2015-16 College Football Preview: American Athletic (East Division)

It's that time of year again.

No, it's not time for football just yet. However, it is time to start predicting how every team will fare this upcoming season. And what's the only thing better than seeing actual football getting played?

That's right.....

TALKING ABOUT FOOTBALL!

This is a tradition that I have done for almost 10 years now and is a big reason why I got into writing about sports to begin with. It's no secret that college football is my favorite sport. I absolutely love football and I think what we see on the college field is the most exciting product we can get. Yes, the NFL is fantastic. However, give me young, enthusiastic, excited players who are looking to make a name for themselves ANY DAY over over-paid professionals who may or may not show up on any given weekend.

College football is the fastest growing sport in the United States for a reason. Twenty years ago, no one cared about the sport outside of people who actually went to college or NFL scouts. These days though? You will have someone who never even stepped foot on a college campus watching the University of Memphis play Wyoming because one of the teams has a wide receiver who runs a 4.28 forty-yard dash. That's the power of college football.

Seeing as this beautiful sport is literally right around the corner. It's time to start making some predictions for the upcoming season. Over the next few weeks, you will see EVERY team in EVERY conference get previewed right here on the pages of THE ULTIMATE SPORTS BLOG! We are called "THE Ultimate Sports Blog" for a reason people. There's nothing we can't do......

The Ultimate Sports Blog's

2015-16 College Football Preview

American Athletic Conference

East Division

1. Cincinnati Bearcats

2014 Record: 9-4 (7-1)


Head Coach: Tommy Tuberville (18-8 all-time at Cincinnati, 148-85 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 13 (303.6 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 74 (156.5 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 31 (34 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 69 (27.2 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Gunner Kiel (3,254 passing yards, 59.7% completions, 31 TD's, 13 INT's)

Rushing - Mike Boone (101 carries, 650 rushing yards, 9 TD's)

Receiving - Shaq Washington (66 receptions, 761 receiving yards, 4 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Gunner Kiel (QB), Mekale McKay (WR), Chris Moore (WR), Shaq Washington (WR), Max Morrison (WR), Deyshawn Bond (C), Justin Murray (RT), Parker Ehinger (LT), Silveryberry Mouhon (DE), Leviticus Payne (LB), Adrian Witty (CB), Andre Jones (S), Zach Edwards (S), Andrew Gantz (K), Sam Geraci (P)


Top Incoming Players: Ross Trail (QB), Taylor Boose (RB), Daniel Cobb (RB), Kahlil Lewis (WR), Doug Bates (TE), Delonte Murray (OL), Evan Mallory (OL), Marquise Copeland (DL), Antonio Kinard (LB), Matthew Draper (LB), Bryce Jenkinson (LB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Alabama A&M
vs. Temple
vs. @ Miami (OH)
vs. @ Memphis
vs. Miami (FL)
BYE WEEK
vs. @ BYU
vs. UConn
vs. UCF
vs. @ Houston
vs. Tulsa
vs. @ USF
vs. @ East Carolina
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 9-3 (7-1)

2. Temple Owls

2014 Record: 6-6 (4-4)


Head Coach: Matt Rhule (8-16 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 88 (200.7 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 118 (107.8 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 100 (23.1 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 4 (17.5 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - P.J. Walker (2,317 passing yards, 53.3% completions, 13 TD's, 15 INT's)

Rushing - Jahad Thomas (80 carries, 384 rushing yards, 0 TD's)

Receiving - Jalen Fitzpatrick (53 receptions, 730 receiving yards, 6 TD's)


Top Returning Players: P.J. Walker (QB), John Christopher (WR), Keith Kirkwood (WR), Kyle Friend (C), Brian Carter (RG), Eric Lofton (LG), Jaelin Robinson (RT), Dion Dawkins (LT), Praise Martin-Oguike (DE), Matt Ioannidis (DL), Hershey Walton (DL), Nate Smith (LB), Tyler Matakevich (LB), Jarred Alwan (LB), Avery Williams (LB), Sean Chandler (DB), Tavon Young (DB), Alex Wells (FS), Austin Jones (K), Alex Starzyk (P)


Top Incoming Players: Logan Marchi (QB), T.J. Simmons (RB), Chapelle Cook (RB), Greg Webb, Kareem Ali (DB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Penn State
vs. @ Cincinnati
vs. @ UMass
BYE WEEK
vs. @ Charlotte
vs. Tulane
vs. UCF
vs. @ East Carolina
vs. Notre Dame
vs. @ SMU
vs. @ USF
vs. Memphis
vs. UConn
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 8-4 (6-2)

3. UCF Knights

2014 Record: 9-4 (7-1)


Head Coach: George O'Leary (81-60 all-time at UCF, 133-93 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 59 (235.3 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 106 (128.3 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 72 (28.1 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 9 (19.2 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Justin Holman (2,952 passing yards, 56.9% completions, 23 TD's, 14 INT's)

Rushing - William Stanback (189 carries, 697 rushing yards, 10 TD's)

Receiving - Breshad Perriman (50 receptions, 1,044 receiving yards, 9 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Justin Holman (QB), William Stanback (RB), Joey Grant (C), Chavis Dickey (RG), Tarik Cook (LG), Thomas Niles (DE), Luke Adams (DE), Demetris Anderson (DT), Chequan Burkett (LT), Caleb Houston (P)


