Athlon Sports: USF & our opponents

[Flowers4Heisman]

Athlon Sports: https://athlonsports.com/college-football/ranking-all-130-college-football-teams

61. USF

Life after Quinton Flowers begins for USF in 2018. The cupboard certainly isn’t bare for coach Charlie Strong, but the Bulls will miss the dynamic, all-around playmaking ability from Flowers. Vying to replace him at quarterback is a trio of candidates. Junior Brett Kean and sophomore Chris Oladokun finished spring locked into a tight battle for the starting job, with Arizona State transfer Blake Barnett joining the competition this summer. Until a quarterback emerges, USF can lean on its line and ground game to carry the offense. The backfield features Florida transfer Jordan Cronkrite and sophomore Elijah Mack to replace D’Ernest Johnson and Darius Tice. Senior Tyre McCants is one of the top receivers in the AAC. The defense made major strides under Strong’s watch last season. The Bulls gave up 31.6 points a game two years ago but cut that total to 23.5 in 2017. Strong does have a few voids to fill at every level, but there’s more than enough of a foundation to keep this unit near the top of the AAC. Tackles Deadrin Senat and Bruce Hector, along with defensive back Deatrick Nichols and linebacker Auggie Sanchez will be missed. If USF finds the right answer at quarterback, the Nov. 23 showdown against UCF could be for the AAC East Division title.

 

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Sep 8 (Sat) 12:00 PM

42. Georgia Tech

The Yellow Jackets missed out on a bowl game for just the second time under coach Paul Johnson. However, Georgia Tech wasn’t too far from a postseason trip due to four losses by no more than four points. While contending for the Coastal Division title is too steep of a hill to climb, the Yellow Jackets should rebound and get back to a bowl game. Quarterback TaQuon Marshall leads the way for the flexbone attack, recording 1,146 rushing yards in his first year as the starter. Fellow 1,000-yard rusher KirVonte Benson joins him in the backfield, with Qua Searcy and Clinton Lynch providing support. Marshall won’t throw it a ton, but the coaching staff would like to see his completion percentage tick up after connecting on just 37.1 percent of his passes last year. Johnson’s hire of Nate Woody as the program’s new defensive coordinator is one of the ACC’s top assistant moves for 2018. Woody has promised to install more of an attacking scheme and returns five starters, including linebacker Brant Mitchell and end Anree Saint-Amour. Woody’s biggest area of concern is in the secondary. The Yellow Jackets lost a couple of key players from last season and safety A.J. Gray retired due to medical reasons. Former USC transfer Lamont Simmons is one potential answer at cornerback, while Wofford graduate transfer Malik Rivera could help right away at safety. Freshman Tre Swilling is another name to remember in the secondary.

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Sep 15 (Sat) 3:30 PM

95. Illinois

Lovie Smith has struggled to get Illinois on track. The Fighting Illini are just 5-19 over the last two years and enter 2018 with question marks on both sides of the ball. In an effort to hit the reset button last fall, Smith and the coaching staff went with a youth movement. That decision produced a handful of promising players for 2018, including receiver Ricky Smalling, tight end Louis Dorsey, running back Mike Epstein, defensive linemen Bobby Roundtree and Isaiah Gay, and cornerback Nate Hobbs. That core will be the focal point for improvement this fall and beyond, but the biggest concern for this team remains at quarterback. Sophomore Cam Thomas is the frontrunner, but he will be pushed by incoming freshmen Coran Taylor, Matt Robinson and MJ Rivers, along with Virginia Tech graduate transfer A.J. Bush. With few seniors expected to find a place in the starting lineup this season, Illinois’ 2018 season is all about growth and development. If the Fighting Illini can be more competitive and find an answer at quarterback, Smith and the staff can feel better about the future of this program for 2019 and beyond.

