The college football season is getting closer, and Sporting News is previewing each conference in order to get ready for the season. Today, we take a closer look at the Conference USA.
With Western Kentucky and Louisiana Tech losing their quarterbacks (among other key performers), both teams will likely take a step back, opening the door for Marshall and Southern Mississippi to challenge for the conference’s top spots. But a father-son combination at Middle Tennessee State could propel the team to the school’s first conference championship.
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Here’s a closer look at some predictions for the league heading into 2016:
Breakout player: Jarveon Williams, Texas-San Antonio
After his sophomore season was cut short due to injury, Williams became the first running back in UTSA history to cross the 1,000-yard rushing threshold, despite missing the team’s final game and not starting two of his 11 contests. He's the team's clear feature back, and its best hope to reach their first bowl game in three seasons.
Sleeper team: Florida Atlantic
The Owls have gone 3-9 in back-to-back seasons, but have one of the better rosters in the conference. With two young, talented quarterbacks jostling for the starting job, the 6-6 Nate Terry as a feature tight end/interior receiver and the return of defensive end Trey Henderickson — who finished 2015 with 13.5 sacks — the Owls could be sneaky contenders in the C-USA this year.
Mind-blowing stat: Three
That's the number of consecutive 10-win seasons Marshall has. Only four teams in the country (Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Florida State) have more consecutive 10-win seasons than the Thundering Herd. And with sophomore quarterback Chase Litton coming off a season in which he passed for 2,608 yards and 23 touchdowns to only eight interceptions, 10 wins is once again well within Marshall’s sights.
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Freshman to watch: Daniel Parr, Florida Atlantic
Parr spurned Miami (Fla.) for a chance to lead FAU; his opportunity to lead the Owls has finally come after he redshirted in 2015. He’ll have to earn the job over Jason Driskell (brother of recent NFL Draft pick Jeff Driskell), but Parr has ideal arm talent, pocket quarterback size and the young supporting cast to grow with this team.
Coach to watch: Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee State
In his 11th season as the MTSU coach, it’s hard to call Stockstill one to watch. But after his son, Brent Stockstill, thoroughly impressed as a freshman quarterback last year, the Blue Raiders could challenge as one of the best teams in the East Division while quietly challenging for a conference title game berth.
Game of the Year: MTSU vs. Marshall
In what could be the deciding factor for the East Division championship, the potentially emerging Blue Raiders will have to travel to Huntington, W.V., to upend Marshall. If Middle Tennessee State, thanks to the arm of Stockstill, can upset Marshall, they could reach their first conference championship in school history.
Player of the Year: Nick Mullens, Southern Miss
Entering his fourth year as a starter for Southern Miss, the pro-style passer finished with 11 multi-touchdown games in 2015. Mullens lost recent NFL draft pick Michael Thomas at receiver, but that shouldn’t slow down his production too much in 2016. The team won every game in which he threw two or more touchdowns last season.
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Coach of the Year: Jay Hopson, Southern Miss
Southern Miss first-year coach Jay Hopson enters an ideal situation for a rookie head coach. The former Alcorn State coach has prior experience at Southern Miss, and inherits the best quarterback in the conference. If he can make do with defensive player turnover, he could lead the Golden Eagles to a conference championship in his first season.
C-USA championship: Marshall vs. Southern Miss
Marshall should be able to outlast Western Kentucky (without Brandon Doughty) and Middle Tennessee State (helmed by a sophomore quarterback) off the strength of its quarterback. Southern Miss’ offense, coupled with the turnover at Louisiana Tech, should give the Golden Eagles a clear path to a conference title berth.
Conference champion: Marshall
Marshall should continue their streak of 10-plus win seasons en route to their third conference title berth in the last four years. With quarterback Litton, right tackle Clint Van Horn and receiver Deon-Tay McManus, the Marshall offense has enough offensive firepower to supplement defensive coordinator Chuck Heater’s inexperienced-yet-talented unit to a conference championship victory.
Eric Galko is the owner and director of scouting at Optimum Scouting and OptimumScouting.com, as well as a Sporting News contributor. Follow him on Twitter: @OptimumScouting