UCA Football

[GoHogs1091]

The Steve Campbell era is beginning at UCA.  In 2000, Campbell earned National Coach of the Year honors by three different organizations.  Campbell has a career overall winning percentage of 77%.

UCA's 2014 fall camp has been very business-like.  During fall camp, there have been practices at 5:30 AM.  There has been no ice-bucket challenge activities, and no luncheon, which is what has occurred in NWA.

After UCA's 2nd scrimmage in fall camp, Campbell stated the following in the linked article.

"I thought the defense had the upper hand the first few times out this year," said the first-year head coach, "but the offense really fought back and played well today."

Also from the article.

"The first-team offense drove for a touchdown in just six plays on the opening drive of the scrimmage to set the tone. A 35-yard pass from junior Taylor Reed to senior Dezmin Lewis opened the scrimmage. In all, the Bears ran 80-plus plays in an hour."

http://www.ucasports.com/news/2014/8/16/FB_0816145417.aspx

Regarding the player positions, it looks like the starting QB the first game will either be Taylor Reed, or Ryan Howard.  Reed is a Junior and Howard is a Senior.  Reed has significant Div. 1 playing experience, but Howard is who replaced All-Conference QB Wynrick Smothers last season for several games after Smothers got a season ending injury.

The RB position is probably going to be by committee.  Jeff Anderson, Blake Veasley (a Transfer from the University of Memphis), Willie Matthews, and Darrien Daniels most likely will be getting carries.  Daniels is who UCA replaced Korliss Marshall with in their 2013 Class when Marshall decided to go play up at the UofA.  Daniels played against competition up at St. Louis, MO, and he accounted for 2,952 all-purpose yards in 2011-2012.  He was a 3 Star prospect according to ESPN.com.

The WR position is very deep and very talented.  Senior Dezmin Lewis, and Redshirt Sophomore Courtney Whitehead will probably start.  Lewis is 6'4" and Whitehead is 6'3".  Lewis caused Ole Miss problems in 2012, and Whitehead has Div. 1 playing experience.  The other starting WR will probably be Sophomore Jatavious Wilson.  Wilson is both a WR and a Kick Returner, and he has been named a preseason All-American.  When Wilson was signed by Clint Conque in 2013, Conque stated that Wilson's High School film was the best film he had ever seen, and that he has seen a lot of film over 25 years.

Regarding TE, it looks like it will be Freshman Josiah Wymer from Springdale.  Wymer is 6'3" 260 lbs. 

The starting OL looks to be the following, and it is an experienced OL.

LT:  Caruthers   Redshirt Senior   Has started 17 games on the OL, and has appeared in 36 games on the OL.  Caruthers has been named a preseason All-American.

LG:  Manley   Sophomore   Has started 1 game on the OL, and has appeared in 10 games on the OL.

C:  Willis   Redshirt Junior   Has started 12 games on the OL, and has appeared in 21 games on the OL.

RG:  Simon   Senior   Has started 10 games on the OL, and has appeared in 34 games on the OL.

RT:  Stouffer   Redshirt Junior   Has started 7 games on the OL, and has appeared in 18 games on the OL.

Total:  47 games started   119 game appearances

On the Defense, the DL has Redshirt Junior Jonathan Woodard at Defensive End.  Woodard is 6'6" 271 lbs.  He has been named a preseason All-American.

Regarding the Linebackers, the LB Corp. will be led by Senior Blake Childress.  Over his time at UCA, Childress has started 13 games at LB, and he has appeared in 31 games.  Childress has a total of 95 tackles (63 solo), and 12.5 tackles for a loss.

In the Secondary, it looks like the CBs will be led by Junior Dillion Winfrey.  Winfrey has started 12 games at CB, and he has appeared in 24 games.  Winfrey has a total of 92 tackles (74 solo), 4 for a loss, three forced fumbles, and 2 Ints.  Winfrey was an Honorable Mention All-Conference last season.

It looks like the Safeties will be led by Redshirt Sophomore Bobby Watkins.  Watkins has Div. 1 playing experience, which includes having played against Notre Dame.  In 2013, Watkins started 3 games in the Secondary, and he appeared in 11 games.  He made a total of 31 tackles (15 solo) and he intercepted 2 passes.

UCA has been picked to finish 4th in the Southland Conference by both the Coaches Poll and the Sports Information Directors Poll.  I wouldn't be surprised in UCA finished either 2nd or 3rd in the Conference.  Southeastern Louisiana has been picked in both Polls to win the SLC, and Southeastern Louisiana is a possibility to contend for a FCS National Championship this season.  UCA will be playing them on the road this season.

