The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference came down to the final weeks of the regular season last fall, when Delaware State claimed the league title and an automatic berth in the 16-team Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs.
Expect just as tight a race this season.
PROJECTED FINISH:
1) SOUTH CAROLINA STATE BULLDOGS
Coach: Oliver “Buddy” Pough (7th year, 47-21)
Last year: 7-4, 6-2 MEAC
Returning offensive/defensive starters: 6/3
We’d pay to watch: RB Will Ford, Sr. Posted 1,389 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 210 attempts.
Prediction: 9-3, 7-1 in MEAC and winning the conference.
2) MORGAN STATE BEARS
Coach: Donald Hill-Eley (7th season, 30-37)
Last year: 5-6, 4-4 MEAC
Returning offensive/defensive starters: 7/8
We’d pay to watch: LB Jarrell Guyton, Sr. The 6-foot, 225-pounder was a preseason All-MEAC First Team selection and was one of the top blitzing linebackers in the Football Championship Subdivision last season. In nine games, he recorded 62 tackles — 31 solo — to go with 3.5 sacks and was ranked fourth in the conference with 15.5 tackles for loss.
Prediction: 8-5, 6-2 in the MEAC
3) NORFOLK STATE SPARTANS
Coach: Pete Adrian (4th year, 16-17; overall: 10 years, 55-51-1)
Last year: 8-3, 6-2 MEAC
Returning offensive/defensive starters: 6/7
We’d pay to watch: DB Terrell Whitehead, Jr. One of the closest things in the league to a lock-down corner, he posted six interceptions last season. Will be counted on to bolster a unit that was suspect against long plays.
Prediction: 7-5, 5-3 in the MEAC
4) HAMPTON PIRATES
Coach: Jerry Holmes (1st season)
Last year: 6-5, 5-3 MEAC
Returning offensive/defensive starters: 3/2
We’d pay to watch: WR Jeremy Gilchrist, SR. Caught 69 passes for 1,043 yards with seven touchdowns last season. One of the best receivers in the MEAC, he averages 15.1 yards per catch.
Prediction: 6-5, 4-4 MEAC
5) DELAWARE STATE HORNETS
Coach: Alton “Al” Lavan (5th year, 31-17)
Last year: 10-2, 8-0 MEAC
Returning offensive/defensive starters: 6/7
We’d pay to watch: QB Vashon Winton, Sr. Completed 153-of-259 passes last season for 1,618 yards and 12 touchdowns against 6 interceptions. But he will need to become more consistent to lead the Hornets back to the top.
Prediction: 6-5, 4-4 in the MEAC
6) FLORIDA A&M RATTLERS
Coach: Joseph Taylor (1st season)
Last year: 3-8, 2-6 MEAC
Returning offensive/defensive starters: 6/3
We’d pay to watch: RB Philip Sylvester, RB. Ran for 858 yards and seven touchdowns on 151 carries last season. But his explosiveness — long run of 94 yards — make him one of the conference’s best. He averaged 5.7 yards per carry last season.
Prediction: 6-6, 4-4 in the MEAC
7) BETHUNE-COOKMAN WILDCATS
Last year: 5-6, 3-5 MEAC
Returning offensive/defensive starters: 5/5
We’d pay to watch: LB, Ronnie McCullough, Sr. Led the nation in tackles per game, recording 149 stops, including 20 for a loss and five sacks. He will look to lead 53 returning letter winners.
Prediction: 4-6, 3-5, MEAC
8) HOWARD BISON
Coach: Carey Bailey (2nd year, 4-7)
Last year: 4-7, 2-6 MEAC
Returning offensive/defensive starters: 2/5
We’d pay to watch: DE Endoor Cooper, LB. The hybrid pass rusher made 88 tackles — 7 for a loss — last season. The league’s preseason defensive player of the year has a chance to earn NFL attention with another great season.
Prediction: 3-8, 1-7 in the MEAC
9) NORTH CAROLINA A&T AGGIES
Coach: Lee Fobbs (3rd season, 0-22)
Last year: 0-11, 0-9 MEAC
Returning offensive/defensive starters: 6/8
We’d pay to watch: RB, Brandon Colbert, RB. Rushed for 1,169 yards and four touchdowns on 182 carries despite playing for the worst team in the league. Expect his talent to equal more wins this season.
Prediction: 4-7, 2-6 in the MEAC
THREE KEYS FOR MORGAN STATE
- Finding a quarterback. The Bears’ passing game was their biggest weakness last season, but should improve with the return of senior quarterback Mario Melton (46.4 percent completion percentage, three touchdowns against eight interceptions). But senior Jeremy Glover has looked best during spring and preseason practices, including a scrimmage on Saturday. But Carlton Jackson, a junior transfer from Akron, could use his experience as a starter for the Zips to reach the top of Morgan State’s depth chart.
- Playing disciplined. Morgan State committed 108 penalties for a staggering 1,121 yards. That’s an average of nearly 10 per game for 102 yards. Three-time defending national champion Appalachian State averaged 6.6 penalties for 55.2 yards per game.
- Kicking it. Senior James Meade from Prince George’s County was a preseason All-MEAC first team selection after making 13 of 18 field goals last season. But the kicker must increase his range — his long was 43 yards — and accuracy on extra points, as he was 17 of 20
Morgan schedule:
- Sept. 6 at Towson, 6
- Sept. 13 vs. N.C. Central, 4
- Sept. 20 at Winston-Salem State, 6
- Sept. 27 at Rutgers, 3:30
- Oct. 4 vs. Bethune-Cookman, 4*
- Oct. 11 at North Carolina A&T, 1:30*
- Oct. 18 at Howard, 1*
- Oct. 25 vs. Delaware State, 1*
- Nov. 1 at Florida A&M, 3*
- Nov. 8 at Norfolk State, 1*
- Nov. 15 vs. South Carolina State, 4*
- Nov. 22 vs. Hampton, 1
*Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game
SEASON HINGES ON: at Howard. The Bears played one of their most complete offensive games of the year in upsetting the favored Bison, 36-33, in front of nearly 15,000 fans during homecoming at Hughes Stadium. The Bears beat Howard, 18-12, in overtime at Greene Stadium in the District two years ago.
