Johns Hopkins enters 2014 at number 24 in our rankings. Check out our Top 25 Season Preview for more on the top college teams to watch this fall. Can’t find your team in the Top 25? View our full rankings to see where every team stands.
Last Season: 10-1 (9-0) Centennial Conference
Johns Hopkins won their fifth-straight Centennial Conference title in 2013 and appeared in their third-straight D3 playoffs. They were the #19 scoring offense in D3, averaging 40.5 ppg (a school record), and the #10 total offense, gaining just over 500 yards per game (500.6 ypg, also a school record). Offensive lineman Armand Jenifer was named to the American Football Coaches Association All-American team for the second time – another Johns Hopkins first. Their season ended in the first round of the D3 playoffs at the hands of Wesley, 29-24.
Dearly Departed
Armand Jenifer OL – AFCA All-American
Robbie Matey QB – 217/299 (72.6%), 2,339 yards, 17 TDs, 5 INTs
JD Abbott RB – 95 carries, 473 yards, 12 TDs
Daniel Wodicka WR – 44 catches, 506 yards, 5 TDs
John Arena SS – 48 tackles, 9 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 2 INTs, 3 pass defenses, 1 FF
What to Watch For
New Line, New Man Behind It – Robey Matey had the third-highest completion percentage among D3 starting QBs last season (72.6%). Sure, he owes part of his success to his stellar offensive line and two-time AFCA All-American Armand Jenifer, but all five starters graduated this offseason. The quarterback situation is up in the air and the chances it turns out alright are not nearly as high as Matey’s 2013 completion percentage.
Expectations
The Centennial Conference posed little problem for the Blue Jays last season, and with so many returning starters there’s little reason to think it will pose a problem this time around. The losses of QB Robbie Matey and his the offensive line will hurt, and so will the losses of many of the depth-players in the WR corps, but the defense will bring back many of their most important pieces. The main reason to think the Blue Jays will make it six consecutive Centennial Conference titles is the weakness of the rest of the conference as a whole. Johns Hopkins might have lost a step this offseason, but they’re still two steps ahead of the competition. Conference title, early playoff loss – 2014 might be deja vu all over again.
