Middle Tennessee State Football

The Blue Raiders suddenly find themselves in a lot of trouble with less than two weeks away from the September 2nd opener against Minnesota.

It's looking more apparent that star quarterback Dwight Dasher won't make it to the season opener. There are allegations that he failed to pay back a $1,500 loan used for poker games and the likely chance that he stole checks from a teammate to use as collateral.

If the multiple investigations find Dasher guilty of these horrible misdeeds, then the Blue Raiders go from hands down favorites in the Sun Belt to a second or third place team.

That's how important Dasher is to this team.

Even if Dasher isn't punished by local authorities, head coach Rick Stockstill and company have to make the right decision and suspend Dasher if he is indeed found guilty of doing these things.

You can't allow a player to stay on the team if he is stealing checks from one of his teammates. If you leave him on the team for the sake of your season then what does that tell the other 50-plus players on the roster?

It wouldn't shine a very good light on the university as a whole if they let the star athlete get away with something like this.

Just from the way Stockstill has handled things in the past, it's almost guaranteed that Dasher will be suspended for at least a good chunk of the season, and most likely the entire season.

Dasher, entering his senior season, has 34 touchdown passes and over 4,000 yards passing since 2007. That's not even counting his 16 rushing touchdowns.

It's unfortunate for a football program that has made giant leaps in the national spotlight ever since Stockstill took over in 2006. Dasher has contributed to a lot of that success.

Dasher most likely would be replaced by sophomore Logan Kilgore, who is no slouch by any means. Even with Kilgore under center, the Blue Raiders will contend for a Sun Belt title. Without Dasher, however, it will be tough to get by Troy.

Even if it means pretty much eliminating your chances at repeating the 10-win season in 2009, you have to do the right thing and send Dasher on his way at this point.

Rick Stockstill is in a unique situation.  He's completely transformed Middle Tennessee's football program into a successful conference contender with aspirations of a Top 25 ranking.  He's stated his desire to follow in the footsteps of his college coach, Bobby Bowden, and build a national powerhouse out of nothing.  He's reportedly received and turned down two job offers upwards of $1 million a year.  All indications are that he's happy with the program he built and is enjoying his time in Murfreesboro.

 

Still, it's human nature to want to move up the ladder.  Whether it be into a corner office or a BCS school, the expectation is that people want to move up and move on.  With Stockstill, this could be an interesting process.  At 52, he doesn't quite fit the mold of the young, energetic coaches that most AQ programs are looking for when it's time to reboot their program, but at the same time he's proven he can build a program and win. 

 

So what happens if Middle Tennessee puts up another 10 win season?  Do even bigger names go after Stockstill?  Probably. 

 

Does he leave?  No clue. 

 

When Stockstill spurned the ECU offer, he was quoted as saying it wouldn't be fair to the players. While this might not have deterred every coach around the country, it was obviously a factor for Coach Stock, who has proven to be a man of character during his tenure at Middle.  This begs the question of when would it be fair to leave? 

 

Regardless of the factors, Stockstill will likely have a tough decision each and every off-season. Basically, there are conflicting ideologies at work here.  Does he stay and build his own legacy like Bowden did at Florida State?  Or does he take a page out of Urb Meyer guide to coaching and weave a path to the BCS by hopping from mid-major to mid-major?

 

Regardless of his decision, Blue Raider fans will probably be on pins and needles each and every offseason from now going forward. 

 

Check out BlueRaiderZone.com for more exclusive Middle Tennessee news and discussion!

This is the fourth in a series of articles ranking the Sun Belt Conference's football teams unit-by-unit.

In a league where so many offenses rely heavily on three- and four-receiver packages, offensive linemen have their work cut out for them.

Teams who can't protect their quarterbacks or open lanes for their running backs will do little more than frustrate their coaches and fans.

The Sun Belt Conference's offensive lines stack up like this.

1. North Texas

A couple of schools return four of their five starters up front, and they happen to be 2009's top two SBC rushing teams. UNT attains the top spot here because, unlike Middle Tennessee State, they return four starters in the spots they're used to playing.

UNT's line was in fast company last season. They ranked in the top 12 nationally in sacks allowed, allowing only 12 all season. The Mean Green also placed in the top 30 in rush offense and the top 51 in pass offense. Boise State was the only other team to manage all those feats at once.

Second-team All-SBC tackle Esteban Santiago leads the unit from the right tackle position. The 6'3", 296-pounder isn't a mammoth presence, but his versatile game is effective on both run and pass plays.

On the left side, senior Victor Gill has had issues staying in the lineup, battling assorted injuries and missing a couple of starts in 2009.

Despite the bumps and bruises, Gill actually managed the line's best grade last season, at nearly 90 percent, and led the unit with 44 knockdowns.

Left guard Kelvin Drake made a smooth transition from the center spot, where he was a second-team All-SBC performer in 2007.

Towering junior J.J. Johnson (6'6", 283 pounds) took over from Drake at center in 2008, and has started every game since.

The only new starter will appear at right guard, where sophomore Coleman Feeley appears ready to return after a redshirt last year. Feeley's known as a bruising run blocker, which will be highly appreciated by Sun Belt rushing leader Lance Dunbar.

Off the bench, junior Matt Tomlinson has a pair of starts under his belt, replacing Gill on the left side against Alabama and Middle Tennessee last season.

Sophomore Aaron Fortenberry is listed as the backup at both center and right guard, and has the size (6'4", 288) to play tackle if absolutely necessary.

2. Middle Tennessee State

Like North Texas, MTSU returns four starters from last year's potent line. Unlike the Mean Green, the Blue Raiders have one of their four adapting to a new position.

The loss of All-SBC center Mark Thompson has coach Rick Stockstill looking to slide junior Alex Stuart from right guard to center. Stuart also worked at right tackle in 2008. 

Stuart missed four games last season with ankle problems, which have continued to linger into this fall's practices.

Right tackle Mark Fisher was named to last season's All-Sun Belt second team, and is a member of this year's preseason first team. He's started 35 of 37 career games at right tackle.

Fisher allowed only two sacks in 2009, while grading out at better than 80 percent nine times.

Junior Mike Williams returns for his third season as the starter after leading the Raiders with 68 knockdown blocks last year.

