Arena Fanatic

Independent Football Preview 2019

By Matt Hetzler

Army 12-1

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​Coach: Jeff Monken
Offensive Coordinator: Brent Davis
Defensive Coordinator: John Loose
Stadium: Blaik Field at Michie Stadium (38,000)
​

Last Five Year Win Totals

2018 11-2
​2017 10-3
2016 8-5

2015 2-10 
2014 4-8


Top Returners

Offense:
Passing
Kelvin Hopkins Jr., SR, QB

Rushing
Kelvin Hopkins Jr., SR, QB

Receiving
Kell Walker, SR, RB

Defense:
Interceptions:
Jaylon McClinton, Sr, S

Sacks:
Edriece Patterson, JR, DE

Tackles:
Cole Christiansen. SR, LB

Army Schedule

Date Opponent Pick
Fri, Aug 30 vs Rice W
Sat, Sep 7 @ Michigan L
Sat, Sep 14 @ UTSA W
Sat, Sep 21 vs Morgan State W
Sat, Oct 5 vs Tulane W
Sat, Oct 12 @ Western Kentucky W
Sat, Oct 19 @ Georgia State W
Sat, Oct 26 vs San Jose State W
Sat, Nov 2 @ Air Force W
Sat, Nov 9 vs UMass W
Sat, Nov 16 vs VMI W
Sat, Nov 30 @ Hawai'i W
Sat, Dec 14 vs Navy * W

Schedule Analysis 

Biggest Game: Navy
Toughest Road Game: At Michigan

Quick Thoughts

​Jeff Monken has done a wonderful job, especially in the last two seasons. Army has won a total of 21 games since 2017 and there is little reason to believe that the Black Knights won’t add a double-digit total to this season. 

Kelvin Hopkins is the general of the offense. He’s not flashy, but he’s able to run the triple-option with precision. Connor Slomka will likely see more carries. Artice Hobbs will see a big jump in carries as he moves into the main role. Army’s OL is punishing and a top 15 unit in CFB. 

Defensively, there’s some turnover. They just replace 14 sacks on the defensive line. Cole Christiansen returns and is the leader on the defensive side. Army’s secondary is very good, returning most of the production from ‘18. 

Army should enter the season ranked in the Top 25 and they will end there. The schedule presents little challenge. I have Army winning 12 out of its 13 games. Army’s only loss will come at Michigan in week 2. Let’s hope they can make it game as they did against Oklahoma last season. 

BYU 6-6

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​Coach: Kalani Sitake 
Offensive Coordinator: Jeff Grimes
Defensive Coordinator: Ilaisa Tuiaki
Stadium: LaVell Edwards Stadium (63,470)

Last Five Year Win Totals

2018 7-6
​2017 4-9
​2016 9-4

2015 9-4
2014 8-5


Top Returners

Offense:
Passing
Zach Wilson, SO, QB

Rushing
Lopini Katoa, SO, RB

Receiving
Matt Bushman, JR, TE

Defense:
Interceptions:
Isaiah Kaufusi, JR, OLB and Austin Lee, SR, S

Sacks:
Lorenzo Fauatea, SO, DT

Tackles:
​Isaiah Kaufusi, JR, LB

BYU Schedule

DATE OPPONENT Picks
Thu, Aug 29 vs Utah L
Sat, Sep 7 @ Tennessee L
Sat, Sep 14 vs USC L
Sat, Sep 21 vs Washington L
Sat, Sep 28 @ Toledo W
Sat, Oct 12 @ South Florida W
Sat, Oct 19 vs Boise State L
Sat, Nov 2 @ Utah State L
Sat, Nov 9 vs Liberty W
Sat, Nov 16 vs Idaho State W
Sat, Nov 23 @ UMass W
Sat, Nov 30 @ San Diego State W

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: Utah
Toughest Road Game:
At Tennessee

Quick Thoughts

​BYU bounced back to bowl eligibility last season. A win in the Potato Bowl gave the Cougars momentum heading into the new season. With 17 returning starters, expectations will be high. QB Zach Wilson is the guy after spending time behind Tanner Mangum last season. Wilson’s Top 3 receivers a back and he’s working behind a veteran OL.

BYU loses its two best defensive players from a year ago. It’ll be hard to replace Kaufusi but there’s a reason to like the DL with Tonga and El-Bakri in the middle. The LB corps is stout. Isaiah Kaufusi should be put up Takitaki type numbers this season. The secondary is experienced with 3 returning starters. Kicker Skylar Southam hit 11-16 FG’s as a freshman. 

