HERO Sports welcomes you to "Two-a-Days", where we will preview every single one of the 125 FCS programs, with two being released each day from June 18 to August 18 (with the final day having three in one day). Today we give you … Alabama A&M.
[divider]MORE: Compare Any Two FCS Players or Any Two FCS Teams[divider]
FCS TEAM BY TEAM PREVIEW: The countdown
FCS PRESEASON TOP 25: The poll
FCS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA: The teams
ALABAMA A&M (4-7 IN 2017)
The SWAC (AAMU was 3rd in East Div. in 2017)
COACH: Connell Maynor – 1st year (0-0)
2017 OFFENSE: 17.5 ppg. (102nd in FCS)
2017 DEFENSE: 26.5 ppg. (67th in FCS)
SUM IT UP: Maynor, who played quarterback in college and later in the Arena League, won a national championship at Winston-Salem State in the D-II ranks in 2012. Alabama A&M hasn't had a winning season since going 7-4 in 2012, so maybe that's a sign? Maynor made the Rams a national powerhouse and then had two winning seasons in four years at Hampton. His track record is a strong one and should give fans hope for improvement the next few years. The defense last year was stout against SWAC competition (it gave up 38, 42 and 45 in three FBS losses). That should be a starting point as the Bulldogs return some very good players on defense. The offense was a mess at times because of youth and injuries, but many key players are back. This year, instead of three of them, the Bulldogs play only one FBS team (Cincinnati) and Miles College and new FCS team North Alabama replace the other two FBS games.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO: With proven winner Maynor coming on board and the schedule not being as brutal coming in … and all of that coupled with a nice contingent returning, the 2018 goal should be breaking that five-season streak of losing seasons. And that could happen. Don't be stunned by 6 wins here.
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BEST FCS PLAYER BY NUMBER: We count down, No. 99 through No. 1[divider]
TOP RETURNEE: DL Vernon Moland (1st team All SWAC)
THE NEXT FIVE: DB Dylan Hamilton (2nd team All SWAC); QB Aqueel Glass (1,192 yards passing); RB Jordan Bentley (leading rusher); DL Yurik Bethune (12 TFL, 46 tackles); WR Isaiah Bailey (leading receiver).
TOP NEWCOMER: WR Tyese Chambers (2-star recruit).
DID YOU KNOW?: Alabama A&M was founded by William Hooper Councill, a former slave, who started the school in 1875.
THE QUOTE: "We've gotten a lot done in a short period of time. We've got some talent. We just don't have enough. We've got to continue to add players to have the kind of depth that we need to be successful." — Head Coach Connell Maynor said in a statement during spring ball.
First college football program in the door this morning at Brunswick High!!! Thank you Coach Huff and Alabama A&M for coming by Brunswick High this morning!!! #piratefootball #PirateNation #912 #AlabamaA&M #Bulldogs #HAILtheSAIL #SailsUp pic.twitter.com/B6GOsu0HWY
— Garrett Grady (@CoachGGrady) May 4, 2018
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PREVIEWS: The Rest Of The SWAC
Alabama A&M | Alabama State | Alcorn State
Arkansas Pine-Bluff | Grambling | Jackson State
Miss. Valley State | Prairie View A&M | Southern U. | Texas Southern
