The Red Zone Report | 2008 Sun Belt Conference Preview Part II

NCAA Football

2008 Sun Belt Conference Preview Part II

By Eddie Griffin ⋅ May 12, 2008 ⋅ Subscribe to The Red Zone Report

North Texas WR Casey Fitzgerald A few days ago, I posted the first part of the 2008 Sun Belt preview, which you can see here.

In the second half of the preview, I give my take on 2008’s key games, impact newcomers, and all-conference performers.

Key Non-Conference Games

Arkansas State went to Texas in their 2007 season opener and gave the Longhorns all they had and then some, even though they came up on the short end of a 21-13 scoreline. Florida Atlantic should do the same when they start out the season in Austin, and if FAU’s defense can force Colt McCoy and the Texas offense into some mistakes, and Rusty Smith can stay mistake-free on offense, it could be a nervous day for Longhorn fans.

Speaking of Arkansas State, they’ll be upset-minded when Southern Mississippi, who should be one of the favorites in Conference USA, comes to Jonesboro on Sept. 13.

Last November, ULM scored a huge upset when they went into Tuscaloosa and knocked off Alabama, and the Warhawks will have three chances to knock off another SEC team this season, as they play Auburn and Arkansas in the first two weeks of the season, and visit Ole Miss on November 15th.

Troy’s certainly not shying away from playing some of the nation’s big boys, as they’ll be going to defending national champion LSU, BCS runner-up Ohio State, and Oklahoma State, who should be fielding a pretty good team in 2008.

We’ll get to see just how improved Todd Dodge’s North Texas team is when they start the season against Kansas State, Tulsa, LSU, and Rice. While K-State and LSU are certain to be tough tests, so will Tulsa and Rice, whose powerful offenses will give the Mean Green’s defense a chance to assert themselves and build some confidence heading into Sun Belt play.

Key Conference Games

Troy vs. Middle Tennessee St., Aug. 28: Starting your season with a conference game can either give you momentum or give you some ground to make up right off the bat.

North Texas vs. FIU, Oct. 4: Last year’s bottom teams return a lot of talent, and after starting the season with some tough non-conference games, opening up Sun Belt play against one another will be a big indicator of where both of these teams stand in regards to improvement.

ULL at ULM, Oct. 4: I think these two teams have the talent to make a run at the conference title, and whoever comes out on top in the SBC opener for these Louisiana rivals will get their potential title challenge off to the perfect start.

FAU vs. Troy, Oct. 7: A week after starting Sun Belt play with a nationally-televised showdown at MTSU, the Owls will be on ESPN2 for the second straight game when they host Troy in what should be a thriller. After FAU ripped the Sun Belt title and a bowl bid away from the Trojans in their backyard in a 38-32 thriller in last year’s regular-season finale, Troy will have a little payback - and a valuable leg up in the title race - on their minds.

ULM vs. FAU, Oct. 25: ULM starts conference play with four of their first five conference games at home, and if they want to be serious title contenders, they’ll have to try to make a perfect run through those games (vs. ULL, at Arkansas St., vs. UNT, vs. FAU, vs. Troy). The Warhawks handed FAU their only conference loss last year, in a 33-30, three-overtime road win at Lockhart Stadium, so ULM should feel pretty good about their chances of holding serve at home.

Impact Newcomers

North Texas had one of the worst defenses in the country, and Todd Dodge stressed defense in the Mean Green’s 2008 recruiting class. There should be a couple of immediate contributors in the defense, in JC LB/DE Alonzo Horton, who played for a season at Auburn, and originally committed to Ole Miss before switching his commitment to UNT, JC safety Justin Edwards (120 tackles in 2007 at Eastern Arizona), and JC cornerback Adryan Adams, a four-star recruit on Scout.com.

While Frank Goodin is likely the starter at ULM, expect recruit Luther Ambrose to make an early impact somewhere. The 5′9, 160 pound Ambrose was timed at 4.29 in the 40 at a Scout.com combine last year, and that speed will get him on the field immediately.

Troy signed a receiver in the 2008 class that could see the field for the Trojans right away in speedster Charles Reeves, who had offers from some of the country’s top programs, and could really prove to be difference-makers, certainly in the future if not this year.

All-Conference Team

QB: Rusty Smith, FAU
RB: Tyrell Fenroy, ULL
RB: Reggie Arnold, Arkansas St.
WR: Cortez Gent, FAU
WR: Casey Fitzgerald, North Texas
TE: Jason Harmon, FAU
OL: Matt Mandich, Arkansas St.
OL: Dion Small, Troy
OL: Chris Fisher, ULL
OL: John Rizzo, FAU
OL: Chris Jamison, Troy

DL: Kenny Mainor, Troy
DL: Robert St. Clair, FAU
DL: Trevor Jenkins, Middle Tennessee St.
DL: Jervonte Jackson, FAU
LB: Frantz Joseph, FAU
LB: Boris Lee, Troy
LB: Antwyne Zanders, ULL
DB: Tavious Polo, FAU
DB: Greg James, ULM
DB: Corey Small, FAU
DB: Sherrod Martin, Troy

Kicker: Warley Leroy, FAU
Punter: Scott Love, ULM
Kick Returner: DiIvory Edgecomb, FAU
All-Purpose: Desmond Gee, Middle Tennessee St.

Sun Belt Player of the Year: Rusty Smith, QB, Florida Atlantic
Offensive Player of the Year: Rusty Smith, QB, FAU
Defensive Player of the Year: Frantz Joseph, LB, FAU
Newcomer of the Year: Luther Ambrose, RB, ULM
Coach of the Year: Charlie Weatherbie, ULM