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 … Bethune-Cookman.
[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
BETHUNE-COOKMAN (7-4 IN 2017)
The MEAC (BCU was 3rd in 2017)
COACH: Terry Sims – 4th year (18-12 record)
2017 OFFENSE: 20.7 ppg. (86th in FCS)
2017 DEFENSE: 23.9 ppg. (43rd in FCS)
SUM IT UP: BCU gave up 263 points last year, but keep in mind 86 of them came in FBS losses — the Wildcats gave up fewer than 20 points per game against FCS competition, including only 24 to the HBCU National Champions at North Carolina A&T in a four-point loss on the road. While there are many new faces at BCU, the culture is strong and the Wildcats were only six points away from being 9-0 against FCS competition. This is a good team and one can expect much of the same — and it was 5-0 at home last year, and has N.C. A&T in Daytona Beach this fall. Keep an eye on the 'Cats.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO: In this year's schedule, BCU replaces Miami (Fla.) with Tennessee State in the John Merritt Classic in week one. With N.C. A&T in Daytona Beach, that's certainly a game to keep an eye on, too. Howard may be loaded, but it's a neutral site game. Honestly, Cookman looks like it is around a 7-win or better type program once again if it can find consistent quarterback play — as there is a lot of good talent on defense and the transfers look like instant contributors.
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BEST FCS PLAYER BY NUMBER: We count down, No. 99 through No. 1[divider]
TOP RETURNEE: OL Dwayne Brown (1st Team All MEAC)
THE NEXT BEST: DL Todney Evans (2nd team All MEAC), PK Uriel Hernandez (1st team All MEAC); LB Devin James (53 tackles, 5.5 TFLs); LB Marquis Hendrix (leading returning tackler – 68 tackles, 6.5 TFLs); DB Joseph Johnson (42 tackles, 4 TFLs).
TOP NEWCOMER: DB Henry Miller (6-foot-3 Pittsburgh transfer).
DID YOU KNOW?: Former BCU standout Larry Little is a member of the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame.
THE QUOTE: "I saw a lot of good things out there today. I think both quarterbacks did some really good things for us. Akevious [Williams] may have stepped ahead a little bit, but Jabari [Dunham] looked good for us in what we expect from him as well. "I think some defensive guys like [Kennedy] Ndukwe and Deonte Mayo played with heart, flew around and provided some energy out there today. I thought the energy was good on all sides of the ball. I thought the play was good. And I think it was a really good way to end spring practices. I am excited about what we were able to accomplish this spring." — BCU head coach Terry Sims, following spring ball
Reunited: Larry Brihm Jr and Phillip Norman after their CFL debuts with Calgary and BC pic.twitter.com/bK23kkezv2
— BCU Football (@BCUGridiron) June 2, 2018
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FCS QB TRANSFERS: Who Tops The List?
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PREVIEWING THE REST OF THE MEAC
Beth.-Cookman | Delaware St. | Florida A&M
Howard | Morgan St. | Norfolk St.
N.C. A&T | N.C. Central | Savannah St. | S.C. State
