Note: The following was written by Scott Keeler, who worked as a reporter at the Greenville News for more than 25 years. This is the second in a three-part series of previews of Southern Conference football teams ahead of the 2017 season. The final edition will be posted Thursday, Aug. 24. “Keeler’s Corner” will also appear throughout the season.
Keeler can be found on Twitter @Scott_Keeler.
MERCER
2016 record: 6-5, 4-4 SoCon
Offensive starters returning: 7
Defensive starters returning: 5
Specialists returning: 2
After a 1-6 showing in its Southern Conference debut in 2014, Mercer went 2-5 in league play in 2015 before breaking even in the SoCon at 4-4 last season. To continue that upward trajectory, the Bears will have to overcome something the football program hasn’t dealt with in 75 years – the graduation of a senior class.
Mercer said goodbye to 30 seniors from coach Bobby Lamb’s first recruiting class following the 2016 season. Those players help restore a program that ceased play following the 1941 season. What was originally supposed to be a non-scholarship team as the Bears tipped their toes back in the water upon resuming football, Mercer ended up diving in the deep end one year later by joining the SoCon.
Lamb credits that first recruiting class as building a well-positioned foundation for the returning Bears to make even stronger.
“For us to be in that mix (of SoCon playoff contenders), we’re going to have to play a little bit better, step up in our recruiting – which we’ve done, and step up our offseason program – which we’ve also done,” Lamb said. “We did lose 30 seniors, but we’ve got the nucleus of our team coming back.”
While Mercer lost quarterback John Russ and three starting linemen from last year’s offense, it returns seven starters. Those include preseason All-SoCon first-team picks in offensive lineman Thomas Marchman and tight end Sam Walker and second-team selections in wide receiver Marquise Irvin and offensive lineman Caleb Yates.
Irvin led the Bears with 65 receptions for 766 yards and seven touchdowns (including one in six consecutive games) last season. Fellow receiver Chandler Curtis, who caught six touchdowns in just eight games, is back and is the preseason All-SoCon second-team return specialist.
Running back Alex Lakes, who is Mercer’s career leader in rushing yards (2,248) and touchdowns (28), is back. The Bears could also get a boost from junior running back C.J. Leggett, who began his collegiate career at Georgia Tech.
“C.J. had a really good spring. … He really got a lot more carries than your typical running backs would get in the spring and didn’t get nicked up,” Lamb said.
Defensively, Mercer returns three of its top four tacklers from 2016 in linebackers Lee Bennett (63), LeMarkus Bailey (56) and defensive back Eric Jackson (56). Linebacker Will Coneway also returns after registering 51 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and five pass break-ups despite not starting a game last year.
Defensive end Isaiah Buehler, a preseason All-SoCon second-team pick, leads the Bears up front. Naji Abdullah, a transfer from Virginia, could also provide a spark along the line.
After winning five games by eight points or fewer last season, Mercer is thankful to have kicker Cole Fisher back. The preseason All-SoCon first-team selection was 16-of-23 on field goals last year and converted all 34 of his extra points.
Mercer opens the season on Thursday, Aug. 31, when the Bears host Jacksonville at 7 p.m.
SAMFORD
2016 record: 7-5, 5-3 SoCon
Offensive starters returning: 5
Defensive starters returning: 7
Specialists returning: 2
Samford’s high-flying passing attack lost some ammunition from a record-breaking 2016 season, but the gunslinger is back in 2017. Junior quarterback Devlin Hodges is the preseason pick for Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year after posting single-season school records in total offense (4,310 yards), passing yards (4,088), passing touchdowns (36), completions (375), attempts (530) and completion percentage (70.8).
Hodges, who’s one of 22 FCS players on this year’s Walter Payton Award watch list, ranked second in the nation in total offense per game (359.2 yards), and was third nationally in passing yards and touchdowns. He also set the school single-game record for total offense (513 yards) in Samford’s 56-41 loss at Mississippi State.
“It’s not often that you face someone with the mind and the arm of Devlin, so seeing him every day in practice only makes you a whole lot better,” said Bulldog standout cornerback Omari Williams.
While Samford’s graduated quite a few of Hodges’ targets from 2016, including all-time leading receiver Karel Hamilton, preseason All-SoCon first-team receiver Kelvin McKnight is back. McKnight caught 70 passes for 896 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
“We signed three freshman receivers and they will all be given a good shot to play this season,” Samford coach Chris Hatcher said.
