College Football 2018 -- FCS Report

Easton Stick (The Spokesman-Review)

Another year, another title -- or an expected title, anyway.

That's how the Bison of North Dakota State approach every football season. NDSU has won six of the last seven crowns, including last year, and once again appears to be the cream of the crop for FCS football. With quarterback Easton Stick guiding the offense and defensive end Greg Menard leading the way for a ferocious defense, the Bison look to be in good shape for a repeat.

But it won't be easy.

Eastern Washington wants to show that it is not to be forgotten after a rare season out of the playoff mix. Quarterback Gage Gubrud is one of the best in the country, and the Eagles welcome back their five leading tacklers from a season ago.

James Madison has been the biggest thorn in North Dakota State's side, winning it all in 2016 and making the championship game last year. A bevy of offensive weapons awaits whomever wins the quarterback job, and the defense is in fine shape with corners Rashad Robinson and Jimmy Moreland.

Samford is a relative newcomer to the upper reaches of the rankings, but should not be overlooked. With 11 starters back on offense -- including All-America quarterback Devlin Hodges -- the Bulldogs could be nearly impossible to stop. The defense should be improved with lineman Ahmad Gooden leading the way.

After a surprising run to the national quarterfinals, experienced Kennesaw State wants more. The Owls have the nation's top rushing attack, fueled by quarterback Chandler Burks and running backs Jake McKenzie, Darnell Holland and Shaquil Terry. The D is in the hands of linebacker Bryson Armstrong, who won last year's FCS National Freshman of the Year award.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL FOCUS 2018 FCS TOP 25

1 North Dakota State

2 Eastern Washington

3 James Madison

4 Samford

5 Kennesaw State

6 Sam Houston State

7 Jacksonville State

8 South Dakota State

9 New Hampshire

10 North Carolina A&T

11 Delaware

12 Illinois State

13 Youngstown State

14 Weber State

15 Wofford

16 Nicholls

17 Idaho

18 Northern Iowa

19 Furman

20 Yale

21 Elon

22 Austin Peay

23 Montana

24 Northern Arizona

25 UC Davis

  

COLLEGE FOOTBALL FOCUS 2018 FCS ALL-AMERICA TEAM

OFFENSE

QB Devlin Hodges/Samford

RB Dom Bragalone/Lehigh

RB Marquell Cartwright/North Carolina A&T

WR Keelan Doss/UC Davis

WR Davion Davis/Sam Houston State

WR Neil O’Connor/New Hampshire

TE  Lawayne Ross/McNeese

OL Daniel Cooney/San Diego

OL Larry Allen III/Harvard

OL Mitchell Watanabe/Sam Houston State

OL Tanner Volson/North Dakota State

OL Iosua Opeta/Weber State

DEFENSE

DL Greg Menard/North Dakota State

DL Ahmad Gooden/Samford

DL Randy Robinson/Jacksonville State

DL Miles Brown/Wofford

LB De’Arius Christman/Grambling State

LB Christian Rozeboom/South Dakota State

LB Troy Reeder/Delaware

LB Warren Messer/Elon

DB Rashad Robinson/James Madison

DB Marlon Bridges/Jacksonville State

DB Robbie Grimsley/North Dakota State

DB Mac McCain/North Carolina A&T

SPECIALISTS

 K Chase Vinatieri/South Dakota State

 P Alex Pechin/Bucknell

KR Juwan Petit-Frere/SE Louisiana

PR Justice Shelton-Mosley/Harvard