SportsAugust 29, 2016
A breakdown of the 2016 Ohio Valley Conference football teams
Last season 13-2, 8-0 OVC The Gamecocks return plenty of talent from their FCS national championship runner-up squad, but quarterback Eli Jenkins leads the pack. The OVC's Offensive Player of the Year and FCS ADA National Quarterback of the Year, who had offseason shoulder surgery, threw for 2,788 yards and 21 touchdowns and ran for 1,161 yards and 15 touchdowns as a redshirt junior...
1. Jacksonville State
Last season: 13-2, 8-0 OVC
Key returner
The Gamecocks return plenty of talent from their FCS national championship runner-up squad, but quarterback Eli Jenkins leads the pack. The OVC's Offensive Player of the Year and FCS ADA National Quarterback of the Year, who had offseason shoulder surgery, threw for 2,788 yards and 21 touchdowns and ran for 1,161 yards and 15 touchdowns as a redshirt junior.
Key loss
While JSU lost its All-American running back, Troymaine Pope, the eight starters on the defense that ranked 12th nationally in total defense may be the bigger loss. The Gamecocks, who do return defensive end and OVC preseason defensive player of the year Darius Jackson, held OVC opponents to a league-best 15.6 points per game. Coach John Grass added Auburn transfer Roc Thomas to help replace Pope.
At a glance
The Gamecocks are once again the favorites to win the conference title and advance to the playoffs after rolling through the league undefeated the past two seasons under Grass. JSU enters the 2016 campaign as the No. 3 team in both the STATS FCS and FCS Coaches preseason polls. Its only losses were a 27-20 defeat at Auburn and a 37-10 loss to five-time defending national champion North Dakota State in the title game.
2. Eastern Kentucky
Last season: 6-5, 5-3 OVC
Key returner
Whether its returner Bennie Coney or Missouri transfer Maty Mauk that secures the starting quarterback spot, one thing that's certain is that Justin Adekoya will be blocking. Adekoya, a preseason all-conference offensive tackle, made 10 starts, blocking for a Colonels offense that averaged 422.9 yards of offense against conference opponents and allowed only 11 sacks against OVC foes.
Key loss
The Colonels will miss defensive end Noah Spence, who was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the NFL Draft after just one season at EKU. The OVC Co-Defensive POY and CFPA FCS National Defense Performer of the Year, who was also on several All-America teams, had 22.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks for an EKU defense that ranked 15th nationally in rushing defense.
At a glance
Expectations are high for Mark Elder's first season at the helm of the Colonels, who have 25 OVC titles. The former Tennessee assistant was tabbed to return EKU to near the top of the conference after a fourth-place finish last season led to Dean Hood's dismissal after eight seasons. The Colonels return six offensive and three defensive starters, including QB Coney, running back Ethan Thomas and preseason OVC picks in kicker Lucas Williams and punter Keith Wrzuszczak.
3. Eastern Illinois
Last season: 7-5, 7-1 OVC
Key returner
The Panthers got a boost from Illinois transfer Devin Church last season, and he's expected to do more of the same this year. The redshirt junior running back and second-team All-OVC and All-Newcomer selection rushed for 743 yards (sixth in the OVC) and nine touchdowns. He also had two touchdown catches and led the team with 36 receptions for 254 yards.
Key loss
EIU will have to fill the void of a sixth-round NFL draft pick and the OVC's Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Kamu Grugier-Hill, who was a first-team all-conference pick at linebacker, had 70 tackles, including 16.5 for loss, and 6.5 sacks. Defensive lineman Dino Fanti earned a share of the league's top defensive award. He had 60 tackles, including 21 for loss, 7.5 sacks, nine QB hurries and five forced fumbles.
At a glance
Eastern Illinois is predicted to remain in the upper echelon of the OVC despite the departures of some of the conference's top defensive players and its quarterback. The Panthers have finished second and fourth in coach Kim Dameron's first two seasons after winning back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013, and they've reached the FCS Playoffs three times in the last four years.
4. UT Martin
Last season: 7-4, 6-2 OVC
Key returner
Defensive lineman Damani Taylor, a second-team all-conference and all-newcomer performer as a junior in his first year at UTM, recorded 54 tackles with nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
Key loss
Wide receiver Rod Wright (second-team all-OVC) caught more touchdown passes in OVC action than the rest of the field. He had 13 receiving TDs in eight games and 798 yards receiving. The guy getting him the ball was second-team all-OVC quarterback Jarod Neal, who had 2,513 yards of total offense and threw 23 touchdowns in conference play.
At a glance
The Skyhawks, who will play their games in a renovated Hardy M. Graham Stadium, will likely be in the conference race, as it seems they are each season, despite returning just four offensive and five defensive starters. Coach Jason Simpson's first year at the helm in 2006 was also the only time UTM won the conference and made the playoffs.
