Last season, five of the MAC East’s seven members finished with at least a .500 record in conference play, with only Akron (3-5) and Kent State (1-7) finishing below even.
The division should be every bit as strong in 2008, and even the teams penciled in at the bottom in my predictions could make a run at the division title.
When it comes to talking about the MAC East’s depth this season, any conversation has to start with Miami of Ohio and Bowling Green, the East’s top two last season.
The RedHawks edged out the Falcons and the Bulls of Buffalo for the East’s berth in the MAC championship game, by virtue of their wins over the two teams (47-14 over BG and 31-28 over UB), and Shane Montgomery should have high hopes for his team to reach that point once again with a great deal of talent returning from last year’s team, especially on the defense.
Miami’s defense returns nine starters, led by reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year Clayton Mullins. The senior-to-be had a stellar 2007 (143 tackles, 13.5 for loss, four sacks), and is part of a stellar linebacking corps that also features another all-MAC honoree in Joey Hudson (99 tackles, 8 for loss, two sacks, two interceptions) and another ‘backer that should be in the mix for honors in Caleb Bostic (103 tackles, 11 for loss).
While that trio will be in the backfield on a regular basis, so will defensive end and third-team All-MAC honoree Joe Coniglio (41 tackles, 10.5 for loss, 6.5 sacks), and across from him, Travis Craven (4.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks).
The secondary will miss corner Jerrid Gaines, but with corner Robbie Wilson (75 tackles, 2 INT, 7 pass breakups) and the safety duo of Jordan Gafford (89 tackles, INT) and Jeff Thompson (58 tackles, 3 INT), there aren’t any worries in that department.
The key to the RedHawks’ title charge is on offense, where junior QB Daniel Raudabaugh (2,431 yards, 12 TD, 12 INT) returns after taking over starting duties from Mike Kokal last season. Raudabaugh must be more consistent this season - after a five-game stretch where he threw eight touchdowns and only two interceptions, he finished 2007 with two touchdowns and seven picks in the last three games. He certainly won’t be short of targets, as leading receivers Eugene Harris, Dustin Woods, Armand Robinson, and Chris Givens will see plenty of balls thrown their way, and all in all, Miami returns 10 players who had at least nine catches in 2007.
Bowling Green’s offensive questions lie more on the offensive line than at any of the skill positions, as junior QB Tyler Sheehan is back after a breakout season (3,264 yards, 23 TD). Sheehan threw only two of his 11 interceptions over the last eight games, after a forgettable five-pick performance against Boston College.
Sheehan’s go-to man, Freddie Barnes (82 catches, 962 yards, 9 TD) is back, along with Corey Patrridge (46-453-2), while leading rusher and former QB Anthony Turner (519 yards, 9 TD) and backfield mate Willie Geter (432 yards, TD, 37 catches, 296 yards) will help provide balance in the offense and contribute in the passing game.
The Falcons do have to replace three starters on the offensive line, including Kory Lichtensteiger, who was an all-MAC performer each of the last four seasons, but if there’s no real drop-off with the new starters, the offense shouldn’t skip a beat.
On defense, the Falcons allowed 32.1 points and 424.5 yards per game last season, but nine starters return. Defensive end Diyral Briggs (54 tackles, five sacks) and defensive backs P.J. Mahone (90 tackles, 7 INT) and Antonio Smith (80 tackles, 2 INT) were all-MAC selections last year, and they aren’t the only playmakers in the defense.
The linebacker duo of Erique Dozier (112 tackles, 9 for loss, 2 INT) and John Haneline (96 tackles in only nine games) will be counted on to make plenty of stops, and corner Kenny Lewis (61 tackles, INT, 10 pass breakups, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries) is a menace around the ball. After giving up 63 points to Tulsa’s high-powered offense in a blowout GMAC bowl defeat, the defense will no doubt come out with a lot to prove, and if they can do so, Gregg Brandon’s team could be the team to beat in the East.