UCA starts out the season playing at Lubbock against Texas Tech.  It will be tough game for UCA, but UCA has shown that they can play with FBS teams.  My prediction is that UCA will score 34 points in Lubbock, but lose to Texas Tech (who I predict will score 42 points).  The 3rd game of the season is on the road against Montana State, who is a usual FCS power.  That is a winnable game for UCA, and so will be the road game against Sam Houston State, who UCA has won against the last 2 seasons (season-before-last, when UCA defeated SHS, SHS made it to the FCS National Championship game after losing to UCA at the end of the regular season).

UCA could be as good as 10-2, but it might end up being either 8-4 or 9-3.  UCA had something like 10 season ending injuries during last season, and it took that very unusual circumstance for UCA to go only 7-5 last season (which a 7 win season is a "down season" for UCA).

It looks like the game preparation for UCA will be better for UCA under Steve Campbell, both in regards to game preparation coaching by the new Coaching Staff, and also better Strength and Conditioning.  Campbell brought into UCA a new Strength and Conditioning Coach who has previously worked in the LSU Football S&C Program, the Mississippi State Football S&C Program, and also at the Olympic Training Facility in Colorado.

[Seminole Indian]

I really enjoyed the SHSU game with E. Washington yesterday. Both teams were very athletic, and would not be surprised if SHSU were not the better team at some point this season.

[Got_da_captain]

Same Taylor reed from El dorado high and Memphis? If so wow how far has that kid fallen!

[GoHogs1091]

Here is the Game Notes for the UCA/Texas Tech game.  The UCA Depth Chart is on Page 9 of the Game Notes.

http://www.ucasports.com/custompages/2014%20FB%20GAME%20NOTES/UCA-TX%20TECH%20NOTES%202014.pdf

Here is some of the matchup comparison.

POSITION.......................................UCA................TTECH
Offensive line (starters avg.).......... 6-4, 298...........6-4, 297
Defensive line...............................6-4, 270...........6-4, 268
Offensive backs.............................6-0, 213...........6-1, 205
Receivers......................................6-1, 196...........5-11, 186
Linebackers...................................6-2, 229...........6-0, 227

[Jackrabbit Hog]

UCA will beat Tech if Randy Huffstickler throws for 250 yards, Vaughn Edwards runs for 150 and Ronnie Mallett catches 10 passes. 

Oh, sorry.  Wrong century.

[Seminole Indian]

Here is the Game Notes for the UCA/Texas Tech game.  The UCA Depth Chart is on Page 9 of the Game Notes.

http://www.ucasports.com/custompages/2014%20FB%20GAME%20NOTES/UCA-TX%20TECH%20NOTES%202014.pdf

Here is some of the matchup comparison.

POSITION.......................................UCA................TTECH
Offensive line (starters avg.).......... 6-4, 298...........6-4, 297
Defensive line...............................6-4, 270...........6-4, 268
Offensive backs.............................6-0, 213...........6-1, 205
Receivers......................................6-1, 196...........5-11, 186
Linebackers...................................6-2, 229...........6-0, 227

There is a huge difference between size and quality in college football, and  a University, and that something UCA has never grasp.

[GoHogs1091]

There is a huge difference between size and quality in college football, and  a University, and that something UCA has never grasp.

Here is what matters.

Since 2001:
1. ..........Central Arkansas..........................102-51............ .666
2............Arkansas.......................................93-70............ .570
3............Arkansas Tech...............................76-62............. .550
4............Harding.........................................76-62............. .550
5............Henderson State............................72-67............. .517
6............Ouachita Baptist...........................62-67............... .480
7............UA-Pine Bluff................................73-80.............. .477
8............Arkansas State.............................75-83.............. .474
9............Southern Arkansas.......................60-77.............. .437
10..........UA-Monticello...............................50-92.............. .352

[Seminole Indian]

Here is what matters.

Since 2001:
1. ..........Central Arkansas..........................102-51............ .666
2............Arkansas.......................................93-70............ .570
3............Arkansas Tech...............................76-62............. .550
4............Harding.........................................76-62............. .550
5............Henderson State............................72-67............. .517
6............Ouachita Baptist...........................62-67............... .480
7............UA-Pine Bluff................................73-80.............. .477
8............Arkansas State.............................75-83.............. .474
9............Southern Arkansas.......................60-77.............. .437
10..........UA-Monticello...............................50-92.............. .352

I don't really don't think that you believe this is true. Either FBS program in Arkansas could name their score against your team.

