Sun Belt Fantasy Preview

The Sun Belt is an overlooked conference sitting outside the BCS ranks, but it still houses some talent that Fantasy owners will want to take a look at on Draft Day.

Could 2011 bring about a changing of the guard in the Sun Belt? While Troy, who has put forth an outstanding record in league play (40-11 conference record), did grab a share of the conference crown in 2010, co-champion FIU rides into the season with a great deal of positive momentum. Mario Cristobal has some very good players returning -- quarterback Wesley Carroll and wide receiver T.Y. Hilton lead the way -- and many will look to the Panthers to remain atop the conference.

In addition to the Panthers and Trojans there are some good individual players many around the country may not know on a first-name basis, notably Western Kentucky's Bobby Rainey. And with some early games against the big boys, some Sun Belt players will grab headlines. It's not a conference discussed among the nation's best, but the Sun Belt still has athletes who could prove profitable for Fantasy team owners.

Arkansas State

2010 Record: 4-8
2010 Offensive Rank (out of 120): 40th
2010 Defensive Rank (out of 120): 105th
Base Offense: Mutiple
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 7/7
Significant Losses: WR Taylor Stockemer, LB Javon McKinnon
Newcomer of Note: The well-traveled Josh Jarboe will make his debut for the Red Wolves this season, and while the talent level is most certainly there, the one-time Oklahoma signee has also had his fair share of issues away from the field. If he can stay on the right path, then quarterback Ryan Aplin will have a very good target at his disposal.

2011 Thoughts: Hugh Freeze begins his tenure as head coach at Arkansas State one year after making the Red Wolves one of the better offenses in the Sun Belt as the team's offensive coordinator. Arkansas State broke a number of school offensive records last season, and with a number of important returnees -- Aplin, running back Derek Lawson, wide receiver Dwayne Frampton and wide receiver Allen Muse -- more of the same could be in store. But the defensive issues are what ultimately led to the coaching change. If the seven returning starters can step up, there's a chance that the Red Wolves can improve on their four wins from a season ago.

Final Analysis: A pair of all-conference honorees will need to lead the way defensively for the Red Wolves. Linebacker Demario Davis, who made the first team, and defensive lineman Dorvus Woods, a second-team honoree, will need to play even better for the Red Wolves to see an improvement in the defensive stats and win total. A 1-1 start to the season (at Illinois, vs. Memphis) isn't out of the realm of possibility considering how potent the offense is, and hopes of bowl eligibility could hinge on such a beginning since at Virginia Tech lurks in the third game of the season. Arkansas State could surprise within the league.

Florida Atlantic

2010 Record: 4-8
2010 Offensive Rank (out of 120): 107th
2010 Defensive Rank (out of 120): 85th
Base Offense: Pro-style
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 7/7
Significant Losses: QB Jeff VanCamp, WR Lester Jean, TE Rob Housler
Newcomer of Note: More of a power back (rushed for 520 yards and 12 touchdowns as a high school senior in 2010), Javaris Giles turned down some programs from BCS conferences to sign with the Owls. Could he be an option in short-yardage situations? He'll have the opportunity to earn reps in fall camp.

2011 Thoughts: Despite the positive vibes surrounding the program due to the opening of a new on-campus stadium, this could be a tough year for coach Howard Schnellenberger's Owls to rebound from a tough 2010. Why? The schedule opens with five straight road games (the stadium won't be ready until October), including Florida, Michigan State and Auburn to open the year. Add in the need to find a new starting quarterback and the loss of wide receiver Lester Jean, and it could be a tough season for FAU.

Final Analysis: The good news for FAU is that it returns seven starters on the defensive side of the football, most notably defensive end Kevin Cyrille. FAU is also switching to a 3-4 scheme, and this could lead to even more growing pains to begin the year. Running back Alfred Morris will be the leader until the quarterback position is solidified and reaching or surpassing last year's win total could prove difficult.

Florida International

2010 Record: 7-6
2010 Offensive Rank (out of 120): 46th
2010 Defensive Rank (out of 120): 61st
Base Offense: Multiple
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 8/8
Significant Losses: CB Anthony Gaitor
Newcomer of Note: Tight end Dominique Rhymes, a Miami native, could see action this season due to his versatility. At only 200 pounds, Rhymes may be considered light for a FBS tight end, but he's the kind of player who could help offensively out of the slot.

