Football Season Outlook: Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin enters the 2011 season riding the
momentum of the program's first-ever back-to-back conference championships.
The Lumberjacks return nine starters on offense, but will
have to replace quarterback Jeremy Moses, who became the first Southland
Conference player to win the Walter Payton Award. Moses finished his
eligibility as the school and conference's all-time leader in completions,
passing yards, yards of total offense and touchdown passes. He also set a new
NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision record for completions.
The early leaders to take over the starting role are
junior Dalton Williams and sophomore Brady Attaway. Williams redshirted the
2010 season, but played in all 13 games as Moses' backup in 2009, completing
25-of-34 (.735) passes for 344 yards and four touchdowns. Attaway played in
nine games behind Moses in 2010, completing 22-of-39 passes (.564) for 313
yards and one score.
SFA also brought in a couple of talented quarterbacks
during the signing period as well, but whoever wins the starting nod will be
surrounded by a talent-rich supporting cast.
The Lumberjacks return their top four receivers from last
year, including All-America selections Gralyn Crawford and Cordell Roberson.
Crawford led the team with 74 receptions totaling 981 yards and scored five
toucdowns, but Roberson finished the year with 1,011 yards on 61 grabs,
including 16 touchdown receptions. Anthony Foster caught 52 passes for 528
yards and four scores, while Kris Lott reeled in 43 passes for 616 yards and
five touchdowns.
The Lumberjack offensive line returns almost intact from a
2010 campaign that saw it help produce the nation's top passing attack, while
surrendering only 13 sacks (601 pass attempts).
The offensive front will also see the return of 2010
starter Austin Wright who sat out a majority of the season with an injury.
SFA also returns three of its top four running backs from
last year, including speedster Jeremy Barnes who averaged nearly four yards per
carry.
The Lumberjack defense was the league's top unit in
conference games last season, holding opponents to less than 320 yards of total
offense per game.
SFA will have some holes to fill this season if it wants
to remain among the Southland leaders. SFA will have to replace four starters
on the defensive side of the ball, including a pair of All-Americans: linebacker
Jabara Williams and defensive end Kenneth Charles.
Junior Ryan Epperson appears ready to replace Williams at
linebacker. The secondary will also be a strength with the return of standouts
Ben Wells and Josh Aubrey at the corners. With only one returning starter on
the line, SFA will be youthful up front.
With the return of all-conference linebackers Devin Ducote
and Derrick Choice, the Lumberjacks will be strong in the middle of the field.
Outlook provided by Stephen F. Austin sports information.