Which Underclassmen From The G5 And Below Declared For The Draft: Defensive Edition

As is the case in any off season, players make the decision to stay or forgo their final year of college football and head to the NFL Draft. Some make it while others fizzle out due to lack of talent, a bad fit, or other circumstances.

We have already taken a look at the offensive side of the ball so it is only fair to take a look at defense. Led by All-American Ed Oliver, there are 15 underclassmen defensive players looking to make an NFL roster via the draft.

Defensive Line: (8)

• Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: 192 tackles, 53.0 tfl, 13.5 sacks, 11 pd. 1 fr, 5 ff in 32 games played. Two-time All-American, 2017 Outland Award winner. 2017 AAC Defensive Player of the Year. #2 ranked interior lineman according to USA Today. 
• Maxx Crosby, DE, Eastern Michigan: 162 tackles, 41.0 tfl, 8 ff, 20.0 sacks, 1 int in 37 games played. 
• Trysten Hill, DT, Central Florida: 71 tackles, 20 tfl, 6 sacks, 1 ff in 33 games played. 
• Darryl Johnson, DE, North Carolina A&T: 106 tackles, 41 tfl, 19 sacks, 5 ff, 2 fr. 
• Youhanna Ghaifan, DT, Wyoming: 135 tackles, 27 tfl, 11 sacks, 5 pd, 4 ff in 30 games played. 
• Sutton Smith, DE, Northern Illinois: 139 tackles, 58.5 tfl, 30 sacks, 4 pd, 6 fr, 7 ff, 3 TD in 37 games played. Two-time MAC Defensive Player of the Year. 2017 All-American. 
• Sean Adesanya, DE, Central Michigan: Transfer from Illinois. 10 tackles, 1 tfl, 1 sack in 6 games at Illinois. 29 tackles, 7 tfl, 3 sacks in 12 games at CMU. Led nation in tfl and sacks in 2017. Led nation in tfl in 2018. 
• D'Andre Ferby, DE, Western Kentucky: 344 carries for 1,297 yards and 20 TD in 34 games. Listed as a DE in NFL information, so a position change looks to be imminent. 

Let's start with the obvious and discuss Ed Oliver. The junior from Houston is one of the most physically gifted player to come out of college football in a long time. Every defensive lineman gets compared and falls well short of Aaron Donald, but Oliver is a good comparison. I will get into the similarities in a later article. Oliver is the truth and I believe he will be the best of the best in one of the best defensive lineman groups in NFL Draft history.

While not a household name like Oliver, Sutton Smith is no slouch. He put up mind boggling stats at NIU and deserved every accolade thrown at him. The biggest issue with Smith is how he will be used in the NFL. His size mandates a move to linebacker and question abound about his ability to defense the pass. The combine will make or break his draft ranking.

Crosby, Hill, Ghaifan, Adesanya, and Johnson will not hear their names called early, but have the chance to make a roster. For those players, it is all about the fit they show within a defensive scheme. It may be better if some do not get drafted so that they can find the right fit in free agency.

Linebacker: (2)

• Jeff Allison, LB, Fresno State: 267 tackles, 11.0 tfl, 2 int, 2 ff, 2.5 sacks in 34 games played. 2018 MWC Defensive Player of the Year.  
• Josiah Tauaefa, LB, UTSA: 255 tackles, 22.5 tfl, 11.5 sacks, 1 int, 1 fr, 2 ff in 32 games played. 

Of the two G5 linebackers adding their names to the draft list, Tauaefa is the more explosive player. He is a hybrid DE/OLB that may need to find his true position at the NFL level. Can he cover backs and tight ends or is he an undersized pass rusher in a 3-4 scheme?

Allison may not make as many splashy plays in the backfield as other linebackers, but he is a smart and instinctive tackler. He is always around the ball and makes plays in the passing game when needed. Think of a player like Wesley Woodyard when you think of Allison. A leader in the huddle and during play.

