Spring 2021 FCS: Scouting for the next Donald Parham

[MGB01]

Shout out to MGB01, another Eag Alumni!

Go Eags, two weeks from Sat.............

I never even shared my ultimate Erik Meyer story, gotta get on it

[Tank55]

I'm studying up on Tarleton vs. McNeese. Among the things I learned:

Neither of these teams are eligible for the playoffs

Tarleton is still transitioning from Division II and McNeese is ineligible for academic reasons.

Ed Orgeron's son is the McNeese quarterback

Cody Orgeron was the 2019 starter, throwing for 2,628 yards on 348 attempts, 24/9 TD/INT. He graduated last May, but he still has eligibility and should be the starter on Saturday.

https://mcneesesports.com/sports/footba ... geron/6144

Neither team is returning very many starters

Of the 22 starters listed from Tarleton's 2019 playoff game, the following are still on the roster:

RB Khalil Banks
WR JF Thomas
LG Kendall Dearth
RT Zach Perry

DT Jordan Wells
LB Ronnell Wilson
CB Tre Johnson
CB Kaylon Horton

And of the 22 starters listed for McNeese's 2019 senior day game, the following are still on the roster:

QB Cody Orgeron
WR Trevor Begue
RG Caleb Gary

LB/DB Kordell Williams (listed as a DB in the 2019 game; an LB on the roster)
CB Andre Sam
DB Cory McCoy

McNeese has had a lot of coaching turnover

This will be McNeese's third head coach in three season after Sterlin Gilbert left for Syracuse. Replacing him is former UTSA coach Frank Wilson, who went 19–29 and made one bowl from 2016-2019 with the Roadrunners.

To make matters worse, they just lost their defensive coordinator last week as Grady Brown took a job at University of Houston.

Tarleton has coaching stability -- sort of

Todd Whitten has been at Tarleton since 2016, going 11-12 in his first two seasons and 23-2 in his second two. This is actually his THIRD stint at the school; he went 5-5 in 1996 before leaving to be a position coach at Wyoming and then 40-18 from 2000-2004 before leaving to coach Sam Houston State, where he never really found true success.

McNeese players to watch

QB Cody Orgeron: Had a solid spring in 2020 where he took snaps with the No. 1 offense most of the time, including the spring game; expected to be the starter in the season opener; was one of 44 counselors at the Manning Passing Academy held last summer.

DL Camron Peterson: Played in the first seven games of 2018 before an injury sidelined him for the final four contests; finished the season with 10 tackles, one sack, a TFL, a pass breakup and two QB hurries; had a season-high two tackles four different games – at Northern Colorado, at HBU, at BYU and vs. Stephen F. Austin; had his lone sack against HBU.

DL Isaiah Chambers: Playing for the University of Houston in 2019, appeared in 10 games and tied for the team lead with 5.0 sacks; recorded 13 tackles (six solo) and logged 6.0 tackles for loss.

https://www.college-sports-journal.com/ ... l-preview/

Tarleton players to watch

RB Kahil Banks
Senior RB Kahlil Banks had 112 rushing attempts and racked up 644 yards and nine touchdowns in a backup role last year and will look to be the lead back this spring. WR J.F. Thomas was also the second-best receiver on the team last year but still was in the top five in the Lone Star Conference for receiving touchdowns (6), receiving yards (737), and yards per reception (20.47). And to top that off, he had his best game for the Texans with 196 yards on just seven catches in the team’s 37-26 upset win over D-I and soon-to-be conference mate Stephen F. Austin in the season opener of 2019.

The offensive line will be headed by Kendall Dearth and Zach Perry. The two were all-conference linemen for the Texan offense that ranked second in all of Division II in total offense (531.7 ypg) last season. The duo also helped Tarleton to a No. 4 national rank in scoring offense (45.0 ppg), as well as top-25 rankings in tackles for loss allowed and sacks allowed per game.

The defense for the Texans has a number of key returnees including six players that are spread across all three defensive areas.

The defensive line will be anchored by Jordan Wells and Chris Radford. Wells was the Lone Star Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2019, while Radford had an injury plagued 2019 season and will look to be the All-Conference performer he garnered after the 2018 season.

The linebackers will be headed by a duo of Ronnell Wilson and Erick Willis. The duo had career years in their junior seasons of 2019. Wilson is the one returning All-American performer on the team after making 81 stops, while Willis had a breakout season with 10 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.

CB Devin Hatford
The secondary also has two stars returning in FS Benjie Franklin and CB Devin Hatford. Franklin stepped into the starting role last year at free safety and turned in an All-Lone Star Conference performance with 38 tackles and four interceptions. Hatford had an injury plagued 2019 and cost him the whole season but on the bright side, he will get to play is senior season due to the injury redshirt. He was a 2018 All-American performer and in his career, he has played in 37 games and made 168 tackles, including 119 solo, while forcing six interceptions and defending 39 passes.

https://www.college-sports-journal.com/ ... l-preview/

[MGB01]

Ah TSU, best known alum-wise for all IFL/AFL/NAL fullback Derrick Ross and Colts LB E.J. Speed, looks like just the type of team that will go in and knock off NMSU, a la Abilene Christian in 2013 nearly did when Charcandrick West and Taylor Gabriel went off.

