Kent St Golden Flashes 2016 NCAA Football Preview
KENT ST GOLDEN FLASHES
MACtion – East Division
2015 Record – 3-9
ATS – 4-7-1
2016 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating Rank
East Division #4
Conference #8
2015 Recap
That was some ugly offense. The Golden Flashes finished dead last in the FBS in scoring offense managing a paltry 13 points per game. They were shutout in three of their final five games. The defense held up their end of the bargain, but this being a team game and all, Kent St struggled to a 3-9 mark. Paul Haynes now sports a 9-26 overall record. Yup, the seat is hot.
2016 Preview
OFFENSE
The unit is down to nine returning starters after the news that leading receiver from 2015 Antwan Dixon will miss the season. That is still a lot of experience to build upon. QB George Bollas showed some “flashes” of potential in 2015 and he is a co-front runner along with freshman Justin Agner to win the starting QB role. Colin Reardon has been moved to WR. The production at QB last season was horrifying but Bollas has the tools and is only a sophomore. Let’s see who wins the job.
There is some experience at the RB spot. Nick Holley got injured last season and did have a 500-yard campaign in 2014. The WR unit is experienced but there is not a single receiver returning from last season’s team that had more than 300 yards receiving.
The offensive line returns four starters and should be much improved. They only allowed 13 sacks last season and ran the ball for 133 yards per game as a team. It will be hard to maintain that excellent sacks allowed mark but the rushing totals should be improved. Overall, we see a more productive offense, but one that is still lacking in big play ability.
DEFENSE
This unit should be excellent. The Golden Flashes had the #3 ranked defense in the MAC and were #1 in sacks per game. 8 starters are back in 2016 and they are going to be a force in conference play. DE Terence Waugh had 9 sacks last year and FS Nate Holley was a 1st Team MAC performer who led the team in tackles (141 – 4th in tackles per game FBS). The LB corps is loaded.
SPECIAL TEAMS
This is a problem spot. Their punt return team was ranked last in the MAC in 2015 and their kickoff unit was below average. PK Shane Hynes only hit 7/11 FGs in 2015 and they lose a very good punter.
MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 5.5
MEGALOCKS says:
It is an interesting September schedule. In between road games at Penn St and Alabama the Golden Flashes face two FCS teams (North Carolina A&T, Monmouth). You have to figure they start the season 2-2, and with that defense, they have a decent shot at finding four wins in MAC play and achieving bowl eligibility.
Overall, we give the GOLDEN FLASHES 5.5 ATS Value Rating (Average) this season. If we could only trust the offense. That defense would normally have us salivating but we see them having a hard time moving the ball once again. Paul Haynes has not earned our trust with a 14-20-1 ATS record in three seasons, but maybe, just maybe, the defense is good enough to really surprise people against the number. More upside than downside here. Just a bit nervous.
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