Secondary: (5)

• Mike Bell, S, Fresno State: 199 tackles, 9.0 tfl, 4 int, 1 ff, 0.5 sacks in 37 games played.  
• Sean Bunting, CB, Central Michigan: 104 tackles, 3.5 tfl, 9 int, 4 ff in 35 games played.
• Clifton Duck, CB, Appalachian State: 158 tackles, 8.5 tfl, 1 sack, 12 int, 10.5 pr average on 31 returns in 38 games played. 
• Malik Gant, DB, Marshall: 190 tackles, 14.0 tfl, 1 sack, 2 int, 13 pd in 29 games played. 
• Xavier Crawford, CB, Central Michigan: Transfer from Oregon State. 87 tackles, 2 tfl, 1 sack, 1 int, 12 pd in 17 games at Oregon State. 24 tackles, 3 tfl, 1 int, 12 pd, 2 fr at CMU. 

This is a not so ready for the NFL group of players, except for Clifton Duck. The junior has shown up since his freshman season in big games and has the play-making ability that NFL teams love. He can make plays and isn't afraid to take a chance or two in order to change a game. If he does not hear his name called in the first 100 picks, I would be very surprised.

Honestly, the rest of the group will need to have very good pro days and combines, if they are invited, to get on the NFL radar. Choices like Xavier Crawford smell of a player ready to leave college behind and see what happens rather than being truly ready for the NFL.

College Football Outpost's G5 Top 10 Rankings (9/25/17): UCF From The Top Rope

Welcome back to the top ten list Northern Illinois and Central Florida. For NIU, it was a long and difficult visit to the abyss last season and this year's team is better off for experiencing failure before success. For UCF, I still cannot believe that Frost and company have turned that pathetic excuse for a team from 2015 into a dark horse choice for the NY6. Just amazing. 

1. South Florida (4-0): We have long imagined what the Bulls would look like with a top-notch defense to complement a powerful offense. USF showed up big on a national stage and raced past Temple to go to 4-0. There is no reason to doubt that an October 28 versus Houston is the only major roadblock to a perfect regular season. Up Next: At East Carolina.
2. San Diego State (4-0): Give credit to the Aztecs for handling quite a bit of adversity in downing a tough Air Force squad in the rain. We are going to learn a lot about this program on Saturday as a very good Northern Illinois squad comes to town with upset on their minds. Up Next: #10 Northern Illinois.
3. Memphis (3-0): In similar fashion to a week one win over ULM, the Tigers may have gotten caught looking ahead to a huge trip to Orlando to face UCF. They did just enough to win and we have arguably the biggest G5/G5 games of the season, sorry Boise State/Troy. Up Next: At #5 UCF.
4. Toledo (3-1): The Rockets let the game versus Miami get out of hand in the end, but they are still a quality football team. This is a pivotal point in the season with EMU and CMU up next before Ball State, NIU, and Ohio. If they can make it through that stretch undefeated, they could sneak into an NY6 with a little help. Up Next: EMU.
5. Central Florida (2-0): The nation found out something we all knew, the Knights are for real. They systematically destroyed Maryland and have the national media already choosing Scott Frost’s next job. Up next is a visit from a very talented Memphis squad that will decide which team is second best in a stacked AAC. Up Next: #3 Memphis.  
6. UTSA (3-0): The Roadrunners win again and benefit from losses to earn the #6 spot in the rankings. They will run into the issue all season long of schedule difficulty, but getting by Southern Miss and North Texas will quiet a few of the haters. I am having a hard time defending the rest of their CUSA schedule, but that is not their fault. Up Next: Southern Miss.
7. Houston (2-1): I feel like the Cougars are a team that will strike hard in 2018. They look to have that one or two pieces missing to make a run this year. That being said, they are incredibly talented and can still make a run and end up in the top three in the AAC or even play (probably) USF for the title. Up Next: At Temple.
8. Louisiana Tech (2-2): The Bulldogs learned a lesson that every G5 team tends to learn at some point… put away the P5 team when you have the chance. Field goals leave teams like South Carolina in the game and then they score 17 points in the fourth quarter and win. That last drive though— come on defense. You are better than that. Up Next: South Alabama.
9. Northern Illinois (2-1): Say hi to the new guy. The Huskies are back in the poll after a 2016 season that is better off forgotten. They went to Lincoln and took out the Cornhuskers and had every chance in the world to beat Boston College in week one. Now that they made the list, all they have to do is play #2 San Diego State. Up Next: At #2 San Diego State.
10. Appalachian State (2-2): Hey Mountaineers, read what I told Louisiana Tech. Score touchdown when you get the chance and Wake Forest does not get the chance to win in the end. They must quickly forget this bitter loss with a much improved NMSU team coming to town. This game will tell us a lot about the Sun Belt. Up Next: New Mexico State.