Despite being slightly undersized for the position at 6'2" and 260 pounds, Williams has been one of the line's strongest performers since his first game.

Junior left guard Brandon McLeroy returns to add to his total of 18 starts. Five of his 12 starts in 2009 came on the right side before he settled in on the left. He earned MTSU's most improved offensive lineman award during spring practice.

The new starter will be Tennessee transfer Preston Bailey at right guard. The 6'5" sophomore, a native of Nashville, still has yet to take the field in a college game. He was a three-star recruit by Rivals when he signed with Tennessee, and the Raiders are now hoping to benefit from that potential.

Experience is in good supply off the bench, as well. Senior Chris Hawkins has started at both center and right guard during his career, and junior Colin Boss has filled in at all five line positions.

3. Troy

Like MTSU, Troy is repositioning a guard into the center spot. All-Sun Belt first-teamer Tyler Clark is headed to the middle of the line to replace his fellow all-league performer, Danny Franks.

The former walk-on has started 31 games in his career and didn't allow a sack until the 12th game of last season against Louisiana-Lafayette. His interior pass blocking skills are expected to help make quarterback Jamie Hampton's job easier as he seeks to replace record-setting Levi Brown.

Tackles James Brown and Kyle Wilborn return to their starting positions. Wilborn started 12 of 13 games as a freshman, establishing himself as a bruising run blocker. A bit of work may still be required with his pass blocking. He's currently recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, but is expected to be back for the season opener against Bowling Green.

Brown, a massive 6'4", 346-pounder, should be a fearsome weapon as the Trojans put more emphasis on the running game. He's not an extremely nimble pass protector and has a penchant for holding penalties, but if he gets running downhill, linebackers and safeties may decide that tackling Trojan runners is someone else's job.

Senior Tyler Graves's career has taken a winding route from Florida State to Pearl River Community College to Troy. He's in line for the starting position at left guard after a difficult first start at right tackle last season against Arkansas State.

He managed to keep all-conference end Alex Carrington from recording a sack, but was called for five penalties in doing so.

Sophomore Jacob Creech appears to have inherited a clear path to right guard with Micah Grimes quitting the team. Creech is a 6'4", 281-pounder who's gotten most of his experience on special teams.

Experienced depth isn't in huge supply right now. Senior Nate Newland is set to help at both tackle positions, and junior Zach Swindall is set to help at center.

A pair of mammoth junior college transfers, Jarred Fleming (6'7", 280) and Demarkus Underwood (6'6", 315) are battling for time at tackle spots.

4. Arkansas State

Arkansas State's offensive line is easily the Sun Belt's most experienced, if not the most talented.

The Red Wolves have nine different players returning who have started at least one game, thanks to major injury-induced turnover last year. Four of their regular starters return, and all five projected starters are seniors.

Right tackle Derek Newton was a second-team All-Sun Belt performer, and is rated as one of the conference's best pro prospects. The 6'5", 313-pound senior runs well for his size and excels on both the run and pass. He's expected to be a great fit for ASU's new no-huddle offense.

Next to Newton, right guard Sifa Etu came from the junior college ranks to start 10 games last season. He was also recruited by Miami, which gives an indication of his talent level. He's a squatty bulldozer who should open some massive holes for running back Derek Lawson.

Senior Drew Hilton is a Swiss army knife of a lineman. He'd played right guard before opening last season at left tackle. This season, he'll get first look at left guard, giving coach Steve Roberts serious versatility in case the injury bug tries to bite yet again.

A battle is brewing at left tackle, where junior Delano Moore has overtaken senior Kiano Prater. The two are identical in build at 6'5" and 305 pounds and are both prone to mistakes in pass blocking. Whoever can remedy those mental mistakes quicker will earn the starting nod.

Senior center Tom Castilaw started last year's first four games before suffering a knee injury. His replacement, sophomore Eric Allen, missed most of the offseason work with a shoulder injury.

Senior Albert Louis (6'3", 303) is another potential reserve with starting experience. He started four games early last season at left guard.

In total, a line built for pounding away at the running game now must adapt to a quicker-paced offense. If they fail to do so, it could be a very long season in Jonesboro.

5. Western Kentucky

The Hilltopper offense is heading in the opposite direction as Arkansas State's. New coach Willie Taggart has his team installing a traditional two-back attack after the spread offense was unable to produce any victories.

The line paved the way for 172.8 rushing yards per game, fourth in the Sun Belt. Returning tackles Preston King and Wes Jeffries have the kind of size and strength that will help the WKU backs record a similar figure.

Both, however, have trouble with solid pass rushers, a problem put on paper by WKU's league-worst 39 sacks allowed in 2009.

Senior Mychal Patterson will return to the left guard spot. He's another solid run blocker who could also play on the right if need be.

Sophomore Seth White is expected to take over at right guard with last year's starter, Adam Smith, moving to tackle.

White has added 15 pounds to his frame since coming to Western, and he's one of the few men on this unit with a reputation as a strong pass blocker.

At center, senior Derrick Elder will become the line's signal caller after seeing time at both guard positions last year. The 6'2", 308-pounder is, like many of Western's linemen, much more respected as a run blocker than a pass blocker.

Sophomore Adam Smith was last year's starter at right guard, but now heads to the bench, where he's likely to fill in at both guard spots and threaten King at right tackle.

Sophomore Ed Hazelett is a former three-star recruit who turned down offers from the likes of Boston College, Kentucky, and Louisville because they wouldn't let him play basketball. At 6'8" and 296 pounds, he's seen as a potential tackle of the future.

If all these linemen can run block as well as advertised, Hilltopper running back Bobby Rainey should have a tremendous season.

6. Louisiana-Lafayette

Last year's ULL line allowed only 86 yards in sacks, fewest in the conference. This year's line returns only two members of that group, losing two All-Sun Belt first-teamers and another two-year starter.

Senior Ian Burks returns, but like the centers on so many Sun Belt rivals, he's trying his hand at center after 30 starts at right guard.

He did start in the middle last season against Nebraska, and despite the 55-0 scoreline, the Ragin' Cajun linemen were proud of not allowing a sack.

