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PITTSBURG —
College football season approaches ever steadily and not because of the "Michael Dyer transfers to Pittsburg State" and "Michael Dyer stays with Arkansas State" rumors and speculation last week.
The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association releases its fourth annual preseason media poll on Monday, Aug. 6, at the Downtown Marriott, Kansas City. Members of the media had until 5 p.m., Friday evening, to submit their ballots.
The Pitt State Gorillas, defending national champions, return 11 starters and 44 lettermen, as well as head coach Tim Beck and his talented coaching staff (including offensive coordinator Steve Rampy and defensive coordinator David Wiemers), from the whirlwind 13-1 team of a year ago.
All-purpose dynamo John Brown and defensive leader Nate Dreiling (both All-American selections) return for their junior seasons.
Brown caught 61 passes for 1,216 yards and 12 touchdowns, and totaled 92 rushing yards, 369 punt return yards and 616 kick return yards as Pitt State tried finding any way possible to get the football in Brown’s hands.
Dreiling led Pitt State with 139 tackles (51 solo, 88 assist) and seven interceptions.
Pitt State landed former Blue Springs (Mo.) High School standout and University of Kansas safety Keeston Terry. Terry made 66 stops (35 solo, 31 assist) and one interception for the Jayhawks last season.
Terry was dismissed by new KU head man Charlie Weis earlier this year before Terry could transfer from Lawrence. Terry becomes immediately eligible in 2012 in Division II. Although he's played in the defensive backfield during college, Terry was a three-time All-State receiver in high school, highlighted by a senior year with 74 catches for 928 yards and 11 TDs.
Terry lends even more depth to a Gorillas secondary returning safeties Chas Smith, Jason Peete, Bryant Sanchez and Jake Catloth and cornerbacks Aries Herrion and De'Vante Bausby. Senior cornerback Graylon Sanders transferred from rival Northwest Missouri.
Senior defensive end Gus Toca, senior running backs Briceton Wilson and Jason Spradling, senior wide receiver Andrew Castaneda, junior running back Solomon Watkins, junior defensive end Joe Uzzel, junior offensive tackle Cody Holland and senior offensive lineman Aaron Kolich rank among returning players central to the Gorillas' success last season and possibly this season.
Positive sign: Sophomore quarterback Anthony Abenoja, the quarterback of the near future, was voted a team captain by his peers in the spring.
The MIAA features new members Central Oklahoma, Lindenwood, Nebraska Kearney and Northeastern State, as well as returning football member Southwest Baptist.
The Lopers of Nebraska Kearney (10-2 overall) finished second in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference last season and made the second round of the NCAA Playoffs. Free safety Sam Kuck (76 tackles, three interceptions) and all-purpose player Tommy Flanagan (45 receptions, 704 yards, eight TDs, 39.7 punting average) lead 13 returning starters.
College football season approaches ever steadily and not because of the "Michael Dyer transfers to Pittsburg State" and "Michael Dyer stays with Arkansas State" rumors and speculation last week.
The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association releases its fourth annual preseason media poll on Monday, Aug. 6, at the Downtown Marriott, Kansas City. Members of the media had until 5 p.m., Friday evening, to submit their ballots.
The Pitt State Gorillas, defending national champions, return 11 starters and 44 lettermen, as well as head coach Tim Beck and his talented coaching staff (including offensive coordinator Steve Rampy and defensive coordinator David Wiemers), from the whirlwind 13-1 team of a year ago.
All-purpose dynamo John Brown and defensive leader Nate Dreiling (both All-American selections) return for their junior seasons.
Brown caught 61 passes for 1,216 yards and 12 touchdowns, and totaled 92 rushing yards, 369 punt return yards and 616 kick return yards as Pitt State tried finding any way possible to get the football in Brown’s hands.
Dreiling led Pitt State with 139 tackles (51 solo, 88 assist) and seven interceptions.
Pitt State landed former Blue Springs (Mo.) High School standout and University of Kansas safety Keeston Terry. Terry made 66 stops (35 solo, 31 assist) and one interception for the Jayhawks last season.
Terry was dismissed by new KU head man Charlie Weis earlier this year before Terry could transfer from Lawrence. Terry becomes immediately eligible in 2012 in Division II. Although he's played in the defensive backfield during college, Terry was a three-time All-State receiver in high school, highlighted by a senior year with 74 catches for 928 yards and 11 TDs.
