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 … Stetson.
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STETSON (2-9 IN 2017)
Pioneer Football League (Stetson was 10th in 2017)
COACH: Roger Hughes – 6th year (16-40 record)
2017 OFFENSE: 15.1 ppg. (111th in FCS)
2017 DEFENSE: 30.6 ppg. (97th in FCS)
SUM IT UP: It's been a challenging process to rebuild the Stetson football program. The first football team was fielded in 1901 but got dropped in 1956. Fifty-seven years later, the program was reinstated in 2013. Hughes has been the head man this whole time as he tries to bring in the talent for the Hatters to move up the PFL standings.
Look for 2018 to be that big jump this team is looking for. Fifteen starters return with basically the entire offense back. While defensive back JJ Henderson leads the defense, the offense is loaded with experience. Donald Parham is set for a huge season. The 6-foot-7 tight end caught 58 passes for 817 yards and a touchdown last year.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO: The Hatters move up a few spots in the conference standings. There are concerns with the number of defensive players gone. Only two of the top six tacklers are back. But when you have every starter back on offense, you should take that next step forward as a program.
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BEST FCS PLAYER BY NUMBER: We count down, No. 99 through No. 1[divider]
TOP RETURNEE: DB JJ Henderson (Preseason All-PFL)
THE NEXT BEST: TE Donald Parham (817 yards, 1 TD); WR Justin Jordan (481 yards, 4 TDs); RB Bryce Blackmon (358 yards, 3 TDs); QB Colin McGovern (2,331 yards, 8 TDs, 13 INT.); LB Colby Duncan (Top returning tackler, 77 total)
DID YOU KNOW?: After a 57-year hiatus, Stetson reinstated its football program after playing from 1901-1956.
THE QUOTE: "I thought defensively we came out and were well prepared and played with a lot of energy. And offensively we didn't. We didn't react to the extra speed and the pressure of having people actually finish blocks and finish blitzes. Kicking game did improve, though. Rome wasn't built in a day and we have a lot of work to do."– Head Coach Roger Hughes said after Day 3 of preseason camp
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SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
THE HASHTAG: #SUnited
FOOTBALL TWITTER: @StetsonFootball
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NEXT: The Best Traditions in the FCS
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