The Bulldogs also return leading rusher K’rondis Larry. While Larry ran for 482 yards in the pass-happy offense, he averaged 5.8 yards per carry. Larry’s talents may be utilized more this season as Hatcher hopes for a bit more balance this season.
“We’re always going to favor the pass a little more, but when we need to run the ball, we’ve got to do a better job of that this year,” Hatcher said. “That’s been a huge point of emphasis for us.”
Samford returns seven starters on defense, including a trio of preseason All-SoCon first-team selections in defensive lineman Ahmad Gooden, linebacker Shaheed Salmon and Williams.
No SoCon defensive lineman had more tackles that Gooden, who had 70, last season. Gooden also was second in the league in sacks (eight) and tackles for loss (15).
Salmon ranked eighth in the SoCon with 93 tackles, including 13 for loss. He also had seven pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and an interception. Williams, who collected 68 tackles, led the SoCon in passes defended (19) with team highs in passes broken up (15) and interceptions (four).
“We’re very young at wide receiver and on the offensive line, very talented, but just a bunch of guys who haven’t played a lot of snaps,” Hatcher said. “I think defense is going to be our strength and the area that gets us through the early part of the year.”
The Bulldogs also return preseason All-SoCon second team punter Austin Barnard. Barnard averaged 41.7 yards per punt and had 26 touchbacks on kickoffs.
Samford will look to extend its school record to a seventh consecutive winning season beginning Thursday, Aug. 31, when the 19th-ranked Bulldogs host Kennesaw State at 6 p.m. (CST).
CHATTANOOGA
2016 record: 9-4, 6-2 SoCon
Offensive starters returning: 5
Defensive starters returning: 5
Specialists returning: 2
Chattanooga saw its run of three consecutive Southern Conference championships come to an end in 2016. While it finished as a runner-up, the Mocs advanced to the FCS playoffs again. Coincidentally, on the same December day that the Mocs fell at No. 1 Sam Houston State 41-36 in the FCS playoffs, John Carroll won at No. 1-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater in the Division III playoffs. Sixteen days later, John Carroll head coach Tom Arth was hired as Chattanooga’s new head coach.
Arth, a former NFL quarterback, comes to Chattanooga after posting a 40-8 record in four seasons at his alma mater. Arth guided John Carroll to the Ohio Athletic Conference championship last season, snapping Mount Union’s run of 24 consecutive OAC titles.
“It’s an outstanding opportunity for us to come into a program that’s so well established,” Arth said. “(Previous Chattanooga) Coach (Russ) Huesman did such an incredible job, not only recruiting but certainly preparing his players.
“We’ve been so fortunate to have the opportunity to coach guys who’ve embraced us from the moment we met them and been nothing but exceptional in every interaction we’ve had.”
Arth inherits a team that graduated five All-Americans but is still loaded with talent. The Mocs return 47 letterwinners, their most since 1997, including 10 preseason selections on the All-SoCon team.
Offensive linemen Josh Cardiello and Malcolm White made the first team and second team, respectively, while a trio of skill position Mocs made the second team in quarterback Alejandro Bennifield, running back Richarde Bagley and wide receiver James Stovall. They helped Chattanooga average 34.2 points per game.
Bennifield threw for 2,622 yards and 26 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. He also ran for 377 yards and six touchdowns.
“It’s been fun to actually learn from a guy (Arth), who’s played quarterback professionally,” Bennifield said.
Defensively, the Mocs are coming off a season in which they finished sixth in the FCS in total defense (294 yards per game allowed) and ninth in scoring (19.6 points).
There may be no player in the country more experienced than safety Lucas Webb, who has started all 40 games of his career and is a three-time All-SoCon first-team selection. He’s looking forward to his chance to be a senior leader.
“The players we’ve had come through here have been great. Even when I first stepped in as a redshirt freshman … I didn’t want to let those guys down,” Webb said. “They really set the standard on how to play to the best of your ability.”
Webb’s joined on the preseason All-SoCon first team by defensive end Isaiah Mack and linebacker Dale Warren. Mack tallied 14 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks last season, while Warren piled up 91 tackles, including a SoCon-best 19 for loss, and six sacks.
Defensive end Taylor Reynolds and cornerback Trevor Wright made the preseason All-SoCon second team. Safeties Kareem Orr, an Arizona State transfer, and Markell Boston, an Auburn transfer, could also make an impact.
No. 13-ranked Chattanooga gets a head start on the season as it faces No. 5 Jacksonville State in the Guardian Credit Union Kickoff Classic in Montgomery, Alabama, on Aug. 26.