BYU has an absolutely brutal schedule. They open with Utah, at Tennessee, USC, and Washington. It’s hard to imagine them winning any of those games. The Cougars then get some very good G5 teams with Toledo, USF, Boise and Utah St. The back end of the schedule is where the W’s will have to come if they want to return to a bowl game. 

Liberty 8-4

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Coach: Hugh Freeze
Offensive Coordinator: Kent Austin and Maurice Harris
Defensive Coordinator: Scott Symons
Stadium: Williams Stadium (25,000)

Last Five Year Win Totals
2018 6-6

Top Returners

Offense:
Passing
Buckshot Calvert, SR, QB

Rushing
Frankie Hickson, SR, RB

Receiving
Antonio Gandy-Golden, SR, WR

Defense:
Interceptions:
Isaac Steele, JR, S and Bejour Wilson, SR, CB

Sacks:
Jessie Lemonier, SR, DE

Tackles:
Solomon Ajayi, SR, LB and Elijah Benton, SR, S

Schedule

DATE OPPONENT Picks
Sat, Aug 31 vs Syracuse L
Sat, Sep 7 @ Louisiana L
Sat, Sep 14 vs Buffalo W
Sat, Sep 21 vs Hampton W
Sat, Sep 28 vs New Mexico W
Sat, Oct 5 @ New Mexico State W
Sat, Oct 19 vs Maine W
Sat, Oct 26 @ Rutgers W
Sat, Nov 2 @ UMass W
Sat, Nov 9 @ BYU L
Sat, Nov 23 @ Virginia L
Sat, Nov 30 vs New Mexico State W

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: Syracuse
Toughest Road Game:
At Virginia

Quick Thoughts

​Liberty is one of the more interesting teams heading into the new season. Hugh Freeze was given his second chance and I honestly believe this team is going to win a lot of games. The offense put up tons of points last season and returns 8 starters. 

Stephen Calvert is a 3,000-yard passer. The running game will be stacked with Joshua Mack and Frankie Hickson (1,000-yard rusher last season). Antonio Gandy-Golden is a big-time playmaker on the outside. 

Defensively, Liberty was really bad last season and I’m not looking for this group to improve all that much. The Flames do return 7 guys, including DE Jessie Lemonier, who led the team with 10 sacks. Solomon Ajayi led the Flames in tackles and returns at MLB. The secondary is led by CB Bejour Wilson (10 PBU). 

The schedule presents itself with an opportunity to get bowl eligible in the programs first year of eligibly. I think this team is capable of winning 8 games. The offense is going to be phenomenal to watch. The Syracuse game is going to be an offensive display that shouldn’t be missed. Liberty gets a bowl game and Hugh Freeze starts to build a consistent winner. 

New Mexico State 1-11

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Coach: Doug  Martin 
Offensive Coordinator: Doug Miller
Defensive Coordinator: Frank Spaziani
Stadium: Aggie Memorial Stadium (30,343)

Last Five Year Win Totals
2018 3-9
​2017 7-6
​2016 3-9
2015 3-9

2014 2-10


Top Returners

​Offense:
Passing
Josh Adkins, SO, QB

Rushing
Christian Gibson, SR, RB

Receiving
OJ Clark, SR, WR

Defense:
Interceptions:
4 players tied at 1

Sacks:
Cedric Wilcots II, SR, DE

Tackles:
​Javahn Ferguson, SR, LB

Schedule

DATE OPPONENT Pick
Sat, Aug 31 @ Washington State L
Sat, Sep 7 @ Alabama L
Sat, Sep 14 vs San Diego State L
Sat, Sep 21 @ New Mexico L
Sat, Sep 28 vs Fresno State L
Sat, Oct 5 vs Liberty L
Sat, Oct 12 @ Central Michigan L
Sat, Oct 26 @ Georgia Southern L
Sat, Nov 9 @ Ole Miss L
Sat, Nov 16 vs Incarnate Word W
Sat, Nov 23 vs UTEP L
Sat, Nov 30 @ Liberty L

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: UTEP
Toughest Road Game:
At Alabama


Quick Thoughts

​Doug Martin enters his 7th season in Las Cruces. A season removed from the Aggies first bowl appearance in 57 years, New Mexico State won just 3 games in 2018. QB Josh Adkins needs to take a step forward after a decent freshman season. Jason Huntley is the do-everything type running back. He’s the leading returner in catch total with 47. 

On the defensive side of the ball, the Aggies will really struggle. Leading tackler LB Javahn Ferguson returns. DE Cedric Wilcots led the Aggies in sacks with 7, last season. This is a defense that gave up over 41 pts per game. It’s going to rough year for the Aggies, 3-4 wins would be a massive achievement. 

