KSU ready to make good first impression in ASUN
By Thomas Ashworth
MDJ Sports Writer
In the inaugural season of Atlantic Sun Conference
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football, K ennesaw State looks to continue
the dominance they’ve showcased in conference
play.
The O wls look to continue their success in
their first conference move in program history,
after finishing in the top 15 of the FCS Coaches
Poll for the last five seasons straight.
Three-time Big South Coach of the Year Brian
Bohannon and reigning Big South O ffensive
Player of the Year Award winner X avier Shepard
look to lead K ennesaw State to its fifth season
with at least 11 wins in six seasons.
“We prepare for every game like it’s the championship
game,” Bohannon said. “We know that
all these teams have a great history of winning.
We’ll have to be ready every week.”
Even with Jacksonville State’s ineligibility
for the FCS championship due to increased
scholarships with their 2023 move to Conference
U SA ahead of them, the G amecocks will
still be eligible for the ASU N Championship in
their final season of FCS football.
“It’s great that we have the ability to play for
a conference championship,” coach Rich Rodriguez
said. “When you’re in a conference, I’ve always
felt that your first goal every year is to win
your conference.”
However, this season may have some growing
pains for the G amecocks.
Along with Jacksonville State getting acclimated
to new coach Rich Rodriguez, this will
be the first time since 2018 the G amecocks
will be without quarterback Z errick Cooper,
who finished his career at Jacksonville State
as the all-time leader in passing yards, passing
touchdowns and touchdowns responsible for.
O n top of that, the G amecocks lost a pair of
key contributors to the transfer portal, with
2022 All-ASU N selections DJ Coleman transferring
to Missouri and Nicario Harper heading
to Louisville.
Despite their losses, Rodriguez has landed a
group of players in the transfer portal, including
2022 ESPN Junior College 50 running back Anwar
Lewis, former Texas Tech receiver Sterling G alban
and former Cal linebacker Curley Young Jr.
Looking to start his third season with Eastern
K entucky, reigning ASU N Coach of the Year
Walt Wells aims to lead the Colonels to their
first postseason appearance since 2014 and
their first postseason win since 199 4.
With the Colonels returning All-ASU N signal
caller Parker McK inny, the team will aim
to take their offense to new heights.
2022 ASU N Defensive Player of the Year and
former EKU cornerback Davion Ross transfered
to play at Memphis, leaving a big hole to fill for
the Colonels’ secondary.
Expect defensive coordinator Jake Johnson to
turn to defensive backs Joseph Sayles and John
Blount Jr. to potentially fill that hole and lead
the team that finished 2021 with an FCS-leading
four interceptions returned for touchdowns.
Central Arkansas will be returning ASU N Freshman
of the Year running back Darius Hale, who
was also the runner-up for the Jerry Rice Award,
which goes to the top FCS freshman in the nation.
Despite retrurnig a key member of their ofnese,
Central Arkansas will not only be without
quarterback Breylin Smith, who picked up
a minicamp invite with the New York Jets, but
they also lost backup quarterback Darius Bowers
with his transfer to Pitt State.
Austin Peay joins the mix this season, marking
their first year away from the O hio V alley
Conference since 2007.
After a season where they led the OV C with
32.5 points per game, the G overnors will be
without three key offensive players, losing Second
Team All-OV C quarterback Draylen Ellis
to the transfer portal and First Team All-OV C
wide receivers Eugene Minter Jr. and Baniko
Harley also making departures from Austin Peay.
North Alabama will be eligible for a conference
title for the first time after fully completing
their transition to Division I.
North Alabama will be without three-year starter
Dexter Boykin, who transferred to U AB after
piling up 712 receiving yards and five touchdowns
in his final year at wide receiver with the Lions.
ASUN PREVIEW
PREDICTION
1. KENNESAW STATE
2. JACKSONVILLE ST.
3. EASTERN KY
4. CENT. ARKANSAS
5. AUSTIN PEAY
6. NORTH ALABAMA
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Kennesaw State is favored to win the inaugural ASUN football championship.