ISU FBALL ALUM
The White Level
I know it is only the beginning of March, but I am still energized (and upset for getting snubbed) about last years team! We have a lot of talent coming back this year to make a push for the third FCS playoff appearance in ISU history. I will giving my input and predictions for the upcoming season, as well as who I expect to make contributions. I apologize for the long article, but I hope everyone enjoys it! Roll Trees!
Season Prediction: 11-1. I can see our team winning every FCS game and I have Kansas being a toss up game. I believe that we can beat Kansas, however our defensive depth is my concern. I believe we will bring the first MVC football championship to Terre Haute, and find ourselves in the FCS playoffs.
Offense:
On offense we have 9 starters coming back, including MVFC Newcomer of the Year, QB Ryan Boyle. Boyle was without a doubt a breath of fresh air in Terre Haute last season when he made his first start vs. EIU in a shootout victory. Losing Keys and Covington hurts, but not as bad as one might think. Titus McCoy is going to be in his third season with the Sycamores and is taking a leadership role as being the most experienced player in the RB room. Joining McCoy is University of Toledo transfer, Nick Sims. Sims is a very explosive back, similar to Keys, but with better speed (4.38 40) and a bigger ceiling. True sophomore Chris Childers will be looking to push for some playing time this season as well. Childers is physically impressive (6'0, 220) and is starting to learn the offense a little better. Peterson Kerlegrand will also be looking to get reps this Spring after an impressive 100+yd performance last year in the season finale vs. WIU. I look at this group of running backs as a nice compliment to one another, Sims and Childers are able to run between the tackles, and McCoy can torch you on the edge. At the wide receiver spot the Sycamores are LOADED! All of the receiving corps is returning this year including freshman All-Americans Dante Hendrix and Dakota Caton (Ret.). Team captain Michael Thomas returns this season after playing injured through the first four games last year and then opting to get surgery. Due to the new NCAA redshirt rule, Thomas was able to use last season as a redshirt. Joe Wildt and Dante Jones are the two older guys in this position that came on late last year due to injuries. Rontrez Morgan is coming back from a wrist injury that was suffered in the overtime loss to #3 South Dakota State last year, despite catching two touchdowns. Morgan appeared later in the season against Western Illinois, but had very little impact. Daijon Collins is also coming back from and injury. Collins has explosive speed and a quick change of direction that will make him a nightmare in the open field for defenses. A key guy in the receiving corps that you need to keep your eyes on is redshirt freshman Matae Thomas. The younger brother of fellow receiver Michael Thomas, Matae is in impressive 6'5 225lbs target that the Sycamores plan to utilize in the redzone, and in some packages at tight end. The tight end position has returning starters Zack Larkin and Tynan Williams. Larkin is the true number one tight end and more of a receiving target, while Williams comes in for the two tight end personnel plays and is a great blocker. On the offensive line there are four returning starters with the only position not returning is the left tackle spot. As of right now I have Mason Flechler penciled in as the starter. Flechler was a starter two years ago before University of Kentucky graduate transfer Tate Leavitt came to ISU. Flechler played sparingly last year as a fullback/tight end in heavy packages, but has the ability to play tackle. Wyatt Wozniak and Isaiah Edwards earned All-MVC honors following last season, and are joined by three year starter James Lang, and Kevin Kcehowski.
