My Preseason FCS STATS Top 25 Ballot
Exciting announcement: In 2021, I am a voter in the weekly FCS STATS Top 25 Poll. Being tabbed for the preeminent Football Championship Subdivision rankings is a true honor, and I look forward to sharing my ballot throughout the season.
Check out the Top 25 here before diving into my submission. And, remember when perusing the following that preseason polls, especially in the FCS,
Sam Houston
I’ll defer to 16-time World Champion Ric Flair on my choice of spring-season playoff winner Sam Houston as preseason No. 1:The Bearkats return the resurgent Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Eric Schmid, and Defensive Player of the Year Jahari Kay. Kay is anchor of arguably the most disruptive front seven in the nation.
James Madison
The 2019 season’s national runner-up had Sam Houston on the ropes in May’s semifinals, and might very well have won the national championship had it held off the Bearkats. The lingering what if will fuel the smash-mouth Dukes, who return a frontrunner for the Buck Buchanan Award, Mike Greene, and one of the nation’s best running backs in Percy Agyei-Obese.South Dakota State
The Jackrabbits were long on the cusp of reaching the FCS pinnacle, and in the spring finally emerged from juggernaut North Dakota State’s shadow. A run to the National Championship Game has SDSU tabbed as Missouri Valley Football Conference favorites over the Bison — and with good reason thanks to returning stars like Pierre Strong Jr. and Caleb Sanders.North Dakota State
Don’t eulogize the North Dakota State dynasty just yet. While the Bison looked uncharacteristically mortal in the spring, a veteran offensive line featuring NFL-caliber talent and a loaded front seven featuring Spencer Waege, Eli Mostaert and James Kaczor will have NDSU back in title contention.Delaware
One of the most surprising stories of the spring, Delaware flourished behind a balanced offense and deep defense. Coach Danny Rocco’s commitment to frequent substitutions should keep the Fightin’ Blue Hens fresh for fall despite playing deep into the spring, and more importantly, built depth few teams in the nation will be able to match.Weber State
Under coach Jay Hill, Weber State’s grown into one of the most consistent FCS programs. The Wildcats are perennial Big Sky Conference championship contenders under Hill, flourishing with a style reflective of the coach’s tenure as a Kyle Whittingham assistant.
That’s to say Weber State has one of the most well-rounded and tenacious defenses anywhere, but certainly in the Big Sky.Montana State
New Montana State head coach Brent Vigen arrives in Bozeman with no shortage of experience winning at the FCS level. The longtime Craig Bohl assistant helped transform the Bison on their move from Div. II to FCS juggernaut before following Bohl to Wyoming.
In Vigen’s return to FCS, he inherits a team capable of going all the way to Frisco. Running back Isaiah Ifanse is a potential breakout star under the new regime.Richmond
The Spiders didn’t make the final STATS Top 25, so for me to have them in the top 10 is a serious divergence from most expectations. Richmond quietly finished the spring ranked in the top 15, however, and should be better in the fall with linebacker Tyler Dressler returning from injury to join an outstanding front seven. There are few defensive lines with a tandem as fierce as Kobie Turner and Darius Reynolds.North Dakota
Another pleasant surprise of the spring, North Dakota looked unstoppable before a lengthy COVID shutdown. Even with the hiatus, the Fighting Hawks rallied for a run to the quarterfinals.
Otis Weah’s return to the team sparked a multifaceted offense that’s among the more exciting in the MVFC.Villanova
In 2019, Villanova quarterback Dan Smith put up numbers no one in Wildcats history but 2014 Walter Payton Award winner John Robertson ever approached. Smith is back, as his is premier target in the spring, Rayjoun Pringle.
Justin Covington’s comeback from an ACL injury just might give Villanova the best backfield combination in the Colonial — if not the country.Southern Illinois
Southern Illinois’ surprising playoff push in the spring defied convention. The Salukis had a revolving door behind center, and actually gave up more points per game than they registered.
And yet, the oddity of SIU’s breakthrough should not be discounted; not with the Salukis boasting an elite secondary with Qua Brown and James Ceasar.Montana
With programs like Appalachian State and Georgia Southern gone, Montana stands as a rare FCS blue blood. The Grizzlies boast a rich history, sustained success across multiple generations, and have one of the most rabid fan bases in the sport. Bobby Hauck’s return to Missoula after some down years reestablished Montana as a contender with a familiar formula of hard-hitting defense.Jacksonville State
The perennial standard-bearer of the Ohio Valley Conference moved to the upstart ASUN. A new conference should bring much of the same results, with the Gamecocks setting the pace for the league.
JSU held opponents to 17.6 points per game in a season that was played partially in the fall and partially in spring. D.J. Coleman and Chris Hardie key the defense with their play on the line.Northern Iowa
Mark Farley is in his 20th year as head coach of his alma mater, and in that time, the Panthers have been remarkably consistent. They capped their 12th playoff appearance under Farley in 2019 with a run to the semifinals, and after a disappointing spring, should rebound in fall 2021.
