GO FALCONS!!! < 50...Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 119 Division I-A teams. To order the complete 2007 edition of Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-866-805-BALL (2255).
(All information as of June 20, 2007)
Bowling Green Falcons
LOCATION
Bowling Green, Ohio
CONFERENCE
Mid-American (East)
LAST SEASON
4-8 (.333)
CONFERENCE RECORD
3-5 (3rd)
OFF. STARTERS RETURNING
6
DEF. STARTERS RETURNING
8
NICKNAME
Falcons
COLORS
Orange & Brown
HOME FIELD
Perry Stadium (23,724)
HEAD COACH
Gregg Brandon (Northern Colorado '78)
RECORD AT SCHOOL
30-19 (4 years)
CAREER RECORD
30-19 (4 years)
ASSISTANTS
• Troy Rothenbuhler (Ohio State '95), Assistant Head Coach/Tight Ends/Recruiting
• Mike McCall (Southern Colorado '79), Offensive Coordinator
• Mike Ward (Georgetown '84), Defensive Coordinator
• Stephen Bird (Eastern Kentucky '83), Wide Receivers
• Matt Campbell (Mount Union '03), Offensive Line
• Adam Gonzalez (Azusa Pacific '92), Secondary
• John Hunter (Bowling Green '88), Running Backs
• Emmanuel McDaniel (East Carolina '96), Cornerbacks
• Doug Phillips (Toledo '91), Defensive Line
TEAM WINS (Last five yrs.)
9-11-9-6-4
FINAL RANK (Last five yrs.)
44-24-20-67-100
2006 FINISH
Lost to Toledo in regular-season finale.
2007 Schedule | 2006 Results | 2006 Stats
COACH AND PROGRAM
The 2006 season was far from being a typical year in Bowling Green football as the Falcons stumbled their way to a 4-8 finish. It marked the first year since 2000 that they failed to finish the season with a winning mark after averaging nearly nine wins per season since the 2001 campaign while claiming either a bowl or co-divisional title every year since 2003.
If that wasn't odd enough, the Falcons, known for their high-octane passing attack under current head coach Gregg Brandon, led the MAC in rushing for the first time since 1964. Brandon chalks up the odd combination to youth and injuries. "A lot of our young players got some real battle scars under fire last season," Brandon said. "We had so many injuries that by mid-season we were pretty battered and bruised." The numbers would seem to back up Brandon's assertion. In 2006 the Falcons played 27 freshmen, including 13 true freshmen. "Last season was a learning experience for our kids," added a hopeful sounding Brandon.
It was a struggle nearly across the board at several key positions. "Our quarterback play was very inconsistent and we had some very young receivers," Brandon said.
That lack of experience and consistency resulted in the Falcons' offense averaging less than 20 points per game (19.5) and being held to 14 points or less in six contests, including a humbling 28-14 loss to Temple, the Owls' only victory in 2006. "By the time we played Temple we were a completely worn down team, and were playing a lot of kids who had not been through an entire season of major college football," Brandon said.
Add in a special teams unit that was among the worst in the Mid-American Conference in 2006 and it was a recipe for a long, frustrating season in Bowling Green.
Brandon replaced nearly half of his coaching staff in the offseason as six first-year coaches join his staff, taking over critical roles overseeing the wide receivers, offensive line, secondary, linebackers and defensive line. Other changes see Mick McCall, now in his fifth season at Bowling Green, taking over as offensive coordinator after serving as quarterbacks coach the previous four seasons and Mike Ward taking over as defensive coordinator after serving previously as the Falcons' defensive line coach. "We've made some changes and I feel really good about the personnel we have in place with our program heading into this season," Brandon said.
Indeed there is plenty of reason for optimism as Bowling Green enters the 2007 campaign with more depth and greater experience at several key positions including an offensive line that is one of the most talented in the MAC, keying a strong rushing attack. Defensively Bowling Green ranked among the top 40 in the country overall and was 22nd in stopping the run and returns eight starters on defense.
Brandon sees the combination of youth and experience being key factors in Bowling Green competing for a divisional title in the MAC in 2007. "We have some solid contributors returning and we have upgraded our kicking game [with two JUCO transfers expected to take over at place-kicker and punter], which really hurt us last year,'' Brandon said. "I think we are going to be in pretty good shape coming into this season and I expect to see us right back in the race again."
