Pre-Season Top 10 Power Rankings
Gold denotes Tyrant Scouting Pre-Season All Americans: 1st Team
Blue denotes Tyrant Scouting Pre-Season All Americans: 2nd Team
1. James Madison (14-1)
Key Returning Players
QB Bryan Schor
LT Aaron Stinnie
S Raven Greene
LG A.J Bolden
LB Andrew Ankrah
RB Trai Sharp
Analysis:
James Madison capped off a very successful season with a win in Frisco against Youngstown State. The nucleus of this team has returned. The Dukes lost Mitchell Kirsch and Matt Frank on the offensive line, but return Aaron Stinnie, Aj Bolden and Tyree Chavious. They also return one of the most important pieces in signal caller Bryan Schor, who passed for 3,002 and 29 touchdowns. Don’t sleep on the defense either. Safety Raven Greene had 6 interceptions last year. Also, cornerback Jimmy Moreland had 2 interceptions, but was second on the team with pass breakups (9). Look for James Madison to come out of the gate hot, and keep that momentum into another deep playoff run.
2. North Dakota State (12-2)
Key Returning Players
DT Nate Tanguay
LB Nick DeLuca
DE Greg Menard
QB Easton Stick
FS Tre Dempsey
Analysis:
No surprises here, as North Dakota State ranks at the top of our list. An already formidable defense returns their leader, middle linebacker Nick DeLuca. He was granted a fifth year, and looks to rebound from last year’s injuries. A very tough defensive line will be the catalyst for this team, and no quarterback in the FCS should feel comfortable. Defensive end Greg Menard had 11 sacks last season, and 15.5 tackles for a loss. Caleb Butler also chipped in 5 sacks. Easton Stick will have another year to fine tune his control of the offense, and as usual, the Bison will lean heavily on the run game.
3. South Dakota State (9-4)
Key Returning Players
TE Dallas Goedert
WR Jake Wieneke
QB Taryn Christion
DT Kellen Soulek
Analysis:
South Dakota State boasts one of the scariest offenses in the FCS, and will look to ride NFL prospects Dallas Goedert and Jake Wieneke to a championship. TE Dallas Goedert is an exceptional talent, and had 1,293 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Wieneke had a ridiculous 16 touchdowns. Quarterback Taryn Christion returns as well, after racking up 3,714 yards and 30 touchdowns last season. This trio will spearhead any playoff run.
4. North Dakota (9-3)
Key Returning Players
S Cole Reyes
CB Deion Harris
QB Keaton Strudsrud
RB John Santiago
Analysis:
North Dakota will look to build on last year’s success, which saw them reach their first ever playoff berth. They have a fierce secondary, led by Deion Harris and Cole Reyes. Harris had 5 interceptions last season and Reyes had 3. North Dakota’s offense leans heavily on an option style running game, and signal caller Keaton Strudsrud is very efficient managing it. RB John Santiago had 1,030 yards and 7 touchdowns, while his partner in crime Brady Olivera had 919 yards and 10 touchdowns.
5. Eastern Washington (12-2)
Key Players Returning
DT Jay-Tee Tiuli
QB Gage Gabrud
CB Nzuzi Webster
C Spencer Blackburn
Analysis:
Eastern Washington’s nasty passing attack took a hit during this off-season, they lost wide receivers Cooper Kupp, Shaq Hill, and Kendrick Bourne. The man who orchestrated it all, head coach Beau Baldwin, left Eastern Washington for an offensive coordinator job at the University of California at Berkeley. He was replaced by former offensive line coach, Aaron Best, who has over twenty years with the program.
“I’ve taken a few notes about how to throw the football forward, so we’re not going to put our hands in the dirt and become a wishbone triple-option team.”
Aaron Best -HC Eastern Washington
The Eagles return a very talented quarterback in Gage Gabrud, who passed for 5,160 yards and 48 touchdowns. While the scheme looks to change a bit, Gabrud’s arm should remain the offensive centerpiece.
6. Sam Houston State (12-1)
Key Returning Players
QB Jeremiah Briscoe
DE P.J Hall
WR Yedidiah Louis
OG Sam Hardy
RB Corey Avery
Analysis:
A very dynamic offense powers this team, and it goes through quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe. Last year, he set the world of fire with 4,602 yards and 57 touchdowns. Star defensive end, P.J Hall, will be a key cog in a defensive unit looking to improve on last season.
7. Richmond (10-4)
Key Returning Players
QB Kyle Lauletta
S Brendan Coniker
OT Alex Light
WR Jarmal Bevels
TE Garrett Hudson
Analysis:
Richmond’s success this season will be riding on the health of star quarterback Kyle Lauletta. Before injury derailed his season, Lauletta had compiled 3,022 yards and 24 touchdowns. With the departure of star wideout Brian Brown, expect more targets to go to wide receivers Jarmal Bevels and Tyler Wilkins. Garrett Hudson should help fill the void as well. Safety Brendan Coniker also returns, he posted 94 tackles last season (ranked 2nd on the team) and 2 interceptions.
8. Jacksonville State (10-2)
Key Returning Players
OG Justin Lea
DE Darius Jackson
RB Roc Thomas
CB Jaylen Hill
S Marlon Bridges
Analysis:
Eli Jenkins is gone now, and Jacksonville State will look to replace last year’s leading passer and rusher. His backup last year, Bryant Horn will be first in line to fill the void. Former Auburn back Roc Thomas will look to shoulder more of the rushing load this season, behind a very good offensive line that includes standouts Justin Lea and Dylan Cline. The defense will be the spark for the team, and includes defensive end Darius Jackson, cornerback Jaylen Hill, and safety Marlon Bridges. Jackson had a team high 10 sacks last season. Hill and Bridges had 10 interception between the two of them.
9. Villannova (9-4)
Key Returning Players
S Rob Rolle
RB Aaron Forbes
TE Ryan Bell
LB Ed Shockley
QB Zach Bednarczyk
Analysis:
Zach Bednarczyk and Aaron Forbes will guide the offense in the upcoming season. Bednarczyk passed for 2,158 yards and 19 touchdowns, and added another 539 rushing yards on the ground. TE Ryan Bell chipped in 434 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. Ballhawking safety Rob Rolle returns to lead the defense in 2017, he had 7 interceptions last season and returned one for a touchdown. Linebacker Ed Shockley was tied for a team high 86 tackles last season.
10. Lehigh (9-3)
Key Returning Players
WR Troy Pelletier
WR Gatlin Casey
QB Brad Mayes
RB Dominick Bragalone
S Sam McCloskey
Analysis:
The high octane Lehigh passing attack shouldn’t miss a beat this year, as quarterback Brad Mayes replaces Nick Shafnisky. Lehigh will still chuck the ball around, and star wideouts Troy Pelletier and Gatlin Casey will be hard to stop. They combined for 26 touchdowns last season, and will be looking to build on that. RB Dominick Bragalone keeps defenses honest, and had 1,192 and 14 touchdowns. Safety Sam McCloskey returns and will be assuming more of a leadership role this season.