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Sep 22 (Sat) TBA

122. East Carolina

Scottie Montgomery could be facing a defining season for his tenure in Greenville. The Pirates are just 6-18 under Montgomery’s watch and lost eight games by 20 or more points in 2017. Montgomery is hoping a revamped staff, especially on defense, will help this program move forward in 2018. Quarterback Gardner Minshew chose to leave the program as a graduate transfer this offseason, leaving Reid Herring and true freshman Holton Ahlers to battle for the starting job. Regardless of who starts, getting the ball to senior receiver Trevon Brown (60 catches for 1,069 yards) is a must. Finding more punch out of a ground game that managed only 107.7 yards a game last season is also a priority. However, the biggest concern for Montgomery remains on defense. The numbers for East Carolina’s 2017 unit were staggering (and not in a good way). In its per-game totals, this defense gave up 45 points, allowed nearly 250 rushing yards and gave up over 540 yards. New play-caller David Blackwell has a tough assignment ahead, but there’s enough returning talent (and a fresh start) should help this group improve in 2018. With games against North Carolina, Virginia Tech and South Florida in September, Montgomery should quickly find out how far his team has progressed since last year.

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Oct 6 (Sat) 3:30 PM

107. UMass

The Minutemen finished 2017 by winning four out of their last six games, providing some momentum for coach Mark Whipple’s team. FBS Independence is tough path for this program, but the schedule is favorable enough to push for a bowl game in 2018. Boosting the chances for a postseason trip is the return of quarterback Andrew Ford. He threw for 2,924 yards and 22 touchdowns to just four picks last fall. Ford is the catalyst for the offense, but senior running back Marquis Young has rushed for at least 898 yards in each of the last three seasons. Tight end Adam Breneman will be missed, but Ford still has plenty of weapons to throw to. Senior Andy Isabella returns after catching 65 passes last year, while Sadiq Palmer, Brennon Dingle and Jessie Britt round out the secondary weapons. Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers doesn’t get a ton of national attention, but the junior is quietly having a strong start to his career. The line is the biggest concern for Whipple, as this group gave up nearly 200 rushing yards a game last season.

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Oct 12 (Fri) 7:00 PM

108. Tulsa

The Golden Hurricane entered 2017 having to replace quarterback Dane Evans, two 1,000-yard receivers and a 1,000-yard running back in James Flanders. While a drop off was expected, Tulsa surprisingly regressed to 2-10. Coach Philip Montgomery hopes to get this unit back on track in 2018, but question marks remain at quarterback. Chad President and Luke Skipper shared the job last season, with Skipper eventually emerging as the team’s best option. Assuming Skipper takes a step forward, the Golden Hurricane shouldn’t have a problem scoring points. Running back Shamari Brooks is one of the American Athletic Conference’s top rushers for 2018, and the line is solid with three returning starters. The receiving corps features Justin Hobbs (55 catches), Keenen Johnson (44) and Josh Stewart (13). Injuries took a toll on Tulsa’s defense last season, but this unit still has a ways to go. This unit gave up over 260 rushing yards a contest and allowed 37.5 points a game. The line is Montgomery’s top concern, while the secondary should improve thanks to the return of Manny Bunch and Jordan Mitchell from injuries. Considering Montgomery’s track record on offense, it’s unlikely Tulsa finishes with two wins once again. However, getting back to a bowl will require significant development from Skipper, along with better play in the trenches against the run on defense.

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Oct 20 (Sat) TBA

117. UConn

The Huskies are in rebuild mode in coach Randy Edsall’s second act in Storrs. New play-caller John Dunn takes over an offense that averaged 23.6 points a game in 2017 but improved its yards per play to 5.5 -- up from 4.8 the previous year. The 2018 unit features standout receiver Hergy Mayala (43 catches), and a solid one-two punch at running back with the return of Kevin Mensah and Nate Hopkins. Senior David Pindell threw for 937 yards in nine contests last year and takes over as the full-time starter under center. Pindell has good mobility but is still developing as a passer (52.8 percent). Edsall’s defense can only improve after giving up 37.9 points and over 500 yards a game last season. The defensive front must be revamped, but while the secondary is anchored by sophomore Tyler Coyle. Defensive back Marshe Terry is one of the unit's top returning players but is expected to shift to linebacker. With just five returning starters, marked improvement in the win column is likely a year or two away.