QUARTERBACKS
The Falcons were dealt a blow when Omar Jacobs announced after the 2005 campaign that he would forgo his senior year and enter the NFL draft. The record-shattering quarterback represented the heart and soul of a Bowling Green offense that averaged nearly 34 points per game and 284 yards passing. Without an experienced signal-caller in 2006, the Falcons' offense plummeted, averaging only 19.5 points and 169.1 yards passing, 10th in the MAC and 92nd nationally. "Before last season our offense consistently averaged a 65-percent completion rate," Brandon said when discussing the passing game.
Inside the MAC
Take an Inside look at the Mid-American Conference with Blue Ribbon's 2007 team reports:
Akron Zips
Ball State Cardinals
Bowling Green Falcons
Buffalo Bulls
Central Michigan Chippewas
Eastern Michigan Eagles
Kent State Golden Flashes
Miami (Ohio) RedHawks
Northern Illinois Huskies (Free Preview)
Ohio Bobcats
Temple Owls
Toledo Rockets
Western Michigan Broncos
2007 Blue Ribbon Index
During the course of the 2006 season, three Bowling Green quarterbacks saw action, and combined they averaged less than a 56 percent completion rate while throwing for only 12 touchdowns. The difference from 2005 was startling when the Falcons threw 29 touchdowns, 26 by Jacobs alone.
Leading a trio of contenders for the starting quarterback spot this season is sophomore Tyler Sheehan (6-3, 225), who saw limited action last season, appearing in four games, finishing 23-for-43 with four interceptions and no touchdowns and 192 yards passing. But a strong spring and significant physical upsides such as a strong, accurate passing arm have helped push Sheehan to the top of the Bowling Green depth chart coming out of spring. "Tyler had a really strong spring where he showed a very good command of the offense and a lot of leadership qualities," Brandon said.
The primary starter last season for Bowling Green was Anthony Turner (6-2, 229), a junior who threw for 1,596 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions in 10 games. Turner was also the Falcons' second-leading rusher with 480 yards and five rushing touchdowns, but his starting spot is far from assured this season. "He needs to work on his accuracy, become more consistent and work on reading defenses,'' Brandon said. "He's a good scrambler and can throw the ball on the run and just needs to continue to learn."
Last season Turner split time under center with Freddie Barnes, who has since been moved over to wide receiver, but a third player has emerged who could still push both Turner and Sheehan with a strong fall camp. redshirt freshman Anthony Glaud (6-3, 212) turned a few heads with a good spring outing. "He really made strides," Brandon said.
Glaud redshirted last season after being recruited to Bowling Green out of Winslow Township High School (N.J.) where he was chosen Elite Recruits' No. 2 quarterback in New Jersey in 2005 after passing for 2,349 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior.
Freshman Nate Brown (6-4, 225) may also get a look from the coaching staff when he arrives on campus for fall camp. Brown, out of Harrisburg (Pa.) High School, was a dual-threat quarterback who led his high school squad to a league title in 2006, passing for 17 touchdowns and rushing for another thirteen scores. While Brown will likely redshirt, if any of the leading three contenders stumble, Brown could very well be in the mix.
RUNNING BACKS
Last season Bowling Green averaged a conference leading 176.7 yards on the ground, good for 18th nationally. It was the first time in 43 years the Falcons found themselves leading the MAC in rushing, something even Brandon did not foresee. "How about that? Yeah, I didn't really see that coming," Brandon said when discussing the Falcons rushing prowess.
Many of the rushing yards were racked up by the Falcons' scrambling, inexperienced quarterback duo of Anthony Turner and Freddie Barnes who combined for 885 yards and 14 TDs. "Our running game wasn't as explosive as it needs to be, and that is something we are going to be looking for this season," Brandon said.
Leading the way in the backfield will be returning starter, sophomore Chris Bullock (5-11, 220), who appeared in 11 games last season, rushing for 769 yards and an impressive average of 4.8 yards per carry. Bullock, a third-team Sporting News Freshman All-American last season, also rushed for four touchdowns and had a good spring that solidified his standing as the Falcons' top running back.
Also making a strong push coming out of spring was JUCO transfer Eric Ransom (5-10, 185) who, says Brandon, demonstrated the kind of quickness and explosiveness he thought was missing a year ago. "He can really carry the ball with authority and hits the holes quickly," Brandon said.
Ransom played at Trinity Valley Community College in Waco, Texas the last two seasons where he was a first-team All-American in 2005 and rushed for 2,356 yards during his career. Ransom was ranked by Rivals.com as the top JUCO running back in Texas.