Others considered: Navy, WKU, MTSU, Boise State, CMU, EMU, Ohio, Troy, Air Force, Colorado State. 

I tried something new and got polls via Twitter from the general public. The plan is to have a (mediaish?) poll starting next Monday. 

NorthCoastBias @NorthCoastBias

1. San Diego State
2. South Florida
3. Memphis
4. Central Florida
5. NIU
6. Houston
7. Toledo
8. Navy
9. UTSA
10. Ohio 

Brent Newton @greatnewtini

1. San Diego State
2. USF
3. Memphis
4. LA Tech
5. UTSA
6. NIU
7. Houston
8. Central Florida
9. Colorado State
10. SMU

Mike Vettoretti @mike_vettoretti

1. South Florida
2. Memphis
3. San Diego State
4. UTSA
5. Toledo
6. Navy
7. Troy
8. SMU
9. NIU
10. Ohio

Rich Ross @RichRoss411

1. San Diego State
2. South Florida
3. Memphis
4. Central Florida
5. Houston
6. UTSA
7. Navy
8. SMU
9. Boise State

College Football Outpost's G5 Top 10 Rankings (9/11/17): Welcome UTSA

By The original uploader was Mactropy at English Wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2160289

Week two was such an up and down experience for the G5 as marquee matchup UCF/Memphis was lost to weather, while UTSA and five other teams took out P5 opposition. Hopefully we can get a bit of a respite from the weather and start to see more action from the top 10 of the G5 in the next few weeks so that we can get a real idea just which team is the best.

1. South Florida (2-0): The Bulls were unable to play on Saturday due to weather issues. It has yet to be determined if the AAC game versus UConn will be made up. Up Next: Illinois.
2. Toledo (2-0): The Rockets are flying under the radar, but they continue to win after taking care of Nevada in week two. A much anticipated matchup versus Tulsa should gather more attention to the MAC program. Up Next: Tulsa.
3. Boise State (1-1): Despite losing to Washington State in week two, the Broncos remain in the top three. The biggest question marks for Boise State are on offense and there is little time to relax as New Mexico and Virginia come to town in each of the next two weeks. Up Next: New Mexico.
4. Memphis (1-0): The Tigers were unable to play Central Florida in week two, but have arguably the marquee G5 game of week three as UCLA comes to town. Memphis needs to prove that the weather was the only reason for the lack of a passing game versus ULM. Up Next: UCLA.
5. San Diego State (2-0): If UCLA at Memphis is the #1 G5 game of week three, the Aztec playing host to Stanford is #1A. SDSU looks as good as ever on offense with Penny replacing Pumphrey, but are not quite the dominant defensive team of the past few years. Up Next: Stanford.
6. Houston (1-0): The Cougars took care of business on Saturday in squeaking by Arizona despite the Wildcats having already played a game before the matchup. Ed Oliver was once again his dominant self and Kyle Allen looked good in his H-Town debut. Up Next: Rice.
7. Western Kentucky (1-1): It is easy to begin to worry about the Hilltoppers after two weeks. They struggled to put away EKU in week one and looked inept on offensive versus a not very good Illinois squad. Until WKU can put things together, they will be sitting at the back end of the top ten. Up Next: Louisiana Tech.
8. Appalachian State (1-1): A week after missing out on a golden chance to take out an SEC program, the Mountaineers had a much needed cupcake game versus Savannah State. Time will tell how good they are, but the schedule is set up for Appalachian State to head into November at 7-1. Up Next: Texas State.
9. UTSA (1-0): The Roadrunners got their first win over a P5 program in downing Baylor in week two. They would have been higher up the list if not for Baylor already sporting a loss to Liberty in week one. Up Next: Southern.
10. Arkansas State (0-1): The Red Wolves are sitting at tenth despite losing their only game of the season to Nebraska. I can’t fault them for waiting another week to play after Miami canceled their trip to Jonesboro. After a cupcake versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff, we get to see what they are made up with a trip to Dallas to face SMU. Up Next: Arkansas-Pine Bluff. 

