The countdown to the 2018 college football season is on. Four FCS teams are in action Aug. 25 as Duquesne takes on UMass, Prairie View faces Rice and North Carolina A&T and Jacksonville State square off in ESPN’s FCS Kickoff.
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HERO Sports is going to count down each day by highlighting the best player in FCS football who wears the jersey number of the number of days to kickoff. You can find the running list of top players here.
*Note: Jersey numbers are from the 2017 season.
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66: Mitchell Watanabe, senior offensive lineman – Sam Houston State
If you've been reading our stuff, you already know we like Mitchell Watanabe, since we listed him as one of our First-Team All-American offensive linemen earlier this month. Given his status on that list, it should come as no surprise that he's our pick for the best No. 66 in FCS Football.
Watanabe saw his first significant playing time in 2016, when he earned eight starts as the team's right tackle. While he did miss some time in the middle of the season thanks a leg injury, he solidified himself as a reliable force for the Bearkats at the end of the offensive line.
Last year, just as Watanabe started gaining some hype as a premiere Southland lineman, the Bearkats moved him to left tackle. Sam Houston thrived up front, giving up just 1.14 sacks per game despite dropping back to pass at a higher rate than most other FCS teams.
At the end of the season, Watanabe helped guide Sam Houston's offense to the FCS semifinals for the third time in four years. For his efforts, he was named first-team All-Southland.
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FCS Kickoff Countdown: The Best Player in FCS Who Wears Each Number, 1-99
CFB Countdown: The Best Player in FBS Football, 1-99
