There are a few teams I am looking forward to seeing play this season due to the off-season moves they made to make their team better.
FAU
Last Chance U of major college football. Lane Kiffin becoming the Owls head coach right before the Tide played in the National title was already a solid start for FAU. The young program was able to steal one of the best offensive minds in college football.
Move forward a few weeks, and the FAU Owls added former FSU freshman quarterback, and Netflix “Last Chance U” star, De’Andre Johnson to his team. Just in a few weeks FAU added a star head coach and a star quarterback. To go along with Johnson, Lane Kiffin brought in his teammate from Last Chance U, Tim Bonner. A fast edge rusher who was originally at Louisville before he transferred to EMCC.
FAU continued its procurement of talent by adding EMCC quarterback coach Clint Trickett. He also was a former FSU quarterback, seems to me that Lane likes FSU. But, to top off FAU talent searches, the Owls added another former dynamic FSU quarterback, John Franklin III.
If you remember, Franklin was one of the biggest stars of Last Chance U season 1. His biggest moment came in the last game of the season for EMCC when he scored five touchdowns in the first half before the game ended in a brawl.
FAU also added 5 other players from Power 5 conference teams. The Owls look set to make a few moves this year in the Conference USA.
Biggest test: Middle Tennessee State University, Sept. 30
Projected Finish: 8-4
UWF
Who? Yea I said UWF, the University of West Florida. A small school on the edge of the state of Florida and right before Alabama in small town Pensacola, Florida; home of boxing legend Roy Jones Jr.
This small school is entering their second season of college football. UWF plays division II football in the toughest D2 conference, Gulf South Conference. Known as the Argonauts, the Argos finished 5-6 in their first-ever season. The Argos gained some extra talent this year from the FBS-level to add to their 3 pre-season All-Americans.
Some of the new additions include former Troy Trojan wide receiver, Hiram Velez; Pensacola native and former 4-star corner back, Jalen Spencer, who played at University of South Florida. These two players bring peed and swagger that is needed when building a program.
The receiving core for UWF looks to be the bread and butter of the team. A few of the players I believe to have a breakout 2017 season are Sophomore wide receivers, #2 Rodney Coates and #17 Caleb Robinson.
UWF had a tough start to the season, even though they won 20 – 16 over Missouri S&T. UWF allowed for Missouri S&T to throw for more than 350 yards through the air. S&T committed three turnovers that lessened the blow of given up so many yards.
If the Argos hope to make it into the Division II playoffs this year, they must play better. The Argos will be going up against much tougher competition later in the season.
Biggest Test: Valdosta State, Sept. 23; Florida Tech, Sept. 30; West Georgia, Nov. 11
Projected Finish: 9-3