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| Nathan Rourke (Athens Messenger) |
Ohio does appear to be the class of the East, but it lost a bunch of talent on the offensive line, and that is the bread and butter for run-centric coach Frank Solich. There is also a dearth of experience in the backfield after the departure of AJ Ouellette and Maleek Irons exhausted their eligibility. There is SOME good news in Athens, however -- the return of QB Nathan Rourke (60%, 23-8, 15 rush TDs). The senior has become much more of a passing threat since the day he arrived on campus, and he could be in line for a special season. Whether or not there is enough around him is the question. The defense was solid a year ago, allowing 24.6 ppg, and held foes to just 4.3 ypc. Jamal Hudson (12 PBU) and Javon Hagan (78 tackles, 4 PBU) anchor a good secondary. Early trips to Pittsburgh and Marshall will tell the Bobcats how good they are.
It could be another solid season in Buffalo, but the Bulls will be hard-pressed to duplicate last year's surprising 10-win campaign since QB Tyree Jackson went to the NFL and top receiver KJ Osborn transferred to Miami, Fla. But the cupboard is not bare as the 1-2 punch of Jaret Patterson (1013 yards, 14 TD) and Kevin Marks (845 yards, 13 TD) return, and should be more of the offensive focal point in 2019. Linebacker Khalil Hodge also exhausted his eligibility, which means it's time for James Patterson (77 tackles, 8 TFL) to step up. The Bulls face Penn State early but get both Ohio and Toledo at home, which is important as Buffalo has won nine of its last 12 UB Stadium.
Another team low on experience is Miami, which has just 10 back from last year's 6-6 squad. It was a season of could have beens as the RedHawks lost two games by a single point, to Army and Western Michigan and beat Ohio by two, so you have to wonder how good Miami could have been with a little consistency. The receiving corps should be good, led by all-league talent Jack Sorensen, but quarterback and running back and new starters. Doug Costin (52 tackles, 6 sacks, 3 PBU) is nasty in the middle of the defense but may not have enough help around him. A pair of Iowa transfers (Manny Rugamba and Cedric Boswell) could help the secondary, which is ironic since Miami opens the season against the Hawkeyes. They also have back to back road swings to Cincinnati and Ohio State and go to Western Michigan and Ohio.
One of the toughest jobs in America is making Kent State competitive, but second-year boss Sean Lewis looks to be doing just that. Even though the Flashes won just twice in 2018, they were much more competitive in years past. Evidence of that were one-point losses to Ohio and Akron, and one score setbacks to Illinois and Eastern Michigan. So it's coming along. As long as dual threat QB Woody Barrett stays healthy the offense could be good. Kent improved from 12.8 to 23.9 ppg last year, and with Barrett and all of his receivers and four O-line guys back, things should continue trending upward. The D is still a problem, allowing 36.7 ppg, and there is a decided lack of size within the unit. Lewis has mined the JUCO ranks to get better, and couple of those players could end up starting along the defensive line. Trips to Arizona State, Auburn and Wisconsin will put a ceiling on the win-loss record, but this is a team that is going the right direction.
Tom Arth hopes to bring the winning culture he had at DIII John Carroll to Akron, but his first year will be an uphill climb as only 10 players are back from last year's four-win squad. The offense was anemic (18.9 ppg), though QB Kato Nelson should be more consistent throwing the ball than he has been in previous seasons. Andre Williams is solid at one receiver spot and freshman Peter Hayes-Patrick could get a crack at a starting backfield spot. John Lako is a tackling machine from his linebacker spot, netting 120 stops and 9.5 TFLs last year. Safety Alvin Davis is among the league's best secondary players, but the Zips need to increase the talent level if they want to reach the heights Arth is hoping for.
Another first year head coach is on the scene at Bowling Green, where Scot Loeffler takes over after spending eight seasons as OC at Boston College, Virginia Tech, Auburn and Temple. Loeffler promises an uptick in offense, though that could be tough with one of the weaker talent collections in the MAC. He did a boost when ex-BC QB Darius Wade decided to transfer to BG, and he will be able to play immediately. Andrew Clair is underrated at running back (702 yards, 5 TD) but the Falcons must improve their 3.4 YPC if they are to go anywhere. The defense allowed 40 ppg last year but starts eight juniors and seniors, so the hope is they will be better.