Right tackle Jonathan Decoster has started the last 31 games at that position, and has received some preseason All-Sun Belt mentions. He and Burks will have to lead a unit short on experience.

Senior Colin Windsor takes over at left tackle. He's played in only 19 games with one start, but compared to his competition, redshirt freshman Robert Robinson, he's a grizzled vet.

Sophomores Leonardo Bates (6'5", 320) and Jaron Odom (6'7", 340) are projected to start the season at the guard positions. Odom appeared in all 12 games with one start last season, and Bates appeared in seven games off the bench.

Junior Kyle Plouhar is the most experienced reserve, with 18 appearances in two seasons. Senior tackle Nasser Jamal is expected to contribute on the outside. Despite his four years in the program, Jamal's only made eight appearances on the field.

7. Florida International

FIU only returns one starter from a unit that allowed the second-most sacks in the Sun Belt last season. Taking those two facts together, perhaps a lack of experience could be a good thing.

Center Brad Serini is a Rimington Award watch list member for the second straight season. He's started every game since setting foot on campus back in 2007, and is arguably the best center in the Sun Belt Conference.

Senior Kevin Van Kirk was expected to take over at right guard before spraining his knee in this past Saturday's opening scrimmage. Fellow senior Cedric Mack, who started four games at the position in 2009, appears likely to retain the position.

Junior James Wiggins has the inside track at left tackle, and sophomores Dave Istanich and Rupert Bryan are battling at right tackle.

Wiggins is known as a solid pass blocker with quick feet, and may prove solid once he gets some games under his belt.

The 6'6", 300-pound Istanich got six starts last season, mostly at guard, but the coaching staff liked his massive frame at tackle. Both he and Bryan are known as highly shaky pass blockers.

Sophomore Giancarlo Revilla is expected to start at left guard after three appearances last year. A center prospect when he was recruited, he may follow the Sun Belt trend of relocating to center when Serini graduates.

Junior Chris Cawthon can help out at both guard positions, and has starting experience from the 2008 season.

8. Louisiana-Monroe

The Warhawks lost three starters and four prominent backups from last season, and with a battle going on at quarterback, poor protection will not be easy to overcome.

Last year's group allowed only 16 sacks, third-fewest in the SBC, and managed to shut the mighty Texas Longhorns out of the sack column.

The left side of the line will be anchored by last year's right side. Junior tackle Justin Roberts and sophomore guard Jonathan Gill flip sides this season.

Gill, a 6'3" 290 pounds, started all 12 games in his freshman season and recorded over 130 knockdown blocks.

The 6'4", 300-pound Roberts has started the last 22 games and recorded over 120 knockdowns last season.

Senior Andrew Stout is the most experienced of the new starters, playing in 27 games over the last three seasons. The majority of that action, however, has been on special teams.

Junior college transfer Ryan McCaul is expected to get the opening nod at center. He was an all-conference performer for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.

The extent of right tackle Anthony Montgomery's notes in the ULM fan guide reads "Key member of the scout team." As that succinct line suggests, Montgomery has not appeared in a game after two seasons in Monroe.

The reserves will be largely new to ULM fans, as junior college transfers Jordan Karriman and Patrick Dvoracek are listed second at both guard spots and tackle positions, respectively. Four freshmen have also been seeing time in fall practice.

9. Florida Atlantic

The best offensive line in FAU history is gone. All of it. FAU's skill position players are highly concerned about the state of the inexperienced replacements.

The Owls do have one offensive linemen with starting experience. Unfortunately, that experience was as a defensive lineman. Left guard Andy Czuprynski moved from defensive tackle to offensive line due to the crippling lack of depth.

Center Jordan Sessa is one of the biggest linemen on the team, which is mildly worrisome, since he weighs in around 280 pounds. A knee injury with no timetable for his return, however, has FAU scrambling for alternatives.

Backups Jimmie Colley and Ryan Houston have also suffered injuries, and junior Mike Nweze appears the most experienced snapper left. His resume consists of a few practices.

Sessa's a mammoth compared to redshirt freshman Eric Hansen, who's got the inside track on the right guard position. Hansen, at 6'5" and 240 pounds, is smaller than some tight ends.

The Owls have been known to utilize smaller, more athletic linemen, but Hansen will certainly need to add some bulk to survive on the line.

Junior Sam McRoy looks to be the starter at left tackle. His class status would indicate some experience, but McRoy has appeared in only 10 games at various positions.

At right tackle, a spirited battle is being waged by 6'8", 300-pound junior Max Karrick and 6'5", 263-pound sophomore Joseph Bailey.

Freshman DeAndre Williams was being recruited by other Sun Belt schools, as well as Iowa State, but if there's one thing available at FAU, it's opportunity. The 6'5", 265-pounder may help out at both tackle spots.

The potential for surprises, both pleasant and unpleasant, appears to be the theme in the trenches for the Sun Belt Conference's nine teams this season.

Some talented offensive players have to be concerned about whether they'll have time and space to operate.

Scott Henry covers the MTSU Blue Raiders on his radio show 4 Quarters, airing on WMTS 88.3 FM in Murfreesboro and streaming live at wmts.org. Podcasts may be found at Starr*Rated.

You can also find the show on Facebook and follow Scott's ramblings on Twitter. Give the show a Facebook like and you'll be eligible to join the 4 Quarters Fantasy Football League and potentially win a $25 gift card to Best Buy.

Last December, Middle Tennessee State coach Rick Stockstill and quarterback Dwight Dasher hoisted the New Orleans Bowl trophy.

Get a good look at it, because no one's going to be seeing it again for a while.

"We had a mock funeral to bury the New Orleans Bowl trophy and the 10-win season, because that's behind us now and our focus is on the upcoming season," Stockstill said in the Blue Raiders' season-opening press conference today. "There's nothing that we did last year that will help us this year."

The expectations of that upcoming season are something that Stockstill and his staff are prepared to embrace.

"We have those expectations every year. I just want to start 1-0 and then move on to the next game," Stockstill said.

Starting 1-0 is a challenging task this season, with Big Ten Conference member Minnesota coming to Floyd Stadium for the September 2 opener.

Stockstill called it "a great challenge to see how we stack up against the BCS schools. It's a credit to our program, university and (athletic director) Chris Massaro that we're bringing these teams to our stadium."

