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I'll go first for TxSt although TxSt fans feel free to correct me or add something I may have forgotten.

Six starters returning on offense and eight on defense.

Offense summary: Biggest question mark would be our QB position. Not long ago we heard that our leading candidate for the QB spot decided to transfer to UTSA (which is an unconfirmed rumor, he is just as likely to go DII).

The two leading candidates now are: Tim Hawkins (passing stats: 5-9-0 for 36 yards) a redshirt sophomore who played in several games last year and impressed with the little playing time that he had (threw a touchdown pass against TCU, ran for another against SLU I think and had a 8.2 YPC on 20 carries. however he did not impress during the spring game so a lot of fans are down on him right now. The other potential starter is Tyler Arndt who is quite possibly the highest ranked QB recruit to become a bobcat in TxSt history (Rivals three star, Tx top 100 recruit and ranked by ESPN as the 32nd best QB in the nation). This is all well and good about his potential, however I'm not sure how Arndt will react to the college game.

The running game should be potent because we return four experienced O-linemen along with RB's: Karrington Bush (if healthy then could potentially be all conference this year), Transfer RB Marcus Curry (7.3 YPC while at Navy), sophomore Frank Reddic (could have a break out year this upcoming season) and Redshirt freshman Dexter Imade (several of us believe that this young man has tons of potential). Despite loosing Mishak Rivas (transfered) and RB Alvin Canady (graduation) we return 9 out of the top 12 pass catchers including our Number 1 and 2 receivers.

In essence we have the body, now we just need the head for the offense to be just as good if not better than last year.


The defense:

The defense should be much improved from last year which isn't saying much since we were one of the worst defenses in the nation last year. We have good talent coming back at all the other positions including a very deep LB core. However, It all depends on how well the defensive line will do this year. Personally I think the DL is far more talented than last year, however most of the defensive linemen coming in are freshmen and sophomores. So it wouldn't surprise me to see swiss cheese type defense in OOC play and then suddenly becoming a good defense in conference play.

Should be an interesting year in Lion Land...we had a great spring and came out healthy and injury free...we return the bulk of our team, on both sides of the ball, and will have the most junior/senior/5th-yr senior depth we've had since bringing football back.

OFFENSE
Depending on how you count it, we return either seven or eight starters, including four of five on the offensive line...would have been five of five, but David Ward decided to pursue a grad school opportunity that was too good to pass up...we did pick up an FBS transfer that we recruited heavily a couple of years ago and should come in and fill the void at left guard...return the bulk of our WR corps, including All-American candidate, Simmie Yarborough...Zeke Jones (6-0, 245, So.) will take over as the every down tailback and look for us to feature more I-formation and direct, power runs to take advantage of his size and ability...he's also a threat as a receiver and has potential to be an 1000+ yard rusher and catch 40+ balls...we also have Sam Fairley (5-9, 185, So.) who had an outstanding spring and will give us a nice change-of-pace, plus have a couple of true freshmen coming in who are expected to contribute...the big key will be who steps up and earns the nod at QB...Baylor transfer, Tyler Beatty, is the front-runner coming out of the spring and has starting experience when Brian Babin went down late in the year last year...B.J. Young is talented and gave a strong push in the spring, but has yet to take a college snap...latest word is that it appears incoming freshman QB, Gavin Webster, will be eligible and should compete for immediate playing time if the MLB draft doesn't snatch him away in a couple of weeks.

Projected Starters
QB - Tyler Beatty, 6-4, 225, Senior
TB - Zeke Jones, 6-0, 245, Sophomore
FB - Kyle Nichols, 5-9, 245, Sophomore
TE - Cole Wardell, 6-4, 240, Senior
WR - Simmie Yarborough, 6-1, 208, Junior
WR - Andre Cryer, 5-7, 175, Senior
WR - Kory Theodore, 6-1, 205, Junior
LT - Kevin Hughes, 6-4, 296, Senior
LG - R.J. Brown, 6-3, 310, Senior
C - Josh Penton, 6-3, 280, Junior
RG - Michael Stallworth, 6-2, 340, Senior
RT - Paul Roppolo, 6-5, 280, Sophomore


DEFENSE
For the first time since bringing football back, I feel we have a legitimate chance to field an upper-echelon defense...the secondary should be a major strength with four of five starters returning, including Tommy Connors, who missed most of last year with a broken thumb...also return 1st team All-SLC safety, Rekeem Wilson, who led the league in INTs a year ago, plus our most talented safety in Curtis Strong...Robert Alford has legitimate NFL potential and returns at one corner, while the other will feature a rotation of seniors Clint Coleman and Michael Ducksworth...the LB corps is deep, productive and experienced with Mark Newbill (1st team All-SLC), Ryan Godare, Kendrick Jackson, Avery Crooks and Jordan McClay returning...the D-line, which was an issue in 2009, should be a strength and MUCH improved across the board in 2010...DT Stephen Pieczynski has bulked up his 6-7 frame, plus we get Devin Boutwell (6-3, 310) back healthy after missing last year...added two 300-pound JC transfers in Luther Chambers and C.J. Jenkins, both of whom were here in the spring, plus emerging sophomore, Will Kelly had an impressive spring...also have emerging pass-rush specialist, Tramaine Lucas, who can play both inside and outside...Devan Walker and Nathan Clophus had great springs at DE, plus return Lyndsey Leavoy, Quinton Foster, etc., to add depth.

Projected Starters
DE - Devan Walker, 6-3, 250, Sophomore
DT - Stephen Pieczynski, 6-7, 275, Senior
NG - Luther Chambers, 6-2, 300, Junior
DE - Nathan Clophus, 6-3, 270, Senior
LB - Mark Newbill, 5-11, 215, Senior
LB - Kendrick Jackson, 6-2, 230, Junior
SS - Tommy Connors, 6-1, 215, Senior
SS - Curtis Strong, 6-0, 195, Senior
SS - Rekeem Wilson, 6-0, 195, Senior
CB - Robert Alford, 5-11, 185, Sophomore
CB - Clint Coleman, 6-1, 200, Senior

SPECIAL TEAMS
Had it not been for a miserable last game against Nicholls State, returning punter, Beau Mothe, would have a great case for All-SLC honors as a true freshman...only had four punts returned in 2009 and downed 20 inside the 20...has a powerful left leg and can get near 5.0 hang time...we're replacing four-year starting kicker, Jeff Turner, and will have to do so with an incoming freshman...we signed two in Seth Sebastian and Jorge Santamaria and they'll compete for the job in fall camp...if I had to guess, Sebastian will probably have a "leg" up to kick field goals and extra points, while Santamaria will likely handle kickoff duties...subject to change of course.

OVERVIEW
Given what we have returning and given the state of the rest of the league, we should be in the mix for the conference championship late in the year...we were in it last year until injuries caught up to us, but I think we're deeper and better equipped to handle them in 2010...we'll also feature a more balanced offensive attack which should take pressure off the defense, and give us a better chance to control tempo late in games...the schedule is pretty favorable with two winnable FBS road games (Tulane, ULM) and UT-Martin and Lamar at home during the non-conference portion...we do play four road conference games, but McNeese and Texas State are at home and one of the road games is Nicholls which is not a bad trip for us...we haven't won there since bringing football back, but we'll bring a good crowd and it doesn't have the usual road atmosphere.