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 … Georgetown.
[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
Georgetown (1-10 IN 2017)
Patriot League (Georgetown was 7th in 2017)
COACH: Rob Sgarlata – 5th season (11-33)
2017 OFFENSE: 12.5 ppg. (120th in FCS)
2017 DEFENSE: 27.2 ppg. (71st in FCS)
SUM IT UP: It's hard to win games when you're as bad offensively as Georgetown was in 2017, but in fairness to the Hoyas, it's hard to be good at anything when you suffer as many injuries as they did. Either way, the Hoyas will try to rebound from a pretty rugged year by making some staffing changes. Rob Spence has been brought on as the new offensive coordinator — his resume includes a stint at Clemson from 2005-2008 in the same position. On defense, the Hoyas have some worthwhile pieces, including Patriot League first-teamer Khristian Tate, so stopping opposing teams will likely be the foundation of the team. If the offense can improve a bit, the Hoyas can make some progress toward their first winning season since 2011.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO: Georgetown wins four games, matching Sgarlata's best record as the head coach of the Hoyas. This feels like a growing season for Georgetown. The Hoyas will find some high points, and might even dig out a win on senior day, when they host Holy Cross during the last week of the regular season. But the season is also likely to feature some low points too, with a tough Patriot League schedule and back-to-back-to-back games against Ivy League schools. Brown could be vulnerable, as could Campbell and Marist. Capitalizing on winnable games during the front half of the schedule will be important, because October and November could be long months.
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BEST FCS PLAYER BY NUMBER: We count down, No. 99 through No. 1[divider]
TOP RETURNEE: DL Khristian Tate (First-Team All-Patriot, 13 TFL's).
THE NEXT FIVE: DB Blaise Brown (66 tackles, 2 INT's); WR Michael Dereus (Second-Team All-Patriot); LB Ahmad Wilson (First-Team All-Patriot as Special Teams Player); QB Gunther Johnson (Dual-Threat Arizona Transfer, started second half of 2017 season); OL Dominic Scarangella (16 starts).
TOP NEWCOMER: OL Josh Stevens (All-State Lineman in Florida in High School, Did Postgrad year at Deerfield Academy).
DID YOU KNOW?: Georgetown has more alumni working as diplomats for the US Foreign Service than any other university.
THE QUOTE: "After three practices I am extremely excited with our offense under the direction of our new coordinator, Coach Rob Spence. He is a detail-oriented teacher with an extensive knowledge base. It has been fun to watch the competition between our offense and defense." — Head Coach Rob Sgarlata, during the Spring Practice season.
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SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
THE HASHTAG: #HoyaSaxa
FOOTBALL TWITTER: @HoyasFB
Grab your tissues! #Hoyas senior Ty Williams, who suffered a spinal cord injury in September 2015, walks for the first time in 2.5 years at Georgetown's graduation on Saturday where he earned his degree in government. #HoyaSaxa #SISU pic.twitter.com/VbLjqJnBDN
— Georgetown Football (@HoyasFB) May 19, 2018
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LISTEN: HERO Sports' Brian McLaughlin talks FCS Football with Anthony Nachreiner on KGEZ
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