5. Southeast
Last season: 4-7, 3-4 OVC
Key returner
No matter where the Redhawks play Tremane McCullough, a first-team all-conference running back as a junior, he's going to have to make an impact. He'll be a receiver for Southeast this season but is also expected to get the ball out of the backfield some, and he's a strong option to handle returning duties. He led the league with 726 yards rushing and had 1,028 on the season, scoring five touchdowns.
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Key loss
First-team all-conference receiver Paul McRoberts has taken his top-notch talent to the Los Angeles Rams after not being selected in the NFL Draft. The Redhawks star had 940 yards and nine receiving touchdowns as a senior to cap his career as the school's all-time career receiving touchdown leader. That mark (29) is also good for fifth in OVC history.
At a glance
Southeast third-year coach Tom Matukewicz is optimistic that the veterans he returns will help lead the program toward the top of the conference. The team boasts 25 seniors and eight returning starters on both sides of the ball, including OVC Freshman of the Year QB Dante Vandeven, McCullough and second-team all-OVC selections OL Garret Baker, LB Roper Garrett, cornerback Mike Ford and punter Alex Knight.
6. Tennessee State
Last season: 4-6, 1-6 OVC
Key returner
Clemson transfer Ebenezer Ogundeko returns to play defensive end for the Tigers after a strong sophomore campaign. The first-team all-conference and all-newcomer pick registered 52 tackles, 10 for loss, and five sacks in nine contests.
Key loss
TSU's offense wasn't able to get the run game going much last year, but when it did it was often because of departed running back Telvin Hooks, who had 424 yards rushing on 109 carries with four touchdowns to lead the Tigers. TSU does return Erick Evans, who was second on the team with 413 yards rushing and six touchdowns on 80 carries.
At a glance
The Tigers are just three years removed from their last, and second all-time, playoff appearance but have struggled to pull themselves up from the bottom half of the conference the last two seasons. They return six offensive and eight defensive starters from Rod Reed's sixth season.
7. Tennessee Tech
Last season: 4-7, 3-5 OVC
Key returner
Brock McCoin earned praise from Matukewicz last season after the Golden Eagles' leading receiver played QB against the Redhawks. The versatile second-team all-conference receiver had 375 yards and two receiving touchdowns in OVC play, as well as 282 yards rushing and 458 yards passing and four TDs.
Key loss
The Golden Eagles will have plenty of defensive production to replace. Tra'Darius Goff led the league with 97 tackles against conference foes during his senior campaign, including six for loss and two sacks, en route to a first-team all-conference selection as a linebacker.
At a glance
When Watson Brown retired after 31 years as a head coach -- nine at Tennessee Tech that included a championship and playoff appearance in 2011 -- he claimed the program was built to where it could win the OVC in a couple years. Marcus Satterfield was hired in January to try to make good on that claim. The Golden Eagles return seven offensive starters and five defensive starters from last year's team that finished sixth.
8. Murray State
Last season: 3-8, 2-6 OVC
Key returner
K.D. Humphries is back for his redshirt-senior campaign and will once again lead the Racers' up-tempo, pass-heavy offense. The second-team all-conference quarterback threw for 3,778 yards and 22 touchdowns a year ago.
Key loss
Second-team All-OVC running back Roman Clay and his 935 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns are still in limbo as he's been suspended since January for a burglary charge. Mark Dodson, who went to Ole Miss out of high school and transferred to Memphis prior to the spring of 2015 but never played a snap, had to sit out last season. He is expected to fill the void of Clay along with Demetric Johnson.
At a glance
It's likely the Racers will put up some points again this year in Mitch Stewart's second season in charge, but the key to winning more than three games -- as they have the last two seasons -- will be improvement on the defensive side.
9. Austin Peay
Last season: 0-11, 0-8 OVC
Key returner
Running back Kendall Morris was the lone Governor recognized by the OVC for his performance last season, as he was named to the OVC All-Newcomer team. He returns for his redshirt-sophomore season after rushing for 690 yards and five touchdowns last season.
Key loss
It's hard to pick out a key loss from the Governors after the program went winless for the second time in three years. Some of the team's biggest contributors that won't be returning this season are defensive back Damien Whitfield, who tied for the team lead with 68 tackles, and quarterback Trey Taylor, who wrapped up 2015 with 1,236 yards of total offense.
At a glance
There's nowhere to go but up for the Governors and new coach Will Healy. The 30-year-old, who is the second-youngest Division I coach, is tasked with turning around a program that's finished last in the league the last four seasons, winning just two conference games and three total in that span.
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