HBCU Football Preview 2014 - Page 4

Despite being favored nearly every year, ALABAMA STATE hasn’t won the division title since 2010 and Hornets fans are getting restless. This could be their breakthrough season even though they lost the conference’s top running back in Isaiah Crowell, who was an early entry for the NFL draft. Malcolm Cyrus (759 yards rushing, 6 TDs) is a capable replacement. The Hornets have a veteran offensive line with four starters returning, setting the table for quarterback Daniel Duhart to have a big season, which is essential to their success.

ALCORN STATE is well positioned to win the division for the first-time since the conference went to its two-division alignment in 1999. The Braves, who have 20 returning starters, are coming of their first nine-win season in 30 years and their first winning record since 2006. Quarterback John Gibbs (2,567 passing yards, 21 touchdowns) is back to lead the top-scoring offense in the conference (38.6 point a game). The defense was No. 1 against the pass (188.2 yards a game allowed) and should be stronger.

Comegy’s presence at MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE has the Delta Devils’ hopes soaring higher than at point since Archie “Gunslinger’’ Cooley was their coach 30 years ago and quarterback Willie “Satellite’’ Totten and wideout Jerry Rice were tormenting their opponents. Comegy has made a career of resurrecting downtrodden programs, having built championship teams from scratch at Jackson State and Tuskegee before that. Quarterback Patrick Ivy (1,443 passing yards, 10 TDs), and wide receiver Julian Stafford (52 catches, 694 yards receiving)are the backbone of the offense. Preseason All-SWAC corner Avery Boykin is the defensive leader, but depth is a huge problem for the Delta Devils.

James Spady has a tough act to follow at ALABAMA A&M as he replaces Jones, who had the third-highest winning percentage in school history (.592). Spady has installed the Pistol Offense and tabbed quarterback Jaymason Lee (1,153 passing yards, 11 TDs) as his triggerman. The Bulldogs’ attack will be a work in progress and they are likely to a few lumps while adjusting to Spady’s scheme.

SOUTHERN was the surprise team in the conference last season, emerging from out of nowhere in the West Division to win the SWAC title. The Jaguars won’t have the luxury of catching opponents unaware this season. They also won’t have the luxury of Dray Joseph, four-year starting quarterback, 2013 SWAC co-Offensive Player of the Year, running the offense. Coach Dawson Odums will choose Joseph’s successor from sophomores Deonte Shorts and Francis Kanneh or freshmen Austin Howard and Jarrad Hayes, none of whom possess Joseph’s experience and savvy, which diminishes the Jaguars’ chances of repeating.

Look for PRAIRIE VIEW A&M to light up the scoreboard with 10 returning starters from the SWAC’s No. 1 offensive unit, which averaged 39.0 points and 517.2 yards a game. Quarterback Jerry Lovelocke ((2,808 passing yards, 23 touchdowns) and running back Courtney Brown (1,039 yards rushing) are the hub of the offense. The challenge for the Panthers will be preventing opponents from lighting it up as well. They gave up 35.9 points and 485.6 yards a game last season, numbers that they will need to decrease in order to contend for the title.

It was a quick trip from the penthouse to the outhouse, for 2012 SWAC champion ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF, which was a distant third in the West last season with a 2-7 conference record. Unless the Golden Lions are able to fix their defense, which allowed 483.5 total yards a game, including 277.3 on the ground, they shouldn’t expect to move up in the standings. The offense is in capable hands with 2014 preseason SWAC Offensive Player of the Year Benjamin Anderson (2,787 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and 824 rushing yards) returning.

GRAMBLING STATE no longer strikes fear in opponents’ hearts, not after only winning one game each of the last two seasons. Roderick Fobbs, a former Grambling running back, is the G-Men’s fourth coach in the last 12 months. Fobbs takes over from interim coach Dennis “Dirt’’ Winston, who replaced George Ragsdale, who never coached a game after replacing Doug Williams, who was fired two games into the season. Fobbs’ most daunting task is developing a sense of stability. Next, he must replenish the G-Men’s talent pool.

TEXAS SOUTHERN isn’t eligible for the conference championship because of NCAA sanctions that won’t be lifted until 2017. But things are looking up for the Tigers. They are past restrictions for failing to meet APR requirements, which is huge. They were able to hold spring drills and the limits on practice time during the season have been lifted. That should translate to marked improvement on the field this season It’s shaping up as business as usual in the SIAC. That means the champion is likely to come from among Albany State, Tuskegee and Miles. One of these teams has won each of the three previous titles.

ALBANY STATE is the defending champ and the hands down favorite to capture the Eastern Division crown again. The team is well-stocked this season. The Golden Rams’ roster includes 11 preseason All-SIAC picks. Quarterback Frank Rivers, the 2014 preseason SIAC Offensive Player of the Year ((2,000 passing yards, 19 touchdowns) is the Golden Rams’ attack dog. Rivers and wide receiver Jesse Atkins (51 catches, 661 yards, 8 TDs, 2014 preseason All-SIAC) form one of the deadliest pass-catch duos in the conference. Linebacker Larry Whitfield and linemen Grover Stewart (36 tackles, 5 sacks), another first-team all-conference pick, and Damien Goosby (17 tackles, 2 sacks) are the stalwarts of the Golden Rams’ defense.

FORT VALLEY STATE is the leading candidate to challenge Albany State in the East. The Wildcats have a solid nucleus of returning starters. That is especially true on defense where All-SIAC linebacker LeRon Furr and preseason All-American tackle Bernard Little hold forth. The Wildcats were No. 4 in the conference in fewest total yards allowed per game (301.8) last year and gave up just 975 total yards rushing the entire season, However, they were near the bottom offensively in 2013, ranking 10th among 11 teams in total yards per game (307.0), eighth in passing (170.9) and ninth in passing (136.1). With just four returning starters, the prospects for improvement aren’t good.

BENEDICT, CLARK ATLANTA, MOREHOUSE and conference newcomer PAINE figure to be also-rans with no real shot at reaching the conference championship game, which moves to Montgomery, Ala., this year. Either MILES or TUSKEEGEE has represented the West in the conference title game since its inception three years ago. The smart money says that pattern will continue this season, and the division champ won’t be decided until the in-state rivals square off in the season finale Nov. 8, the same as last season when Miles took the title. The Golden Bears placed nine players on the preseason All-SIAC teams. They feature a balanced offense, which averaged 377.3 yards a game (175.0 rushing, 202.3 passing).

Preseason all-conference picks Terrence Owens and Aderus Hood are the pillars of the offensive, which is the heart and soul of the Golden Bears’ attack. The defense, however, is the unit that could make this a special season for Miles. Linebacker Julantate English, the 2014 preseason SIAC Defensive Player of the Year, tackle Bryshon Jones and defensive back Joe Beckham, all-conference picks as well, make the Golden Bears’ defense solid at all three levels.