Don't be lookin past McNeese though, seems they're always there.

[Tank55]

Athlon has put out its preseason rankings. I think FCS preseason rankings are extra useless, especially in a weird season like this. But still fun to look at:

1. North Dakota State
2. Weber State
3. Northern Iowa
4. James Madison
5. South Dakota State
6. Kennesaw State
7. Villanova
8. Nicholls
9. Illinois State
10. Sam Houston State
11. Southeastern Louisiana
12. Eastern Washington
13. Southern Illinois
14. New Hampshire
15. Furman
16. Jacksonville State
17. North Carolina A&T
18. Albany
19. Austin Peay
20. Wofford
21. Monmouth
22. Delaware
23. Southeast Missouri State
24. Idaho
25. South Carolina State

ON THE CUSP: Elon (5-6, 4-4 CAA); McNeese (7-5, 5-4 Southland); Richmond (5-7, 4-4 CAA); San Diego (9-3, 8-0 Pioneer); South Dakota (5-7, 4-4 Missouri Valley); UC Davis (5-7, 3-5 Big Sky)

https://athlonsports.com/college-footba ... 021-spring

[Tank55]

Platform change for Saturday -- game moved from ESPN+ to Fox Sports Southwest and Fox Sports Go.

https://tarletonsports.com/news/2021/2/ ... -plus.aspx

Not the national platform that it sure seems like it ought to be on, but definitely a step up.

[Tank55]

Grambling State-Jackson State to be on an ESPN network

Deion Sanders’ first game against Grambling State as Jackson State football coach will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks.

The game, which is one of the most anticipated SWAC matchups of the spring, is scheduled to kick off at noon on March 6 at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.

GSU Athletics Director David Ponton told The News-Star it’s likely the game will be carried on ESPNU but said the network could elevate the game to a more prominent channel.

SWAC Commissioner Charles McClelland said last month league was pursuing a potential partnership with ESPN to air some of its spring football games.

https://www.clarionledger.com/story/spo ... 451004001/

[GDAWG]

Grambling State-Jackson State to be on an ESPN network

Deion Sanders’ first game against Grambling State as Jackson State football coach will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks.

The game, which is one of the most anticipated SWAC matchups of the spring, is scheduled to kick off at noon on March 6 at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.

GSU Athletics Director David Ponton told The News-Star it’s likely the game will be carried on ESPNU but said the network could elevate the game to a more prominent channel.

SWAC Commissioner Charles McClelland said last month league was pursuing a potential partnership with ESPN to air some of its spring football games.

https://www.clarionledger.com/story/spo ... 451004001/

The power of Deion Sanders.

[Tank55]

Alcorn State, reigning SWAC champ, opting out:

https://www.wjtv.com/sports/alcorn-stat ... ll-season/

Huge bummer. We're so close -- fingers crossed the bleeding doesn't get out of control.

[Tank55]

Your championship betting odds:

+150: North Dakota State
+400: Weber State
+500: South Dakota State
+600: Northern Iowa
+800: James Madison
+800: Kennesaw State
+1200: Villanova
+1400: Eastern Washington
+1600: Sam Houston
+2000: Illinois State
+2000: Nicholls
+2500: Furman
+2500: North Carolina A&T
+2500: Southern Illinois
+3300: Albany
+3300: Jacksonville State
+3300: New Hampshire
+3300: Southeastern Louisiana
+4000: Austin Peay
+4000: Delaware
+4000: Wofford
+5000: Chattanooga
+5000: Monmouth
+5000: San Diego
+5000: South Carolina State
+5000: Southeast Missouri State
+5000: The Citadel
+6600: Elon
+6600: Idaho
+6600: Richmond
+8000: South Dakota
+8000: UC Davis
+10000: Alcorn State
+10000: Northern Arizona
+10000: Samford
+10000: UT Martin
+10000: VMI
+10000: William & Mary

https://www.sportsbetting.ag/sportsbook ... af-futures

[Tank55]

SWAC announces ESPN platform schedule. Most are on ESPN3, but they do have four scheduled for ESPNU:

Sunday, Mar. 28 - Prairie View A&M at Jackson State – 4pm ET, ESPNU
Saturday, Apr. 10 - Alabama A&M at Jackson State – 4pm EET, ESPNU
Saturday, Apr. 17 - Alabama A&M vs. Alabama State – 7:30pm ET, ESPNU
Saturday, May 1 - Cricket Wireless SWAC Championship – 4pm ET, ESPNU

Better than nothing.

https://fbschedules.com/swac-announces- ... -schedule/