Toledo is not used to suffering through 7-6 seasons, so you can bet the sting of last year is something Jason Candle reminds his players about. The Rockets scored 50 or more points six times last, but it was feast or famine as they averaged just 21.8 ppg in their five regular season defeats. An experience core of weapons is back, including QB Mitchell Guadagni, who endured an up and down season marred by injury. Bryant Koback is good out of the backfield and can relieve some of the pressure from the passing game. Jamal Hines is the best of a defense that got to opposing quarterbacks 34 times last season. The schedule is tricky, with the opener at Kentucky and a home game against BYU. Western Michigan and Northern Illinois also visit.
Experience is plentiful for Western Michigan, which is lurking in the weeds should Toledo fail to live up to billing. The Broncos have struggled a bit since the departure of coach PJ Fleck to Minnesota, but an offense that scored 32 ppg last year could be even better thanks to the veteran presence of QB Jon Wassink ((61.6%, 16-6). Most of his O-line returns, and LeVante Bellamy is one of the best runners in the MAC. The defense was good last year and has 10 back, led by DT Ralph Holley (29 tackles, 7 sacks) and LB Ali Fayad (34 tackles, 7.5 sacks). WMU goes to Michigan State and Syracuse and has to travel to Eastern Michigan, Toledo, Ohio and Northern Illinois in league play. If the Broncos navigate that schedule they will likely be looking at a league championship game berth.
Last year was just the second time since 2009 that Eastern Michigan managed a winning record. Much of the experience from last year departs, but a few key pieces are back, which keeps the Eagles in contention. Mobile quarterback Mike Glass showed real flashes of brilliance (61.1%, 9-1) last year in a shared role, but has the job all to himself now. Arthur Jackson (46 catches, 5 TD) is a force on the outside, and the ground game has a number of candidates. The defense was stout but returns just four, including corner Kevin McGill (6 PBU, 3 INT) and safety Vince Calhoun (84 tackles, 4 PBU). EMU opens with three straight road games, including Kentucky and Illinois, and has to go to Toledo and NIU.
Northern Illinois brought one of its own home when it tabbed Thomas Hammock as head coach. The ex-Huskies running back takes over for Rod Carey, who left for Temple, and he's kept the hard-nosed, physical culture of his predecessor. NIU allowed just 22.6 ppg last year and has a standout at each level -- DT Jack Heflin (33 tackles, 6 sacks), LB Antonio Jones-Davis (130 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 6 PBU) and S Mykelti Williams (75 tackles, 3 PBU, 2 INT). Defense isn't the issue in DeKalb, however. Rejuvenating an offense that managed just 20.8 ppg and scored in single digits four times is Hammock's challenge. He has Tre Harbison (1034, 5 TD) to hand off to and a tough minded offensive line. The Huskies to to Utah and Nebraska early and face Ohio and Toledo on the road.
It's pretty apparent that Jim McElwain is much better as a G5 coach than he is in the big time, so there should be optimism as he begins a stint at Central Michigan. The Chippewas have eight back on offense, but it's a new face, ex-Tennessee and Houston QB Quinten Dormady, that could be a real difference maker. There are some questions with the skill positions -- one reason CMU averaged just 15 ppg last season -- so new OC Charlie Frye has his work cut out. The defense wasn't bad, holding foes to 4.4 ypc and posting 28 sacks. Safety Devonni Reed had 97 tackles a year ago, but he doesn't have much help so the unit may struggle. Trips to Wisconsin, Miami Fla and Western Michigan could sap morale, though there is an easier stretch in the middle of the season with New Mexico State and Bowling Green.
The clock is ticking on Mike Neu, who has won just 10 games in three seasons at Ball State. The Cardinals have been bad defensively his entire tenure, but have nine returnees so this could be the year something happens. LB Ray Wilborn led the team with 83 stops, including 7.5 TFL and is the leader of the unit. Riley Miller is a standout at receiver, catching 61 passes and scoring seven times a year ago. An intact offensive line should help improve a ground attack that averaged just over four yards per tote. Ball State travels to NIU, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan but gets Toledo and Ohio at home.
