Football Preview: UIW Cardinals
UIW Athletics
UIW Preview (PDF)
STORYLINES
• The Cardinals are playing in their second full season in the FCS and the Southland Conference.
• Quarterback Trent Brittain, who holds school records for completions (178), attempts (325) and yards (1,893), missed most of last season due to injury. His return is vital for UIW’s success.
• The Cardinals will be looking to replace three of their five starters on the the offensive line. Center Matt McCarthy will be the leader on the inexperienced line.
• UIW will have to find a new go-to receiver as it lost its top wide receiver due to graduation last year with Casey Jennings. Tight end Cole Wick will look to assume that role.
OFFENSE
• Running backs Junior Sessions and Broderick Reeves each took a step backwards in 2014, but will need to be a consistent duo in 2015. Dorland Fields should also factor into the running game.
• The Cardinals started four different QB’s last year, but now have a healthy Trent Brittain and a strong backup in Jordan Scelfo.
DEFENSE
• Corey Lee is a star in the making after 14.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks from his nose tackle position last year.
• The team has a solid group of linebackers led by four-year starter Padyn Giebler who led the team with 76 tackles last year.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• This should be an area of strength for the team with K/P Ramon Coto back for a second season. He averaged 42.3 yds/punt, was 9-of-13 on FGs and booted 10 touchbacks on 38 kickoffs.
• Kody Edwards and Jamari Gilbert give the team an explosive pair of kick returners and each averaged more than 20 yards per return in 2014.