College Football 2018 Conference Previews -- Independents

INDEPENDENTS
OVERVIEW

Notre Dame's Brian Kelly (Corner Pub Sports)

What used to be four is now six, thanks to the additions of Liberty (moving up from FCS) and New Mexico State (booted out of the Sun Belt Conference). While neither will do much this year, they do add a bit to the landscape of the independents.

Whenever talking independents people start with Notre Dame, which has played both sides of the fence for years with no ramifications whatsoever. Do they want to be in the ACC or not? If no, then the ACC should stop scheduling games against them. At some point, leagues need to step up and tell the Irish that they won't schedule them, which will force their hand and make them join a conference. Until then, they reap the financial benefits of independence (not having to share bowl money) and hold the leverage. The Irish will once again be heavily run-based offensively, and why not? Dexter Williams averaged over 9 yards per pop in a reserve role last season and could be lethal as a starter. The line has experience, as does a receiving corps that features Chase Claypool (29 catches, 13.9 ypc) and emerging tight end Alize Mack (19 catches). But the passing game will only go as far as Brandon Wimbush (49.5%, 16 TD, 6 INT, 14 rush TDs) takes it. He was erratic and looked scared at times last year, and if that doesn't change the Irish offense won't do much. The defense is in solid shape, led by linebacker Te'Von Coney (116 tackles, 10 TFL), who calls the signals and brings aggressiveness and power to the stop unit. Drue Tranquill (85 tackles, 9 TFL) moves from safety to linebacker to fill a hole left by Nyles Morgan, and the secondary is in the able hands of corner Julian Love (68 tackles, 3 INT, 20 PBU) and safety Nick Coleman (44 tackles). Jerry Tillery (56 tackles, 4.5 TFL) is a rock along the Dline.

Jeff Monken has worked wonders at Army, winning 18 games the past two seasons and overpowering foes with a lethal rushing attack. Last year's Black Knights topped the nation in rushing at over 363 yards per contest, but may have trouble reaching that with the loss of standout quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw and four starters on the offensive line. Junior Kevin Hopkins takes over, and depth at running back should offset a lot of the quarterback worries. Darnell Woolfolk (812 yards, 14 TDs) will get the bulk of the work, and Kell Walker (629 yards, 7.3 ypc) will contribute as well. The defense allowed 22 points per game last year and should once again be stout, led by linebacker James Nachtigal (103 tackles, 5 sacks). Army has gotten a bit more aggressive defensively the last two seasons and is more athletic this year, and could eclipse last year's 24 sacks.

Brigham Young hit a rut last year after back to back nine win seasons in the first two years of the Kelani Sitake regime, going just 4-9 due to a horrific offense (325 yards per game). New OC Jeff Grimes has tailored the offense to suit Tanner Mangum's skill set a bit more, which should help the passing game. Mangum (57.2%, 8 TD, 9 INT) has a solid group of pass catchers, notably freshman All-America tight end Matt Bushman (49 catches, 3 TDs) and Dylan Collie, a grad transfer from the University of Hawaii. If the running game can find its footing (only 131 ypg last season) the Cougars should easily improve upon their 17.1 ppg, a figure that was 124th nationally. The defense went to more of a man look after utilizing zone for years under Bronco Mendenhall, and lack of turnovers (17 for the season) hurt big time. The front isn't bad, with Corbin Kaufusi (67 tackles, 6 sacks) leading the way, and linebacker Sione Takitaki (79 tackles, 5 sacks) has big-time breakout potential. Another tough schedule, featuring trips to Wisconsin, Washington and Boise State, could prove daunting, but there is enough talent and experience here to improve on last year's win total.

