2021 Season Preview II: Returning Offense
After taking a look at the 2021 football schedule, On Cannon Green is going to take a look at what the Argos have returning for 2021 on offense.
I’ll take a look at what each position group has coming back and what will need to be replaced from the 2019 season.
Quarterback
Key Players Returning: RS Soph. Austin Reed (279 of 490 4084 yards 40 TD-11 INT 56.9% 8.3 Yards/Attempt)
Key Players Lost: JC Robles
New Additions: Brett Nezat (RS Fresh., Arkansas State), J Greene (Fresh., Mobile, AL)
UWF Returns 2019 starter and breakout star Austin Reed for his redshirt sophomore season. Reed has a chance to be one of the top players in all of Division II football, and a potential Harlon Hill Trophy (the D2 equivalent of the Heisman Trophy) candidate. Reed caught fire late in the season and was a major driver for the Argos’ championship run. They add transfer Brett Nezat, a 2018 Arkansas State signee, and true freshman J Greene from Mobile high school powerhouse St. Paul’s Episcopal. Reed is comfortably in the starter role going into camp.
Returning Production: 279 of 289 completions (96.5%) 490 of 509 attempts (96.3%) 4084 of 4213 yards (96.9%) 40 of 41 TD (97.6%)
Projected Depth Chart: RS Soph. Austin Reed, RS Fresh. Brett Nezat, RS Fresh. Corey Wilsher
Running Back
Key Returning Players: Senior Anthony Johnson Jr (155 attempts 636 yards 8 TD 4.1 YPC), RS Junior Jervon Newton (127 509 4 4.0), Soph. Shomari Mason (54 416 5 7.7)
Key Players Lost: None
New Additions: Jaquel Fells Jr. (Fresh., Birmingham, AL), Jabir Daughtry-Frye (Grad., Troy)
The top three running backs from 2019 all return for 2021. Bringing back a healthy First Team All Conference runner Shomari Mason along with steady three year contributor Anthony Johnson Jr., will give UWF an experienced and talented 1-2 punch. Jervon Newton is another solid contributor. This group hasn’t historically been asked to do a lot in Coach Shinnick’s offense, but this is a lot of experience and returning production and could be one of the strengths of a rebuilding offense.
Returning Production: 336 of 418 attempts (80.4%) 1561 of 1855 yards (84.2%) 17 of 22 TDs (77.3%)
Projected Depth Chart: Soph. Shomari Mason, Senior Anthony Johnson Jr., RS Junior Jervon Newton
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
Key Returning Players: RS Senior Rodney Coates (36 receptions 471 yards 5 TD), RS Senior Ka’Ron Ashley (26 429 6), RS Soph Kenneth Channelle (16 217 2)
Key Players Lost: Quentin Randolph, Tate Lehito, Kevin Grant
New Additions: Jack Goodrich (Fresh. Jacksonville, FL), Zac Offord (Fresh., Citra, FL), David Durden (Junior, Mercer)
The loss of two program stalwarts in Lehito and Randolph would be difficult for any team, but luckily the Argos return two highly experienced guys in Ashley (career 975 yards 12 TDs) and Coates (career 720 yards 9 TDs). UWF will be tasked with replacing 70% of their receptions from the 2019 team, and only return four players who recorded stats. RS Junior Evan Mitchell could be a benefactor of the corps overhaul, he lead the team in yards per catch (21) in 2019 and scored two TDs but only recorded four receptions. An experienced transfer from FCS Mercer David Durden could also be in line to pick up some of the slack, the Junior picked up 45 receptions 647 yards and 4 TDs in 2019, and made the All-SoCon team as a returner. This will also be a tall group, with Ashley, Coates, Durden, and Mitchell all measuring 6-2 or taller. It will be interesting to see who steps up inside with all the vertical threats on the outside.
Returning Production: 82 of 272 receptions (30.1%) 1201 of 4081 yards (29.4%) 15 of 41 TDs (36.6%)
Projected Depth Chart: RS Senior Ka’Ron Ashley, RS Senior Rodney Coates, Junior David Durden, RS Soph Kenneth Channelle, RS Junior Evan Mitchell
Offensive Line
Key Returning Players: Senior Guard Mike Dilla (15 starts of 15 appearances), RS Soph. Tackle Jacob Bruce (15 of 15), RS Junior Guard/Center Dalton Simpler (2 of 13)
Key Players Lost: Samuel Antoine, Joe Wintrick, Devin Gibson, Travion Clayton
New Additions: Zac Elam (Fresh., Clearwater, FL), Juac Angoi (RS Junior, Grambling), Parker Thomas (RS Soph., JUCO)
Another unit replacing a lot of it’s snaps from last season. The OL was held down for years by Samuel Antoine, Joe Wintrick, and Devin Gibson, all three of whom started both the 2017 and 2019 National Championship games at left tackle, left guard, and center respectively. But the Argos didn’t lose everyone, returning all 30 starts on the right side of the line in Dilla and Bruce, and key backup in 2019 Dalton Simpler who will likely compete for the starting center or guard positions. The other names who are likely to be competing for starting roles include RS Soph. Oake Stipe (5 appearances), RS Soph. Marshall Elam (3 appearances), Grambling Transfer Juac Angoi (13 career appearances), and JUCO RS Soph Parker Thomas (10 starts at Golden West CC in 2019).
Returning Production: 32 of 75 starts (42.7%), 52 of 133 appearances (39.1%)
Projected Top 5: Tackle RS Soph. Jacob Bruce, Guard Senior Mike Dilla, Guard/Center Dalton Simpler, Tackle RS Soph Oake Stipe, Tackle/Guard RS Junior Juac Angoi
