Southeastern Louisiana Season Preview
After posting its first winning season since 2004 and contending for the Southland Conference title for much of the season, Southeastern Louisiana is poised to take its next step in its historic return to the gridiron. With a roster that has strong veteran leadership and balance between its classes, Southeastern enters the 2010 season with a solid nucleus consisting of 51 returning letterwinners and 19 returning starters.
With a staff that had mostly been together since 2005, the Lions have been able to gradually build their program behind a wide-open and unpredictable offense and a swarming defense. But despite having a new offensive coordinator (Allen Rudolph) for the first time in four years, there will not be any noticeable changes when the Lions have the ball.
"Knowing the importance of not changing the system or the terminology because we have to much experience coming back," Lucas said. "Now, it's just plugging in the pieces with a different coach calling the plays. Everything has remained the same and that was very evident in spring practice. Our kids didn't miss a step and picked up right where we left off."
Probably the biggest change for the Lions will be at quarterback as returning letterwinner Tyler Beatty and third-year sophomore B.J. Young will vie to replace Brian Babin, who threw for over 7,400 yards and 62 touchdowns in three years. Beatty, who transferred from Baylor prior to the 2008 season, enters his senior year with the most experience on the roster while Young, a promising third-year player, will make a strong push at becoming the Lions' next signal-caller.
"Both Tyler and B.J. are much more athletic and do more things as far as using their feet," Lucas said. "Their mobility will allow us to do some different things offensively with our play installation.
Whoever will be taking the snaps at quarterback in 2010 will have a stable of skill players to work with, highlighted by wide receiver and All-America candidate Simmie Yarborough. Returning letterwinners Andre Cryer, Kory Theodore and Greg Johnson will help solidify a strong receiving corp for the Lions while the sophomore tandem of Zeke Jones and Sam Fairley will give Southeastern a strong running game.
An experienced offensive line that returns five starters, and is paced by fifth-year senior Kevin Hughes, will look to give Southeastern a more physical presence as it competes in one of the most balanced leagues in the FCS.
With the return of 11 starters and experience at each position on defense, Southeastern will field its deepest overall unit since reinstating its program in 2003. Senior linebacker Mark Newbill (110 tackles) and senior defensive back Re'Keem Wilson (four interceptions) both return after each claimed first-team all-conference honors in 2009. Also returning for the Lions is 2008 All-American Tommy Connors, who earned a medical hardship after suffering a season-ending injury in Southeastern's third game of the year.
Returning letterwinners Ryan Godare, Nathan Clophus, Devan Walker and Avery Crooks are key players along the front seven for the Lions while Robert Alford, Curtis Strong and Clint Coleman will be key players in the secondary.