Defense:
On defense there are four returning starters. The defense is lead by senior All-American middle linebacker Jonas Griffith. Along side Griffith is senior Clayton Glasco and junior Matt Thompson as the outside linebackers. Glasco is in his second year at ISU after transferring from Monroe College in NY. Glasco got playing time last year, but is expected to have a heavier load coming into his senior campaign. Matt Thompson is a transfer from division two St. Joseph's college. Thompson has had a key role in special teams and is expected to be a playmaker in the linebacking corps. In my opinion, the linebacker spot in the most solid group on the defense, led by defensive coordinator, Brad Wilson. The defensive line does get DE Inoke Moala back this year after losing him early in the 2018 season. Along side Moala is another DE Cade Peratt who appeared in many games last season and got meaningful playing time towards the end of the season. Kris Reid Jr. is also a name you need to look out for this year at the defensive end position. Reid was an all state track athlete in high school, I expect him to utilize his speed and get to the quarterback a couple times. Two huge JuCo transfers coming to the defensive line are DE Isaac Fotu (Snow College, UT), and Alton Nobles (Monroe College, NY). Fotu complements the other defensive ends very well and will be used as a pass rush specialist with a high motor and great work ethic. Nobles plays DT and I could see him as a true one-technique. Nobles plays with great explosiveness and pad level that makes him a force in the middle. Nobles presence needs to be immediate with the departure of last years defensive tackles Rex Mosely and Pishon Powell. Helping in the rotation at DT is Kaleb Brewer. Brewer had glimpses of greatness last season, and looks to build on his performance las year. I expect Brewer and Nobles to anchor the defensive and let the linebackers roam. At the cornerback position Dwayne Thompson II and Kaelub Newman are my projected starters. Thompson II started a couple games last year as a true freshman and was a solid piece to the defensive unit. Newman came into last year after transferring from the College of Dupage (IL) two years ago. Newman provided depth last year and make a couple of really good plays in his first start at EIU. Mekhi Ware looks to bounce back in 2019 after missing all of 2018 with an undisclosed injury. Ware, a highly touted recruit in 2017 and started as a freshman in 2017 is excited to get back on the field and make an immediate impact and a position that the Sycamores lack depth at. Rounding out the cornerback position are two former receivers in C.J. Rutherford and Isaiah Bryant. At the safety position Denzel Bonner is the lone returning starter at safety. Bonner had a huge impact last year in his first season with ISU. Alongside Bonner I have Tyreeon Hambright starting as well this season. Hambright played last year in a couple games and had a huge interception late in the game against SIU. Nehemiah Montague is another player that could find himself working into the rotation at safety. Montague was a corner last season and will continue his role as a special teams captain.
Special Teams:
Jerry Nunez, Travis Reiner, and Wyatt Harwood are all returning starter for the Sycamores. Nunez, who was All-MVC two season ago, looks to build in the offseason after sealing a last second winning field goal vs WIU in last year's finale. As for Reiner and Harwood, I expect much of what we got last year, consistency.
All in all, I believe that the 2019 Sycamores have the ability to do something special. The coaching staff is tremendous, the incoming recruiting class has a couple of really good looking kids that could get playing time this year, and the team is hungry after getting snubbed from the 2018 FCS playoffs.
Season Prediction: 11-1. I can see our team winning every FCS game and I have Kansas being a toss up game. I believe that we can beat Kansas, however our defensive depth is my concern. I believe we will bring the first MVC football championship to Terre Haute, and find ourselves in the FCS playoffs.
Offense:
On offense we have 9 starters coming back, including MVFC Newcomer of the Year, QB Ryan Boyle. Boyle was without a doubt a breath of fresh air in Terre Haute last season when he made his first start vs. EIU in a shootout victory. Losing Keys and Covington hurts, but not as bad as one might think. Titus McCoy is going to be in his third season with the Sycamores and is taking a leadership role as being the most experienced player in the RB room. Joining McCoy is University of Toledo transfer, Nick Sims. Sims is a very explosive back, similar to Keys, but with better speed (4.38 40) and a bigger ceiling. True sophomore Chris Childers will be looking to push for some playing time this season as well. Childers is physically impressive (6'0, 220) and is starting to learn the offense a little better. Peterson Kerlegrand will also be looking to get reps this Spring after an impressive 100+yd performance last year in the season finale vs. WIU. I look at this group of running backs as a nice compliment to one another, Sims and Childers are able to run between the tackles, and McCoy can torch you on the edge. At the wide receiver spot the Sycamores are LOADED! All of the receiving corps is returning this year including freshman All-Americans Dante Hendrix and Dakota Caton (Ret.). Team captain Michael Thomas returns this season after playing injured through the first four games last year and then opting to get surgery. Due to the new NCAA redshirt rule, Thomas was able to use last season as a redshirt. Joe Wildt and Dante Jones are the two older guys in this position that came on late last year due to injuries. Rontrez Morgan is coming back from a wrist injury that was suffered in the overtime loss to #3 South Dakota State last year, despite catching two touchdowns. Morgan appeared later in the season against Western Illinois, but had very little impact. Daijon Collins is also coming back from and injury. Collins has explosive speed and a quick change of direction that will make him a nightmare in the open field for defenses. A key guy in the receiving corps that you need to keep your eyes on is redshirt freshman Matae Thomas. The younger brother of fellow receiver Michael Thomas, Matae is in impressive 6'5 225lbs target that the Sycamores plan to utilize in the redzone, and in some packages at tight end. The tight end position has returning starters Zack Larkin and Tynan Williams. Larkin is the true number one tight end and more of a receiving target, while Williams comes in for the two tight end personnel plays and is a great blocker. On the offensive line there are four returning starters with the only position not returning is the left tackle spot. As of right now I have Mason Flechler penciled in as the starter. Flechler was a starter two years ago before University of Kentucky graduate transfer Tate Leavitt came to ISU. Flechler played sparingly last year as a fullback/tight end in heavy packages, but has the ability to play tackle. Wyatt Wozniak and Isaiah Edwards earned All-MVC honors following last season, and are joined by three year starter James Lang, and Kevin Kcehowski.