He added, "Only two teams went undefeated and only 21 teams won 10 games."

Being one of those illustrious 21 has generated the kind of publicity that can make recruiting easier. Stockstill said, "Winning is the best thing you can do for recruiting. The success we had in the bowl game allowed us to get in some homes recruiting-wise."

Stockstill listed the defensive front seven as his largest area of concern, saying, "We lost three All-Conference players and an NFL player," referring to linebackers Cam Robinson and Danny Carmichael, as well as seventh-round NFL draft pick Chris McCoy.

A litany of defensive line injuries were an added concern, as Stockstill named off players like Dwight Smith, Phillip Tinsley, Gary Tucker, and SaCoby Carter who missed spring practice time recovering from offseason surgeries. All have returned, but are being monitored closely.

On a positive note, Stockstill said, "This is the best I've ever felt about an offensive line since I've been here." He noted that he had a "tough, nasty, physical" group capable of providing great leadership, going so far as to call them the strength of the offense.

When Stockstill relinquished the podium, defensive coordinator Randall McCray spoke briefly and addressed Stockstill's concern regarding the front seven.

McCray called stopping the run a primary goal, saying, "We don't go out and say we're going to limit a certain player to a certain number of yards...we just don't want to allow teams to consistently run up the middle."

McCray estimated that the 2009 Blue Raiders allowed almost 1,900 yards of "big plays," defining a big play as a run longer than 15 yards and a pass longer than 25. Eliminating mental errors "would have saved us about 16 touchdowns."

After spending the last four years at Wisconsin, McCray was asked if he had any comfort level in opening the season against former Big Ten foe Minnesota. He replied, "I don't really feel comfortable before any game. I do know tendencies, but they've changed coordinators for the third straight year, so there will be differences."

Offensive coordinator Mike Schultz took the podium next, letting everyone know that the offense will not be strictly a one-man show.

He said, "We don't want to hang our hat completely on Dwight...heck, second play of the game, we may not have Dwight anymore."

Having spent 10 years at TCU, where he coached five 1,000-yard rushers including future NFL icon LaDainian Tomlinson, Schultz's running-game credentials are well-established. He demurred when asked if there was going to be a stronger emphasis on the run, but did express some excitement at having the trio of Phillip Tanner, D.D. Kyles, and Ben Cunningham at his disposal.

Schultz expressed a preference for the ability to rotate, saying, "With the injuries of this game, you can never have enough running backs." He pointed out that "one person may hang 200 yards on a team, but the other situation would be three players rushing for 70 yards."

The common thread running through all three coaches' remarks was a palpable sense of excitement, one which has clearly carried over to MTSU's fan base. Later in the afternoon, approximately 100 people filtered in and out of the season's opening practice.

Scott Henry covers the MTSU Blue Raiders on his radio show "4 Quarters," airing on WMTS 88.3 FM in Murfreesboro and streaming live at wmts.org. Podcasts may be found at Starr*Rated.

You can also find the show on Facebook and follow Scott's ramblings on Twitter. Give the show a Facebook like and you'll be eligible to join the 4 Quarters Fantasy Football League and potentially win a $25 gift card to Best Buy.

This is the first in a series of articles ranking the Sun Belt Conference teams unit-by-unit.

Six of the nine Sun Belt Conference teams use some derivative of a spread offense. The essential ingredient in the spread is a dynamic, intelligent quarterback. Unfortunately, the conference lost two of its best signal-callers, Florida Atlantic's Rusty Smith and Troy's Levi Brown, to the NFL.

So, who's the best of who's left?

1. Dwight Dasher, Middle Tennessee State (5'10", 202 lbs, Senior)

Dasher's pass efficiency rating of 125.6 placed him fifth among last season's SBC qualifiers. His 14 interceptions were second-most among the conference's starters, and he completed just under 55 percent of his passes.

So, why's he number one?

He finished second in the league in passing yards and total offense, while tying for the SBC lead with 23 touchdown passes. The only man to equal or best him in those categories was the departed Levi Brown.

However, Brown didn't also finish fourth in the conference in rushing yards per game and tie for second in rushing touchdowns.

MTSU coach Rick Stockstill is hoping to reduce the running burden on Dasher this season, but Dasher needs to do his part and improve his decision-making if the Raiders are to realize a widely predicted conference championship.

2. Jeff Van Camp, Florida Atlantic (6'5", 222 lbs, Senior)

The shoulder sprain that ended Rusty Smith's season in November may have turned into a blessing in disguise.

In starting the final five games of the season, Van Camp was able to pitch 12 touchdowns against only two interceptions. Both of those picks came in his starting debut, a 56-29 drubbing at the hands of UAB.

The biggest difficulty facing Van Camp this season may be in finding time to make the good throws. His offensive line, nothing special last season, must break in five new starters this year. If Van Camp isn't forced to run for his life every time he drops back, FAU's offense could be just as prolific as last season.

3. Trey Revell, Louisiana-Monroe (6'5", 221 lbs, Senior)

Revell is a bit of a paradox. He joined Dwight Dasher on the watch list for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. This, however, came on the heels of a season which ended in nightmarish fashion and an equally tense offseason.

Revell could manage only two touchdowns against six interceptions in the final three games of 2009, and was pulled in the season-ending loss to Middle Tennessee.

Overall, Revell finished third in the SBC in passing efficiency, but his 12 touchdowns weren't enough to offset his 12 interceptions. First-year coach Todd Berry may be prepared to anoint redshirt freshman Kolton Browning as his starting quarterback, which would make this ranking look somewhat silly.

4. Jamie Hampton, Troy (6'1", 212 lbs, Junior)

Hampton started for the Trojans in 2008, but was forced to redshirt last season recovering from a knee injury.

Hampton wasn't truly dominant when he was the starter two seasons ago, but he's the most experienced hand in camp. He had a dominant spring game, completing 18-of-22 for 204 yards and two touchdowns. That result may show the Troy coaching staff that Hampton's knee is sound enough for him to be trusted over freshman Corey Robinson.

Whoever gets the start will have a talented crew lined up around them, including a pair of talented running backs and the Sun Belt's most dangerous wide receiver, Jerrel Jernigan.