Fifth-year senior Dan Macon (6-1, 214) appeared in 11 games last season for Bowling Green, starting five times, and logged 72 carries for 387 yards and also caught 13 passes for 123 yards. Macon will be expected to fill a similar role this season, getting spot duty.
Worth keeping an eye on will be the early development of incoming freshman Willie Geter (5-8, 170), an undersized speedster who was recruited out of Monsignor Pace High School (Miami, Fla.) where he rushed for 18 touchdowns his senior season. Geter was also a 100-meter sprinter. If Geter can make an impression in early fall drills, he could push for playing time.
When a fullback is being utilized in Brandon's spread offense, expect to see senior Pete Winovich (6-3, 248) in the backfield. Winovich appeared in all 12 games last season, primarily in blocking and short-yardage roles. He carried the ball twelve times for 78 yards.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
Last season the Falcons had to replace one of the top receiving combinations in the MAC with the loss of Steve Sanders and Charles Sharon, who combined for 20 touchdowns and nearly 2,000 yards receiving in 2005. With their top two performers gone and an inexperienced quarterback in 2006, Bowling Green's passing game was but a mere shadow of itself. "Wide receiver is one of those positions where we really need our young players to step up," Brandon said. "We need to get some of those explosive plays that we have been used to getting these past couple of seasons."
One of the players that will be counted on to keep improving, and providing big play potential, is junior wide receiver Corey Partridge (5-11, 184). "He's our best receiver coming out of the spring," Brandon said. "He has big play ability and battled injuries off and on and is healthy now."
Partridge topped the Falcons last season with 55 receptions and 658 yards while recording three touchdowns in 10 games. Partridge is a deep threat who will at times garner double coverage from MAC defenders. That could free up a couple of other potential playmakers among the Falcons' receiving corps.
Marques Parks (5-11, 192), a junior, has the potential to become one of those playmakers. Parks was slowed by injuries after breaking his leg in 2005. "He struggled with his confidence last season," said Brandon, who added that Parks had a nice spring and is expected to be a starter for the Falcons at the X spot and, like Partridge, is now healthy.
Parks appeared in 12 games last season, catching five passes for 30 yards.
Last season Freddie Barnes (6-2, 212), a sophomore, played in all twelve games as a redshirt freshman and saw time at quarterback, running back and wide receiver. He started the season opener at quarterback against Wisconsin. Barnes' primary asset was his running ability. "We used him a lot as a running back where we direct snapped to him in the shotgun," Brandon said. "He is a tremendous athlete whose skills demand that you get him the ball."
This season Brandon and the Falcons hope that means catching the ball. Barnes has been moved to wide receiver on a permanent basis. Last season, Barnes was the Falcons' fourth leading receiver, catching 20 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns. "He's still learning the position but is so dynamic that we have to get the football to him. He has excellent hands and is a strong, physical player," Brandon said.
Barnes has the sort of game-breaking talent that could provide the Falcons' passing attack with the type of explosiveness that was last displayed in Omar Jacobs' final season when he had Sharon and Sanders hauled in passes.
Pushing for playing time, and a potential starter at the Z receiver slot, is sophomore Tyrone Pronty (6-0, 181) who was pressed into action last season as a freshman, playing in the last five games of the season, including a start against Temple. Pronty has good speed with solid yards after catch potential.
Also competing for a spot will be another sophomore, Zach Charles (5-10, 179), who looked to be on his way to a solid freshman season, starting the first five games before being sidelined with an injury. Charles is progressing, and if healthy could be a solid contributor. Before he was injured Charles averaged at least two receptions per game.
The sophomore theme continues with Calvin Wiley (5-11, 195) and Chris Wright (5-10, 190), who will be making a push for playing time at the Z slot. Wright appeared in five games as a redshirt freshman in 2006 while Wiley is attempting to move from defensive back, where he recorded 23 tackles last season.
Derek Brighton (5-10, 184) is a redshirt freshman who is competing to back up Freddie Barnes at one of the receiver slots. Brighton was a Detroit News blue-chipper after his senior season in 2005 at Allen Park (Mich.) High School, where he had 34 catches for 547 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Freshmen Adrian Hodges (6-2, 180) and Ray Hutson (6-2, 180) will get some looks from the coaching staff in fall drills as well. Hodges, out of First Coast High School (Jacksonville, Fla.) caught 45 passes for 726 yards in his senior season while Hutson, out of Detroit Urban Lutheran High School, was a two-time all-state selection with great speed who was also an all-state sprinter.