2011 Thoughts: The FIU program is on the upswing under coach Mario Cristobal, having won its first-ever Sun Belt title in 2010 and following that up with a bowl victory. And with key players such as quarterback Wesley Carroll and wide receiver T.Y. Hilton back, 2011 could be a fun season as well. At the very least it will be known where FIU stands in the league title race by the end of September, as it has two league games in the season's first month.

Final Analysis: Eight starters return on defense, led by defensive back Jonathan Cyprien, which should mean good things for a unit that ranked first in the conference in both scoring and total defense. And on the offensive side of the football one can't overlook running back Darriet Perry, who led the team in rushing with 839 yards in 2010. FIU will be one of the favorites to win the Sun Belt this season.

La.-Lafayette

2010 Record: 3-9
2010 Offensive Rank (out of 120): 81st
2010 Defensive Rank (out of 120): 82nd
Base Offense: Multiple
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 5/7
Significant Losses: WR Marlin Miller, DB Maurice Rolle
Newcomer of Note: Running back Alonzo Harris rushed for more than 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns as a high school senior, and while he may need some time to fill out physically, the freshman has the ability to leave his mark. Good addition for the Ragin' Cajuns.

2011 Thoughts: The Ragin' Cajuns welcome a new head coach in former Mississippi State assistant Mark Hudspeth, who was the Bulldogs' passing coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2010. But this isn't Hudspeth's first rodeo as a head coach, having spent seven seasons at North Alabama and winning a national title. The hope is that he's the man to lead the program to its first bowl game since 1970, but there's an awful lot of work to be done. Neither side of the football stood out last season, and Hudspeth's offensive pedigree will be needed.

Final Analysis: The Ragin' Cajuns will receive a crash course in explosive offensive football in their season opener, as they travel to take on Oklahoma State. Quarterback Chris Masson and tight end Ladarius Green will need to lead the way offensively, and with no one really standing out in the backfield a season ago the door could be open for a freshman like Harris to come in and earn significant reps.

La.-Monroe

2010 Record: 5-7
2010 Offensive Rank (out of 120): 85th
2010 Defensive Rank (out of 120): 68th
Base Offense: Multiple
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 11/8
Significant Losses: RB Frank Goodin
Newcomer of Note: Wide receiver Justin Ginyard is a player who could come in handy for the Warhawks, especially in the red zone. He's not a burner but rather a receiver with the height to be a matchup problem for some defensive backs. Look for him to also work the middle of the field if he can earn reps.

2011 Thoughts: Coach Todd Berry had a solid season in his first year running the program in 2010, very nearly leading one of the youngest teams in the country to a bowl game. Alas, the Warhawks fell one win short of bowl eligibility, but a number of the young players saw meaningful playing time last season and that should benefit the program moving forward. One player that benefited is sophomore quarterback Kolton Browning, who was a freshman All-American last season. He also has senior wide receiver Luther Ambrose as a reliable target, and with every offensive starter back, La.-Monroe should not rank 85th in total offense this season.

Final Analysis: La.-Monroe welcomes back eight starters on the defensive side of the football, led by defensive lineman Ken Dorsey and defensive back Darius Pretlow. Kicker Radi Jabour, who made 8 of 10 field goals in 2010, returns as well. The bad news for the Warhawks is their early-season schedule, with trips to Florida State, TCU and Iowa in the month of September. If they can remain relatively healthy throughout this stretch, La.-Monroe could challenge for the Sun Belt crown.

Middle Tennessee State

2010 Record: 6-7
2010 Offensive Rank (out of 120): 69th
2010 Defensive Rank (out of 120): 72nd
Base Offense: Multiple
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 7/3
Significant Losses: QB Dwight Dasher, RB Phillip Tanner
Newcomer of Note: Running back Tony Rowland, who redshirted last season, rushed for a team-high 37 yards and a touchdown in the spring game. Having lost Phillip Tanner, the Blue Raiders look to be a team that will handle the running back chores by committee, and who's to say that Rowland can't earn his share of the carries?

2011 Thoughts: Coach Rick Stockstill will have his hands full in replacing two outstanding offensive weapons in Dasher and Tanner, but a program that's been to three bowl games in the last five seasons knows what it takes to remain successful. The quarterback battle will be one to watch with Logan Kilgore and Jeff Murphy both looking to win the job. Each gained experience last season, but Kilgore performed better in the spring game.

Final Analysis: The defense will be the side of the football that could have issues with just three starters back. The offense won't lack weapons, but who will step up on the other side of the ball? Linebacker Darin Davis will need to lead the way for the Blue Raiders, who should also be OK on special teams with the return of kicker Alan Gendreau.

