FCS 2019 PREVIEW: Big South Conference Seems More Balanced

HERO Sports welcomes you to "Three-a-Days" where we will preview every single one of the 126 FCS programs and all 13 conferences. Today, we present … the Big South Conference.

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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Big South Conference

(NOTE: Team-by-team previews in this conference are below)

NAMES TO KNOW

THE NFL PROSPECT: Dorian Walker, CB, Kennesaw State
This former Georgia Tech signee turned Owl has excellent speed for the cornerback position. He has six career interceptions coming into his senior season, one for Ga. Tech against Vanderbilt in 2016 and five in his two years at KSU.

TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Kenji Bahar, QB, Monmouth
Bahar threw for 2,626 yards and 20 touchdowns last year and enters 2019 needing only 185 passing yards to move into the Big South's all-time Top 10, and 2,042 this year to be one of only five conference QBs to ever throw for 8,000 in his career.

TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Bryson Armstrong, LB, Kennesaw State
Armstrong is a two-time First Team All Big South Conference selection, and he's only halfway through his career. He was the 2017 FCS Jerry Rice Award winner, given to the level's top freshman player. He has 189 career tackles and 13.5 career sacks.

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OUR TAKE

SUM IT UP: Over the past few years, there's been little doubt about who would come out on top of this league. Once Coastal Carolina and Liberty exited for FBS pastures, it was Charleston Southern's to lose first, then Kennesaw State slid to the top. Well, this year might get a little more interesting after a few years of "foregone conclusion Big South". Don't be surprised if some fresh faces help stir the 2019 Big South pot. Parity is a wonderful thing.

THE FAVORITE: Kennesaw State – Even with a lot of departures, it's hard to bet against this Atlanta-area school that has tasted nothing but success since cranking up in 2015. This program's culture is a winning one, and it executes as well as anyone. While the Owls may not be the national threat they've been the past season or two, they are clearly the class of the Big South.

THE THREATS: If you blink, Monmouth will pile points up on you. So as they say? Don't blink. The Hawks are loaded on offense, so they have to be considered a threat. And North Alabama will eventually be a power in this league. Will it be "2019 soon"? That remains to be seen, but we think UNA will be at least a factor in the Big South race this year.

THE DARKHORSE: Charleston Southern – There are still guys on this team (like J.D. Sosebee and Kameron Brown) who played roles in CSU's overtime game with North Dakota State back in 2016. The Bucs have proven they can win before, and there's an energy with new coach Autry Denson, the former Notre Dame superstar RB. The Bucs will be back at some point, but will it be as early as this year?

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