is primed to possibly win the league in 2010.
JAMES MADISON
Many thought they would be a playoff contender in 2009 but their early struggles doomed their fate. Despite losing Buck Buchanan Award Winner DE Arthur Moats, TE Mike Caussin, OG Dorian Brooks, WR Rockeed McCarter, and CB/RS Scotty McGee you know that Mickey Matthews will turn things around. In fact he ended the 2009 season showing that this team will not give up and that they have plenty of young talent for the future. After losing four straight games in the middle of the season and 5 of their first 7 they went on to win the last 4 games, including a win over a ranked Delaware program, Maine, UMASS, and thrashing Towson. QB Justin Thorpe (654 rushing yards, 1260 passing yards) finally has a year under his belt and should be among the best in the CAA. He will have plenty of weapons back starting with WR Marcus Turner (10 catches, 78 yards), FB Donnell Brown, RB Scott Noble (282 yards, 1 TD), RB Jamal Sullivan (451 yards, 4 TDs), and a solid line. Losing his top two receivers (McCarter, Caussin) will be tough but their last few recruiting classes hauled in the talent to ease the losses. LT Theo Sherman and LG Roane Babington could form the top left side of a line in the CAA. On defense, LB Pat Williams (87 tackles, 8 tackles for loss), SS Vidal Nelson (57 tackles), WS Jon Williams (58 tackles, 5 tackles for loss), DE D.J. Bryant (32 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks), and DT Ronnell Brown (26 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks)) give them a solid group to build around. This team might not be ready to contend for a national title but they certainly can make noise in the league and potentially make the playoffs with only Villanova being a definite title contender at this point.
UC DAVIS
UCD finished 6-5 overall last year and could be improved this season. Losing WRs Chris Carter and Bakari Grant along with C Tommy Hernandez will hurt but they return just about everyone else. Among those returnees include 1st team All-GWFC selections OT Mark Tos, TE Dean Rogers (29 catches, 326 yards), K Sean Kelley (12-15 FG), LT Sean Davies, QB Greg Denham (2,932 yards passing), DE Eric Sobotka (32 tackles, 5 tackles for loss), DT Jake Maxson, and SS Danny Hart (53 tackles). Defensively is where they have the most transition losing five starters with LB Mike Morales (81 tackles) being the top priority to replace. The strength of the defense will be on the line with 3 starters back. LB Dozie Amajoyi (#4 tackler, 50 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 sacks) will be counted on to pick up the slack left by Morales and Mike Healey. (50 tackles, 2.5 TFL). This program has the look of a definite top 25 team in 2010.
Let me keep going through personnel and I will add some teams to this list throughout the off-season.
