In the FCS Huddle: Southern Conference spring football primer

Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – The Southern Conference has been through a season without former powers Appalachian State and Georgia Southern and is working to repair its stature in FCS circles.

SoCon teams other than Chattanooga barely made a dent in FCS national rankings last season and the Mocs were their only playoff qualifier after the conference had two or more in each of the previous four seasons.

The solution for moving on toward improvement might be all the returning players as veteran rosters abound across the conference this spring.

Chattanooga loses some of its key players, so the rest of the conference hopes to close the gap on last year’s unbeaten champion.

SoCon newcomer East Tennessee State football will compete as an FCS independent program in 2015 and then join the conference schedule in 2016.

Here’s a look across the Southern Conference with spring practices getting underway across the nation:

STORY LINES

East Tennessee State is returning to football for the first time since 2003. Coach Carl Torbush, an eastern Tennessee native was a head coach previously at Louisiana Tech and North Carolina, is known for being an excellent defensive strategist.

Samford has a new coach, but he’s familiar to the Southern Conference as Chris Hatcher guided former member Georgia Southern from 2007-09. He promises to unveil his familiar high-powered offense, although last year’s offensive coordinator, Travis Trickett, was one of five assistant coaches retained.

VMI also starts new with Scott Wachenheim. One of the ways he is trying to improve the 2-10 squad is switching the Keydets from a 3-4 base scheme to 4-3. They allowed 41.4 points per game last year.

Chattanooga played last season with a chip on its shoulder after being the one SoCon tri-champion in 2013 left out of the FCS playoffs. After going unbeaten in last year’s conference race, the Mocs must guard against complacency as they become an even bigger target for opponents.

Coming off its best season in nearly a decade – a 7-5 record – Western Carolina has 20 returning starters, although the loss of linebacker Christon Gill and safety Ace Clark are big. Coach Mark Speir’s squad feature dynamic quarterback Troy Mitchell.

Mercer returns all 11 starters on both sides of the ball and continues to be a program on the rise under Bobby Lamb. The Bears’ lone SoCon win in their first season in the conference was against VMI, but they lost four games by seven points or less, including against Chattanooga and Samford.

Furman, a 2013 SoCon tri-champion, never recovered after quarterback Reese Hannon fractured his ankle early last season. Ironically, his eventual replacement, P.J. Blazejowski, suffered a broken ankle this offseason, and he will miss spring practices. But a team full of injuries last season will return 36 players with at least one career start.

The Citadel’s triple option will be powerful with the likes of Cam Jackson, Tyler Renew, Isiaha Smith and Vinny Miller working behind a veteran offensive line. The task of coach Mike Houston is replacing veteran quarterback Aaron Miller, perhaps with sophomore Dominique Allen.

Wofford coach Mike Ayers benefits from 19 returning starters (10 offense, nine defense) as it tries to get back to an elite level in the SoCon. The Terriers were 6-5 last season and just 5-6 in 2013, but they should really run the ball well with fullback Lorenzo Long, halfback Ray Smith and quarterback Evans Jacks.

THEY’RE BACK

Chattanooga senior left guard Synjen Herren, a two-year starter, suffered a season-ending knee injury on the last day of fall camp a year ago. His return will allow Corey Levin, the SoCon’s 2014 offensive lineman of the year, to move from guard back to his more natural left tackle.

On a defensive line which featured senior end Justin Oxendine, The Citadel’s defensive MVP last season was fellow end Joe Crochet as a sophomore.

Wofford nose tackle E.J. Speller has plenty of experience and figures to have his best season as a senior.

Mercer junior linebacker Tyler Ward surpassed 100 tackles in each of the Bears’ first two seasons as a program. He’s a rock in the middle.

Mitchell has all of his favorite targets back at Western Carolina – wide receivers Terryon Robinson, Spearman Robinson and Karnorris Benson.

Last year’s SoCon leader in tackles, Furman senior linebacker Cory Magwood, is back to build on his huge junior season. He will have a terrific running mate in Carl Rider, who logged just three plays last year before sustaining a season-ending torn labrum.

Samford has a 1-2-3 trio on offense with quarterback Michael Eubank, running back Denzel Williams and wide receiver and All-American candidate Karel Hamilton.

POSITION BATTLES

If position battles aren’t going on at East Tennessee State, something is definitely wrong. Torbush figures to be developing his two-deep late into fall camp before the Buccaneers open the season by hosting Big South start-up program Kennesaw State.

The depth at defensive end allowed Chattanooga to redshirt an experienced Toyvian Brand last season. With Mocs legend Davis Tull moving on, Brand will return to battle Vantrell McMillian for the open spot opposite Keionta Davis.

Furman will turn to sophomores Isaac Garcia and Antonio Wilcox as it tires to replace workhorse running back Hank McCloud.

If Allen doesn’t become The Citadel’s starting quarterback, redshirt freshmen Shon Belton and Jalen Lampkin and junior Dane Anderson are in the mix.

With the loss of its starting center and two guards, Samford has to stabilize the interior of its offensive line.

FIVE BREAKOUT PERFORMERS

Southern Conference opponents have yet to learn the ability of Mercer linebacker Tosin Aguebor. He was sidelined by injury last year, one year after collecting 10 sacks and earning 2013 Pioneer Football League first-team honors in the Bears’ first season. The Bears lacked a consistent pass rush without him.

Chattanooga coach Ross Huesman envisions senior linebacker A.J. Hampton coming out of the shadow of last year’s team leader in tackles, Muhasibi Wakeel, in the way Wakeel did after he replaced former Mocs All-American Wes Dothard.

VMI quarterback Al Cobb emerged as a freshman last season, but Wachenheim is an offensive line coach by trade, so he will want to get touches to running back Derrick Ziglar, who was injury-riddled last season.

Western Carolina linebacker Tyson Dickson had 44 tackles in the first half of his sophomore season before getting injured. He will have a larger role this season.

Furman always has terrific offensive linemen. Sophomore tackle Terrell Bush, who started the Paladins’ final five games last year, is primed to carve out his niche.

NUMBERS NEVER LIE

The SoCon leaders in rushing yards and touchdowns (Mercer’s Alex Lakes), all- purpose yards (Mercer’s Chandler Curtis) as well as passing yards (VMI’s Cobb) were freshmen last year.

In a conference usually full of strong rushing attacks, Wofford’s defense stood out in allowing only 107.5 yards per game on the ground.

Chattanooga knew how to control the ball behind quarterback Jacob Huesman, posting a plus-six turnover margin while leading the conference in average time of possession (33 minutes, 44 seconds).

The Citadel tallied only three interceptions in 344 attempts while finishing last in the SoCon in pass defense.

To take the next step in the standings, Western Carolina likely has to improve on its allowing opponents to convert 47.4 percent of third-down attempts.

SPRING PRACTICE DATES

With 2014 records in parentheses

Chattanooga (10-4, 7-0): March 20-April 18

The Citadel (5-7, 3-4): Feb. 17-March 14

East Tennessee State (new program): March 17-April 11

Furman (3-9, 2-5): Feb. 25-March 28

Mercer (6-6, 1-6): Feb. 8-March 4

Samford (7-4, 5-2): March 6-April 11

Western Carolina (7-5, 5-2): March 1-April 18

VMI (2-10, 1-6): April 8-May 1

Wofford (6-5, 4-3): March 2-30

Categorized in: NCAA Football