I also don't think you understand that the autonomy proposal that just passed program really separates FBS football from the rest, and the gap between UCA and ASU, which is pretty large right now,  much less the UofA, is going to get a lot bigger in a hurry.

Not that anyone will know because FBS schools will for the most part not play FCS schools going forward.

[GoHogs1091]

I don't really don't think that you believe this is true. Either FBS program in Arkansas could name their score against your team.

I also don't think you understand that the autonomy proposal that just passed program really separates FBS football from the rest, and the gap between UCA and ASU, which is pretty large right now,  much less the UofA, is going to get a lot bigger in a hurry.

Not that anyone will know because FBS schools will for the most part not play FCS schools going forward.

Won't have an effect (if any effect) on UCA until after 3 more seasons.  UCA is set to play the following FBS opponents over the next 3 seasons.

2014   Texas Tech at Lubbock
2015   Oklahoma State at Stillwater
2016   Arkansas State at Jonesboro

If SOS is the main force in regards to power conference teams not wanting to schedule a FCS team so that there won't be an impact on their chance of getting into the 4 team Playoff, the power conferences really currently only have a few teams who are relevant and who have a realistic chance of getting into the 4 team playoff.  For instance;

SEC   Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Texas A&M, Georgia, South Carolina
ACC   Florida State, Clemson
Big 12   Oklahoma, Baylor, and Oklahoma State
PAC 12 (or PAC 16, or whatever they are called the next day)   Stanford, Oregon, and UCLA

Those above do have a plausible concern regarding scheduling a FCS team and the SOS aspect impacting their chance to get into the 4 team Playoff.  All of the other teams in those power conferences really don't have a concern regarding scheduling a FCS team.

[Seminole Indian]

Won't have an effect (if any effect) on UCA until after 3 more seasons.  UCA is set to play the following FBS opponents over the next 3 seasons.

2014   Texas Tech at Lubbock
2015   Oklahoma State at Stillwater
2016   Arkansas State at Jonesboro

If SOS is the main force in regards to power conference teams not wanting to schedule a FCS team so that there won't be an impact on their chance of getting into the 4 team Playoff, the power conferences really currently only have a few teams who are relevant and who have a realistic chance of getting into the 4 team playoff.  For instance;

SEC   Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Texas A&M, Georgia, South Carolina
ACC   Florida State, Clemson
Big 12   Oklahoma, Baylor, and Oklahoma State
PAC 12 (or PAC 16, or whatever they are called the next day)   Stanford, Oregon, and UCLA

Those above do have a plausible concern regarding scheduling a FCS team and the SOS aspect impacting their chance to get into the 4 team Playoff.  All of the other teams in those power conferences really don't have a concern regarding scheduling a FCS team.

I think games between FBS and FCS will all but go away, and the new postseason format and the autonomy proposal all but guarantee they will, and it is by design.

Most people fail to realize that the primary goal and result of the autonomy proposal was to separate the 10 FBS conferences from the other non-fbs conferences, who stood in the way of on stipends, cost of attendance, and other  proposals.

That the P5's have been given autonomy over a few issues, and the G5 do not have to implement them is really to help the G5's, and not price them out of FBS, because the P5's want them in FBS, for a lot of reasons, and are committed to helping keep them in FBS.

The 5 power conferences are  rewarding the other 5 FBS conferences, for their support in the past and to insure their support going forward within the NCAA  by giving them a seat at the table, and access to, and significant $ stake in the new post season format.

They are punishing other conferences, by separating the FBS and excluding them even one seat at the table, and taking most of their power. Left the G5's power intact.

These 10 FBS conferences, are now for all intents and purposes separated from the non-fbs conferences, are now fully committed, at least for the next 12 years, in making sure their members are taken care of, and that includes P5's scheduling G5's and not FBS.

These 10 FB Conferences are committed to keeping the $ to themselves, because they are in the game.

Of course you don't have to tell the folks at G5 schools like ASU, because they know they can now count on some new, and better yet stable, revenue streams, and are upgrading everything, not just the football complex. They also know there will be some very attractive home games taking place in those upgraded facilities for their fans.

[(notOM)Rebel123]

Same Taylor reed from El dorado high and Memphis? If so wow how far has that kid fallen!

UCA is a better program than Memphis.