U S A Today's Take On North Texas

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NORTH TEXAS

INSIDE SLANT

Season-ticket sales are up and Mean Green fans are anxiously awaiting "Dodge Ball."

Todd Dodge, a Texas high school coaching legend, replaced Darrell Dickey in the offseason. Dickey led North Texas to four straight Sun Belt titles, but the Mean Green slipped the past two seasons, including going 3-9 in 2006.

If not for the uniforms, one wouldn't know it is North Texas on the field this season.

After being a run, run, run team, North Texas will employ a spread offense this season.

Whether it equates into a lot of victories remains to be seen because there are questions at quarterback, but regardless, it's going to be exciting for fans and difficult for defensive coordinators.

The Mean Green have some weapons, including senior wideout Brandon Jackson and senior tailback Jamario Thomas, but the key will be the play of junior quarterback Daniel Meager.

Meager has been inconsistent in the passing game, so if he struggles, it wouldn't be a surprise to see true freshman Giovanni Vizza get into the mix.

Defensively, the Mean Green return a solid line, led by all-conference end Jeremiah Chapman. The linebackers, led by all-league pick Maurice Holman, Brandon Malone and Derek Mendoza, stack up with any in the league.

The key will be the play of the secondary, which was horrible a year ago. Baylor transfer Latif Nurudeen could provide immediate help.

NOTES, QUOTES

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAME: vs. Florida Atlantic, Sept. 22 The conference opener is huge for the Mean Green, who will be coming off road games at Oklahoma and SMU. If UNT is going to be a factor in the Sun Belt, it must win its conference opener at home.

THE MEAN GREEN WILL SUCCEED IF: The new wide-open offense clicks and if senior tailback Jamario Thomas can get back to his freshman form when he led the nation in rushing. And if the secondary improves, the Mean Green defense has a chance to be good.

THE MEAN GREEN WILL FAIL IF: QB Daniel Meager can't execute coach Todd Dodge's four-WR offense. UNT has always been a run first team, but that will change in 2007. However, if UNT doesn't get good play at quarterback, it will be a long season.

QUOTE TO NOTE: We are not going to put a whole lot of stock in it. It will not change the way we prepare our team or what our expectations are. … If one of my players brought it up, I would not shy away from the fact that we need to understand that our expectations are to finish a lot higher than seventh in the conference." New coach Todd Dodge told the Denton Record-Chronicle regarding the Mean Green being picked to finish seventh in the eight-team Sun Belt Conference.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

HEAD COACH: Todd Dodge, first year, 0-0.

MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER: QB Daniel Meager The junior won the starting job in the spring, but must play well to keep it. UNT will throw the ball a lot more this season, so Meager's play will determine the success of the offense.

BREAKOUT STAR: WR Brandon Jackson The senior has played in the shadow of the graduated Johnny Quinn. Additionally, North Texas has always focused more on the running game. As the most experienced receiver coming back, he should flourish in coach Todd Dodge's wide-open passing attack.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH: DB Latif Nurudeen The Baylor transfer should quickly work his way up the depth chart this fall, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see the junior in the starting lineup.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP: Offense QB Daniel Meager, RB Jamario Thomas, WR Casey Fitzgerald, WR Korey, Washington, WR Brandon Jackson, WR Brock Stickler, LT Matthew Menard, LG Adam Venegas, C Kelvin Drake, RG Chad Rose, RT Robert Peachey.

Defense DE Jeremiah Chapman, DT Montey Stevenson, DT Isaac Thomas, DE Blake Burruss, OLB Brandon Monroe, MLB Derek Mendoza, OLB Maurice Holman, CB Antoine Bush, CB Dominque Green, FS Aaron Weathers, SS Roy Loren.

ROSTER REPORT: Senior OL Josh Alexander, who missed part of 2005 and all of 2006 with a knee injury, won't play in 2007 and his career is over.

True freshman QB Giovanni Vizza will be a player to watch early in the season. If starter Daniel Meager struggles, it wouldn't be a surprise to see coach Todd Dodge go with the rookie.

Redshirt freshman Kelvin Drake earned the starting job in the spring and will be a key to the offense's success.