Defense:
On defense there are four returning starters. The defense is lead by senior All-American middle linebacker Jonas Griffith. Along side Griffith is senior Clayton Glasco and junior Matt Thompson as the outside linebackers. Glasco is in his second year at ISU after transferring from Monroe College in NY. Glasco got playing time last year, but is expected to have a heavier load coming into his senior campaign. Matt Thompson is a transfer from division two St. Joseph's college. Thompson has had a key role in special teams and is expected to be a playmaker in the linebacking corps. In my opinion, the linebacker spot in the most solid group on the defense, led by defensive coordinator, Brad Wilson. The defensive line does get DE Inoke Moala back this year after losing him early in the 2018 season. Along side Moala is another DE Cade Peratt who appeared in many games last season and got meaningful playing time towards the end of the season. Kris Reid Jr. is also a name you need to look out for this year at the defensive end position. Reid was an all state track athlete in high school, I expect him to utilize his speed and get to the quarterback a couple times. Two huge JuCo transfers coming to the defensive line are DE Isaac Fotu (Snow College, UT), and Alton Nobles (Monroe College, NY). Fotu complements the other defensive ends very well and will be used as a pass rush specialist with a high motor and great work ethic. Nobles plays DT and I could see him as a true one-technique. Nobles plays with great explosiveness and pad level that makes him a force in the middle. Nobles presence needs to be immediate with the departure of last years defensive tackles Rex Mosely and Pishon Powell. Helping in the rotation at DT is Kaleb Brewer. Brewer had glimpses of greatness last season, and looks to build on his performance las year. I expect Brewer and Nobles to anchor the defensive and let the linebackers roam. At the cornerback position Dwayne Thompson II and Kaelub Newman are my projected starters. Thompson II started a couple games last year as a true freshman and was a solid piece to the defensive unit. Newman came into last year after transferring from the College of Dupage (IL) two years ago. Newman provided depth last year and make a couple of really good plays in his first start at EIU. Mekhi Ware looks to bounce back in 2019 after missing all of 2018 with an undisclosed injury. Ware, a highly touted recruit in 2017 and started as a freshman in 2017 is excited to get back on the field and make an immediate impact and a position that the Sycamores lack depth at. Rounding out the cornerback position are two former receivers in C.J. Rutherford and Isaiah Bryant. At the safety position Denzel Bonner is the lone returning starter at safety. Bonner had a huge impact last year in his first season with ISU. Alongside Bonner I have Tyreeon Hambright starting as well this season. Hambright played last year in a couple games and had a huge interception late in the game against SIU. Nehemiah Montague is another player that could find himself working into the rotation at safety. Montague was a corner last season and will continue his role as a special teams captain.
Special Teams:
Jerry Nunez, Travis Reiner, and Wyatt Harwood are all returning starter for the Sycamores. Nunez, who was All-MVC two season ago, looks to build in the offseason after sealing a last second winning field goal vs WIU in last year's finale. As for Reiner and Harwood, I expect much of what we got last year, consistency.
All in all, I believe that the 2019 Sycamores have the ability to do something special. The coaching staff is tremendous, the incoming recruiting class has a couple of really good looking kids that could get playing time this year, and the team is hungry after getting snubbed from the 2018 FCS playoffs.
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