MAC PREDICTIONS
EAST
1 Ohio (10-3, 6-2)*
2 Buffalo (7-5, 5-3)*
2 Miami, Ohio (6-6, 5-3)
4 Kent State (4-8, 3-5)
5 Akron (3-9, 2-6)
6 Bowling Green (2-10, 1-7)
WEST
1 Toledo (9-4, 7-1)*
2 Western Michigan (7-5, 5-3)*
2 Eastern Michigan (7-5, 5-3)*
2 Northern Illinois (6-6, 5-3)*
5 Central Michigan (4-8, 2-6)
5 Ball State (3-9, 2-6)
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Ohio over Toledo
* Bowl participant
ALL-MAC
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB Nathan Rourke/Ohio
RB Jaret Patterson/Buffalo
RB LeVante Bellamy/Western Michigan
WR Riley Miller/Ball State
WR Jack Sorenson/Miami
WR Arthur Jackson/Eastern Michigan
TE Giovanni Ricci/Western Michigan
OT Evin Ksiezarczyk/Buffalo
OT Steve Nielsen/Eastern Michigan
OG Mike Caliendo/Western Michigan
OG Jarrett LaRubbio/Miami
C Bryce Harris/Toledo
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DE Jamal Hines/Toledo
DE Ali Fayad/Western Michigan
DT Doug Costin/Miami
DT Ralph Holley/Western Michigan
LB Kyle Pugh/Northern Illinois
LB John Lako/Akron
LB Antonio Jones-Davis/Northern Illinois
CB Jamal Hudson/Ohio
CB Kevin McGill/Eastern Michigan
S Javon Hagan/Ohio
S Alvin Davis/Akron
FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS
K Ryan Tice/Central Michigan
P Michael Farkas/Ohio
RS Kobe Lewis/Central Michigan
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB John Wassink/Western Michigan
RB Bryant Koback/Toledo
RB Tre Harbison/Northern Illinois
WR Andre Williams/Akron
WR Jaylen Hall/Western Michigan
WR Cameron Odom/Ohio
TE Zac Lefebrve/Buffalo
OT Jordan Steckler/Northern Illinois
OT Cameron Bell/Toledo
OG Paul Nosworthy/Buffalo
OG Brett Kittrell/Ohio
C Luke Juriga/Western Michigan
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DE Nick Faulkner/Kent State
DE Amos Ogun-Semore/Ohio
DT Jack Heflin/Northern Illinois
DT LaQuan Johnson/Central Michigan
LB Christian Albright/Ball State
LB Drake Spears/Western Michigan
LB Jared Dorsa/Ohio
CB Jamal Parker/Kent State
CB Justin Clark/Toledo
S Vince Calhoun/Eastern Michigan
S Mykelti Williams/Northern Illinois
SECOND TEAM SPECIALISTS
K Matthew Trickett/Kent State
P Jake Julien/Eastern Michigan
RS Jeremiah Knight/Akron
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Nathan Rourke
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Antonio Jones-Davis
COACH OF THE YEAR: Frank Solich/Ohio
TOP NEWCOMER: QB Quentin Dormady/Central Michigan
TOP FIVE GAMES (NONCONFERENCE)
Toledo at Kentucky (Aug 31)
Western Michigan at Michigan State (Sept 7)
Ohio at Pittsburgh (Sept 7)
Miami at Ohio State (Sept 21)
BYU at Toledo (Sept 28)
TOP FIVE GAMES (CONFERENCE)
Western Michigan at Toledo (Oct 5)
Northern Illinois at Ohio (Oct 12)
Eastern Michigan at Toledo (Oct 26)
Western Michigan at Ohio (Nov 12)
Toledo at Buffalo (Nov 20)
TOP FIVE INCOMING FRESHMEN
WR Cameron Coleman/Western Michigan
WR Trevor Wilson/Buffalo
RB Darius Boone/Eastern Michigan
WR Jake Rogers/Bowling Green
QB Kurtis Rourke/Ohio
TOP FIVE TRANSFERS
QB Quinten Dormady/Central Michigan (Houston)
QB Ross Bowers/Northern Illinois (California)
WR Cortez Lewis/Western Michigan (Wake Forest)
CB Qwuantrezz Knight/Kent State (Maryland)
QB Darius Wade/Bowling Green (Boston College)
TOP FIVE JUCO TRANSFERS
RB De'Montre Tuggle/Ohio
C Richard Bates/Eastern Michigan
DE Jabbar Price/Kent State
WR Tyrice Richie/Northern Illinois
WR Daniel Lee/Buffalo
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