5. Chris Masson, Louisiana-Lafayette (6'2", 211 lbs, Junior)

Masson was one of only four Sun Belt quarterbacks to average over 200 passing yards per game last season. That's the upside.

The downside is that Masson could only manage 10 touchdown passes last season, as the Ragin' Cajun quarterbacks were often forced to move the ball with their legs. Masson ran for six touchdowns, designated running QB Brad McGuire (now officially listed as a running back) rushed for seven, and three Cajun running backs combined for five.

The offensive line is rebuilding, which may lead to the Cajuns allowing a few more than the 13 sacks they surrendered last season. It also doesn't bode all that well for the running game. If Masson can stay upright, he may still get the opportunity to fill the air with footballs (or scramble for pay dirt) this fall.

6. Ryan Aplin, Arkansas State (6'1", 213 lbs, Sophomore)

Aplin is another Sun Belt quarterback who may not even return to his previously held position. After replacing four-year starter Corey Leonard late last season, Aplin managed to guide the Red Wolves to wins in their final two games, accounting for half of their 2009 victories.

However, offseason shoulder surgery gave touted redshirt freshman Phillip Butterfield an opportunity to run the team during spring practice. Coach Steve Roberts' offense was near the bottom of the conference in nearly all categories, so a change may be seen as a positive.

Aplin is another broken-play threat, as he proved in the November victory over North Texas. While he threw three picks and no scores, he did run for 122 yards and two touchdowns on 16 attempts. It remains to be seen if that athleticism will keep Aplin starting, as Butterfield is known as a considerable athlete himself.

7. Wesley Carroll, Florida International (6'1", 202 lbs, Junior)

FIU coach Mario Cristobal may be waiting to name a starter until shortly before the September 11 opener against Rutgers. Carroll is competing with former Golden Panther starter Wayne Younger.

The difference lies in how each man has performed in their past starting endeavors, and the level of competition they faced. In Younger's freshman season, he could only complete about 45 percent of his passes, throwing 17 interceptions against nine scoring passes.

Carroll also started as a freshman, completing about 52 percent with nine touchdowns and seven picks. Carroll, however, was playing in the SEC with Mississippi State, not struggling merely to survive in the Sun Belt.

Junior receiver T.Y. Hilton, who has 98 catches in two seasons at FIU, will be trying to do his best to make either man look good.

8. Nathan Tune, North Texas (6'4", 206 lbs, Senior)

Tune's got a stiff fight on his hands from sophomore Derek Thompson for the Mean Green's starting job. Said job was vacated when coach Todd Dodge moved his son Riley from QB to receiver after chronic arm injuries.

Tune does have the edge in experience, even if Thompson is closer to the dual-threat style that Dodge usually favors in his quarterbacks. Tune started last year at Bryant-Denny Stadium, throwing a touchdown pass and no picks in a 53-7 pounding by Alabama.

Tune also went 22-of-33 against Troy, accounting for 267 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He's yet to lead the Mean Green to a win, however, but the same can be said for Thompson.

9. Matt Pelesasa, Western Kentucky (6'1", 236 lbs, Junior)

WKU's post-spring depth chart shows Pelesasa as the starter, with junior Tyler Bruce behind him. There's no sign of sophomore Kawaun Jakes, who accounted for 170 yards of total offense per game last season and 14 combined touchdowns.

Pelesasa accounted for 242 total yards and three touchdowns in WKU's spring game, and new coach (and ex-Hilltopper QB) Willie Taggart had no qualms about anointing him the starter.

Spring game MVP Willie McNeal and shifty runner Bobby Rainey will give Pelesasa some dangerous weapons as he tries to end Western's nation-high 20-game losing streak.

With the styles of offense utilized in the Sun Belt, good quarterback play is essential for offenses to move the sticks and light the scoreboards. When we rank the quarterbacks at season's end, it's likely that those standings will closely match the win-loss standings to decide the Sun Belt champion.

Scott Henry covers the MTSU Blue Raiders on his radio show "4 Quarters," airing on WMTS 88.3 FM in Murfreesboro and streaming live at wmts.org. Podcasts may be found at Starr*Rated.

You can also find the show on Facebook and follow Scott's ramblings on Twitter. Give the show a Facebook like and you'll be eligible to join the 4 Quarters Fantasy Football League and potentially win a $25 gift card to Best Buy.

So many things can be said about last season for the Blue Raiders and ultimately, the Sun Belt conference as a whole.

Last season was surely one to remember for the Blue Raider football program and the fans alike.

The Blue Raiders used a New Orleans Bowl victory over Southern Miss to claim the program's first ever 10-win season.

Now the Blue Raiders sit just a little over a month away from perhaps their biggest home-opener in school history as Big Ten opponent Minnesota will pay a visit to Floyd Stadium on September 2nd.

The players will report to camp on August 6th, which will give plenty of time to prepare for Minnesota.

This matchup will mark the first time a Big Ten opponent has ever visited Floyd Stadium.

If the Blue Raiders manage to shock the masses and pull off the win, it won't be the first time they will have defeated a BCS conference opponent at home. In 2008, the Blue Raiders defeated Maryland 24-14.

The league office has already selected the Blue Raiders to finish first this season with Troy following close behind. This hasn't happened since 2001, when the Blue Raiders first joined the Sun Belt.

A lot of this hype can be contributed to senior quarterback Dwight Dasher who is getting attention and praise on a national level. However, he's not the only Blue Raider who is creating a lot of buzz going into the 2010 season.

Junior kicker Alan Gendreau proved to be a valuable asset in 2009, and he will be valuable again this season. So many times you see these smaller schools without a reliable kicker, but as long as Gendreau is doing the kicking, then the Blue Raiders won't be one of those teams.

Judging from the schedule, it looks very possible that the Blue Raiders can get another 10-win season. Minnesota will obviously be a tough one, and Georgia Tech also looms in the middle of the schedule.

Of course, Troy is always a battle and they've had the Blue Raiders' number as of late.

As long as the Blue Raiders don't trip up on average teams like Arkansas State and Florida Atlantic, then the Blue Raiders should secure another bowl game.

Quarterback Dwight Dasher had a breakout year in 2009. Now the fantasy football world has high expectations for Dasher, but can he live up to the numbers he posted last season?

