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 … Towson.
[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
Towson (5-6 IN 2017)
Colonial Athletic Association (Towson was T-7th in 2017)
COACH: Rob Ambrose – 10th season (52-54)
2017 OFFENSE: 17.5 ppg (103rd in FCS)
2017 DEFENSE: 23.9 ppg (43rd in FCS)
SUM IT UP: More than any other team, Towson is the poster child for the depth of the CAA — a decent team that's been forced into a spoiler role because of the incredible number of good teams above it. The Tigers routinely field a strong offensive line and a capable defense, and there's no real reason to think that will be any different in 2018. The most intriguing aspect of the season will be the ongoing quarterback battle, which includes incumbent starter Ryan Stover, JuCo Transfer Daniel Rose and Joe Flacco's younger brother Tom. Whoever the starter is, Towson will need a highly efficient, mistake-free hand under center if it wants to win seven games in the CAA. The Tigers' talent is underrated, but there are plenty of other talented teams in this conference.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO: A 7-4 record feels like the absolute ceiling for Towson this season, and that's assuming a lot of breaks. The Tigers should be favored in at least four games this season — Morgan State, Citadel, William & Mary and Maine. They stand a good chance to pick up a road win at Albany, too. The outcome of key conference games with Villanova, Stony Brook and Elon will swing the season one way or the other for Towson. A final record somewhere between 5-6 and 6-5 feels most likely.
[divider]HERO SPORTS FCS PODCAST: Subscribe here
BEST FCS PLAYER BY NUMBER: We count down, No. 99 through No. 1[divider]
TOP RETURNEE: OL Matt Kauffman (29 Career Starts).
THE NEXT FIVE: DB Monty Fenner (72 Tackles, 4 PBU's, 3 INT's in '17); LB Diondre Wallace (24 Career Starts, Team-Leading 90 Tackles in '17); QB Ryan Stover (Threw for 2,001 Yards as a Redshirt Freshman in '17); LB Robert Heyward (7.5 TFL's in '17); WR Jabari Greenwood (Kentucky Transfer, 616 Receiving Yards in '17).
TOP NEWCOMER: LB Chizurum Umunakwe (Team Offensive MVP during Post-grad year at Trinity Pawling).
DID YOU KNOW?: Towson was known as Towson State until 1997, when it dropped the "State" designation from its name. However, EA's Madden franchise still refers to the school as Towson State.
THE QUOTE: "Picking us 10th is kind of dumb. But go ahead, we don’t care. We’re 10th, so we’re no good. Remember that, when you show up [to play Towson]." -Head Coach Rob Ambrose to the Baltimore Sun, on Towson's position in the CAA's Preseason Poll
[divider]
SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
THE HASHTAG: #JoinTheRoar
FOOTBALL TWITTER: @Towson_FB
STORY: “Joe's a little bit nerdier… not nerdy but I'm probably a little bit more outgoing than Joe.” The next QB Flacco is in #Baltimore. Really had fun at #Towson today. @WMAR2News @TowsonTigers @Towson_FB @JoeFlacco https://t.co/BXWsBh5OlG
— Shawn Stepner (@StepnerWMAR) August 10, 2018
[divider]
#LAYCOCKLEGACY: William & Mary Coach Jimmye Laycock Will Retire After 39th Season
MORE CAA PREVIEWS: Albany | Delaware | Elon | James Madison | Maine | New Hampshire | Rhode Island | Richmond | Stony Brook