Others considered: Navy, Central Florida, Old Dominion, Louisiana Tech, MTSU, Army, CMU, EMU, Ohio, Troy, Air Force, Colorado State. 

Sun Belt Power Rankings (9/5/17)

The Sun Belt featured close calls in week one. Arkansas State gave everything they could handle and the Sun Belt as a whole represented itself as a tough out for nearly any team in the nation.

1. Appalachian State (0-1, 0-0): You could make a case that Arkansas State looked like the best team in the Sun Belt in week one, but I will not hold a poor performance by the Mountaineers in week one against them. They have a chance to regroup and recover with a cupcake game versus Savannah State.
2. Arkansas State (0-1, 0-0): Wait, don’t the Red Wolves normally struggle in non-conference play before kicking it into gear in Sun Belt play? This group looks ready to contend with everyone, but must make it through a gauntlet that includes Miami (FL) and SMU.
3. Troy (0-1, 0-0): The Trojans had Boise State on the ropes at times, but could not string together enough offense to pull off arguably the biggest win in a very long time. With Alcorn State, NMSU, and Akron in the next three weeks, expect the Trojans to be halfway to bowl eligibility when they face #12 LSU.
4. Idaho (1-0, 0-0): The Vandals struggled a bit in a season opening win, but are still easily the fourth best team in the conference. They cannot afford to lose to an angry UNLV squad with a trip to Western Michigan on the horizon.
5. Louisiana (1-0, 0-0): I don’t even know how to describe Saturday night for the Ragin’ Cajuns. They were dominated in nearly every facet of the game, but got two kickoff returns for touchdowns and a stand at the end and got the win. Up next is a Tulsa team looking to prove their doubters wrong.  
6. New Mexico State (0-1, 0-0): Let’s be honest, after the third quarter, the Aggies never really had a chance to win over Arizona State. Still, they fought to the end, put up 31 points, looked respectable versus a PAC 12 program. If the defense is improved, they have a chance to get to six wins.   
7. South Alabama (0-1, 0-0): For a half, the Jaguars looked poised to beat a Mississippi team from the SEC for the second time in two years. Those hopes faded fast as they gave up 27 points in the third quarter and lost big to the Rebels. With Oklahoma State, Idaho, and Louisiana Tech still on the schedule before October, this could be a tough month for South Alabama.
8. Coastal Carolina (1-0, 0-0): The Chanticleers have to earn their way up the rankings, but more wins over FBS opposition will help the cause. They could hypothetically head into October 4-0 with winnable games versus UAB, Western Illinois, and ULM. They could also easily lose all three.
9. ULM (0-1, 0-0): Huge underdogs to Memphis, the Warhawks made things a bit more stressful before bowing down in the rain. Don’t expect Riley Ferguson to be held under 100 yards passing once again, so props to the ULM defense.  
10. Georgia Southern (0-1, 0-0): Look, I know they were playing Auburn, but 78 total yards is embarrassing. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt this early in the season. Up next is a matchup with FCS program New Hampshire.
11. Texas State (1-0, 0-0): The Bobcats won and that is all that matters. It was not pretty and Houston Baptist had chances, but a win is a win. Colorado, Appalachian State, UTSA, and Wyoming await the Bobcats to end September.  
12. Georgia State (0-1, 0-0): Getting dominated at home versus Tennessee State was not the way to open a new home for the program. There is talent on the roster, so hopefully, this is a blip on the radar like a loss two years ago to Charlotte that led to an eventual bowl berth.

