Prairie View Panthers 2010 Review

2010 Record: 7-4 (6-3), 3rd SWAC West
2010 Post Season: None
2010 Schedule/Results
Texas Southern, W 16-14
@ Southern Mississippi, L 34-7
Alabama State, L 18-15
Grambling, L 34-17
@ Mississippi Valley State, W 34-13
@ Arkansas-Pine Bluff, W 21-6
Lincoln (MO), W 45-12
Southern, W 30-16
@ Jackson State, L 30-13
Alcorn State, W 35-27
@ Alabama A&M, W 35-14

OFFENSE
317 yards per game

KJ Black wound up being the leader at QB, but only played in 9 games as a senior this season, and he did a credible job, passing for 2154 yards and 13 TDs in those 9 games. 6 different Panthers attempted a pass in 2010, and as of right now Jonathon Troast would have to have the early lead to replace Black next season.
Shaun Stephens managed his way through the QB changes to be the favorite target of the QB staff, having caught 63 passes for 859 yards for 9 scores. Stephens is moving on now, as will Michael Bell and Brandon Benson, eliminating the top 3 receivers from the arsenal for the new QB in 2011.
Making matters equally bad, is that 2010 leading rusher Donald Babers takes his 10 rushing TDs to graduation as well. Nobody else on the roster had more than 41 carries in 2010, so that is highly problematic and ensures that the Panthers will have new starters at every skill spot in the lineup next season. Ouch!!!

DEFENSE
322.2 yards per game allowed

The defense was not Texas Southern good, but they were damned good in their own right. Where the Panthers faltered on occasion was against the rush, where they gave up 158 yards per game, but passing against Prairie View was tough going, as teams only managed a meager 164.2 yards per game, not dominant, but very difficult.
Quinton Spears led all SWAC D linemen in tackles with 70, but again, as the theme becomes more common, he is gone. Chris Adingupu ranked 5th in the conference in tackles, but, you guessed it, he is leaving as well. The Panthers were not a very aggressive lot up front, as Adrian Hamilton led the team with only 5 sacks. Here's a shock...he's back in 2011.
Moses Ellis was the only Panther to hit double digits with 14 defended passes,  but as is so often the case with the Panthers, he was just another senior that heads on now. Ellis led the SWAC with 8 picks on the season.

SPECIAL TEAMS
The kicking game was nothing short of a mess in 2010, which creates just one more problem against many coming into the spring of 2011. The Panthers have got to shore up both the PK and punter job, as nobody in these spots from last season should be safe.
The return game was absolutely forgettable as well. There is a ton of work to do here, but everything should be up for grabs.

FINAL NOTES

What could have been a special season for the Panthers was derailed by a terrible start, as Prairie View lost 3 of their first 4 games on the year. The Pnathers finished by winning 6 of their last 7, but only one of those wins came against a winning team, and one win was against Lincoln, a D2 school. Next season has all of the makings of a train wreck, with a boatload of experienced seniors moving on. The offense will basically be starting from scratch.
That being said, this is not your father's Panther football team. What used to be one of the worst programs in all of college sports has grown and has found pride and a winning tone. Next season won't likely be a winner, but things have come a long way in 20 years here, and it's all for the good.