Cast of Characters

Former OC – Tony Franklin
QB – Dwight Dasher (Sr)
HB – Phillip Tanner (R-Sr)
HB – D.D. Kyles (R-Jr)
WR – Garrett Andrews (Sr)
WR – Shane Blissard (R-Jr)
WR – Sancho McDonald (Jr)

What’s the Scoop?

Fantasy waves were made during the winter of 2009 as former Troy and Auburn offensive coordinator Tony Franklin was hired as the new offensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State.  Franklin inherited a talented dual-threat quarterback in Dwight Dasher.   Dasher spent most of the 2008 season injured, but fantasy owners saw big things in store for him in 2009 with Tony Franklin calling the plays.

Dwight Dasher did not disappoint during the 2009 season, racking up 3,943 total yards and 27 total touchdowns. Dasher finished the season as a top two fantasy quarterback.

But this winter brought question marks to the fantasy future of Dwight Dasher. Tony Franklin leaves in order to take over the Louisiana Tech offense. Running back Phillip Tanner looks to return from a knee injured sustained during the second game of 2009 that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

Who’s Gone?

The loss of offensive coordinator Tony Franklin should be a concern to the Middle Tennessee offense. He mastered a no-huddle based spread offense, where he would call the plays based on the defense’s alignment. Franklin knows his offensive system in and out, and knows how to set-up the many facets of this spread attack.

Now Mike Schultz takes over for the departed Franklin. He will continue to run the same offensive system, but plays on their own don’t get the job done. Schultz doesn't have nearly the experience of Franklin. Also, it is yet to be seen if Schultz can mold and develop Dwight Dasher during practice time—something Franklin did really well.

The receiver core sustained large losses as well. Dasher will no longer have two of his top three pass targets as wide receivers Chris McClover and Patrick Honeycutt graduate.

Desmond Gee has also been lost to graduation, and Malcolm Beyah has been moved from receiver to corner back. Dasher must find a new target to rely on if he hopes to duplicate the numbers he put up through the air in 2009.

Who’s Back?

Middle Tennessee returns running back Phillip Tanner after missing most of last year with a knee injury. Tanner has been a solid playmaker during his carrier, possessing the ability to threaten a defense on the ground and through the air.

D.D. Kyles stepped in for the injured Tanner in 2009, and accumulated 857 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Now the new offensive coaching staff will have two game hardened rushers to rely on, as well as help lighten the physical pounding that Dwight Dasher could take over the course of the 2010 season.

There are some receivers that return that have game experience under their belts.  Senior Garrett Andrews is the leading returner, totaling 530 yards on 35 receptions with four touchdowns in 2009.  A pair of juniors also return.  Shane Blissard caught 19 balls for 283 yards and three touchdowns, while Sancho McDonald had 24 receptions for 255 yards and two touchdowns.

Four starters return on the offensive line which will help allow Dasher more time to throw the ball down field, as well as open up holes for Dasher, Tanner, and Kyles in the ground game.

If Your Fantasy Draft Were Today...

Quarterback Dwight Dasher will once again be an elite level fantasy quarterback in 2010, but buyer beware. Due to the loss of offensive coordinator Tony Franklin, it’s too much of a stretch to believe the offense will generate as many yards and touchdowns as it had in the 2009 season.  So there will be a dip in offensive production to contend with right from the start.

Another issue that will hamstring Dasher’s 2010 production will be the addition of Phillip Tanner back into the starting lineup. Dasher spent much of the middle portion of the 2009 season banged up from the constant pounding that results from running the ball an average of 16.5 times a game.

Tanner will be used to ease the load off of Dasher as the coaches looks to keep him healthy throughout the season. There shouldn’t be a major drop in carries, but Tanner will most likely siphon off rushing touchdown opportunities from Dasher.

Like many running quarterbacks that come out of a breakout season, there is a dip in rushing production due to the injury concerns. This can be expected for Dasher in 2010. That means he must find a way to pick up the slack in the air. With two of his top three pass catchers moving on, it might take the offense until conference play to generate enough chemistry to start really clicking in the air.

Dasher should still be drafted in the first half of the opening round in your fantasy drafts. But be careful and don’t pass on more stable options. A player like Colin Kaepernick needs to be selected before Dasher, and if you want to play it safe you could go after players like Kellen Moore and Blaine Gabbert before taking a stab at Dasher.

The key to looking at Dwight Dasher’s fantasy future for 2010 is simple, don’t expect him to out-produce his 2009 numbers. If you draft with that single though in mind you will find yourself in good shape.

Joe Arpasi is the co-owner of CollegeFootballGeek.com , your premier resource for college fantasy football information. Check us out.

With just over two months remaining before the kickoff to the 2010 football season, BlueRaiderZone will be doing a series of position previews for the upcoming season. The first part of the series will focus on the quarterback position in 2010.

The high-powered Middle Tennessee offense can be summed up in one word: Dasher. Senior quarterback Dwight Dasher is the heart and soul of the Blue Raider attack, as his eye-popping 2009 stats can attest:

2,789 passing yards.

A team-best 1,154 rushing yards.

36 total touchdowns.

Blue Raider fans have been aware of Dasher since his freshman year, when he made a splash by almost single-handedly handing the in-state Memphis Tigers a loss at the Liberty Bowl. The rest of the country got to know him after his record-setting performance in the 2009 R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Dasher made the most of his turn in the national spotlight by going 15-for-25 with 162 yards and a pair of touchdown passes. In addition to that, he added two rushing touchdowns by rushing for a New Orleans Bowl record of 201 yards. Middle Tennessee would go on to beat Southern Miss by a score of 42-32 thanks in large part to his strong performance.

A true dual-threat quarterback, Dasher has the ability to throw opposing defenses into a frenzy, but he is also prone to mistakes. Despite his strong numbers, Dasher also threw 14 interceptions last year including a trio of games where he threw three picks. Not surprisingly, the Blue Raiders were 1-2 on those occasions, dropping games to Clemson and Mississippi State (a game in which his three INT's came in only three quarters of play).

