College FB Preview: #105 NORTH TEXAS

[Harry]

The short on the Mean Green:

Improving a non-existant passing game is the team's biggest concern on offense. The running game was good last season. UNT had three 500-yard rushers last fall. The Mean Green prefer to spread it around. Leading contributors Brandin Byrd (875 yards) and Antoinne Jimmerson (544 yards) are a very nice pair: Byrd is a bruiser, Jimmerson the burner, and one plays very well off the other. Look for Reggie Pegram, a transfer from Purdue, to get into the thick of things this season. Or redshirt freshman Mark Lewis. An offensive line that protected superbly and did a solid, but still not terrific, job in the running game returns all but one starter, center Aaron Fortenberry, so hope is high that the group continues to move forward in 2013. The lone senior starter up front is right tackle LaChris Anyiam, the rest are juniors, from left tackle Antonio Johnson to left guard Mason Y'Barbo to right guard Cyril Lemon. Look for competition in the middle between JUCO transfer Shawn McKinney, 6-4 and 365 pounds, and redshirt freshmen Kaydon Kirby and Boone Feldt. This offense won't go anywhere until it can finds an effective passing game. UNT's defense has a solid unit of returning starters and experience along the back seven. The star is senior middle linebacker Zach Orr (108 tackles, 2 interceptions). Another returning starter at linebacker will be junior Derek Akunne (90 tackles, 7.5 for loss). Three issues need to be addressed: The pass defense played fairly well last season, but was inconsistent. UNT had some major problems along the defensive line last year. And the D unit needs to stay healthy to be effective this year. - See more at: http://d1sportsnet.com/gameday/fb/fbprev53.php#sthash.ng1DP9gn.dpuf

Read more: http://d1sportsnet.com/gameday/fb/fbprev53.php

[mgfan]

”An offensive line that protected superbly and did a solid, but still not terrific, job in the running game returns all but one starter, center Aaron Fortenberry, so hope is high that the group continues to move forward in 2013.”

I'm not sure the o line can do any better then last year. I thought we had one of the best o lines in the conference, just our play calling was so predictable.