HERO Sports welcomes you to "Three-a-Days", where we will preview every single one of the 126 FCS programs, with three teams being released each day from June 17 to July 28. Then, we'll preview all 13 conferences from August 1-4. Today, we present … Bethune-Cookman.
We'll leave no stone left unturned when it comes to giving the FCS diehards all they could ask for this offseason. Learn about every program in the country, with HERO Sports.
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- FCS Home
- FCS Preview Schedule – Team Links
- The HERO Sports Preseason Top 25 Poll
- Preseason All-American Teams
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BETHUNE-COOKMAN (7-5 IN 2018)
The MEAC (BCU was Tied for 2nd in 2018)
COACH: Terry Sims – At School: 5th year (27-17 record), Overall: Same
LAST FCS POSTSEASON: 2013 First Round (lost to Coastal Carolina)
2018 OFFENSE: 29.9 ppg. (42nd in FCS)
2018 DEFENSE: 30.4 ppg. (77th in FCS)
KEY GAME: Nov. 23 – vs. Florida A&M (in Orlando): The Florida Classic is a big-time tradition in the Sunshine State, but the game ramped up a bit last year as the Rattlers were contending for elite MEAC status, as was Cookman. That likely will be the case again this year. BCU has won this game several years in a row, but that won't take anything away from the Classic in November.
SUM IT UP: Bethune-Cookman really caught fire late last year, falling only twice after Sept. 29 — to Celebration Bowl champion North Carolina A&T and to Power Five Nebraska in a matchup that was added in during the season because the Cornhuskers lost a game to weather issues. In other words, the Wildcats were as good as just about anybody in the MEAC down the stretch. Graduation hurts a little bit, but the cupboard is hardly bare in Daytona Beach. Quarterback Akevious Williams is a true spark on offense, and there is serious depth at the position if needed (former West Virginia QB David Israel also threw for 801 yards and 4 TDs in five starts). Several key linemen are back and the receivers look good. This is a team that could score some points in 2018 and that shouldn't change.
What may be the big improvement is what happens on defense if this group congeals. Linebackers Devin James and Marquis Hendrix and rover Tydarius Peters are as good a nucleus as there is in the MEAC, and stud defensive lineman Marques Ford was a first-team all-conference selection last year. If the secondary can find its voice, this defense may cut its "points per game" average by 10 points.
OUR TAKE: There are some things to be stoked about, and there are some things BCU fans will want to keep an eye on. Having only four home games out of 12 scheduled is one problem, and MEAC road trips to Howard, North Carolina Central and North Carolina A&T are arguably the three toughest programs in the league aside from the Wildcats and Florida A&M. This BCU team should be pretty good, but its schedule won't feature many gimmes. 'Cats fans have to understand that if this program hits the .500 mark, it will have earned it — and anything beyond that is to be applauded.
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COUNTDOWN: The Best Player in FCS Who Wears Each Number, 1-99
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TOP RETURNEE: Sr./DL Marques Ford (1st Team All MEAC – 42. tackles, 8.5 sacks)
THE FOUNDATION: Sr./DB Trevor Merritt (2nd Team All MEAC; 4 INTs, 2 TDs); Sr./LB Marquis Hendrix (2nd Team All MEAC – 83 tackles, 9 TFLs); Sr./DB Tydarius Peters (3rd Team All MEAC, 4 INTs, 2 TDs – 68 tackles); Jr./OL L'Dre Barnes (3rd Team All MEAC); Jr./LB (17 career starts, team leading 84 tackles last year); Jr./LT Jamal Savage (23 starts in 2 seasons); Jr./WR Steffon Francois (405 receiving yards); Sr./QB Akevious Williams (6 starts in 2018, 1,435 passing yards, 12 TDs and 347 rushing yards and 8 TDs).
TOP NEWCOMER: Jr./LB Untareo Johnson (East Mississippi CC transfer had 113 tackles in 2 seasons and helped team to two national titles — had 3 INTs in the BCU spring game)
THE QUOTE: "Spring football gives you an opportunity to do a lot of things. A lot of guys who don’t get a lot of reps during the season get a lot more during spring. Also, a lot of players get to learn and get a feel for what the program has to offer." — Head Coach Terry Sims said during spring ball
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WERE WE RIGHT?: Last Year's Bethune-Cookman Preview
FCS 2020 NFL PROSPECTS: The List
BEST FCS TRADITIONS: The List
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PREVIEWS: The Rest Of The MEAC
Bethune-Cookman | Delaware State | Florida A&M
Howard | Morgan State | Norfolk State
No. Carolina A&T | No. Carolina Central | So. Carolina State
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