The coaching staff identified turnovers as the main aspect to work on this past off-season. New offensive coordinator Mike Schultz and passing game coordinator Willie Simmons are determined to cut down on the interceptions in 2010. Several staff members have said that there will be fewer designed runs from Dasher in the upcoming season. In 2009, a depleted core of running backs mandated that Dasher carry both the passing and run games on his shoulders. That shouldn't be a problem in 2010 as the Blue Raider backfield will feature a three-way attack from the likes of Phillip Tanner, D.D. Kyles and Benjamin Cunningham.

On top of that, Schultz has plenty of experience in spread-style offenses that also encompass the run thanks to eleven years spent working the offense at TCU. Although the designed runs will be fewer, defenses still have to play it safe with Dasher, who can turn a botched play into a big gain with his elusive scrambling abilities. 

After Dasher, the quarterback spot is a bit worrisome for the Blue Raiders. They've had three backups leave over the course of the off-season (Ryan Rosenvall, Brent Burnette and Jamal Ramsey) which effectively obliterated depth at the signal-calling position. Rick Stockstill and the crew did manage to sign an heir-apparent to the starter's spot in JUCO qb Logan Kilgore. Kilgore has done nothing but impress since arriving in Murfreesboro, but ideally he would redshirt in 2010 and preserve another year of eligibility in the P.D. era (post-Dasher).

So the staff went out and found their second JUCO quarterback of the signing class:  Jeff Murphy. According to Stockstill, Murphy provides some much needed non-Kilgore assurance and experience behind Dasher. In 2008, Murphy managed to put up 2,000 yards through the air, despite splitting time at quarterback. He also put up 22 passing TD's to only eight interceptions. On top of that, Stockstill says that he's an above-average runner. Obviously he's no Dasher when scrambling, but he's perfectly capable of fitting into Middle's high-powered attack. 

With Texas declining the Pac 10's invitation to be part of a 16-team conference, the likelihood of collegiate athletics shifting to a 21st Century model of mega conferences has come to an end - at least for now.  However, the prospect of realignment or expansion will remain a constant in coming years as institutions jockey for position with more prominent and lucrative conferences.

Perhaps some of the biggest winners are institutions located in non-AQ conferences, such as Houston or Middle Tennessee, that may have been left out in a seismic shift of the collegiate sports landscape. In fact, the sudden deceleration of conference expansion offers non-AQ schools with more time to continue enhancing and growing, which may make programs like Houston and Middle Tennessee more attractive when future expansion begins to take shape. Both are in top 30 media markets and Houston is one of the largest in the nation.

For Middle Tennessee, one of the greatest challenges it faces isn't the lack of market size or academic rating, it's one of perception. However, of all of the teams in non-AQ conferences, Middle Tennessee may actually possess the greatest amount of raw potential of any of them. 

For starters, the Blue Raiders are coming off their first 10-win season and reached that milestone in its first 10 years at the I-A level. With a head coach that spurned offers from Memphis and East Carolina at the end of the 2009 season, sitting in the 29th largest media market and growing to become the largest undergraduate University in Tennessee despite retaining one of the lowest admission rates in the state, Middle Tennessee has a lot of momentum to be part of a new modern-day collegiate landscape. 

By now everyone understands that television contracts (which are largely tied to the size and number of a conference's media markets) are driving many of the decisions on who wants whom and which programs get invitations to bigger and better conferences. This provides a great deal of momentum for Middle Tennessee - particularly a conference that would like to enter the market where the Blue Raiders call home. The Nashville-Murfreesboro designated media market (DMA) could be an important region for a conference whether that be the Big East, a future merger between the Sun Belt and C-USA or a new conference that is formed out of leftover schools from other conferences should it ever come to that. 

A primary benefit of being nestled in the backyard of one of the nation’s top media markets is the fact that so many alumni of potential conference mates call the Nashville-Murfreesboro area home. Take the University of Louisville for example, which has one of the largest alumni bases of any other University in the Nashville area including many SEC schools. It stands to reason that Louisville may prefer the opportunity to be aligned with a conference that includes the Nashville-Murfreesboro DMA over the one in Bristol, CT, especially if the Big East is unable to survive future expansion efforts by the Big 10 or ACC.

When Middle Tennessee is weighed up against its competitors pound for pound President Sydney McPhee and Athletic Director Chris Massaro have to like their location and their chances, but the University faces perception problems.

And perception problems are difficult to overcome. Although Middle Tennessee is not a research institution and suffers from the perception of being a "small school" in spite of its actual size, the University has raised admission standards several times over the past decade and continued to grow despite more stringent requirements. Furthermore, when looking at the average admission statistics with its peers that might be jostling with it to impress conferences and University presidents few other institutions have much of an academically advantageous background to separate itself from Middle Tennessee, but few know the steps the University has taken in recent years to enhance its academic stature.

According to data provided by StateUniversity.com, the average ACT/SAT score for incoming students at Middle Tennessee is 24 and 1140, respectively. Middle Tennessee accepts only 39% of applicants. By contrast Louisiana Tech's average ACT score is 25 and their admission rate is 96%. Looking at other institutions, Western Kentucky's ACT and SAT numbers are 24 and 1040, respectively with an admission rate of 96%. Troy's ACT is 23 and admission rate 74%. Memphis' average incoming ACT/SAT is 25/1200 with an admission rate of 66%. And when you consider that each of these markets are smaller than Middle Tennessee’s DMA, there’s a compelling argument to be made that you’re getting more bang for your buck with the Blue Raiders.

Comparatively speaking none of the aforementioned University's have a statistically significant advantage over the other. If we compared each of these to a institution like Vanderbilt with an average ACT of 33 and admission rate of 33% only Middle Tennessee's rate of admission is comparable likely driven by the popularity of the University and its environment-rich location.

And it’s those attributes; Dr. McPhee is likely selling when the issue of academics arise in the discussion of conference affiliation. And if that doesn't work, McPhee can point to being ranked 47th in Forbes list of America's Best Colleges and Universities. But it’s the total package - the aggregate of a blossoming football program (not to mention an all around athletics department that just won its sixth all sports trophy since 2001), a prime media market, and a University that has undertaken a significant academic revolution over the past two decades. 

