Sam Houston State is picked to repeat
Sam Houston State ran the table last season during the regular season until suffering a lopsided loss to James Madison in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs.
“We were probably the most dominant team that I ever had last year,” Bearkats coach K.C. Keeler said. “We have a good team coming back, might be better than last year’s team.”
League coaches agree that the 2017 version of the Bearkats may be improved from a team that in 2016 won its first 12 games. In going 11-0 in the regular season, the Bearkats led FBS in total offense (584.0), scoring offense (54.2 points per game) and first downs (297) while separating themselves from the rest of the conference.
On Thursday, during the Southland Conference football media day at the Americas Hilton, Sam Houston was the overwhelming choice to repeat as conference champion, followed by Central Arkansas and McNeese State.
Bearkats add depth
The Kats, who were ranked No. 1 nationally in the latter half of the 2016 season, are favored for good reason. Quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe, the 2016 Walter Payton Award winner, and defensive lineman P.J. Hall return after both were first team All-Americans a year ago.
A good 2017 recruiting class for the Bearkats has added depth.
“We’re trying to be a little deeper, and it’s critical you get one of those top seeds (in the playoffs) because then you spend more time at home than on the road,” Keeler said. “The journeys can wear you out. A fifth seed hurt us last year, and having a tremendously physical Chattanooga and James Madison team back to back was not the best matchup for us.”
Keeler begins his fourth season at Sam Houston.
“We have the best location in America,” Keeler said. “We’re on the fringe of east Texas, Houston right down the road, Dallas 2½ hours away, you can get to Austin in three (hours). You’re not going to find better high school football in the country in a three-hour radius.”
Last year, Central Arkansas (8-1) and Southeastern Louisiana (7-2) finished second and third in the conference, respectively, with the Bears’ only league loss coming to Sam Houston. Central Arkansas leads with 12 selections on the all-conference preseason teams. Sam Houston has 11 players receiving preseason all-conference recognition.
“We have a lot to be excited about,” Central Arkansas coach Steve Campbell said. “We have a good number of players to build on.”
McNeese State returns the 2016 SLC newcomer of the year, junior quarterback James Tabary.
Houston Baptist, picked to finish ninth, has made strides over its first three full seasons after coach Vic Shealy started the program. Senior-laden Huskies
HBU has a class of nearly 40 seniors coming off a four-win season, including three in the SLC.
“We have a big senior class that’s played a lot of games,” Shealy said. “Eight all-conference players (in 2016). We’ve developed players in our program. We’re trying to create a sense of urgency about continuing to improve at a pace that gives you a chance to compete for a conference championship. I’m excited where we are.”
The Huskies have to find a quarterback to replace Tony Dawson, but among that large senior class are three-year starting linebackers Garrett Dolan, who was second nationally with 12.3 tackles per game, and Cody Moncure.
Abilene Christian’s and University of the Incarnate Word’s transition to Division I is complete, and both are eligible for postseason and the championship. Lamar and ACU have new head coaches in Mike Schultz and Adam Dorrel, respectively.
ACU has a new stadium. Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium replaces 57-yearold Shotwell Stadium.