College Football Outpost's 2017 Preseason G5 Top 10 Rankings

By Damon J. Moritz - http://www.navy.mil/view_image.asp?id=28030, Public Domain.

Since I have done the preseason All-G5 team today, let’s get another list out of the way and rank the top ten G5 programs heading into the 2017 season. Remember, this is a group of the AAC, CUSA, MAC, MWC, Sun Belt, and Independents. I do not include BYU at this point due to the program having resources that are not available.

Without further ado, let’s look at the top ten programs from the G5 ranks preseason edition.

1. South Florida: The Bulls are the only G5 program in the top 25 preseason poll. They are ranked #19 in the AP poll and have one of the most dynamic players in the nation in quarterback Quinton Flowers. Despite a less than scary non-conference schedule, this is a team that can use the clout of the AAC to earn respect for the G5. Anything less than an AAC title and a NY6 bowl appearance would be a disappointment for this team.
2. Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers lost an incredible running back, two stud wide receivers, and a head coach among other casualties. Despite the losses, the cupboard is anything but bare as Mike Sanford takes over one of the best offenses in the nation. Getting by MTSU is always a challenge, but getting by Illinois and Vanderbilt on the road could gain them some traction nationally.
3. Toledo: How long have the Rockets waited their turn to rule the MAC? They finally got the NIU monkey off their back last season but ran into a buzzsaw that was Western Michigan. This year is the year that the Rockets make a run at a perfect season. Getting by Tulsa and Miami (FL) in back to back weeks will be tough.  
4. Memphis: Year one under Mike Norvell was a bit up and down as the Tigers finished the season 8-5. Once you take a good look at the five losses, you start to praise the first year head coach. With no Temple or South Florida on the schedule and a home visit from UCLA, this is a great chance for the Tigers to get 10+ wins and even give USF a battle for the AAC crown.
5. Boise State: I honestly have no idea what happened to the Broncos last season. Of course they won 10 games, but they lost two MWC games that seemed to be ripe for the taking and didn’t even make the conference title game. This season Boise State is facing a front loaded schedule that includes Troy, Washington State, Virginia, BYU, San Diego State, and Wyoming before Halloween. If they make it to November undefeated, they will have a top 15 national ranking.
6. Appalachian State: Setting aside a couple blown chances, the 2016 season was a dream one for the Mountaineers. Having to settle for a shared Sun Belt crown was disappointing, but this year could be much different. Several important contributors are back and there is no reason to think this isn’t the year Appalachian State takes the Sun Belt crown (alone). Don’t sleep on Troy or Arkansas State as either program could end up in the G5 top 10 this season.
7. Houston: The team that looked closest to breaking the wheel and opening a spot for the G5 in the college football playoff struggled last season. Only a loss to SMU was ugly, but 9-4 is unacceptable for a team that was ranked as high as #6 in the nation last season. Consider this… despite finishing 9-4, they beat two teams ranked #3 in the nation at the time by a combined 69-33. The talent is there.
8. Louisiana Tech: So close to something special last season, the Bulldogs were again one play, one drive, one series from catching the national attention. The talent is there for Louisiana Tech and Skip Holtz must find a way to win the close games. 22 days will determine whether the Bulldogs are contenders or pretenders with Mississippi State, WKU, South Carolina, and South Alabama all face off versus the preseason CUSA West champs.
9. San Diego State: Rejoice Aztec fans, South Alabama is no longer on the schedule. It made no sense for the Jaguars to beat SDSU in back to back years and completely derail an otherwise special season. After losing on October 1, it took until November 19 for the Aztecs to rejoin the top 25. Still, 11-3 is a hell of a season. This year includes back to back games versus the PAC-12 with a tough Stanford team coming to town. Just get through September.
10. Western Michigan: One cannot blame the Broncos fanbase for taking their celebration of the 2016 season well into the offseason. WMU went undefeated in the regular season with two wins over the Big 10, won all but one MAC game by double digits, and nearly won the Cotton Bowl. Reality hit in the offseason with PJ Fleck taking the Minnesota!?!? job and Corey Davis getting picked in the first round of the NFL Draft. No longer are they the MAC favorites, but they still have one of the best run games in the nation with two star backs and two offensive linemen that could be first team All-MAC performers this fall.