UMass won just four times last year, but lost at Tennessee by just four and at Mississippi State by 11. So the pieces are in place for a bowl breakthrough, a first since the Minutemen moved up to FBS in 2012. UMass has one of the best pitch and catch combos in Andrew Ford (63.2%, 22 TD, 4 INT) to Andy Isabella (65 catches, 15.7 ypc, 10 TD), and with seven other starters back the offense could be better than last year's (30.6 ppg). The defense had its moments but was too inconsistent for true success, especially against the run (4.9 ypc). A retooled defensive line may not help, but linebacker Bryton Barr returns after leading the team in tackles (105), and corner Isaiah Rodgers (50 tackles, 3 INT, 14 PBU) is a shutdown type who helped UMass allow just 53.3 percent competions last season, 16th nationally. Trips to Boston College, Ohio U and Georgia highlight the schedule.

New Mexico State went to its first bowl game since 1960 last season, and hopes for back to back postseason appearances. That might be tough as their top three offensive players are gone -- QB Tyler Rogers, RB Larry Rose and WR Jaleel Scott. The offensive line returns intact, and wideout OJ Scott (47 catches, 3 TDs) brings much needed experience to that group. The defense shows monumental improvement, allowing 29.7 points, down from 38.8 in 2016. Under the guidance of DC Frank Spaziani, the Aggies set a school record with 43 sacks. His attacking style fits the personnel perfectly, as three players went over 100 tackles last year. Linebacker Terrill Hanks (111 tackles, 7 sacks, 8 TFL) and safety Ron LaForce (104 tackles, 3 INT, 5 PBU) are keepers on the stop side and are among nine returning starters on that side of the ball.

Liberty makes the leap to FBS after going 6-5 in the Big South a year ago, and will have it work cut out to break .500 given a schedule that includes trips to Virginia and Auburn in November. Quarterback Steven Calvert (58.7%, 29 TD, 6 INT) set a school record for yardage (3,363) and has a live arm. Receivers Antonio Gandy-Golden (69 catches, 10 TDs) and Damian King (66 catches, 4 TD) are reliable, and the group has depth. The defense allowed over 30 points per game last year and could be worse this year with the tougher schedule. End Juwan Wells (74 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 6.5 TFL) is a standout while corner Jeremy Peters (36 tackles, 3 INT, 8 PBU) anchors a veteran secondary. Coach Turner Gill recruited well and brought in a lot of JUCO help, which means the Flames should be trending upward -- just not this season.

RISING: UMass
FALLING: New Mexico State
BOWL TEAMS (2): Notre Dame, Army

INDEPENDENT PROJECTED STANDINGS
1 Notre Dame (8-4)
2 Army (8-4)

3 Brigham Young (5-7)

4 UMass (5-7)

5 New Mexico State (5-7)

6 Liberty (2-10)

ALL-INDEPENDENT TEAM

OFFENSE
QB Andrew Ford/UMass

RB Darnell Woolfolk/Army West Point

RB Marquis Young/UMass

WR Andy Isabella/UMass

WR Chase Claypool/Notre Dame

WR Dylan Collie/Brigham Young

TE  Matt Bushman/Brigham Young

OL Sage Doxtater-Gronert/New Mexico State

OL Alex Bars/Notre Dame

OL Tommy Kraemer/Notre Dame

OL Bryce Holland/Army West Point

OL Sam Mustipher/Notre Dame

DEFENSE
DL Jerry Tillery/Notre Dame

DL Cedric Wilcots/New Mexico State

DL Corbin Kaufusi/Brigham Young

DL Kenneth Brinson/Army West Point

LB Te'Von Coney/Notre Dame

LB James Nachtigal/Army West Point

LB Terrill Hanks/New Mexico State

LB Drue Tranquill/Notre Dame

DB Julian Love/Notre Dame

DB Isaiah Rodgers/UMass

DB Ron LaForce/New Mexico State

DB Nick Coleman/Notre Dame

SPECIALISTS

 K  Alex Probert/Liberty

 P   Payton Theisler/New Mexico State

KR Marquis Young/UMass

PR Michael Shelton/Brigham Young