2015-16 College Football Preview: MAC (East Division)

The Ultimate Sports Blog's College Football Preview rolls along with some MAC-tion!.....

The Ultimate Sports Blog's

2015-16 College Football Preview

MAC

East Division

1. Akron Zips

2014 Record: 5-7 (3-5)


Head Coach: Terry Bowden (11-25 all-time at Akron, 58-42-1 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 50 (249.6 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 109 (123.7 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 104 (22.6 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 28 (23.1 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Kyle Pohl (2,189 passing yards, 54.5% completions, 9 TD's, 8 INT's)

Rushing - Chiz Chisholm (114 carries, 620 rushing yards, 8 TD's)

Receiving - Zach D'Orazio (62 receptions, 658 receiving yards, 1 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Kyle Pohl (QB), Conor Hundley (RB), Andrew Pratt (WR), Tommy Brown (RG), Dylan Brumbraugh (LG), Isaiah Williams (LT), Se'Von Pittman (DE), Jamal Marcus (DE), Cody Grice (DT), Jatavis Brown (LB), Larry Hope (CB), DeAndre Scott (CB), Robert Stein (K), Zach Paul (P)


Top Incoming Players: Avery Cagle (TE)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. @ Oklahoma
vs. Pittsburgh
vs. Savannah State
vs. @ Louisiana-Lafayette
vs. Ohio
vs. @ Eastern Michigan
vs. @ Bowling Green
BYE WEEK
vs. Central Michigan
vs. @ UMass
vs. @ Miami (OH)
vs. Buffalo
vs. Kent State
BYE WEEK


MAC Title Game: vs. Northern Illinois (L)


Early Prediction: 8-5 (6-2)

2. Bowling Green Falcons

2014 Record: 8-6 (5-3)


Head Coach: Dino Babers (8-6 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 41 (259.9 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 56 (173 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 59 (30 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 108 (33.5 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - James Knapke (3,173 passing yards, 58.0% completions, 15 TD's, 12 INT's)

Rushing - Travis Greene (180 carries, 949 rushing yards, 12 TD's)

Receiving - Roger Lewis (73 receptions, 1,093 receiving yards, 7 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Matt Johnson (QB), Travis Greene (RB), Roger Lewis (WR), Ryan Burbrink (WR), Ronnie Moore (WR), Tim McAuliffe (C), Ben Steward (LG), Logan Dietz (RT), Jacob Bennett (LT), Bryan Thomas (DE), Zach Colvin (DT), Taylor Royster (DT), James Sanford (LB), Darrell Hunter (CB), Tyler Tate (K), Joe Davidson (P)


Top Incoming Players:  James Morgan (QB), Charles Lamar (RB), Antonyo Sotolongo (DB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Tennessee
vs. @ Maryland
vs. Memphis
vs. @ Purdue
vs. @ Buffalo
vs. UMass
vs. Akron
vs. @ Kent State
BYE WEEK
vs. Ohio
vs. @ Western Michigan
vs. Toledo
vs. @ Ball State
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 6-6 (6-2)

3.Massachusetts Minutemen

2014 Record: 3-9 (3-5)


Head Coach: Mark Whipple (3-9 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 11 (311.8 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 115 (109.3 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 78 (27.3 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 105 (33 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Blake Frohnapfel (3,345 passing yards, 55.1% completions, 23 TD's, 10 INT's)

Rushing - Shadrach Abrokwah (123 carries, 573 rushing yards, 7 TD's)

Receiving - Tajae Sharpe (85 receptions, 1,281 receiving yards, 7 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Blake Frohnapfel (QB), Shadrach Abrokwah (RB), Tajae Sharpe (WR), Marken Michel (WR), Rodney Mills (TE), Matt Sparks (C), Michael Boland (RG), Fabian Hoeller (LG), Elijah Wilkinson (RT), Tyrell Smith (LT), Peter Angeh (DE), Sha-Ki Holines (DE), Kassan Messiah (LB), Jovan Santos-Knox (LB), Trey Seals (LB), Randall Jette (CB), Trey Dudley-Giles (CB), Joe Colton (SS), Khary Bailey-Smith (FS), Blake Lucas (K)


Top Incoming Players:  Sekai Lindsay (RB), Artayvious Lynn (TE)


2015-16 Schedule:

BYE WEEK
vs. @ Colorado
vs. Temple
vs. @ Notre Dame
vs. Florida International
vs. @ Bowling Green
vs. Kent State
vs. Toledo
vs. @ Ball State
vs. Akron
vs. @ Eastern Michigan
vs. Miami (OH)
vs. @ Buffalo
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 6-6 (5-3)

4. Ohio Bobcats

2014 Record: 6-6 (4-4)


Head Coach: Frank Solich (72-56 all-time at Ohio, 130-75 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 83 (206.2 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 61 (164.1 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 114 (20.5 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 41 (24.8 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - J.D. Sprague (1,236 passing yards, 48.5% completions, 3 TD's, 5 INT's)

Rushing - A.J. Oullette (160 carries, 785 rushing yards, 7 TD's)

Receiving - Chase Cochran (21 receptions, 443 receiving yards, 1 TD


Top Returning Players: Derrius Vick (QB), A.J. Oullette (RB), Brendan Cope (WR), Sebastian Smith (WR), Troy Mangen (TE), Lucas Powell (C), Jake Pruehs (RG), Mike Lucas (LG), Troy Watson (RT), Mike McQueen (LT), Casey Sayles (DT), Tarell Basham (DE), Blair Brown (LB), Quentin Poling (LB), Jovon Johnson (LB), Devin Bass (CB), Ian Wells (CB), Devin Jones (FS), Josiah Yazdani (K), Mitch Bonnstetter (P)


