Coach likes Bethune-Cookman’s chances in wide-open MEAC
Bethune-Cookman coach Terry Sims thinks t he Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is wide open in 2018. And he believes the Wildcats have the talent to compete for their first league title since 2015.
“There is definitely a lot of parity in our league this year,” Sims said. “We look at ourselves as being one of the top teams in the conference.”
One of the reasons for optimism is Bethune’s defense. The Wildcats return six starters, including four along the defensive front seven. Defen- sive end Todney Evans, a former Atlantic High standout, had 34 tackles including 8.5 for losses, helping lead a group that allowed just 19.6 points a game against Football Championship Subdivision opponents.
Bethune went 7-4 in 2017, but two losses were at Miami and at Florida Atlantic. And the two FCS defeats were tight contests (26-24 at Howard and 24-20 at North Carolina A&T), showing that the Wildcats could make a run in the MEAC if their defense puts the team in position to win games.
“We have a number of guys that are returning on the defensive line and line- backer,” Sims said. “We look to be salty up there.”
The Wildcats have plenty of questions on offense, where they return just two starters. Both are among the MEAC’s best: 339-pound right tackle Dwayne Brown is a first-team all-conference pick and receiver Keavon Mitchell caught 42 passes for 457 yards in 2017. Mitchell is just 5-foot-9 but uses his speed to separate from corners.
“He has deceptive speed,” Sims said. “A lot of people see him on film and they say, ‘He’s fast but he’s not that fast.’ He works harder than any kid that I’ve been around. He gets open because he works at it.”
Bethune had an open quarterback competition in the preseason and Sims is deciding between seniors Akevious Williams and Jabari Dunham while also evaluating West Virginia transfer David Isreal, a 247Sports three-star prospect.
The Wildcats play four televised games: the opener at Tennessee State on Saturday (ESPN+), Howard on Sept. 22 at Indianapolis (ESPN+), North Carolina Central on Nov. 10 (ESPN+) and Florida A&M on Nov. 17 in Orlando (ESPNU). Bethune also travels to FAU on Sept. 15.