North Texas

2010 Record: 3-9
2010 Offensive Rank (out of 120): 63rd
2010 Defensive Rank (out of 120): 77th
Base Offense: Spread
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 7/7
Significant Losses: LB Craig Robertson
Newcomer of Note: Wide receiver Chaz Sampson checks in a 6-5, and he could be an early beneficiary of the Mean Green's spread attack. Originally committed to Tulsa, Sampson flipped once Todd Graham left Tulsa to take the head coach position at Pitt.

2011 Thoughts: Last season was a rough one in Denton, Texas, as coach Todd Dodge was fired in the middle of the season, eventually opening the door for Dan McCarney to take over the program. McCarney was last a head coach in 2006 -- the final of his 12 seasons at Iowa State. North Texas will remain in the spread offense, but it needs someone to step up at quarterback if this team is to be more competitive. The good news offensively is that running back Lance Dunbar, who rushed for more than 1,500 yards last season, returns for his senior campaign. Quarterback Riley Dodge transferred, leaving two inexperienced options in Chase Baine and Derek Thompson to fight for the job.

Final Analysis: It's most likely going to be a long year at North Texas as coach McCarney and his staff will aim to change the culture of a program that at one point was a perennial contender in the Sun Belt. The start to the season could be rough as well with Sun Belt co-champ FIU being the opener, followed by games against Houston and Alabama. If the defense is up to the task, maybe North Texas can steal one of the first two games, but that's a serious long shot.

Troy

2010 Record: 8-5
2010 Offensive Rank (out of 120): 17th
2010 Defensive Rank (out of 120): 89th
Base Offense: Spread
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 5/8
Significant Losses: WR Jerrel Jernigan, DL Mario Addison
Newcomer of Note: With the loss of Jernigan, the Trojans will be looking for at least one player to step up at receiver, and incoming freshman Bryan Holmes seems like an ideal candidate. Holmes has the speed to make things happen once he gets the football and in space could prove to be a handful for opposing defenses.

2011 Thoughts: The Trojans won eight games last season thanks in large part to the conference's best offense, and despite the loss of six starters Troy should once again rack up the yards. Larry Blakeney's program has gone 40-11 all-time in Sun Belt games, making them the likely pick to be right there with FIU atop the league this season. Quarterback Corey Robinson and running back Shawn Southward lead the offensive charge, and while they do have some key players to replace at receiver, the Trojans should be able to find suitable replacements.

Final Analysis: Whether or not Troy ultimately wins the Sun Belt will come down to its defense, which ranked as the 89th best defense in 2010. Defensive lineman Jonathan Massaquoi was a first team All-Sun Belt selection last season and linebacker Xavier Lamb led the team in tackles. With both returning, the Trojans have the leadership necessary for improvement. Kicker Michael Taylor, who made 17 of 22 field goals as a sophomore, returns for his junior campaign, and his accuracy combined with this offense could make him a solid selection in Fantasy.

Western Kentucky

2010 Record: 2-10
2010 Offensive Rank (out of 120): 98th
2010 Defensive Rank (out of 120): 67th
Base Offense: West Coast
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 10/7
Significant Losses: LB Thomas Majors, DB Orlando Misaalefua
Newcomer of Note: Wide receiver Boe Brand has some improvement to make with regards to his strength, but he's got the receiving skills required to make an impact if he isn't redshirted. Defenses will line up to slow down Rainey, meaning that players on the outside will need to step up for the Hilltoppers.

2011 Thoughts: The first year under coach Willie Taggart was a tough one, but Western Kentucky did find a way to end the long losing streak that hovered over the program. Taggart is a very good recruiter as well, a fact that has led to a much-needed talent infusion in the program. There is also the honorable mention All-American Rainey, who ranked third nationally in rushing yards per game last year, around to carry the load. The key for WKU will be to have options besides Rainey to emerge this season.

Final Analysis: Junior quarterback Kawaun Jakes returns, but he has to improve upon a completion percentage that was just over 51 percent last season. That won't be good enough if the Hilltoppers are to improve upon their win total from 2010. The return of tight end Jack Doyle (he missed the last five games due to injury) should bolster the passing attack, but some receivers will also need to step up. The line, led by Jared Clendenin and Quanterus Smith, will be the strength of the defense this season, and the unit wasn't particularly terrible last season either. WKU should be a better team than last year, but will that translate into more wins? Only time will tell.