North Texas head coach Dan McCarney went 5-7 last season in his first year with the program. They went 4-4 in the Sun Belt, but were able to win just one of their non-conference games (Indiana) from a schedule that featured very good teams in Alabama, Tulsa and Houston.
North Texas is once again flying under the radar and that's just where McCarney wants it. He has a reputation of getting the most out of his players and he's once again doing that here in Denton. The Mean Green has 14 starters returning from both sides of the ball. You can follow the odds and find picks on North Texas and many other teams this season with Sports Free Picks.
Offense
The offense performed well enough last season, averaging 24.8 points and 342 total yards/game. They have nine starters returning and almost all of them are key players who had contributions last year. The Mean Green should have one of the best offenses in the entire conference in 2012.
Quarterback Derek Thompson returns for North Texas this season. The junior threw for 1,759 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions last season, completing 57.7 percent of his throws. He also managed three touchdowns and 113 yards with his legs.
North Texas take a huge hit in the running game, losing all-time leading rusher Lance Dunbar (4,224 career yards). Stepping into the backfield will be a combination of junior Bradin Byrd and red-shirt freshman Antoinne Jimmerson.
The receiving corps will be strong as they return their top three pass-catchers from last season. They are junior WR Brelan Chancellor, senior WR Chris Bynes and senior WR Ivan Delgado. They also welcome back senior TE Andrew Power as well.
The offensive line loses first-team All-Sun Belt right tackle Matt Tomlinson, but they do return four starters and 67 career starts. Those starters are senior center Aaron Fortenberry, sophomores right guard Cyril Lemon, left guard Mason Y'Barbo and left tackle Antonio Johnson. McCarney also add talented Arkansas transfer Cam Feldt to take Tomlinson's place on the right end of the line. That gives them four talented sophomores and a bright future ahead.
Defense
North Texas allowed 30.7 points per game last year and 429 total yards per game. Their numbers were actually much better in conference play, but blowout losses to Alabama, Houston and Tulsa helped to skew those numbers upward quite a bit. The Mean Green will return five starters from last season's defensive unit.
The defensive line loses second-team All-Sun Belt end Brandon Akpunku, but brings back seven of its top eight up front. This unit will be the strength of the defense with three starters back in senior tackle Tevinn Cantly, junior tackle Ryan Boutwell and junior defensive end Brandon McCoy. Senior end K.C. Obi will take Akpunku's place in the lineup.
The Mean Green linebackers looks strong as well as they return their #1, #5 and #10 tacklers. Junior middle linebacker Zachary Orr and sophomore outside linebacker Michael Stojkovic lead the way. Senior OLB Jeremy7 Phillips started the first two games before a devastating knee injury prematurely ended his 2011 campaign. He returns healthy, giving the Mean Green virtually three starters back at linebacker.
Their secondary looks to be the weakest link on the entire team. They lose four starters, including third-team All-Sun Belt corner Royce Hill. Seven of the top eight from last year's two-deep are gone as well, and only 48 tackles from last year return in the defensive backfield. Oklahoma transfer Marcus Trice is expected to start right away at strong safety and he will be the presumed leader of the secondary.
Sun Belt Prediction - 8th Place
It will be very intriguing to see where the Mean Green is headed in 2012. Right now they are projected this low because of all the pieces they lose, but coach McCarney usually exceeds expectations, so the new season could get interesting. Their tough games will come at home against the likes of Troy, Louisiana and Arkansas State, and there could be an upset or two in there. Most of their winnable games will be on the road against FAU, ULM, WKU and Middle Tennessee. If they can split those road games, then another 4-4 Sun Belt campaign is possible.
North Texas is once again flying under the radar and that's just where McCarney wants it. He has a reputation of getting the most out of his players and he's once again doing that here in Denton. The Mean Green has 14 starters returning from both sides of the ball. You can follow the odds and find picks on North Texas and many other teams this season with Sports Free Picks.
Offense
The offense performed well enough last season, averaging 24.8 points and 342 total yards/game. They have nine starters returning and almost all of them are key players who had contributions last year. The Mean Green should have one of the best offenses in the entire conference in 2012.
Quarterback Derek Thompson returns for North Texas this season. The junior threw for 1,759 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions last season, completing 57.7 percent of his throws. He also managed three touchdowns and 113 yards with his legs.
North Texas take a huge hit in the running game, losing all-time leading rusher Lance Dunbar (4,224 career yards). Stepping into the backfield will be a combination of junior Bradin Byrd and red-shirt freshman Antoinne Jimmerson.
The receiving corps will be strong as they return their top three pass-catchers from last season. They are junior WR Brelan Chancellor, senior WR Chris Bynes and senior WR Ivan Delgado. They also welcome back senior TE Andrew Power as well.
The offensive line loses first-team All-Sun Belt right tackle Matt Tomlinson, but they do return four starters and 67 career starts. Those starters are senior center Aaron Fortenberry, sophomores right guard Cyril Lemon, left guard Mason Y'Barbo and left tackle Antonio Johnson. McCarney also add talented Arkansas transfer Cam Feldt to take Tomlinson's place on the right end of the line. That gives them four talented sophomores and a bright future ahead.
Defense
North Texas allowed 30.7 points per game last year and 429 total yards per game. Their numbers were actually much better in conference play, but blowout losses to Alabama, Houston and Tulsa helped to skew those numbers upward quite a bit. The Mean Green will return five starters from last season's defensive unit.
The defensive line loses second-team All-Sun Belt end Brandon Akpunku, but brings back seven of its top eight up front. This unit will be the strength of the defense with three starters back in senior tackle Tevinn Cantly, junior tackle Ryan Boutwell and junior defensive end Brandon McCoy. Senior end K.C. Obi will take Akpunku's place in the lineup.
The Mean Green linebackers looks strong as well as they return their #1, #5 and #10 tacklers. Junior middle linebacker Zachary Orr and sophomore outside linebacker Michael Stojkovic lead the way. Senior OLB Jeremy7 Phillips started the first two games before a devastating knee injury prematurely ended his 2011 campaign. He returns healthy, giving the Mean Green virtually three starters back at linebacker.
Their secondary looks to be the weakest link on the entire team. They lose four starters, including third-team All-Sun Belt corner Royce Hill. Seven of the top eight from last year's two-deep are gone as well, and only 48 tackles from last year return in the defensive backfield. Oklahoma transfer Marcus Trice is expected to start right away at strong safety and he will be the presumed leader of the secondary.
Sun Belt Prediction - 8th Place
It will be very intriguing to see where the Mean Green is headed in 2012. Right now they are projected this low because of all the pieces they lose, but coach McCarney usually exceeds expectations, so the new season could get interesting. Their tough games will come at home against the likes of Troy, Louisiana and Arkansas State, and there could be an upset or two in there. Most of their winnable games will be on the road against FAU, ULM, WKU and Middle Tennessee. If they can split those road games, then another 4-4 Sun Belt campaign is possible.
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