Tight end is a position that is being de-emphasized this season by the coaching staff. Last year's starter, Sean O'Drobinak (6-4, 270) has been moved to the defensive line and Jimmy Scheidler (6-4, 244), a sophomore, will get the nod as the starting tight end coming into the season. "We kind of use our tight ends as a blocker and we flex them out a little bit," Brandon said. "It's more of a fullback, tight end off the line that we use. Jimmy had a good spring and did a good job there for us."
OFFENSIVE LINE
The offensive line produced solid rushing numbers last year for the Falcons on their way to leading the MAC in rushing. It's a very athletic unit with significant size and, with three returning fifth-year seniors as starters, will have big expectations in 2007.
Leading the way once again will be senior center Kory Lichtensteiger (6-3, 300), a perennial All-MAC selection and 2007 Lombardi Award and Rimington Trophy candidate who started all 12 games last year. A four-year starter, Lichtensteiger is the recognized leader on the offensive line. Lichtensteiger was held out of spring drills because of offseason shoulder surgery but is expected to make a full recovery in plenty of time for the fall and will again be counted on heavily to solidify the O-line.
Fellow fifth-year seniors Drew Nystrom (6-5, 300) and Kevin Huelsman (6-2, 290) will return as the starters at left tackle and right tackle, respectively. Nystrom started nine games at left tackle in 2006 while Huelsman was a 12-game starter. Bowling Green's three fifth-year seniors make up one of the more experienced offensive lines in the MAC in 2007 and each has the potential to be all-conference performers. The rest of the offensive line is taking shape and looks to once again be a strong suit for Bowling Green.
Sophomore Shane Steffy (6-3, 302) comes out of spring as the starting left guard. "He really stepped up in the spring for us and could be a strong contributor for several seasons," Brandon said.
Steffy saw action in 10 games in 2006 as a redshirt freshman.
Also making a strong impression in the spring on the way to securing a starting role is junior Brandon Curtis (6-2, 285), an athletic performer who converted last season from the defensive line and saw action in three games. Curtis is expected to start at right guard and will also serve as the backup to Lichtensteiger as will fifth-year senior Patrick Watson (6-5, 289), a 12-game performer in 2006.
Reflective of the depth of the Bowling Green offensive line is the return of two more seniors who will battle for time on the offensive line. Left guard Andrew Stanford (6-3, 297), a fifth-year senior, is expected to back up Steffy at left guard while Brandon Mack (6-5, 283), a senior who saw action in three games last season, is in the mix at right guard.
But the competition for playing time is not limited to the seniors. Junior Jeff Fink (6-5, 290) is making a push for playing time at right guard after starting the final three games in 2006 and appearing in 10 games overall. Likewise junior Aaron Kent (6-6, 291) and sophomore Brady Minturn (6-4, 288) are making a strong push for playing time at left tackle and left guard, respectively. Minturn had three starts in 2006.
redshirt freshman Tyler Donahue (6-6, 281) could be heard from as well after a nice spring that saw him enter into the mix as Huelsman's backup at right tackle.
KICKERS
After a year that saw Falcons' kickers convert only 4-of-9 field-goal attempts, having three attempts blocked and a long field goal of only 38 yards, Brandon decided he was not content to wait for Sean Ellis to develop and recruited immediate help.
Ellis, a freshman, is no longer the squad, and in his spot is JUCO transfer Sinisa Vrvillo (6-1, 234), a junior. Vrvilo is a native of Croatia who came to the United States twelve years ago. Last season he earned JUCO All-America honors while attending Trinity Valley Community College in Waco, Texas, where he converted on 53-of-55 PATs efforts as well as successfully converting on 23 field-goal attempts. He has a career long field goal of 55 yards.
Vrvillo is also expected to handle kickoff duties for the Falcons.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The Falcons return solid experience on the defensive line and especially at the end positions. "I believe we have two of the best defensive ends in the league," Brandon said.
It would be hard to argue the point with junior Diyral Briggs (6-4, 230) and sophomore Jacob Hardwick (6-3, 260) returning as starters.
The athletic Briggs has the ability to step up and take control of the line of scrimmage and is coming off a 2006 campaign that saw him lead all BG defensive linemen with 69 tackles and seven sacks. The coaching staff loves his third down pass rush ability as well.