Jared Brinkman is a big-time playmaker for a typically stout Panthers defense.Monmouth
After a breakout 2019, in which quarterback Kenji Bahar and running back Pete Guerriero formed one of the most potent backfields in FCS, Monmouth didn’t miss a beat replacing the duo. In form games, Juwon Farri showed flashes of being the Payton Award-contending caliber player Guerriero had been before him.Eastern Washington
Long before Mike Leach or Nick Rolovich arrived at Washington State, Eastern Washington made the Palouse Passing Country. Longtime EWU assistant coach Aaron Best took over in 2017 and continued the Eagles’ longstanding tradition of airing it out, and why not? It’s been a winning formula.
Eastern Washington has been a fixture in the FCS Playoffs, and last April, looked poised to bounce North Dakota State for the better part of two quarters. Eric Barriere went for more than 3,700 yards in 2019 and 2,439 in just seven games last spring.Southeastern Louisiana
The return of the WAC came largely at the expense of the Southland Conference. While the league’s banner-carrier for much of the previous decade, Sam Houston, leaves a sizable void, SELA stands ready to fill the gap.
The Lions very nearly derailed Sam Houston’s perfect season right out of the gate, however. The season-opening encounter was among the very best games of the truncated spring slate.Cole Kelley, quarterback of SELA’s high-powered offense, can match Appalachian State legend Armanti Edwards as a two-time Walter Payton Award winner.
UAlbany
The peculiarities of the spring season complicates evaluating the upcoming fall season. To wit, UAlbany is much better than it showed in limited appearances before shutting down.
The Great Danes were tabbed to finish last in the CAA before winning nine games and reaching the Playoffs in 2019. The breakthrough behind Jeff Undercuffler and Karl Mofor raised expectations ahead of the spring, but the 2021 Great Danes are back to being projected lowly (No. 8 in the Colonial). With Undercuffler and Mofor back, the wide-receiving corps improved with the addition of UNLV transfer Mekhi Stevenson, and the revelatory debut of defensive end Jared Verse, expect UAlbany to defy expectations again.VMI
Behind a potent passing attack, VMI claimed its first SoCon championship in 43 years last spring en route to the program’s first-ever playoff appearance. Scott Wachenheim’s bunch stands poised to build on last season’s unexpected success with quarterback Seth Morgan and All-American wide receiver Jakob Herres returning.Murray State
Jacksonville State’s exit, as noted above, leaves a void in the OVC. Murray State’s positioned well to fill it thanks to a strong offense. Quarterback Preston Rice operates behind a veteran offensive line and will throw to reliable wide receiver LaMartez Brooks.
The Racers should also have the best defense in the OVC, returning cornerback Marcis Floyd and linebacker Scotty Humpich from last season’s 5-2 squad.Central Arkansas
While most of the FCS transitioned to a spring schedule last academic year, Central Arkansas was among the very few that pursued a full autumn slate. The Bears acquitted themselves well in a challenging schedule, with such highlights as Nick Nakwaasah accounting for the sole interception of Trey Lance’s illustrious college career.
Some key players from last year’s squad are gone, like new Los Angeles Ram Robert Rochell, but Breylin Smith and Logan Jessup should have UCA competitive in Year 1 of the new ASUN.Alabama A&M
The SWAC is on the upswing in 2021, and it has nothing to do with COACH Prime. While Jackson State figures to dominate headlines because of Deion Sanders, the Tigers will be playing catch-up with newcomer Florida A&M, Alcorn State, and Alabama A&M.
A&M ran the table in the spring behind quarterback Aqeel Glass and cornerback Armoni Holloway. The loss of pass-rushing stud Marcus Cushnie, who’s now at Florida State, will be the biggest question for the Bulldogs.Kennesaw State
Since its launch in 2015, Kennesaw State has been a consistent winner. Paul Johnson disciple Brian Bohannon brought influence from Johnson, a multiple-time national championship-winning at Georgia Southern, and carved out an impressive niche.
After a team with realistic sights on Frisco bowed out of the 2018 Playoffs, Kennesaw State saw Monmouth bypass it in the Big South. The Owls wrap up in the BSC before joining the fledgling ASUN, and will try to knock the Hawks off the perch with their multifaceted ground game.Rhode Island
Rhody has long languished at or near the cellar of the CAA, continuing in 2019 with a last-place finish in the league. However, a series of near-misses foreshadowed the Rams’ reversal of fortunes in the spring: Before having to close down due to COVID-19 issues, Rhode Island won thrillers against Villanova and UAlbany.
Transfer quarterback Kasim Hill, a former 4-star prospect from Maryland; and Kevin Brown Jr., a freshman in the spring, give URI an intriguing backfield tandem.Sacred Heart
Reigning NEC champion Sacred Heart gave Delaware a handful in the spring Playoffs, and the Pioneers figure to be a postseason-caliber team once again. That starts with Julius Chestnut, an NFL-quality running back.
Congrats, man. Look forward to your continued coverage!