21 for ‘21: Most Important Argos 1-10
Wrapping up the countdown of the Top 21 Argos for the 2021 season. These are the 10 players we expect to make the biggest impact on the 2021 season.
#10 RS Senior Marcus Clayton, Cornerback
College offenses are evolving and with that change having a shut down Corner has become increasingly important, UWF is lucky to have two returning. Clayton, who doubles as UWF’s primary kick returner, is a pure cover guy with elite speed. While he didn’t record an INT in his 11 starts, he broke up a team high 9 passes including an D2 Championship record 4 against MSU, Mankato. The Buchholz High School grad also holds the Argos’ only kick off return for a touchdown in school history, taking one back 75 yards in the quarterfinal game in 2019.
#9 Junior Sharod Oliver, Cornerback
There isn’t much differentiation between the two starting Cornerbacks, that is why they occupy back to back spots on this list. Oliver started 12 games and appeared in 13 total during the title run in 2019, and tied for the team lead with 2 INTs that year. The South Florida native came to UWF from in-state juggernaut Miami Northwestern in the 2018 recruiting class and saw his first game action as a sophomore in ‘19.
#8 Soph. Shomari Mason, Running Back
2019 First Team All-Conference RS Soph. Shomari Mason who averaged 7.7 yards per carry before missing the last 5 games to injury. Mason, a true Soph. from North Fort Myers, makes up for size (listed 5-6 170 pounds) with big play potential. His change of pace style should ease the burden of a couple new Offensive Line starters. It will be interesting to see who gets the larger share of carries this fall, because Mason averaged 5.4 carries per game to Anthony Johnson Jr.’s 10.3, but we are giving the nod to Mason because of the home run ability he provides. If he is back fully healthy, and it sounds like he is full go, expect increased work load for the Sophomore in 2021.
#7 RS Senior Shea Campbell, Middle Linebacker
The only guy to make the top 10 who wasn’t a contributor to the 2019 team, Campbell comes to UWF after a five year career at FBS West Virginia. He played 22 games with 7 starts at Mike in two seasons of play, racking up 79 tackles with 11 for loss. Campbell will be tasked to takeover for departed starting Middle Linebacker, Chanler Ferguson, who is no longer on the roster after leading the Argos in tackles in ‘19. The grad transfer was voted defensive MVP by his teammates this spring.
#6 Senior D’Anthony Bell, Safety
Bell spent 2019 manning mostly the strong safety position but did start at free safety as well. A freaky athlete at Defensive Back, measuring 6-2 205 and putting up a reported 4.40 40 this spring. He was tied for first in the secondary in solo tackles (41), tackles (77), PBUs (9) and INTs (2). The national championship season was his first in Pensacola, after bouncing around from Albany State to a couple of JUCOs. The senior will be one of UWFs top defensive playmakers this fall against the pass and the run.
#5 RS Senior Matthew Gotel, Strong Side Defensive End/Defensive Tackle
The only returning regular starter from the 2019 defensive line, Gotel is an imposing figure at 6-4 325. Originally from Tacoma, WA, the senior came to UWF by way of Snow College (JUCO) in Utah ahead of the 2019 season. In his first campaign with the Argos Gotel, started all 14 games in which he appeared. He finished the season with 6.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks, both were 2nd among d-linemen for the Argos. Gotel provides good positional flexibility in the Argos’ 3 man front, able to play both Nose Tackle and Strongside Defensive End. He is a space eater with the ability to press the pocket when needed (6 hurries), and will allow Defensive Coordinator Darian Dulin to get his best three linemen on the field whether he starts at Tackle or End.
#4 RS Soph. Jacob Bruce, Left Tackle
Gainesville, FL native Bruce redshirted in 2018, then took over the starting right tackle spot in ‘19. With the exit of long time starting left tackle, Samuel Antoine, the Argos look to be shuffling the line moving Bruce to the left side. This move takes the team’s best tackle and moves him to the more valuable blindside, and splits up all of returning the starting experience of Dilla/Bruce. This should help to support new starters at the other three OL positions.
#3 RS Senior Ka’Ron Ashley, Wide Receiver
In four seasons UWF has had three 1000 yard Wide Receiver and five over 700 years, when Pete Shinnick’s offense is good one of the major drivers is high level Wide Receiver play. In 2021 this will be a revamped group with the losses of Lehito, Randolph, and Grant (2696 yards, 24 TDs), but the return of Ka’Ron Ashley should help soften the blow. Ashley came to UWF in the 2016 recruiting class out of Jacksonville, and after redshirting in 2016 he broke out in the 2017 campaign with 517 yards and 6 TDs. Ashley is our pick to be the top Wide Receiever in the Argos’ offense this fall, coming off a season where he was 4th in yards (429) and tied for 2nd in TDs (6). Ashley snagged a couple of TDs in the spring scrimmage against FAMU.
#2 RS Senior Trent Archie, Nickelback
The unquestioned leader of the defense returns for his last dance as an Argo. One of the very first signees in UWF’s initial 2015 recruiting class, Archie immediately made his presence felt in the inaugural 2016 season. He came away that year with 90 tackles and 3 INTs, and was named conference Defensive Freshman of the Year. After sitting out the 2018 season, Archie came back with fury snagging First Team All-Conference after tallying 91 tackles and 10 TFL, starting all 15 games. The nickel is one of the highlight positions in Darian Dulin’s 3-3-5 scheme, and Archie has been a model of consistency when on the field, playing every game in the ‘16, ‘17, and ‘19 seasons racking up at least 90 tackles each year.
#1 RS Soph. Austin Reed, Quarterback
The returning starter for the Argos at QB was the easy choice for #1. A 2018 signee with FCS Southern Illinois, Reed transferred to UWF after a redshirt year and immediately picked up the starting reins. He turned out a 4084 yard, 40 TD season, with nearly a 4-1 TD:INT ratio. For his contributions Reed was conference Offensive Freshman of the Year, and Don Hansen’s D2 Freshman of the Year. Reed saved his best for last averaging 329 yards per game and throwing 16 TDs during UWF’s five game playoff run, capped with 523 yards and 6 TDs in the final against MSU, Mankato. With the ever increasing importance of the QB position in college football, UWF has one of the best in Division II returning for the 2021 season, and after a year of experience against some of the best in the country, Reed is poised to be a national breakout player and a likely preseason All American.
