SUN BELT CONFERENCE 2010 PREVIEW
August 1st, 2010 by Daniel Freer
Although the Sun Belt Conference is not regarded as one of the top conferences for fantasy talent, there will be some good finds among the 2010 crop of SBC players….and at least one fantasy superstar….Middle Tennessee QB Dwight Dasher (photo, thanks College Football News).
For other top fantasy prospects from the SBC, check out our following synopsis of each conference member
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ARKANSAS STATE RED WOLVES
Too bad RB Reggie Arnold does not have another year of eligibility, as ASU returns all O-Line starters from 2009. His understudy, RB Derek Lawson, should take over the bulk of the carries, and could be a sleeper fantasy pick behind an experienced line. QB Ryan Aplin looks to be the starting QB, if he can come back from shoulder surgery this spring….if not, look for Phillip Butterfield to be the signal-caller. Aplin is the more mobile of the two, rushing for over 250 yards and 4 TDs in a backup role. Although the Red Wolves plan to go to a no-huddle offense, their WR corps is young and inexperienced. Outside of Lawson and Aplin, there is not a lot of fantasy value from the ASU roster for 2010.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC OWLS
The FAU Owls have been hit hard by graduation on offense, and will basically have all new faces starting at the positions. Their best fantasy consideration is RB Alfred Morris, who rushed for nearly 1400 yards and 11 TDs last season….but will be running behind 5 new starters on the O-Line. QB Jeff Van Camp was a solid performer last season (12 passing TDs, 3 rushing TDs), but has only WR Lester Earl (501 yds, 4 TDs in 2009) returning among the top WRs. I am sure legendary head coach Howard Schnellenberger will have some surprises in store for 2010, but, with the exception of Morris and Van Camp….hold off on FAU players on draft day
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL GOLDEN PANTHERS
FIU still has one of the top talents in the SBC in WR T.Y. Hilton, who slipped a little his sophomore season (6 total TDs, 632 yds rec.) after a stellar 2008 freshman campaign. Look for Hilton to get the ball a little more in 2010, as the Golden Panthers bring in Mississippi State transfer (and former starter) QB Wesley Carroll to shore up the signal-calling. RB Jeremiah Harden, a trasnfer from Syracuse, is the favorite to start at tailback, but, will be running behind a line with 3 new O-Line starters. Although it may not be a banner season for FIU in 2010, Hilton is too good a talent to not take on draft day, and I look for him to get over the sophomore slump this season.
LOUISIANA RAGIN’ CAJUNS
The Ragin’ Cajuns offense was not real productive last season, dropping to 134 yards per game rushing in 2009 (only half of their 2008 production). QB Chris Masson is a late-draft consideration, throwing for over 2400 yards-10 TDs…while rushing for 6 TDs…in 2009. The backfield looks a little shaky, and could possibly see true freshman Robert Walker or Aaron Spikes get the start….and I do not see either as the next Tyrell Fenroy (1000+ yards in all 4 eligible seasons 2005-2008)…this could be a RB-by-committee if you include Julian Shankle into the mix. WR Ladarius Green is a big target at WR, but only scored 2 TDs even with a 16.7 ypc on 32 catches last season. With 3 O-Line spots to fill, there are few fantasy considerations from UL this season.
LOUISIANA-MONROE WARHAWKS
The top fantasy consideration for the Warhawks will be RB Frank Goodin, who rushed for over 1100 yards and 13 TDs last season. QB Trey Revell is another late consideration, not so much for his passing (1700+ yards, 12 TDs), but for his 300+ yards rushing and 5 rushing TDs in 2009. Two factors that may limit ULM production this season are the loss of 3 O-Line starters, and, a tough non-conference schedule (trips to Arkansas, Auburn, and LSU). Although with some talent at key positions, ULM will be one of the weaker programs in the SBC this season
MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS
Of course, no mention of the Blue Raiders can begin without the obvious…QB Dwight Dasher is the top fantasy player in the SBC, and, a sure-fire first-round pick in any fantasy league. Dasher threw for nearly 2800 yards and 23 TDs last season, but, the real fantasy value is that he ran for over 1100 yards and 13 TDs…one of the most productive QBs in the nation in 2009.