Top Incoming Players:  Elijah Ball (WR), Deontai Williams (DB), Jeff Christian (DB), Louie Zervos (K)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. @ Idaho
vs. Marshall
vs. SE Louisiana
vs. @ Minnesota
vs. @ Akron
vs. Miami (OH)
vs. Western Michigan
vs. @ Buffalo
BYE WEEK
vs. @ Bowling Green
vs. Kent State
vs. Ball State
vs. @ Northern Illinois
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 6-6 (4-4)

5. Buffalo Bulls

2014 Record: 5-6 (3-4)


Head Coach: Lance Leipold (0-0 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 42 (259.5 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 54 (178.6 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 44 (32.3 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 97 (31.5 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Joe Licata (2,647 passing yards, 64.9% completions, 29 TD's, 11 INT's)

Rushing - Anthone Taylor (282 carries, 1,403 rushing yards, 12 TD's)

Receiving - Ron Willoughby (50 receptions, 771 receiving yards, 9 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Joe Licata (QB), Anthone Taylor (RB), Marcus McGill (WR), Ron Willoughby (WR), Matt Weiser (TE), Robert Blodgett (RT), John Kling (LT), Brandon Crawford (DT), Jarrett Franklin (LB), Okezie Alozie (LB), Boise Ross (CB), Tyler Grassman (P)


Top Incoming Players: Tyree Jackson (QB), Johnathan Hawkins (RB), Matt Seybert (TE), Torey Hendrick (DL)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Albany
vs. @ Penn State
vs. @ Florida Atlantic
vs. Nevada
vs. Bowling Green
BYE WEEK
vs. @ Central Michigan
vs. Ohio
vs. @ Miami (OH)
vs. @ Kent State
vs. Northern Illinois
vs. @ Akron
vs. @UMass
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 4-8 (3-5)

6. Kent State Golden Flashes

2014 Record: 2-9 (1-6)


Head Coach: Paul Haynes (6-17 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 61 (233.6 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 125 (81.8 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 123 (16.4 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 83 (29 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Colin Reardon (2,466 passing yards, 57.0% completions, 14 TD's, 16 INT's)

Rushing - Nick Holley (125 carries, 516 rushing yards, 3 TD's)

Receiving - Casey Pierce (60 receptions, 641 receiving yards, 6 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Colin Reardon (QB), Nick Holley (RB), Kris White (WR), Ernest Calhoun (WR), Anthony Pruitt (RG), Wayne Scott (LG), Brock Macaulay (RT), Reno Reda (LT), Nate Terhune (DE), Jon Cunningham (DT), Elcee Refuge (LB), Matt Dellinger (LB), Darius Redmond (LB), Najee Murray (CB), Demetrius Monday (CB), Jordan Italiano (SS), Nate Holley (FS), Shane Hynes (K), Anthony Melichiori (P)


Top Incoming Players: Mylik Mitchell (QB), P.J. Simmons (RB), Jim Jones (LB), Juantez McRae (DB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. @ Illinois
vs. Delaware State
vs. @ Minnesota
vs. Marshall
vs. Miami (OH)
vs. @ Toledo
vs. @UMass
vs. Bowling Green
BYE WEEK
vs. Buffalo
vs. @ Ohio
vs. Central Michigan
vs. @ Akron
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 3-9 (2-6)

7. Miami (OH) Redhawks

2014 Record: 2-10 (2-6)


Head Coach: Chuck Martin (2-10 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 30 (277.8 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 122 (97.6 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 106 (22.3 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 100 (31.8 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Andrew Hendrix (3,280 passing yards, 48.5% completions, 23 TD's, 9 INT's)

Rushing - Dawan Scott (74 carries, 384 rushing yards, 2 TD's)

Receiving - David Frazier (59 receptions, 949 receiving yards, 5 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Rokeem Williams (WR), Jared Murphy (WR), Trevan Brown (LG), Collin Buchanan (RT), J'Terius Jones (DE), Bryson Albright (DE), Mitchell Winters (DT), Jimmy Rousher (DT), Joseph Donlan (LB), Kent Kern (LB), Marshall Taylor (CB), Heath Harding (CB), Kaleb Patterson (K), Christian Koch (P)


Top Incoming Players: Billy Bahl (QB), Leonard Ross (RB), Isaiah Hill (RB), James Gardner (WR), Ian Leever (OL), Junior McMullen (LB), Carter Masek (LB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Presbyterian
vs. @ Wisconsin
vs. Cincinnati
vs. @ Western Kentucky
vs. @ Kent State
vs. @ Ohio
vs. Northern Illinois
vs. @ Western Michigan
vs. Buffalo
vs. Eastern Michigan
vs. Akron
vs. @ UMass
BYE WEEK
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 2-10 (1-7)

MAC East Division's Potential NFL Talent:

(These are guys playing in the conference this year who are already on NFL team's radars)

Blake Frohnapfel - QB (UMass)

Matt Johnson - QB (Bowling Green)

Tajae Sharpe - WR (UMass)

Alex Huettel - OG (Bowling Green)

Jovon Santos-Knox - LB (UMass)