Outside looking in: Troy, Arkansas State, Wyoming, Colorado State, MTSU, Ohio, Miami OH, Tulsa. 

2017 Sun Belt Top Returning Offensive Players

We are weeks away from another foray into the Funbelt. Last season was a rollercoaster as teams rose from the ashes (Idaho) while others fell to the ground (Georgia Southern). No one fully knows what to expect out of the conference this fall other than Arkansas State, Appalachian State, and Troy will be good.

Without further ado, here is a look at the Sun Belt's top returning offensive skill position players for the 2017 season.

Rushing:

1. Jalin Moore, Appalachian State: 237/1,402/10TD
2. Jordan Chunn, Troy: 279/1,288/16TD
3. Warren Wand, Arkansas State: 200/879/7TD
4. Larry Rose III, New Mexico State: 159/865/4TD
5. Xavier Johnson, South Alabama: 151/831/10TD

Others to watch: Isaiah Saunders IDAHO (159/731/9TD), Aaron Duckworth IDAHO (145/676/5TD).

The top end of the running back position in the Sun Belt is as talented as any group in the nation. From Moore to Johnson, and of the top five running backs is capable of a 1,500-yard season. Larry Rose has a chance to rebound from an injury plagued season in 2016 and lead the Aggies to their first bowl game since the 1960s. He is capable of a 2,000-yard season if everything falls right.

As a group, Idaho might be in the best shape in the backfield. They have two solid backs that added up for just over 1,400 yards, giving them a fighting chance if one of the big two is stricken with an injury. It could be a year to remember for the Vandals as they make their farewell tour of the Sun Belt.

Passing:

1. Matt Linehan, Idaho: 257-415/3,184/19TD/136.7 Efficiency
2. Brandon Silvers, Troy: 293-460/3,180/23TD/133.0 Efficiency
3. Justice Hansen, Arkansas State: 197-340/2,719/19TD/138.9 Efficiency
4. Dallas Davis, South Alabama: 198-348/2,706/11TD/125.8 Efficiency
5. Conner Manning, Georgia State: 207-373/2,684/16TD/123.1 Efficiency

Others to watch: Tyler Rogers NMSU (2,589/16TD), Taylor Lamb APP STATE (2,281/15TD), Garrett Smith ULM (1,237/9TD), Austin Wilson CCU (Graduate Transfer from Syracuse).

Just like the running back position, there is a ton of talent at the top end of the quarterback position. Taylor Lamb of Appalachian State only threw for 2,281 last season, but he is in a run first offense and has personally carried the ball for more than 400 yards in each of the last three seasons.

Linehan is the top pro prospect among Sun Belt quarterbacks. He is accurate, agile enough in the pocket, and has an NFL bloodline as his father is the offensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys. A 3,500+ yard season this fall could vault Linehan into round three or four of the 2018 draft.