McPhee and Massaro have both stated their preference is to make the Sun Belt as strong as possible, but there continue to be so many uncertainties about the future, Middle Tennessee isn’t sitting back. It’s working diligently to make itself as attractive as possible. Continually increasing attendance during Rick Stockstill’s tenure, becoming a model with the NCAA’s Athletic Progress Rate (APR), and enhancing what’s already the Sun Belt’s top facilities are all part of the University’s efforts to ensure it is well positioned in the future.

With that said, there are areas Middle Tennessee needs to improve. The biggest is the endowment and fundraising arm of the University. Middle Tennessee lags behind many of its peers in this area, and will need to increase revenues generated from annual giving. Another and perhaps less severe is the stigmatization and subsequent perceptions associated with being unable to change the name to the University of Middle Tennessee, which has helped engender a small-school mentality toward the institution by outsiders.

Those issues aside, Middle Tennessee has certainly done everything it can and it certainly possesses a number of intangible benefits in its corner if or when realignment makes its way to Murfreesboro. The potential of McPhee's University (which is just now barely beginning to be scratched) may well exceed that of Middle Tennessee's competition -- Universities that previously maxed out their potential. The unknown at this point is whether conferences will look at Middle Tennessee with pre-existing prejudices based in false assumptions or on the facts and merits that Middle Tennessee brings to the negotiating table?

2009 was a breakout season for quarterback Dwight Dasher. Now the fantasy football world has high expectations for the Blue Raider signal caller, but can he live up to the numbers he posted last season?

Cast of Characters

Former OC—Tony Franklin
QB—Dwight Dasher (Sr)
HB—Phillip Tanner (R-Sr)
HB—D.D. Kyles (R-Jr)
WR—Garrett Andrews (Sr)
WR—Shane Blissard (R-Jr)
WR—Sancho McDonald (Jr)

What’s the Scoop?

Fantasy waves were made during the winter of 2009 as former Troy and Auburn offensive coordinator Tony Franklin was hired as the new offensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State. Franklin inherited a talent dual-threat quarterback in Dwight Dasher. Dasher spent most of the 2008 season injured, but fantasy owners saw big things in store for him in 2009 with Tony Franklin calling the plays.

Dwight Dasher did not disappoint during the 2009 season, racking up 3,943 total yards and 27 total touchdowns. Dasher finished the season as a top two fantasy quarterback.

But this winter brought question marks to the fantasy future of Dwight Dasher. Tony Franklin leaves in order to take over the Louisiana Tech offense. Running back Phillip Tanner looks to return from a knee injured sustained during the second game that sidelined him for the remainder of the 2009 season. 

Who’s Gone?

The loss of offensive coordinator Tony Franklin is the biggest loss to the Middle Tennessee offense. Franklin runs a no-huddle based spread offense, where he would call the plays based on the defense’s alignment. Franklin knows his offensive system in and out, and knows how to set-up the many facets of this spread attack.

Now Mike Schultz takes over for the departed Franklin. He will continue to run the same offensive system, but plays on their own don’t get the job done. It is still yet to be seen if Schultz knows how to lead the offensive to the same production levels that Franklin’s knowledge was able to generate in 2009. Also, it is yet to be seen if Schultz can mold and develop Dwight Dasher as well as Tony Franklin was able to during the week day practices.

The receiver core sustained large losses as well. Dasher will no longer have two of his top three pass targets as wide receivers Chris McClover and Patrick Honeycutt graduate. Desmond Gee has also been lost to graduation, and Malcolm Beyah has been moved from receiver to corner back. Dasher must find new target to rely on if he hopes to duplicate the numbers he put up through the air in 2009.

Who’s Back?

Middle Tennessee returns running back Phillip Tanner after losing him to a knee injury in the second game of the 2009 season. Tanner has been a solid playmaker during his career, possessing the ability to threaten a defense on the ground and through the air. 

D.D. Kyles stepped in for the injured Tanner in 2009, and accumulated 857 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Now the new offensive coaching staff will have two game hardened rushers to rely on, as well as help lighten the physical pounding that Dwight Dasher could take over the course of the 2010 season.

There are some receivers that return that have game experience under their belts.  Senior Garrett Andrews is the leading returner, totaling 530 yards on 35 receptions with four touchdowns in 2009. A pair of juniors also return. Shane Blissard caught 19 balls for 283 yards and three touchdowns, while Sancho McDonald had 24 receptions for 255 yards and two touchdowns.

Four starters return on the offensive line which will help allow Dasher more time to throw the ball down field, as well as open up holes for Dasher, Tanner, and Kyles in the ground game.

If Your Fantasy Draft Was Today (04/28/10)

Quarterback Dwight Dasher will once again be an elite level fantasy quarterback in 2010, but buyer beware. Due to the loss of offensive coordinator Tony Franklin, it’s too much of a stretch to believe the offense will generate as many yards and touchdowns as it had in the 2009 season. So there will be a dip in offensive production to contend with right from the start.

Another issue that will hamstring Dasher’s 2010 production will be the addition of Phillip Tanner back into the starting line-up. Dasher spent much of the middle portion of the 2009 season banged up from the constant pounding that results from running the ball an average of 16.5 times a game. Tanner will be used to ease the load off of Dasher as the coaches looks to keep him healthy throughout the season. There shouldn’t be a major drop in carries, but Tanner will most likely siphon off rushing touchdown opportunities from Dasher.

Like many running quarterbacks that come out of a breakout season, there is a dip in rushing production due to the injury concerns. This can be expected for Dasher in 2010. That means he must find a way to pick up the slack in the air. With two of his top three pass catchers moving on, it might take the offense until conference play to generate enough chemistry to start really clicking in the air.

Dasher should still be drafted in the first half of the opening round in your fantasy drafts. But be careful and don’t pass on more stable options. A player like Colin Kaepernick need to be selected before Dasher, and if you want to play it safe with Dasher you could go after players like Kellen Moore and Blaine Gabbert before taking a stab at Dasher.

The key to looking at Dwight Dasher’s fantasy future for 2010 is simple, don’t expect him to out-produce his 2009 numbers. If you draft with that single thought in mind you will find yourself in good shape.

Joe Arpasi is the co-owner of CollegeFootballGeek.com , your premier resource for college fantasy football information. Check us out.