Basically ... Experience, experience, experience. There's enough quarterback and receiving talent for three teams, but it'll all break down if the shaky offensive line doesn't perform well. There's little experience and no depth up front among the big group of linemen. QB Darrell Hackney could be one of the year's breakout statistical stars with all all the weapons to work with.
Star of the offense: Junior QB Darrell Hackney
Player that has to step up and become a star: Senior C Will Rabatin
Unsung star on the rise: Sophomore OT Cornelius Rogers
Best pro prospect: Senior WR Roddy White
Top three all-star candidates: 1) Hackney, 2) White, 3) G Andy Galloway
Strength of the offense: Quarterback, receiver
Weakness of the offense: Offensive line
Quarterbacks
Projected Starter
- Darrell Hackney, Jr. - There aren't many quarterbacks in the country who mean more to their teams than Hackney does. He's a strong, big-play quarterback with a magical quality about him. He
threw for 1,659 yards and nine touchdowns before being lost for the year with a thumb injury. Even though he gets banged up and hasn't lasted a full season healthy, he's tough as nails and a
great leader.
Top Backups
- Curtis Falany, Soph. - Falany helped out when Hackney went down last year and threw three touchdown passes and two interceptions. The experience did him a world of good as he's now an
established number two. - Chris Williams, Soph. - Williams has a little more mobility than Falany, but he struggles with his passing only completing 41% of his throws last year with three
touchdowns and five interceptions. He has a good arm and enough experience to battle for the backup job. - Chad Wilmott, Jr. - It'll be a shock if he's not the number two about thirty seconds
after getting to campus. He earned first-team NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) honors this past season leading Butler CC to a 12-0 season and the national junior college
championship throwing for 2,284 yards and 24 touchdowns.
The Skinny: Darrell Hackney still has to prove he can light up good teams and has to stay healthy, but he's potentially one of the special quarterbacks in college football. The addition of Chad Wilmott makes a deep quarterback group outstanding. Player to keep an eye on: Chad Wilmott ... Quarterback Rating: 7.5
Running Backs
Projected Starter
- Corey White, Soph. - White is a 225-pound bruiser who worked his way to the top of the depth chart this spring. He started the final two games finishing with 332 yards and four touchdowns
with almost all the production coming in those two contests. He's not just physical, he has some moves as well.
Top Backups
- Bo Moncur, Soph. - Moncur is one of the team's quicker backs rushing for 325 yards and a touchdown. He's the most talented back on the team, and now he has to stay healthy suffering a bout
of turf toe this spring. - Dan Burks, Soph. - Burks was limited most of last year with a shoulder problem only carrying the ball 23 times for 100 yards in three games. Before he was hurt he was
the team's top all-around back, and now he'll have to fight his way up the depth chart.
The Skinny: There are three very good running backs here with enough talent to make last year's leading rusher, Trey Chaney, not part of the picture. This is primarily a passing team, but there's a great mix of power and speed among the sophomores to keep things moving. Player to keep an eye on: Bo Moncur ... Running back Rating: 6
Receivers
Projected Starters
- Roddy White, Sr. - White has been the team's leading receiver over the last two seasons catching 39 passes in each season. He's a big target with tremendous deep speed averaging a whopping
21.6 yards per catch highlighted by a 95-yard scoring grab. He'll be the leading receiver again this year. - Reggie Lindsey, Jr. - The JUCO transfer instantly took over a spot in the lineup
with his quickness and excellent hands. He'll start at the X where he should be a big-time playmaker. - Bradley Chavez, Sr. - Chavez was the team's second leading receiver last year making 22
grabs for 356 yards and a touchdown averaging 16.2 yards per catch. He became a weapon as last year went on and should become even better with more experience. - Norris Drinkard, Soph. - He
became one of the stars of spring ball at the "A" position as a hybrid receiver and running back. The question will be how to use him among all the other weapons as he needs to get the ball in
his hands with his quickness. - Tight end Sam Dudley, Sr. - Dudley is a big-time blocker and extremely physical seeing time on the defensive line last year to go along with his H-Back duties.
He caught one pass for 32 yards, but he's in the lineup for his blocking. - Tight end Cedric Hampton, Jr. - While Dudley is used more as an H-Back, the 275-pound Dudley is the tight end
catching five passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns while also being used more as a third tackle. He has surprising speed for a player of his size.
Top Backups
- Lance Rhodes, Jr. - The former Arizona State Sun Devil is a big play waiting to happen averaging 17.4 yards per catch last year. He's a great reserve to have and can start if needed coming
off a ten catch, 174-yard, one touchdown season. - Nick Coon, Soph. - A starter for most of last year, Coon is a home-run hitter catching ten passes for 362 yards and three touchdowns helped by
a 91-yard touchdown play and a 50-yard game-winning touchdown catch against Baylor. He'll play behind Roddy White on the X. - Carl Duncan, Jr. - While sort of lost in the shuffle, it's hard to
not find a spot for Duncan and his 4.4 speed. He caught eight passes for 75 yards last season. - Jason Southall, Sr. - Used on short to intermediate routes, Southall will play behind Reggie
Lindsey at the Z coming off an eight-catch, 64-yard season. - Chico Cleveland, Sr. - The 230-pound senior is the best pass catching tight end in the lot finishing third on the team last year
with 16 catches for 192 yards and a touchdown. He has also seen time at wide receiver and on the defensive line.
The Skinny: Does any team in America return more pass catchers than UAB? There certainly isn't a deeper groups of receivers with more than ten wide receivers and tight ends who can make plays. There's a little bit of everything, but there's mostly a lot of speed led by Roddy White. Player to keep an eye on: Reggie Lindsey ... Receiver Rating: 8
Offensive Line
Projected Starters
- Tackle Cornelius Rogers, Soph. - He's young, but talented. The 6-4, 320-pound sophomore saw a little bit of time last year in the tackle rotation and will need to be a force right
away. - Guard Andy Galloway, Sr. -The 6-5, 310-pound Galloway is the best player on the line as an All-Conference caliber player. He's not just big and physical, he has solid technique
and good footwork. - Center Matt Batusic, Jr. - He's one of the only returning starters to the line and needs to be an anchor with his physical style and strength in the middle. - Guard Marcel
Binion, Sr. - Binion has been a career reserve who has the experience and the strength to be a good interior blocker. He's going to be player the coaching staff will keep the closest eye on as
the season goes along needing him to come through. - Tackle Jamarius Dismuke, RFr. - He has more raw talent than anyone else on the line, but he doesn't have any experience. He'll be a rock of
the line after a little bit of time.
Top Backups
- OG Tommie Keyes, Jr. - The 305-pound JUCO transfer sat out last year and is ready to push for time behind Andy Galloway at left guard. He could end up seeing time on the right side. - OG Adam
Truitt, Fr. - Here's a lesson; don't play in all-star games. Truitt was all set to be a factor on the line as a true freshman, but he got banged up in the practice before the Alabama
North-South game. Now he'll be battling Marcel Binion on the right side.
The Skinny: Here's the problem. There's little to no experience outside of Matt Batusic and Andy Galloway and no depth whatsoever. It's asking a ton for this group to match the production of last year's performance when the line only allowed 14 sacks. Player to keep an eye on: Jamarius Dismuke ... Receiver Rating: 4
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