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Oct 27 (Sat) TBA

52. Houston

The top of the AAC West Division might be one of the toughest Group of 5 predictions to make this preseason. Houston, Memphis and Navy each have a case to be picked No. 1, and it should be a tight battle all year. Standout defensive tackle Ed Oliver is back for one more season, and he’s joined by a couple of transfers on that side of the ball. TCU transfer Isaiah Chambers is set to lineup next to Oliver, with former Miami linebacker Darrion Owens and defensive backs Deontay Anderson (Ole Miss) and Nick Watkins (Notre Dame) also expected to push for starting roles. Houston’s defense allowed only 23.8 points a game last fall and it could be even better in 2018. Coach Major Applewhite brought in former Baylor play-caller Kendal Briles to handle the offense after this unit ranked seventh in the AAC at 28.3 points a game in 2017. Briles’ up-tempo, spread attack should be a good fit for the personnel. Quarterback D’Eriq King is a dynamic playmaker, and transfers Terence Williams (RB) and Raelon Singleton (WR) fill immediate needs at the skill positions. After a 7-5 mark in his first year on the job, Applewhite didn’t sit idle this offseason. Instead, he upgraded the offense with the addition of Briles and added several impact transfers. While there are few concerns about talent, the schedule does not break in Houston’s favor. The Cougars play non-conference games against Texas Tech and Arizona and make treks to Memphis and Navy in league play.

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Nov 3 (Sat) TBA

90. Tulane

The Green Wave have made steady progress through coach Willie Fritz’s two seasons in New Orleans. And thanks to an offense poised to break out in 2018, Tulane should earn its first bowl trip since '13. Quarterback Jonathan Banks averaged 217.2 total yards a game in his first year on campus and should be even better this fall. Banks is supported by a line that returns four starters, and gains the services of South Alabama graduate transfer Noah Fisher. Senior Terren Encalade headlines a solid receiving corps, and Texas Tech transfer Corey Dauphine and converted quarterback Darius Bradwell lead the way at running back to alleviate the loss of Dontrell Hilliard. Fritz’s offense should be among the best in the AAC, but the defense enters 2018 with uncertainty. The line has to stop the run better after giving up 210.4 yards a contest last season, and top cornerback Parry Nickerson leaves big shoes to fill in the secondary. Cornerback Donnie Lewis and linebacker Zachery Harris are two building blocks for coordinator Jack Curtis this season. Assuming the offense takes off, Tulane should easily exceed last year’s five wins and potentially play spoiler against one of the AAC West’s top teams in 2018.

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Nov 10 (Sat) TBA

96. Cincinnati

Luke Fickell’s first team at Cincinnati resulted in a 4-8 record, but the future outlook for this program looks bright. Fickell is recruiting well, inking the No. 1 class in the American Athletic Conference by the 247Sports Composite. While there’s young talent moving through the program, 2018 is likely to be another transition season. The Bearcats ranked last in the AAC last fall by averaging 20.9 points a contest. Play-caller Mike Denbrock returns a proven quarterback in Hayden Moore and a couple of talented skill players in receiver Kahlil Lewis and running backs Gerrid Doaks and Michael Warren. However, the offense won’t improve without answers up front. Cincinnati returns just two starters in the trenches for 2018. The outlook is a little better on defense. The Bearcats could have one of the AAC’s top defensive lines thanks to the return of Cortez Broughton, Marquise Copeland and Kevin Mouhon. Perry Young collected 101 tackles last fall and is back to anchor the linebacker unit. If the offensive line stabilizes over the season, and the defense takes a step forward on the stat sheet, Cincinnati will have a good shot at exceeding last year’s four wins.

