Football Preview: Central Arkansas Bears
UCA Athletics
Central Arkansas Preview (PDF)
STORYLINES
• The UCA Bears open the season with three road games and an open date before finally playing their first home game of the season on October 3. Included in the opening month are games at Samford, Oklahoma State and the Southland opener at Northwestern State.
• UCA must replace record-setting wide receiver Dezmin Lewis, a seventh-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills, as well as Cole Caruthers, the Southland Offensive Lineman of the Year.
OFFENSE
• UCA returns three of its top four receivers from 2014, including juniors Desmond Smith (46 for 616, 7 TDs), Jatavious Wilson (40-415, 1TD) and Courtney Whitehead (40-415, 4 TD).
• Returning senior QB Taylor Reed completed 64.7 percent of his passes as a part-time starter in 2014.
DEFENSE
• The Bears return the Southland Defensive Player of the Year in senior end Jonathan Woodard. Woodard is second in UCA history in sacks with 25.0, just five behind the leader.
• UCA returns its Nos. 2-9 tacklers from 2014, including No. 2 DB George Odum (77 tackles), No. 3 LB Ricky Wyatt (16 TFL) and No. 4 DB Bobby Watkins (3 INT).
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Junior Jatavious Wilson was second in the Southland Conference in kickoff returns, averaging 24.8 yards per return, with a 91-yard touchdown.
• Wilson is No. 1 in season kick return yards (1,140, 2014) and No. 2 in career kick return yards at UCA (1,721). His three career TD returns is a school record.