(Photo Credit: UAB Athletics)
Key Players Returning:
RB/KR Jermaine Brown Jr., WR Tejhaun Palmer, TE Bryce Damous, DE Michael Fairbanks II, DE Drew Tuazama, NT Fish McWilliams, CB/PR Mac McWilliams, LB Jackson Bratton, NB Keondre Swoopes, FS Damien Miller, SS Jaylen Key and PK Matt Quinn.
Key Players Departing:
QB Dylan Hopkins, RB DeWayne McBride, WR Trea Shropshire, OC Will Rykard, OG Quincy McGee, OG Matthew Trehern, OT Kadeem Telfort, OT Sidney Wells, LB Reynard Ellis, LB Kelle Sanders, LB Tyler Taylor, LB Noah Wilder, CB Devodric Bynum, CB/PR Starling Thomas V, FS Grayson Cash, SS Will Boler and PT Kyle Greenwell.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: WR Malachi Holt-Bennett (Indiana transfer), WR Dazalin Wrosham (Auburn transfer), OL Antavious Woody (FSU transfer), DL Emmanuel Waller (Birmingham, Alabama), EDGE Daniel Harris (Melbourne, Florida), WR Amare Thomas (Pinson, Alabama), DL Guerlens Milfort (Lakeland, Florida), LB Everett Roussaw (Ellenwood, Georgia), DL Connor Knight (Trussville, Alabama) and DL Michael Towner (Mobile, Alabama).
2022 Results:
G01 ALABAMA A&M W 59-0
G02 @ Liberty L 14-20
G03 GEORGIA SOUTHERN W 35-21
G04 @ Rice L 24-28
G05 MTSU W 41-14
G06 CHARLOTTE W 34-20
G07 @ Western Kentucky L 17-20
G08 @ FAU L 17-24
G09 UTSA L 38-44
G10 NORTH TEXAS W 41-21
G11 @ #6 LSU L 10-41
G12 @ Louisiana Tech W 37-27
BOWL vs. Miami (OH) W 24-20
Team Info:
2022 Record: 7-6 (5th in CUSA)
Home: 5-1
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 1-0
CUSA: 4-4
Non-CUSA: 3-2
Head Coach: Trent Dilfer
UAB: 1-0
Career: 1-0
Bowls: 1-0
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Jacob Zeno (58-102, 721 yards, 56.9%, 7.1 avg., 5 TD, 3 INT)
Rushing: Jermiane Brown Jr. (166 car., 948 yards, 5.7 avg., 8 TD)
Receiving: Tejhaun Palmer (30 rec., 479 yards, 16.0 avg., 2 TD)
TDs Scored: Jermaine Brown Jr. (8)
Sacks: Drew Tuazama (5)
Tackles: Jaylen Key (60)
Interceptions: Jaylen Key (3)
Pass Deflections: Mac McWilliams (10)
Tackles For Loss: Drew Tuazama (6)
Forced Fumbles: Damien Miller (3)
Kick Returns: Jermaine Brown Jr. (19 ret., 475 yards, 25.0 avg.,0 TD)
Punt Returns: Mac McWilliams (1 ret., 21 yards, 21.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Matthew Quinn (14-19 fg/fga., 74%, 45-45 xp/xpa., 87 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 4 Jacob Zeno (RS ST/TR)
RB: 1 Jermaine Brown Jr. (SR)
WR: 13 Malachi Holt-Bennett (JR/TR)
WR: 83 Tejhaun Palmer (RS SR/TR)
WR: 7 Samario Rudolph (RS SR)
TE: 48 Bryce Damous (RS SR/TR)
LT: 79 Trey Bedosky (RS JR)
LG: 55 Luke Jones (RS FR)
OC: 72 Brady Wilson (RS JR)
RG: 71 Quez Yates (RS JR/TR)
RT: 50 Will Parker (RS SO/TR)
KR: 1 Jermaine Brown Jr. (SR)
PK: 19 Matt Quinn (RS SR)
Projected Starting Defense
DE: 15 Drew Tuazama (RS SR/TR)
NT: 43 Tyrique Howard (SR/TR)
DE: 99 Fish McWilliams (RS SR)
LB: 93 Michael Fairbanks II (RS SR)
LB: 2 Jackson Bratton (RS JR/TR)
LB: 6 Reise Collier (SR/TR)
NB: 33 Colby Dempsey (RS JR)
CB: 5 Mac McWilliams (RS JR)
CB: 21 BJ Mayes (RS SO/TR)
FS: 00 Keondre Swoopes (SR)
SS: 26 Damon Miller (RS SR)
PR: 6 Dazalin Worsham (JR/TR)
PT: 98 Patrick Foley (RS SO/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: A
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/31 NORTH CAROLINA A&T AGGIES | First meeting between schools.
09/09 @ Georgia Southern Eagles | Last season’s 35-21 win was the first meeting between schools.
09/16 LOUISIANA RAGIN’ CAJUNS | UAB leads the series 4-3. The Blazers lost (20-24) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
09/23 @ Georgia Bulldogs | UAB trails the series 0-3. The Blazers lost (7-56) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
09/30 @ Tulane Green Wave | UAB leads the series 6-5. The Blazers won (28-21) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
10/07 USF BULLS | The series is tied 1-1. The Blazers lost (20-45) the last meeting between schools in 2004.
10/14 @ UTSA Roadrunners | UAB leads the series 4-3. The Blazers are 4-2 since restarting the series in 2017 and their last series win (21-13) was in 2020.
10/21 MEMPHIS TIGERS | UAB leads the series 10-5. The Blazers lost (9-46) the last meeting between schools in 2012.
11/04 FAU OWLS | UAB trails the series 3-6. The Blazers are 2-3 since 2013 and their last series win (31-14) was in 2021.
11/11 @ Navy Midshipmen | First meeting between schools.
11/18 TEMPLE OWLS | First meeting between schools.
11/25 @ North Texas Mean Green | UAB leads the series 6-1. The Blazers are 5-1 since restarting the series in 2014 and their only series loss (43-46) was in 2017.
Predictions:
Home: 5-1
Away: 0-6
Neutral: 0-0
AAC: 3-5
Non-AAC: 2-2
Overall: 5-7 (9th in AAC)
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