(QB Jacob Zeno – 247Sports)
Key Players Returning:
QB Jacob Zeno, RB Lee Beebe Jr., WR Amare Thomas, TE Bryce Damous, OC Adam Leplowski, OC Brady Wilson, OG Quez Yates, OT Trey Bedosky, NT Kevin Penn, LB Desmond Little, LB Miachael Moore, LB Everrett Roussaw Jr., CB Colby Dempsey, FS Ray Thornton III, and PT Patrick Foley.
Key Players Departing:
RB/KR Jermaine Brown Jr., WR Tejhaun Palmer (Cardinals R6), WR Samario Rudolph, OG Luke Jones, OT Will Parker, DE Michael Fairbanks II, DE Drew Tuazama, NT Fish McWilliams, LB Jackson Bratton, LB Nikia Eason Jr., LB Damien Miller, CB BJ Mayes, CB/PR Mac McWilliams (UCF transfer), NB Keondre Swoopes, SS Ike Powell, and PK Matt Quinn.
(CB Adrian Maddox – Alabama State University Athletics)
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: CB Troy Jakubec (Youngstown State transfer), WR Joshua Jackson (New Orleans, Louisiana), DS Sirad Bryant (Georgia Tech transfer), OT Barry Walker (Cordele, Georgia), EDGE Eddy Toussom (Corsicana, Texas), CB Adrian Maddox (Alabama State transfer), WR Jamoi Amyes (Chattanooga transfer), RB Armoni Goodwin (LSU transfer), QB Adrian Posse (Miami, Florida), and DS Tylan McNichols (Decatur, Mississippi).
2023 Results:
G01 NORTH CAROLINA A&T W 35-6
G02 @ Georgia Southern L 35-49
G03 LOUISIANA L 21-41
G04 @ #1 Georgia L 21-49
G05 @ Tulane L 23-35
G06 SOUTH FLORIDA W 56-35
G07 @ UTSA L 20-41
G08 MEMPHIS L 21-45
G09 FAU W 45-42
G10 @ Navy L 6-31
G11 TEMPLE W 34-24
G12 @ North Texas L 42-45
Team Info:
2023 Record: 4-8 (9th in CUSA)
Home: 4-2
Away: 0-6
Neutral: 0-0
AAC: 3-5
Non-CUSA: 1-3
Head Coach: Trent Dilfer
UAB: 0-0
Career: 0-0
Bowls: 0-0
(DE Desmond Little – Icon Sportswire)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Jacob Zeno (279-379, 3126 yards, 73.6%, 8.2 avg., 20 TD, 9 INT)
Rushing: Lee Beebe Jr. (52 car., 360 yards, 6.9 avg., 4 TD)
Receiving: Amare Thomas (53 rec., 437 yards, 8.2 avg., 3 TD)
TDs Scored: Lee Beebe/Jacob Zeno (4)
Sacks: Desmond Little (5.5)
Tackles: Michael Moore (63)
Interceptions: Ricky Lee III (2)
Pass Deflections: Colby Dempsey (9)
Tackles For Loss: Desmond Little (7.5)
Forced Fumbles: Desmond Little/Michael Moore/James Smyre (1)
Kick Returns: Kameron Shanks (5 ret., 331 yards, 22.1 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: None
Punting: Patrick Foely (40 punts, 1715 yards, 42.9 avg., 9 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 4 Jacob Zeno (RS SR/TR)
RB: 2 Isaiah Jacobs (RS JR/TR)
WR: 1 Amare Thomas (SO)
WR: 0 Iverson Hooks (RS SO)
WR: 8 Kam Shanks (RS FR)
TE: 48 Bryce Damous (RS SR/TR)
LT: 66 Jordan Hall (RS FR)
LG: 70 JonDarius Morgan (RS JR/TR)
OC: 72 Brady Wilson (RS SR)
RG: 71 Quez Yates (RS SR/TR)
RT: 79 Trey Bedosky (RS SR)
KR: 8 Kam Shanks (RS FR)
PK: 39 Jonah Delange (SO)
Projected Starting Defense
DE: 9 Emmanuel Waller (SO)
NT: 92 Kevin Penn (RS SR)
DE: 11 LeDarrius Cox (RS SR/TR)
LB: 18 Kendall Johnson (SR/TR)
LB: 6 Everett Roussaw Jr. (SO)
LB: 15 Michael Moore (RS SR/TR)
LB: 0 OC Brothers (RS SR/TR)
CB: 14 Trey Miles (RS SO)
CB: 1 Colby Dempsey (RS SR)
FS: 21 Chris Bracy (SO)
SS: 3 Ray Thornton III (RS SR/TR)
PR: 8 Kam Shanks (RS FR)
PT: 39 Jonah Delange (SO)
(WR Amare Thomas – UAB Athletics Media Relations)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: B
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: C
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/31 ALABAMA STATE HORNETS | The series is tied 2-2. The Blazers won (24-19) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
09/07 @ ULM Warhawks | The series is tied 1-1. The Blazers won (47-0) the last meeting between schools in 1999.
09/14 @ Arkansas Razorbacks | UAB lost (17-45) the only prior meeting between schools in 2014.
09/28 NAVY MIDSHIPMEN | Last season’s 6-31 loss was the first meeting between schools.
10/05 TULANE GREEN WAVE | UAB leads the series 6-5. The Blazers lost (23-35) last season’s meeting between schools, and they won (28-21) the prior meeting in 2021.
10/12 @ Army Black Knights | First meeting between schools.
10/19 @ USF Bulls | Last season’s 56-35 win was the first meeting between schools.
11/02 TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE | UAB trails the series 0-4. The Blazers lost (42-49) the last meeting between schools in 2012.
11/09 UCONN HUSKIES | First meeting between schools.
11/16 @ Memphis Tigers | UAB leads the series 10-6. The Blazers lost (21-45) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series win (41-35) dates back to 2011.
11/23 RICE OWLS | UAB leads the series 6-5. The Blazers lost (24-28) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/30 @ Charlotte 49ers | UAB leads the series 2-1. The Blazers won (34-20) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
Predictions:
Home: 4-2
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
AAC: 3-5
Non-AAC: 3-1
Overall: 6-6 (10th in AAC)
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