Football Preview: Sam Houston State
Todd Whitten begins his fifth season at Sam Houston State with 44 lettermen returning including 12 starters (seven offensive, three defensive and two specialists).
Sam Houston State finished as runner-up in the Southland Conference football race in 2006 and 2007 but fell to sixth place with a 2-5 league mark in 2008. The margin between a winning and losing season was paper thin, however, as the Kats lost in overtime to two conference opponents and battled Central Arkansas down to the wire, falling only after a failed two-point conversion at game's end.
Offensively, the Bearkats will look to run more in 2009 as James Aston and Chris Poullard return at running back. Aston ranked No. 4 in Southland rushing last year with 886 yards and 11 touchdowns and Poullard was No. 4 in the Southland in rushing in 2007 with 1,038 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Four starters including all-conference guard Hunter Schmidt return in the offensive line. The line made impressive strides in spring ball.
Chris Lucas, who ranked No. 9 in receptions per game in the Southland last year, is the only returning starter at wide receiver. Jason Madkins, a tall target at 6-5, caught 23 passes for 319 yards and six touchdowns as a backup wide receiver in 2008.
The Bearkats must replace quarterback Rhett Bomar, who finished his career ranked both as Sam Houston's all-time passing leader (5,564 yards) and total offense (6,160). Bomar ranked No. 2 in total offense (354.2 yards per game) and No. 4 in passing yards (335.5) in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision last year.
Bryan Randolph, Bomar's backup in 2008, passed for 418 yards and three touchdowns in the Orange-White spring game.
With only three returning starters, the Sam Houston State defense will feature a host of new faces. The lone returning regulars are senior defensive end Chris Brown, linebacker Luke McCall and defensive tackle Kevin Smith.
Brown, a two-time first team All-Southland pick, has 14 quarterback sacks to his credit in two seasons since transferring from Texas.
The Bearkats must replace five defensive players who earned either all-conference second-team or honorable mention in 2008.
Players returning who saw extensive action as backups last year include safety Randy Stewart, cornerbacks Cameron Jenkins and Jarvis Pippins, linebacker Brandon Bruce and defensive linemen Antonio Cobb and Justin Childs.
Kicker Taylor Wilkins ranks No. 4 all-time in SHSU kick scoring with 173 points on field goals and PATs. Justin Humphrey is a three-year letterman as deep snapper. Michael Capparelli, who sat out last season, returns. He ranked No. 3 in the Southland in punting with a 41.0 average in 2007.