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Nov 17 (Sat) TBA

60. Temple

The Owls finished 2017 on a high note, winning four out their final five games to finish 7-6 in coach Geoff Collins’ debut. Collins hopes to build off that, as Temple returns enough talent to be the top threat to UCF in the AAC East. Quarterback Frank Nutile’s emergence in the second half was a big reason why the Owls finished fast. He ended the year with 12 touchdowns and 1,600 yards and should benefit from a full offseason to work as the starter. Nutile has two potential all-conference receivers at his disposal in Ventell Bryant and Isaiah Wright, while Ryquell Armstead is back to lead the way on the ground after rushing for 604 yards last fall. The biggest concerns for Collins in 2018 are on defense. The Owls must replace standout safety Sean Chandler and linemen Sharif Finch, Jacob Martin and Julian Taylor. Safety Delvon Randall and a trio of all-conference candidates at linebacker should ensure there’s not a big drop off after finishing fourth in the conference in scoring defense last fall. Temple catches Navy and Houston in crossover play and has a trip to UCF on tap in early November. However, USF visits Philadelphia, in a key contest for positioning within the AAC East.

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Nov 23 (Fri) TBA

31. Bas-tard-UCF

Whether it was the 13-0 record and a Peach Bowl victory over Auburn or the postseason celebration, UCF was seemingly in the headlines all year. The Knights hope to find that same level of success in 2018, but it won’t be easy. Every Group of 5 team that played in a New Year’s Six bowl has watched their win total decrease by three the following year. Adding to the challenge of high expectations was the departure of coach Scott Frost to Nebraska. New coach Josh Heupel has a similar background as Frost (offense) and is also a first-time head coach. Heupel shouldn’t make too many changes on an offense that averaged 48.2 points a game last fall. Quarterback McKenzie Milton is the catalyst for Heupel, averaging 357.7 total yards a game in 2017. Milton has the AAC’s top receiving corps at his disposal, while Adrian Killins and Otis Anderson provide big-play ability at running back. Restocking the line is Heupel’s biggest concern on offense. It’s a good thing UCF can simply outscore its opponents in 2018. New coordinator Randy Shannon inherits some challenges on defense. Standout cornerback Mike Hughes and linebacker Shaquem Griffin are now in the NFL. Additionally, this unit is transitioning to a 4-3 after utilizing a 3-4 alignment. Shannon does have players to work with, including tackle Trysten Hill, safety Kyle Gibson and linebacker Pat Jasinski. UCF’s schedule features tough road trips to Memphis and USF, while non-conference games against FAU, North Carolina and Pitt won’t be easy. Another unbeaten season will be difficult, but the Knights are still the team to beat in the American Athletic Conference.

Edited August 10, 2018 by Flowers4Heisman

[Vinsanity8404]

I just don't get how major sports services keep talking about top teams in our conference being #61 total. Every single year throughout our existence we have multiple teams in the top 25. It's like the people being paid to watch sports aren't watching sports

[Dave_Glaser]

31 minutes ago, Vinsanity8404 said:

I just don't get how major sports services keep talking about top teams in our conference being #61 total. Every single year throughout our existence we have multiple teams in the top 25. It's like the people being paid to watch sports aren't watching sports

Hard for me to believe Georgia Tech is worthy of being 20 spots in front of us, but we'll find out soon enough.

[El_Toro_86]

16 hours ago, Dave_Glaser said:

Hard for me to believe Georgia Tech is worthy of being 20 spots in front of us, but we'll find out soon enough.

I think I saw one publication that had them 3rd in the Coastal behind Miami and VTech.  I believe, they’re returning just about all of their offensive backfield.  Some prognosticators think they could surprise this year.

[Brad]

I think you’ll see them 3rd in the coastal here:

 

[E.T.]

22 hours ago, Vinsanity8404 said:

I just don't get how major sports services keep talking about top teams in our conference being #61 total. Every single year throughout our existence we have multiple teams in the top 25. It's like the people being paid to watch sports aren't watching sports

They pimp up programs that have laRGE FAN BASES ... it's about selling the product not an actual ranking.