Top Incoming Players: Bo Schneider (QB), Taj McGowan (RB), Tristan Payton (WR), Cam Stewart (WR), Aaron Cochran (TE), Luke Hiers (OL), Titus Davis (DL), Neal Nelson (LB), Quintin Hampton (LB), Rashard Causey (DB), Brandon Scott (DB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. FIU
vs. @ Stanford
vs. Furman
vs. @ South Carolina
vs. @ Tulane
vs. UConn
vs. @ Temple
vs. Houston
vs. @ Cincinnati
vs. @ Tulsa
BYE WEEK
vs. East Carolina
vs. USF
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 7-5 (5-3)

4. East Carolina Pirates

2014 Record: 8-5 (5-3)


Head Coach: Ruffin McNeill (37-27 all-time at East Carolina, 38-27 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 3 (371.9 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 66 (161.1 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 23 (35.8 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 54 (25.8 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Shane Carden (4,736 passing yards, 63.5% completions, 30 TD's, 10 INT's)

Rushing - Breon Allen (134 carries, 869 rushing yards, 8 TD's)

Receiving - Justin Hardy (121 receptions, 1,494 receiving yards, 10 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Davon Grayson (WR), Isaiah Jones (WR), J.T. Boyd (C), Quincy McKinney (LG), Dontae Levingston (RT), Ike Harris (LT), Johnathon White (DE), Zeek Bigger (LB), Montese Overton (LB), Josh Hawkins (CB), Domonique Lennon (FS), Worth Gregory (P)


Top Incoming Players: John Jacobs (QB), Shawn Furlow (RB), Deondre Farrier (WR), Justin Brown (DL), Nhyre Quinerly (DB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Towson
vs. @ Florida
vs. @ Navy
vs. Virginia Tech
vs. @ SMU
vs. @ BYU
vs. Tulsa
vs. Temple
vs. @ UConn
vs. USF
BYE WEEK
vs. @ UCF
vs. Cincinnati
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 5-7 (4-4)

5. Connecticut Huskies

2014 Record: 2-10 (1-7)


Head Coach: Bob Diaco (2-10 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 113 (169.3 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 119 (106.9 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 125 (15.5 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 86 (29.8 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Chandler Whitmer (1,522 passing yards, 55.6% completions, 11 TD's, 8 INT's)

Rushing - Ron Johnson (114 carries, 429 rushing yards, 3 TD's)

Receiving - Geremy Davis (44 receptions, 521 receiving yards, 3 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Ron Johnson (RB), Noel Thomas (WR), Sean McQuillan (TE), Tyler Samra (RG), Andreas Sharpe (RT), Richard Levy (LT), Kenton Adeyemi (DE), Julian Campenni (DT), Graham Stewart (LB), Marquise Vann (LB), Jamar Summers (CB), Jhavon Williams (CB), Andrew Adams (FS), Obi Melifonwu (SS), Bobby Puyol (K), Justin Wain (P)


Top Incoming Players: Tyler Davis (QB), Ian Campbell (TE), Nazir Williams (LB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Villanova
vs. Army West Point
vs. @ Missouri
vs. Navy
vs. @ BYU
vs. @ UCF
vs. USF
vs. @ Cincinnati
vs. East Carolina
vs. @ Tulane
BYE WEEK
vs. Houston
vs. @ Temple
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 2-10 (1-7)

6. USF Bulls

2014 Record: 4-8 (3-5)


Head Coach: Willie Taggart (6-18 all-time at USF, 22-38 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 97 (196.8 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 117 (107.9 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 119 (17.2 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 66 (27 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Mike White (1,639 passing yards, 50.4% completions, 8 TD's, 7 INT's)

Rushing - Marlon Mack (202 carries, 1,041 rushing yards, 9 TD's)

Receiving - Andre Davis (36 receptions, 594 receiving yards, 7 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Marlon Mack (RB), Sean Price (TE), Brynjar Gudmundsson (RG), Thor Jozwiak (LG), Eric Lee (DE), Nigel Harris (LB), Auggie Sanchez (LB), Jamie Byrd (LB), Johnny Ward (DB), Nate Godwin (SS), Tajee Fullwood (FS), Mattias Ciabatti (P)


Top Incoming Players: Trevon Sands (RB), Jarvis Baxter (WR), Mitchell Wilcox (TE), Glen Bethel (OL), Marlon Gonzalez (DL), Danny Thomas (LB), Khalid McGee (DB), Ronnie Hoggins (DB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Florida A&M
vs. @ Florida State
vs. @ Maryland
BYE WEEK
vs. Memphis
vs. Syracuse
vs. UConn
vs. SMU
vs. @ Navy
vs. @ East Carolina
vs. Temple
vs. Cincinnati
vs. @ UCF
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 2-10 (1-7)

AAC East Division's Potential NFL Talent:

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

Gunner Kiel - QB (Cincinnati)

William Stanback - RB (UCF)

Mekale McKay - WR (Cincinnati)

Chris Moore - WR (Cincinnati)

Isaiah Jones - WR (East Carolina)

Bryce Williams - TE (East Carolina)

Sean Price - TE (USF)

J.T. Boyd - C (East Carolina)

Parker Ehinger - OG (Cincinnati)

Brynjar Gudmundsson - OG (USF)

Ike Harris - OT (East Carolina)

Silverberry Mouhon - DE (Cincinnati)

Tyler Matakevich - LB (Temple)

Montese Overton - LB (East Carolina)

Zeek Bigger - LB (East Carolina)

Graham Stewart - LB (UConn)