Hardwick, who like Briggs appeared in all 12 games last season, had 28 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, in 2006.
Pushing for playing time at the end position will be junior Joe Schaefer (6-4, 256) who is attempting to comeback after offseason knee surgery as well as a former walk-on, junior Adrian Baker (6-3, 218). redshirt freshman Angelo Magnone (6-3, 235) was originally recruited as a linebacker but is being worked out at defensive end. He had an impressive spring and could see some action this season.
Sean O'Drobinak (6-4, 270), a fifth-year senior, has been moved from tight end to defensive tackle and is the starter coming out of spring along with Nick Davis (6-3, 281), a junior who is attempting to comeback following an ankle injury after appearing in only three contests last season.
Davis is being pushed hard for the starting nose guard spot by sophomore Michael Ream (6-3, 270), who appeared in 12 games as a freshman, recording 24 tackles. Backup roles will likely fall to redshirt freshman Orlando Barrow (6-2, 287) and sophomore DJ Young (6-5, 278) who appeared in six games last season.
LINEBACKERS
The linebacking position is long on athleticism but a bit short on experience; the Falcons lost their top defensive performer from last season, linebacker Terrell White. "This was a real area of concern for us coming into spring, but I feel a lot better coming out of spring than I did coming in, I will tell you that," Brandon said when discussing his linebackers. "We have a lot of young players who will get a chance to compete and we'll let the cream rise to the top."
One player who has already begun that ascent is returning starter at middle linebacker, junior Erique Dozier (6-0, 221). "Erique is a very athletic kid and can really play either middle or inside for us," Brandon said.
Last season Dozier finished second on the team with 98 tackles and recorded three sacks, making him a potential All-MAC performer entering 2007. Likely backing up Dozier will be sophomore Cody Basler (6-3, 238), a sophomore who appeared in 12 games last season and recorded 10 tackles in spot duty.
Also solidifying a starting spot on the weak side is sophomore Loren Hargrove (5-11, 211) a fifth-year senior who appeared in 12 games in 2006 while registering 31 tackles. Hargrove though will still have to hold off a strong challenge from junior John Haneline (6-2, 231), who could also see time at middle linebacker. Haneline is coming off a very productive year in which he recorded 74 tackles.
The starting Sam spot is currently the possession of sophomore PJ Mahone (5-11, 201), who is being converted from safety, where he still may see time this year as well. "PJ is one of our best eleven football players, and we have to find as many ways to get him playing time as possible," Brandon said.
Another player making a move to linebacker is redshirt freshman Lewis Parks (6-2, 228). He was originally recruited as a tight end, but Brandon and the coaching staff are enamored with Parks' size and hitting ability and think he's best suited as a linebacker. He could see significant playing time.
The coaching staff is particularly high on transfer Jerson Davis (6-2, 200) who will have sophomore eligibility after signing on from JUCO football powerhouse Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College, where he was voted conference player of the year in 2004. Davis was redshirted last season at Bowling Green.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Pass-happy MAC offenses will be looking to exploit a young Falcons secondary that is dominated by the presence of redshirt freshmen and sophomores. "We're young, but at least we have some experience coming back this year," Brandon said. "A lot of these young kids were forced into service last year, so I feel better this year at this time than last year. Last spring I knew the players I had in spring camp in the secondary were not the players that were going to be starting for us in the fall. It's pretty scary knowing that your starters aren't even arriving on campus until the fall."
Leading the Falcons secondary will be junior cornerback Antonio Smith (5-10, 180), who Brandon considers the team's best defensive back. Smith, who had to play through several nagging injuries last season, still managed 10 starts and recorded 39 tackles in 2006 and appears healthy entering the fall.
The other starting corner spot will be held down by junior Kenny Lewis (5-11, 185), who started all 12 games last season en route to recording 70 tackles and four interceptions. A strong spring only solidified his starting role.
Sophomore Tarell Lewis (5-10, 187), who started three games as a freshman in 2006, will have a backup role at the corner, as will be former walk-on Roger Williams (5-9, 184), a sophomore, who moved over from running back and earned a scholarship in the spring.
The youth of the Falcons' secondary becomes most evident at the safety positions. Sophomore Jerett Sanderson (6-0, 189) gained valuable experience last season as a true freshman, starting all twelve games and showing a propensity for big plays, finishing fourth on the squad last season with 73 tackles and second with three interceptions. Sanderson is the clear favorite to start at strong safety with fellow sophomore Vincent Corner (5-9, 200) likely backing him up. Corner appeared in eight games in 2006 but saw most of his action on special teams.
