2015 College Football Preview: Sun Belt

APPALACHIAN STATE MOUNTAINEERS

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 10
Defense: Starters Returning: 10
ASU returns 10 starters on an offense that scored 40.8 PPG during a seasonending, six-game win streak. QB Taylor Lamb (8.1 YPA, 17 TD, 9 INT; 483 rush yds) will continue to spread the wealth with senior WRs Malachi Jones (585 rec yds), Simms McElfresh (484 rec yds) and Montez McGuire (386 rec yds), but the offensive star is RB Marcus Cox (1,415 rush yds, 19 TD). The front seven is loaded with DE Ronald Blair (6 sacks) and ILB John Law (91 tackles), while FS Doug Middleton (4 INT) stands out in a quality secondary.

ARKANSAS STATE RED WOLVES

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 9
Defense: Starters Returning: 5
The Red Wolves will have a potent offense again with RB Michael Gordon (1,100 rush yds, 6.9 YPC, 13 TD), dual-threat QB Fredi Knighten (3,277 pass yds, 24 TD, 7 INT; 779 rush yds, 11 TD) and a trio of 600-yard receivers in WRs Tres Houston (685 yds), Dijon Paschal (642 yds) and J.D. McKissic (629 yds). The 4-2-5 defense lost most of its DBs, but the pass rush will remain fierce with DEs Ja’Von Rolland-Jones (8 sacks) and Chris Stone (7 sacks).

GEORGIA SOUTHERN EAGLES

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 5
Defense: Starters Returning: 7
The Eagles’ triple-option steamrolled its way to 381 rushing YPG on 7.1 yards per carry and 55 touchdowns last year. Junior RB Matt Breida (1,485 rush yds, 8.7 YPC, 17 TD) and QB Kevin Ellison (1,096 rush yds, 12 TD; 1,001 pass yds, 7.8 YPA) will continue to pile up yards. The defense is nothing special, but enough building blocks remain with DE Bernard Dawson (3 sacks), LB Antwione Williams (66 tackles, 3 sacks) and S Matt Dobson (3 INT).

GEORGIA STATE PANTHERS

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 8
Defense: Starters Returning: 9
GSU will try to snap an 11-game losing skid with a pass-happy offense run by QB Nick Arbuckle (3,283 pass yds, 7.7 YPA, 23 TD, 17 INT). Three of his top four pass catchers return in WR Donovan Harden (885 rec yds, 7 TD), WR Robert Davis (732 rec yds) and TE Joel Ruiz (478 rec yds). The dreadful D-Line needs to increase its 12 sacks, but the back seven is solid, led by senior LBs Joseph Peterson (97 tackles, 3 sacks) and Trey Payne (88 tackles, 6.5 TFL).

IDAHO VANDALS

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 6
Defense: Starters Returning: 7
Idaho’s offense needs to improve in all facets after producing 25.0 PPG (T-88th in FBS) and 5.21 yards per play (94th in nation) last year. QB Matt Linehan (2,540 pass yds, 6.7 YPA, 11 TD, 18 INT) made plenty of mistakes as a redshirt freshman, but benefits from the return of WR Dezmon Epps (980 rec yds in 2013), who was suspended in 2014. New DC Mike Breske (Wash St) has plenty of interior D-Line beef to allow space for star defenders DE Quinton Bradley (6 sacks) and OLB Marc Millan (102 tackles, 14.5 TFL).

LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE RAGIN’ CAJUNS

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 6
Defense: Starters Returning: 5
The versatile ULL offense revolves around RB Elijah McGuire (1,264 rush yds, 468 rec yds, 16 total TD), but QB Brooks Haack (20-23, 179 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT) is a better passer than departed QB Terrence Broadway. Promoted DC Melvin Smith has a thin D-Line, but LB Dominique Tovell (76 tackles), Arkansas transfer LB Otha Peters and S Tracy Walker (2 INT) are very productive.

LOUISIANA-MONROE WARHAWKS

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 6
Defense: Starters Returning: 8
ULM’s putrid ground game (69.5 rush YPG, 2.3 YPC, both 3rd-worst in FBS) gets RB DeVontae McNeal (8.4 YPC career) back healthy after missing 2014. Whoever starts under center has a pair of 800-yard wideouts in WRs Rashon Ceaser (872 yds) and Ajalen Holley (863 yds). The 3-3-5 defense should be stout with LBs Michael Johnson (8 sacks) and Hunter Kissinger (5 sacks).

NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 8
Defense: Starters Returning: 9
QB Tyler Rogers (FBS-high 23 INT) must make better decisions for the spread offense to increase its 24.5 PPG (92nd in FBS). WR Teldrick Morgan (903 rec yds) and RB Larry Rose (1,102 rush yds) carry this offense. New DC Zane Vance has to fix the nation’s worst run defense (309.9 rush YPG on 6.3 YPC), but Kawe Johnson (3 FF) and Jacob Nwangwa (49 tackles) are quality DBs.

SOUTH ALABAMA JAGUARS

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 3
Defense: Starters Returning: 2
The Jaguars welcome OC Bryant Vincent, RB D.J. Vinson (670 rush yds) and QB Cody Clements (14 TD, 8 INT) from UAB to run an up-tempo offense. The respectable 2014 defense has many new faces, but talent still exists with DE Jimmie Gipson (3 sacks), LB Kalen Jackson (UAB) and JUCO S Nigel Green.

TEXAS STATE BOBCATS

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 7
Defense: Starters Returning: 5
The ground game will be tough to stop again with star RB Robert Lowe (1,091 rush yds) and four returning O-Linemen, and QB Tyler Jones (22 TD, 7 INT) is underrated. Departed LB David Mayo leaves a gaping hole in the 4-2-5 defense, but the secondary is strong with CB David Mims (5 INT).

TROY TROJANS

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 7
Defense: Starters Returning: 6
New head coach Neal Brown (Kentucky) has plenty of work to do. The offense (21.8 PPG, 105th in FBS) could be more potent with QB Brandon Silvers (6.8 YPA, 11 TD, 3 INT) having completed a solid freshman year, but his supporting cast remains weak. The subpar defense (36.2 PPG, 111th in FBS) has little to be excited about besides FS Montres Kitchens (6 INT).