Receiving:

1. Emanuel Thompson, Troy: 80/820/6TD
2. Deondre Douglas, Troy: 60/740/6TD
3. Sheadon Meadors, Appalachian State: 45/716/2TD
4. Blake Mack, Arkansas State: 34/652/3TD
5. Glenn Smith, Georgia State: 40/547/3TD

Others to watch: Tevaris McCormick TROY (35/456/5TD), Penny Hart GA STATE (Injured in 2016), Elijah King TEXAS STATE (28/453/2TD), RJ TURNER ULM (23/433/3TD), Xavier Brown ULM (25/425/4TD), Keenan Barnes ULL (3/418/6TD), Alfonso Onunwor IDAHO (39/403/1TD), Thurman Morbley TEXAS STATE (35/400/2TD).

The wide receiver position in the Sun Belt is all over the place. You have explosive tight ends, stars coming back from injury, and a stacked group in Troy. First, the Trojans could have a historic season this year with three of the top six returning receivers in the Sun Belt. Thompson and Douglas should again account for 140-150 catches and McComick could jump to the 45-50 catch range. That is a hell of a trio.

Arkansas State tight end Blake Mack is one of the best-hidden secrets in college football. He is electric with the ball and turns a potent Red Wolves attack into something downright scary. A 19.3 yards per catch average is no joke, but he needs to be at the 50+ catch range this fall.

Finally, Penny Hart. The 2015 Sun Belt freshman of the year is again healthy and ready to run wild in the conference. If Hart can prove he is over his injury woes and return to his 2015 self, the Panthers could be in line for another bowl berth.

Next week, we will take a look at defense and special teams for the Sun Belt before rolling out conference previews. 

Sun Belt Week Five Review

Another week is in the books for the 2015 college football season with the Sun Belt going 4-6. Conference play kicked into gear with three Sun Belt games taking place. Let's take a look at the good, bad, and ugly of week five Sun Belt football action.

Sun Belt Week Four Review

Another week is in the books for the 2015 college football season with the Sun Belt going 2-6 with one conference game taking place. Let's take a look at the good, bad, and ugly of week four Sun Belt football action.

Conference USA Week Four Preview

Week four of the college football season gets underway tonight with Cincinnati and Memphis getting a seat on the big stage. Conference USA action kicks into gear with 11 games scheduled for Saturday.

Sun Belt Week Three Review

Another week is in the books for the 2015 college football season with Sun Belt going 5-3 with no conference games taking place. Let's take a look at the good, bad, and ugly of week three Sun Belt football action.

Sun Belt Conference Week Two Review:

Another week is in the books for the 2015 college football season with the Sun Belt going 6-5 with only one conference game (Ga. St-NMSU) taking place. Let's take a look at the good, bad, and ugly of week two Sun Belt football.

Sun Belt Week One Review

With one week in the books, who were the biggest winners and losers of the opening week?

Sun Belt Predictions

When people hear the Sun Belt Conference, they tend to think of the bad and the teams that left for CUSA among other places. In reality, the Sun Belt is an up and coming conference that has been smart in adding Georgia Southern and Appalachian State. Let's take a look at the Sun Belt and how I see things shaking down.

Sun Belt Players to Watch

There are lots of players to watch in the Sun Belt this fall throughout the conference. Let's take a look at a few from every team in the league:

2015 Sun Belt Conference Games To Watch

Conference games to watch: 

2015 Sun Belt Football Schedule

Sun Belt Schedule:

Top 15 G5 Running Backs

15 best G5 running backs:

Why your team will not win the Sun Belt Title

Group of Five players on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list

Jim Thorpe Award watch list:

A quick look at every Sun Belt offensive backfield

The Sun Belt Conference had several offenses that put up video game numbers in 2014 with seven 2,000+ yard passers and six 1,000+ yard rushers returning for the 2015 season. The addition of UAB quarterback Cody Clements gives every team except Troy and ULM at least a passer or rusher in those categories. Arkansas State (Knighten and Gordon), Appalachian State (Lamb and Cox), NMSU (Rogers and Rose), and Texas State (Jones and Lowe) all have a QB and RB back that broke those plateaus.