After falling a little short of the MAC title game last season, Buffalo has plenty of reason to think that they can get there this season, as 10 of 11 starters return on offense, with eight returning on defense. A big part of their 2007 success was an offense led by Mr. Efficient, Drew Willy. The senior-to-be completed an impressive 68.4 percent of his passes (258 of 377) last season, for 2,572 yards and 15 touchdowns. Willy only threw six interceptions - none in the final seven games.
Willy is joined by running back James Starks, who ran for 1,103 yards and 12 touchdowns, and was also one of the team’s leading receivers with 41 catches for 311 yards and two scores. Speaking of the leading receivers, they’re all back as well, in Naaman Roosevelt (63 catches, 766 yards, 4 TD), Ernest Jackson (53-645-6), Starks, and Brett Hamlin (38-415-1).
Defensively, star end Trevor Scott (15 tackles for loss, 10 sacks in 2007) and linebackers Larry Hutchinson (88 tackles, 19 TFL, 5.5 sacks) and Kareem Byrom (86 tackles) will be sorely missed, but thanks to a defense that features playmaking safeties Davonte Shannon (123 tackles, 10 for loss, 2.5 sacks, 3 INT, 3 forced fumbles) and Mike Newton (86 tackles, 4 INT), the Bulls have the talent to slow down the conference’s powerful offenses. The ingredients are there for Turner Gill’s Bulls to not only have their first winning season on the I-A level, but to do even more.
Could Temple make a title run? They went 4-4 in conference play last season, and with all 11 starters returning from one of the conference’s best defenses, Al Golden could have a contender on his hands. Provided the defense performs to or above its 2007 standards (1st in total defense, 2nd in scoring defense), the offense will be the key to a run by the Owls.
QB Adam DiMichele broke his tibia in October, and missed the final four games. DiMichele was having a pretty fair season when he was injured (1,595 yards, 12 TD, 10 INT), and if he’s 100%, he’s likely the man under center for the Owls. RB Jason Harper (586 yards, 5 TD) will also be counted on to help make an offense that averaged only 16.4 points and 300.8 yards per game last season.
What about Kent State, Ohio, and Akron? They certainly can’t be considered also-rans, by any means.
The Golden Flashes will have one of the best rushing offenses in the conference, led by the nation’s leading returning rusher, Eugene Jarvis. Jarvis may be all of 5′5, but he’s a big-time player. Last season, the junior-to-be ran for 1,669 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging six yards per carry. Jarvis was also the team’s leading receiver, with 23 catches for 306 yards and three touchdowns, so he’ll be a vital part of whatever success Kent State has this season.
They also had one of the better defenses in the league last year, and with eight starters returning, led by linebacker Derek Burrell (112 tackles in 2007), the Golden Flashes could be in a position to make a run. However, their schedule isn’t particularly favorable, as they have to go on the road to Ball State, Miami, Bowling Green, and Buffalo.
Ohio’s offense takes a big hit with the loss of star RB Kalvin McRae, but QB Theo Scott could be in for a breakout season. The former Cal Bear threw for 743 yards and five touchdowns last season, and has the ability to make plays with his arm and legs.
Akron has regressed to 5-7 and 4-8 in the last two seasons after three straight winning seasons, and there are some big holes to fill on this year’s team (WR Jabari Arthur - 86 catches, 1,171 yards, 10 TD in 2007, CBs Davanzo Tate and Reggie Corner - combined for nine interceptions and 29 pass breakups in 2007, and Brion Stokes - 90 tackles, 17 for loss, 5.5 sacks in 2007). But, QB Chris Jacquemain (1,623 yards, 11 TD, 10 INT) and RBs Bryan Williams (791 yards, 2 TD) and Alex Allen (420 yards, 7 TD) are back on offense, and there are some talented pieces on defense, most notably Almondo Sewell (65 tackles, 14 for loss, 3 sacks).
Who’ll come out on top in the MAC East? Here’s how I have things shaking out, but there’s a good chance that things will look much, much differently in December.
