(Photo Credit: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
RB DeWayne McBride, WR Trea Shropshire, OC Andrew Smith, OG Jakoby Jones, OG Matthew Trehern, OT Samario Rudolph, OT Sidney Wells, DE Antonio Moultrie, DE Tyree Turner, LB Nikia Eason, LB Tyler Taylor, LB Noah Wilder, LB Alex Wright, CB Devodric Bynum, CB T.D. Marshall, NB Kristopher Moll, FS Will Boler, SS Damon Miller, PK Matt Quinn, and PT Kyle Greenwell.
Key Players Departing:
RB Spencer Brown, WR Myron Mitchell, WR Austin Watkins, LB Jordan Smith, and CB Brontae Harris.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: WR T.J. Jones (Penn State transfer), RB Lee Witherspoon (Mississippi State transfer), LB Jalen Mayala (Indiana transfer), CB Tim Burns (Miami, Florida), OG Eli Richey (Greensboro, Alabama), LB Charlie Benton (West Virginia transfer), DT Boaz Saint-Vil (FT. Lauderdale, Florida), WR Fred Farrier (Frankfort, Kentucky), WR Jordan Palmer (Alpharetta, Georgia), and LB Kybo Jamerson (Longview, Texas).
2020 Results:
G01 CENTRAL ARKANSAS W 45-35
G02 at Miami, FL L 14-31
G03 at South Alabama W 42-10
G04 UTSA W 21-13
G05 WESTERN KENTUCKY W 37-14
G06 LOUISIANA L 20-24
G07 at Louisiana Tech L | 2OT 34-37
G08 at Rice W 21-16
CUSA at Marshall W 22-13
Team Info:
2020 Record: 6-3 (CUSA Champions)
Home: 3-1
Away: 3-2
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 3-1
Non-CUSA: 3-2
Head Coach: Bill Clark
UAB: 40-22
Career: 51-26
Bowls: 1-2
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Bryson Lucero (79-146, 969 yards, 54.1%, 6.6 avg., 7 TD, 8 INT)
Rushing: DeWayne McBride (47 car., 439 yards, 9.3 avg., 4 TD)
Receiving: Hayden Pittman (19 rec., 227 yards, 11.9 avg., 1 TD)
TDs Scored: DeWayne McBride/Gerrit Prince (4)
Sacks: Nikia Eason (3.5)
Tackles: Kristopher Moll (59)
Interceptions: Grayson Cash (2)
Pass Deflections: T.D. Marshall/Damon Miller (5)
Tackles For Loss: Tyree Turner (5.5)
Forced Fumbles: 4 Tied (1)
Kick Returns: Jermaine Brown (6 ret., 153 yards, 25.5 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: Matthew Quinn (11-12 fg/fga., 92%, 31-32 xp/xpa., 64 pts.)
Punting: Kyle Greenwell (46 punts, 1958 yards, 42.6 avg., 15 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 17 Tyler Johnston (RS SR)
RB: 22 DeWayne McBride (SO)
WR: 11 Trea Shropshire (SR/TR)
WR: 6 Ryan Davis (RS SO)
WR: 7 Samario Rudolph (RS SO)
TE: 10 Hayden Pittman (RS SR)
LT: 53 Colby Ragland (RS SR/TR)
LG: 51 Jakoby Jones (SR/TR)
OC: 55 Andrew Smith (RS SR/TR)
RG: 61 Matthew Trehern (RS SR/TR)
RT: 62 Sidney Wells (SR/TR)
KR: 1 Jermaine Brown (JR)
PK: 19 Matt Quinn (RS SO)
Projected Starting Defense
DE: 10 Tyree Turner (GR/TR)
NT: 99 Fish McWilliams (RS JR)
DE: 44 Antonio Moultrie (RS SR/TR)
LB: 1 Justin Thomas (RS SR/TR)
LB: 24 Deshaun Oliver (RS JR)
LB: 50 Noah Wilder (RS SR/TR)
NB: 6 Kristopher Moll (SR)
CB: 20 Devodric Bynum (RS SR/TR)
CB: 8 T.D. Marshall (RS SR/TR)
FS: 21 Will Boler (RS SR)
SS: 26 Damon Miller (JR)
PR: 4 Starling Thomas (RS JR)
PT: 98 Kyle Greenwell (SR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: B
Kick Returners: B
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: A
Punters: B
Schedule:
09/01 vs. Jacksonville State Gamecocks | UAB leads the series 3-2. The Blazers won (35-28) the last meeting between schools in 2005.
09/11 at Georgia Bulldogs | UAB trails the series 0-2. The Blazers lost (0-34) the last meeting between schools in 2006.
09/18 at North Texas Mean Green | UAB leads the series 4-1. The Blazers are 3-1 since renewing the series in 2014, and they won (26-21) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
09/25 at Tulane Green Wave | The series is tied 5-5. The Blazers are 1-2 since 2011, and they won (31-24) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
10/02 LIBERTY FLAMES | First meeting between schools.
10/09 FLORIDA ATLANTIC OWLS | UAB trails the series 2-5. The Blazers are 1-3 since 2011, and they lost (6-49) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
10/16 at Southern Miss Golden Eagles | UAB trails the series 7-11. The Blazers are 5-2 since 2011, and they lost (2-37) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
10/23 RICE OWLS | UAB leads the series 6-3. The Blazers are 4-1 since renewing the series in 2013, and their last series loss (34-37 OT) was in 2013.
10/06 LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS | UAB trails the series 3-6. The Blazers are 3-2 since renewing the series in 2014, and their last series win (20-14) was in 2019.
11/13 at Marshall Thundering Herd | UAB trails the series 3-8. The Blazers are 2-3 since 2011, and their last series loss (18-23) was in 2014.
11/20 at UTSA Roadrunners | UAB leads the series 4-1. The Blazers are 4-0 since renewing the series in 2017, and their only series loss (31-52) was at the inaugural meeting in 2013.
11/27 UTEP MINERS | UAB leads the series 6-1. The Blazers are 3-0 since renewing the series in 2017, and their only series loss (17-36) was in 2006.
Predictions:
Home: 4-2
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 4-4
Non-CUSA: 1-3
Overall: 5-7 (4th in CUSA West)
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