Central Arkansas preview capsule
NCAA Football
Posted: Aug 27, 2020 / 08:46 AM MDT / Updated: Aug 27, 2020 / 08:46 AM MDT
(Stats Perform) – Southland Conference member Central Arkansas is one of 15 FCS programs (out of 127 overall) that is playing nonconference games this fall. Due to coronavirus concerns, the Southland postponed its conference schedule until a potential spring season.
LOCATION: Conway, Arkansas
STADIUM: Estes Stadium
HEAD COACH: Nathan Brown (15-9, two seasons)
2019 RECORD: 9-4, 7-2 Southland (Tie/1st)
2020 FALL SCHEDULE: Austin Peay in Montgomery, Alabama (Aug. 29), at UAB (Sept. 3), at Arkansas State (Sept. 19), Missouri State (Sept. 26), at North Dakota State (Oct. 3), at Eastern Kentucky (Oct. 10), at Missouri State (Oct. 17), Eastern Kentucky (Oct. 31), at Louisiana-Lafayette (Nov. 21)
PROJECTED RETURNING STARTERS: 18 (9 offense/9 defense)
3 KEY RETURNEES: QB Breylin Smith, WR Lujuan Winningham, CB Robert Rochell
BIGGEST SHOES TO FILL: OTs Hunter Watts (graduated) and Parker Ray (knee surgery)
OUTLOOK: If the Southland co-champ, which was ranked 11th in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25, winds up playing the largest FCS schedule this fall, it won’t have a spring season. The Bears’ game at three-time defending national champion North Dakota State is considered the biggest in the FCS this fall. Smith fuels a potent passing game, having set the school’s single-season record for passing yards (3,704) and tying the mark for touchdown passes (32) last season, and he gets back top receivers Winningham and Tyler Hudson. RB Kierre Crossley seeks a strong senior campaign after the offense lacked a consistent run game last season (the Bears were last among FCS teams with a winning record). Defensively, Rochell is an NFL prospect and was joined by DL Nathan Grant and LB T.J. Campbell, the team’s top-returning tackler, on the Southland’s preseason first team.
(Stats Perform) – Southland Conference member Central Arkansas is one of 15 FCS programs (out of 127 overall) that is playing nonconference games this fall. Due to coronavirus concerns, the S…
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Austin Peay preview capsule
Updated: August 27, 2020, 7:44 AM ET
Associated Press
(Stats Perform) -- Ohio Valley Conference member Austin Peay is one of 15 FCS programs (out of 127 overall) that has announced it will play at least one nonconference game this fall. Due to coronavirus concerns, the OVC postponed its conference schedule until a potential spring season.
LOCATION: Clarksville, Tennessee
STADIUM: Governors Stadium
INTERIM HEAD COACH: Marquase Lovings (first season)
2019 RECORD: 11-4, 7-1 Ohio Valley (Tie/1st)
2020 FALL SCHEDULE: Central Arkansas in Montgomery, Alabama (Aug. 29), at Pittsburgh (Sept. 12), at Cincinnati (Sept. 19)
PROJECTED RETURNING STARTERS: 14 (7 offense/7 defense)
3 KEY RETURNEES: QB
Jeremiah Oatsvall, WR
DeAngelo Wilson, NB
Kordell Jackson
BIGGEST SHOES TO FILL: QB JaVaughn Craig
OUTLOOK: The Governors earned a share of their first OVC title since 1977, won twice in their first FCS playoff appearance and set a school record for wins last season. However, coach Mark Hudspeth resigned after one season, and in early July, Lovings, the associate head coach and defensive line coach, took over what would be selected the No. 13 team in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25. Craig was the All-OVC quarterback last year, but the position was stocked, with Oatsvall opening the campaign as the starter before he suffered a season-ending foot injury in the second game. He will operate behind a veteran offensive line and work with the superb wide receiver duo of Wilson (89 catches, FCS-high 1,564 receiving yards, 15 TDs) and
Baniko Harley (12 overall TDs). Jackson is a first-team All-American who had a hand in 11 turnovers, headlining a defense that is stout against the run and also boasts NG
Josephus Smith (18½ tackles for loss, 7½ sacks) and LB
Jack McDonald (team-high 118 tackles).
Copyright 2020 by The Associated Press