With four returning starters on MTs O-Line, the only real threat to Dasher’s stats production is the return of RB Phillip Tanner, who rushed for 15 TDs in 2008, but missed most of last season due to injury. Tanner may share the backfield with DD Kyles, who rushed for over 800 yards last season when he took over RB duties after Tanner’s injury. WRs to watch for are Garrett Andrews and Shane Blissard….however they are late round picks, as MT spreads the ball around.
A good PK to take will be Alan Gendreau, who hit 18 FGs and scored 98 points last season…with this offense he should match that production in 2010.
NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN
While Middle Tennessee has Dwight Dasher, North Texas can counter with their sure-fire fantasy first rounder in RB Lance Dunbar, who rushed for nearly 1400 yards and 19 total TDs last season….and Dunbar gets most of his O-Line back (4 starters) with a less brutal non-conference schedule.
Also, Dunbar may have to carry the offensive load while a new starting QB, either Derek Thompson or Nathan (Name That) Tune, gets familiar with the new offense. The player I projected as the next great fantasy QB, Riley Dodge, will no longer play QB…as chronic shoulder problems have forced him to move to WR. Dodge will be an interesting late-pick, because neither of the new QBs are the athlete Dodge is….you can be sure the coach’s son (Todd Dodge) is getting the ball, somehow and someway.
In the Dodge-Ball offense, WRs should get some catches, even with a new QB. WRs Jamaal Jackson (701 yds, 6 TDs), Michael Outlaw (473 yds, 2 TDs), and Darius Carey (509 yds, 4 TDs) should get touches, while Oklahoma transfer Tyler Stradford will be someone to watch out for in free-agent/supplemental picks.
TROY TROJANS
The most consistent program in the SBC will have a few players for your fantasy consideration. A good late round pick-up will be the steady WR Jerrel Jernigan, who had over 1100 yards receiving and 4 TD catches last season. Also, sophomore WR Josh Jarboe is a big time talent….and could break out this season if he gets a little more maturity (his rap-video cost him a scholarship at Oklahoma). Former starting QB Jamie Hampton returns after a red-shirt season, and many felt he was the heir-apparent to former Trojan QB Omar Haugabook….Hampton is worth a late-round pick.
At RB, look for DuJuan Harris and Shane Southward to get their share of carries….both are late round considerations as they each ran for over 600 yards and scored 12 TDs last season.
Every season, Troy seems to produce a stellar defense….talented enough for the NFL to draft DeMarcus Ware and Leodis McKelvin in the first round over the past few seasons. Although a number of new starters will be called on, they return top INT man CB Bryan Willis. Note that Troy has a relatively easy schedule for a SBC team, and, their toughest non-conference game is at offense-challenged South Carolina…making this defense one to consider in your draft
WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS
After an 0-12 season in 2009, there is nowhere to go but up. New coach Willie Taggart has a lot of work to do to move up, and does not have a lot of talent to work with. Best fantasy bet is RB Bobby Rainey, who had over 900 yards rushing and 6 TDs last season….and has 4 returning O-Line starters to block for him. QB will be a toss-up between Kawaun Jakes and JUCO import Matt Pelesasa….Jakes started last season, throwing 9 TD passes and running for 5 more. Whoever gets the call, they will face Nebraska, Kentucky, and USF in the first four weeks. Outside of RB Rainey, stay clear of Hilltopper players.
Related posts:
- SUN BELT CONFERENCE 2009 PREVIEW
- SUN BELT CONFERENCE 2008 ALL-FANTASY TEAM
- 2009 SUN BELT ALL-FANTASY TEAM
- 2008 SUN BELT PREVIEW
- MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE 2010 PREVIEW
Tags: Dwight Dasher, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee, Sun Belt, Troy
