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 … Morehead State.
[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
MOREHEAD STATE (4-7 IN 2017)
Pioneer Football League (MSU was 9th in 2017)
COACH: Rob Tenyer – 6th year (22-35 record)
2017 OFFENSE: 24.2 ppg. (T61st in FCS)
2017 DEFENSE: 40.7 ppg. (119th in FCS)
SUM IT UP: In 2015, the Eagles went 7-4 overall and 6-2 in the PFL. The last two seasons, they took a step backward and went 4-7 and 3-5. However, things look to be heading back in the right direction in 2018 with a solid batch of 16 returning starters. The defense simply wasn't there last season. But when you have nine of your top 11 tacklers coming back, there's sure to be an improvement. The Eagles are going to be in a lot more games this season with a better defense. And the offense can take it from there with all the main weapons back. Top rusher Logan Holbrook, starting quarterback Lawson Page and his near 1,000-yard receiver Jarin Higginbotham are all back.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO: The Eagles move up the PFL standings a few spots. Nothing is holding this team back from being a team in the top half of this conference. If the defense tightens up and the offensive weapons play to their capability, a 2015-like season isn't out of the question.
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BEST FCS PLAYER BY NUMBER: We count down, No. 99 through No. 1[divider]
TOP RETURNEE: WR Jarin Higginbotham (All-PFL Second Team)
THE NEXT BEST: QB Lawson Page (2,682 yards passing, 21 TDs, 11 INT.); DB Chauncey Johns (All-PFL Honorable Mention); WR Landon Hurst (41 rec. 489 yards, 4 TDs); RB Logan Holbrook (433 yards rushing, 5 TDs ); S Sayyid Kanu (top returning tackler, 63 total)
DID YOU KNOW?: Phil Simms, a former New York Giants Super Bowl MVP quarterback and currently an analyst on CBS, played at Morehead State.
THE QUOTE: "The biggest growth between the beginning of spring and now is just depth. We have a lot of guys who are playing now at a high enough level for us to be competitive, but now we have to move into what we call our third quarter and that's our summer program. We'll have about 60 guys here in the summer working out and getting better for fall camp." — Head Coach Rob Tenyer said after spring ball
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SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
THE HASHTAG: #OneTownOneTeam
FOOTBALL TWITTER: @MSUEaglesFB
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NEXT: The Best Traditions in the FCS
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