Ohio Bobcats 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: Ohio increased scoring last fall by almost a full 13 points per game, as they ranked 9th nationally, scoring 39.1 points per game. Even with that in mind, they still finished behind Akron in the MAC East by virtue of dropping their final 2 regular season games to the Zips and Buffalo. They lost those games by a total of 10 points, something that cannot be repeated in 2018, if they want to return to the top of a watered down heap in the MAC East.
Breakdown Offense: Nathan Rourke returns at QB after passing for 2203 yards and 17 TDs last fall. He added 912 yards rushing and scored a whopping 21 times on the ground. Areas of concern with him include passing accuracy, and his TD/INT ratio. He completed just 55.1% of his passes, while tossing 7 INTs against his 17 scoring passes, barely above a 2:1 ratio. If he can solidify his passing ability, it keeps Ohio from being too run dependent, and will keep defenses more honest in coverage of him.
AJ Ouellette rushed for 1006 yards and 7 scores last fall, and returns at RB, as does Julian Ross, who was far less explosive in 8 games as a freshman than Ouellette was as a runner. Ouellette averaged 5.24 yards per carry, while Ross averaged 4.17. David Burroughs will be looking for some time on the field as a senior after averaging 8.89 yards per carry in limited duty last season.
Papi White and Andrew Meyer are both back at WR this fall to start, and Elijah Ball is projected to start as the 3rd receiver. White led the team with a line of 36-631-3, and averaged 17.53 yards per catch. Meyer posted a line of 35-483-2, while Ball lost the season to injury last fall. Cameron Odom had 20 receptions last fall, and also returns, while DL Knock and Bryan Long add some depth to the group.
Connor Brown projects to win the job as the starter at TE this fall. He did not catch a pass last season, and the Bobcats lose their top 2 TEs from a year ago.
The line returns 3 starters in Joe Lowery (LT), Joe Anderson (LG), and Austen Pleasants (RT). Brett Kitrell (C) and Durrell Wood (RG) are projected as the new starters heading into camp. Steven Hayes, a JC transfer, could figure in at C, and Hagen Meservy could be in the mix at RG as well. Marques Grimes will handle backup duty at OT, while Kyle Kuhar will be the key reserve at Guard.
Breakdown Defense: This is the side of the football that could create some headaches for Frank Solich and his staff. The Bobcats must replace all 4 starters on the line, and also must replace 2 of 3 LBs this fall.
Will Evans and Austin Conrad are penciled in at DE, while Kent Berger is slated for the NG job and Andrew Payne is in line for the DT spot. Chukwudi Chukwu and Will Evans should be in the mix for the DE spots, while depth behind the projected starters at NG and DT is incredibly thin on experience.
Evan Croutch is the lone returning starter at LB. He totaled 70 tackles last fall, and added 6 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 2 PBUs, and 3 QB hurries last fall. He is likely to be joined by Dylan Conner in the middle, and Austin Clack at SLB. Conner finished with 17 tackles as a freshman, and Clack totaled 13 as a sophomore. Depth, once again, is extremely thin.
The secondary is likely the strength of this unit, as 3 starters return, but this group also finished ranked 109th nationally against the pass, allowing 261.2 yards passing per game. Javon Hagan (SS) and Kylan Nelson (FS) are both back at Safety. Hagan finished with 7 PBUs, 2 QB hurries, and 85 tackles, which was good for 2nd on the team. Nelson totaled 8 PBUs and 53 tackles.
Jalen Fox is the returning starter at CB. Fox totaled 11 PBUs, 2 INTs, and 42 tackles last fall. Marlin Brooks, a sophomore, gets first crack at replacing Brad Ellis, who totaled 19 PBUs last season. He played in 7 games as a freshman.
Tyler Gullett is the backup at Safety, while Jamal Hudson is the 3rd CB.
Breakdown Special Teams: Louie Zervos is back at PK after hitting 15/18 FG attempts last fall, and shoulr be one of the better kickers in the MAC.
Michael Farkas was deent as a sophomore at Punter last fall, averaging 40.55 yards per punt, but expectations are higher this fall.
Julian Ross will likely inherit KR duties in camp, while Nelson and White could share PR duties.
Final Analysis: Ohio has most of the weapons they could possibly need on offense, but their undoing could be a defense that has to replace almost all of the front 7, and will be dependent on an experienced secondary that largely got torched last fall. The Bobcats are still the odds on favorite to win the MAC East, but remember, it's not exactly a division that could be compared to a murderers row. A quick start with a forgiving non con schedule could help, and the conference schedule is not exactly a pressure cooker. Ohio, even with a massive defensive skid, could still find a way to easily win the MAC East.
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