Terry lends even more depth to a Gorillas secondary returning safeties Chas Smith, Jason Peete, Bryant Sanchez and Jake Catloth and cornerbacks Aries Herrion and De'Vante Bausby. Senior cornerback Graylon Sanders transferred from rival Northwest Missouri.
Senior defensive end Gus Toca, senior running backs Briceton Wilson and Jason Spradling, senior wide receiver Andrew Castaneda, junior running back Solomon Watkins, junior defensive end Joe Uzzel, junior offensive tackle Cody Holland and senior offensive lineman Aaron Kolich rank among returning players central to the Gorillas' success last season and possibly this season.
Positive sign: Sophomore quarterback Anthony Abenoja, the quarterback of the near future, was voted a team captain by his peers in the spring.
The MIAA features new members Central Oklahoma, Lindenwood, Nebraska Kearney and Northeastern State, as well as returning football member Southwest Baptist.
The Lopers of Nebraska Kearney (10-2 overall) finished second in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference last season and made the second round of the NCAA Playoffs. Free safety Sam Kuck (76 tackles, three interceptions) and all-purpose player Tommy Flanagan (45 receptions, 704 yards, eight TDs, 39.7 punting average) lead 13 returning starters.
The Riverhawks of Northeastern State (7-5) have the first crack at knocking off the defending national champions only 33 days from now. Johnny Deaton stockpiled over 2,500 yards passing and 26 TD passes. Meanwhile, on the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Langston Jones recorded 93 tackles and two sacks. Northeastern State returns 18 starters, eight on a defense which allowed 399.9 yards of total offense per game last season.
The Lions of Lindenwood (8-3) have receiver Andrew Helmick (56 receptions, 901 yards, 12 TDs) and defensive back Cody Fogle (65 tackles) among 14 returning starters.
The Bronchos of Central Oklahoma look to improve on a 2-9 season in 2011. Running back Joshua Birmingham logged over 1,000 yards rushing and receiving (882 rushing, 334 receiving) and scored eight TDs. The Bronchos only generated 17.6 points per game last season.
Pitt State plays Northeastern State (Aug. 30), Central Oklahoma (Sept. 8), Southwest Baptist (Sept. 15) and Lindenwood (Nov. 3), two at home (Central Oklahoma and Lindenwood) and two on the road (Northeastern State, Southwest Baptist).
Northwest Missouri (11-3, 7-2 MIAA) returns quarterback Trevor Adams (2,202 passing yards, 21 TDs) and running backs James Franklin (1,247 yards, 24 TDs) and Jordan Simmons (957 yards, 14 TDs) from an offensive unit which averaged over 48 points a contest last season. Two of the Bearcats' three losses came against Pitt State, both comeback wins for PSU.
The Washburn Ichabods (10-3, 7-2) have 18 returning starters, chief among them wide receiver DaJuan Beard (62 receptions, 1,029 yards, 15 TDs). However, Washburn's all-time passing leader Dane Simoneau played his last season in Topeka and over 4,000 yards and 38 TDs passing would be difficult for any Div. II quarterback to replicate. Backup quarterback Mitch Buhler attempted only 20 passes last season. Washburn also lost 1,000-yard running back Justin Cooper.
The Missouri Western Griffons (9-3, 7-2) have a host of returning starters (19) and returning lettermen (45), including an elite 1,000-yard running back (Michael Hill, 1,305 yards) and an elite defensive lineman who can wreak havoc on any offense (David Bass, 55 tackles, 14.5 sacks).
The Central Missouri Mules (8-4, 6-3) bring back 18 starters, highlighted by tight end David Cannon (60 receptions, 810 yards, 9 TDs) and free safety Patrick Lewis (104 tackles, one interception, three forced fumbles).
The Missouri Southern Lions (3-7, 2-7) have a new head coach (Daryl Daye) and a new triple-option offense. Landon Zerkel (77 receptions, 1,047 yards, 6 TDs) and Brandon Williams (8.0 sacks) are key returning players.
The Fort Hays State Tigers (4-7, 3-6) have former Pitt State standouts Chris Brown (second year as head coach) and Cooper Harris (first year as defensive coordinator) in key leadership positions working to create a winning football program in Hays. Brown and Harris previously spent nine years together on the coaching staff of Washburn.
The Bulldogs of Truman State (4-7, 2-7) play their final season in the MIAA before heading for the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Pitt State makes one more trek to Kirksville (Oct. 27) and the Gorillas barely made it out of Kirksville last season with a 27-26 comeback win. Defensive back Richie Schumacher made 130 tackles for the Bulldogs last season and recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown in the Gorillas-Bulldogs game last season.
