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There isn’t a bigger question for UNT heading into the 2015 season than how its quarterback situation will play out. The Mean Green used three starters last season, including Andrew McNulty. The senior started the last six games of the 2014 season and enjoyed some success along the way. His performance has raised the question: Can he have a breakout senior season like Derek Thompson did in 2013, when he led UNT to a 9-4 finish and a win over UNLV in the Heart of Dallas Bowl? UNT coach Dan McCarney said he believes McNulty is capable of doing just that during Conference USA’s annual media day in Florida in his interview broadcast on the league’s website. read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2015/07/mccarney-sees-potential-for-mcnulty-to-break-out-like-thompson.html/

Most of the 26 players who will join their coaches today for Conference USA media day are seniors with distinguished football resumes. Western Kentucky quarterback Brandon Doughty, recently granted a sixth season of eligibility because of a medical hardship - led the nation in passing yards (4,830) and touchdown passes (49) last season. Marshall running back Devon Marshall, a 6-foot-1, 246-pound senior from Richlands, Va., nicknamed "Rockhead" for his bruising style, rushed for 1,767 yards last season. He helped lead the Thundering Herd to the C-USA championship and a Boca Raton Bowl victory over Northern Illinois. Even UNC Charlotte, which is playing just its third season and its first in C-USA, will be represented by seniors Danny Book and Branden Dozier. So it speaks volumes about Old Dominion's youth that coach Bobby Wilder brought a pair of redshirt freshmen: quarterback Shuler Bentley, the two-time South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year; and Oshane Ximines, a defensive end from Hertford County High in Ahoskie, N.C. Although both performed well in spring practice, neither has played a down in college. As Wilder likes to say about newcomers, "They haven't done anything yet." Wilder said their presence should make a statement to the league. "This is who we are," he said. "We're young and inexperienced but talented. We're still in the transition from FCS to FBS." Still in transition? That might surprise ODU followers who watched the Monarchs win their final three games last season to finish 6-6 in their first year in the Football Bowl Subdivision and C-USA. In some ways, the deck is stacked more in ODU's favor than it was a year ago. The Monarchs have one more home game (seven), including a Power 5 contest with North Carolina State. The conference schedule, which doesn't include Middle Tennessee State, is a bit less challenging. read more: http://hamptonroads.com/2015/07/monarchs-youth-will-be-display-cusa-media-day

NORTH TEXAS Coach: Dan McCarney Players: TE Marcus Smith, Kenny Buyers Preseason predicted finish: Fifth (West) C-USA Digital Network live stream: 10:15 a.m. What we know: North Texas has quarterback troubles. The Mean Green ranked 11 out of 13 C-USA teams in passing offense, and the rush offense (eighth) wasn’t nearly strong enough to carry the 2014 preseason favorites. McCarney is always a good quote, like last year when he tried to explain how he wasn’t buying into his own program’s preseason hype. What we don’t know: Could North Texas be a late bloomer? The coaches got it wrong last year when North Texas edged out Rice and UTSA as the preseason pick to win the West. The Mean Green finished the year at 4-8 to prove preseason ranks are worthless. read more: http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/sports/college/louisiana-tech/2015/07/20/need-know-usa-media-day/30432065/