The starting free safety will be another sophomore who gained significant playing experience as a freshman. Jahmal Brown (5-10, 192) started the final 10 games of 2006, recording 59 tackles. Brown's backup will probably be redshirt freshman Calvin Marshall (5-11, 190) who was an all-state performer at Dillard High School (Fla.).
PUNTERS
Much like he did with the placekicking situation, Brandon has decided to cut his losses and has turned to a JUCO transfer in an effort to improve the Falcons' punting game.
Last season freshman Alonso Rojas averaged 35.6 yards per punt but had a net punting average of only 27.7 yards, second worst in the nation. Rojas is gone from the squad, and in his place is junior Nick Iovinelli (6-0, 188), who comes to the Falcons by way of Harper (Ill.) College, where he averaged 36.6 yards and was chosen first-team all-region.
Iovinelli also handled placekicking duties at Harper, converting on 29-of-32 PATs. But he'll be limited to punting at Bowling Green and was impressive during spring practice.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Special teams were clearly not an area of strength last season for Bowling Green as the Falcons averaged only 7.33 yards per punt return (89th nationally) and ranked 108th in the NCAA in kickoff returns with an average of only 17.6 yards. Several players will get a chance to improve those numbers.
Leading the parade of kickoff return performers is junior cornerback Kenny Lewis, who "really stepped it up" in the spring, Brandon said. Also returning kicks this season will be strong safety Tarell Lewis, who returned seven kicks last season, averaging 19.3 yards. Fellow strong safety Vincent Corner will also be in the mix as he was last season when he averaged 19.4 yards per return in five attempts.
Punt returns will primarily be the domain of wide receiver Corey Partridge with fellow wideouts Zach Charles and Freddie Barnes potentially seeing some action on punt return duties. Neither Partridge nor Charles, who combined for all of BG's punt returns in 2006, distinguished themselves last season, and Brandon is hoping for significant improvement in that department.
Senior Kyle Cutler (6-1, 227) is expected to handle the long snapping duties again this season, but Craig Rutherford (5-11, 204), a sophomore, is getting some reps as well and could overtake Cutler for the starting role by the fall. The holder on placekicking efforts will likely be Corey Partridge.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS
This season should provide far more bright spots for the Falcons after last year, which was derailed by injuries that forced thirteen true freshmen into action. The upside of course is that with so many freshman playing last season, the Falcons actually enter this season with a good deal of experience on their side. "I expect us to be right in the mix of things this season," Brandon said when discussing the Falcons' forecast for this season. "We are one of four or five teams that should be in the hunt."
Competing in the MAC's East division benefits the Falcons, as there is no clear-cut favorite heading into this season. Brandon also needs to get his team back into the mix as declining fortunes over his previous four years could provide fodder for restlessness among Falcons faithful. Brandon's Falcons squad has consistently won fewer games during each of his preceding four seasons.
Grading the Bowling Green Falcons
Unit
Grade
Offense
C+
Special teams
C
Defense
B-
Intangibles
B
The offense should be improved and with a solid running attack led by sophomore Chris Bullock, the Falcons should have a more balanced attack this season if the quarterback spot is stabilized either behind returning starter Anthony Turner or the current hot commodity in camp, sophomore Tyler Sheehan, who has many of the qualities such as a strong, accurate arm, that the coaching staff seeks. Helping too will be the addition of triple-threat performer Freddie Barnes as a permanent feature in the receiving corps alongside talented Corey Partridge.
Defense could be a bit dicey for the Falcons if they cannot improve on last season's 98th rated scoring defense when they allowed 28.3 points per game. A lot of that though could be chalked up to their struggling offense putting the defense in tough spots. This season the defensive line is solid and represents one of the better units in the MAC, especially at the end positions with Diyral Briggs and Jacob Hardwick being potential All-MAC standouts. Concerns arise for Bowling Green in a thin linebacking and secondary corps, where youth will be called upon, ready or not.
Overall Bowling Green is clearly coming out of a rebuilding year. With so many young players gaining invaluable playing experience last season, the Falcons should be ready to at least be in contention for an upper-division finish in the seven-team MAC East. Bowl games and divisional titles are still likely but at least another year away though.
For the most comprehensive previews available on all 119 Division I teams, order the "Bible" of college football, the 2007 Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, at www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-866-805-BALL (2255).