 Notre Dame 12-0

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​Coach: Brian Kelly
Offensive Coordinator: Chip Long
Defensive Coordinator: Clark Lea
Stadium: Notre Dame Stadium (78,000) 

Last Five Year Win Totals

2018 12-1
2017 10-3
2016 4-8

2015 10-3
2014 8-5


Top Returners

​Offense:
Passing
Ian Book, SR, QB

Rushing
Tony Jones Jr., JR, RB

Receiving
Chase Claypool, SR, WR
​
Defense
Interceptions
Jalen Elliott​, SR, S
​
Sacks:
Julian Okwara, SR, DE

Tackles:
Alohi Gilman, JR, S


Schedule

DATE OPPONENT Pick
Mon, Sep 2 @ Louisville W
Sat, Sep 14 vs New Mexico W
Sat, Sep 21 @ Georgia W
Sat, Sep 28 vs Virginia W
Sat, Oct 5 vs Bowling Green W
Sat, Oct 12 vs USC W
Sat, Oct 26 @ Michigan W
Sat, Nov 2 vs Virginia Tech W
Sat, Nov 9 @ Duke W
Sat, Nov 16 vs Navy W
Sat, Nov 23 vs Boston College W
Sat, Nov 30 @ Stanford W

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: At Georgia
Toughest Road Game:
At Michigan

Quick Thoughts

Notre Dame was a surprise team in the CFP last season. There are plenty of key guys back to make a return trip in 2019. Ian Book is one of the best QB in the country. Book didn’t start in 2018, but when he got his chance, he never lost the job. His 68% completion rate was one of the best in CFB. Jafar Armstrong will look to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing behind a veteran OL. Chase Claypool is a big-time target on the outside. 

The defense is solid. Khalid Kareem and Julian Okwara are fierce edge rushers. Coney will be missed at LB. The Irish lost Julian Love in the secondary. Despite that, Notre Dame has one of the best secondaries in CFB. Troy Pride is the next big CB prospect. Elliot and Gilman are two of the top safeties in the nation. 

There’s a lot to like about this Irish team. Looking at the schedule, there are just two games that are potential losses for the Irish. Road trips to Georgia and Michigan. After an embarrassing blowout loss to Clemson and having to hear about how they didn’t deserve to be there (I may have been their biggest critic), I think Notre Dame enters the season looking to prove it belongs among the CFB elite. 

That’s why I have the Irish running the table and getting back to the CFP playoffs. Ian Book puts together a great season and gets to New York. 


UMass 2-10

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​Coach: Walt Ball
Offensive Coordinator: Walt Ball
Defensive Coordinator: Azzaar Abdul-Rahim and Tommy Restivo
Stadium: William P. McGuirk Alumni Stadium (17,000)

Last Five Year Win Totals

2018 4-8
​2017 4-8
​2016 2-10

2015 3-9
2014 3-9


Top Returners

​Offense:
Passing
Micheal Curtis, SR, QB
​
Rushing
Bilal Ally, SR, RB

Receiving
Sadiq Palmer, SR, WR
​
Defense:
Interceptions:
Isaoah Rodgers, SR, CB

Sacks:
Jake Byczko, JR, DE

Tackles:
Chinedu Ogbonna, JR, LB

Schedule

DATE OPPONENT Pick
Fri, Aug 30 @ Rutgers L
Sat, Sep 7 vs Southern Illinois W
Sat, Sep 14 @ Charlotte L
Sat, Sep 21 vs Coastal Carolina W
Sat, Sep 28 vs Akron L
Sat, Oct 5 @ Florida International L
Sat, Oct 12 @ Louisiana Tech L
Sat, Oct 26 vs UConn L
Sat, Nov 2 vs Liberty L
Sat, Nov 9 @ Army L
Sat, Nov 16 @ Northwestern L
Sat, Nov 23 vs BYU L

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: Coastal Carolina
Toughest Road Game:
At Army


Quick Thoughts

​There’s a new face at the top of the helm in Amherst, Walt Bell. Bell is tasked with possibly the hardest coaching job in FBS football. Add in the fact that he inherits a depleted roster, things will take time. It’s very rare that I am unable to find positive things about a program. 

Offensively the Minutemen will be a mess. JUCO QB Andrew Brito will have a tough time behind a revamped OL and a lack of quality skill guys. WR Brennon Dingle is the best athlete for UMass. On defense, I really like Isaiah Rodgers at corner. I don’t see a path to match last seasons win total for UMass. Bell will have to start from scratch. I like a win ceiling of 2. 

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