2011 UAB Football Predictions

Written by Jack Jones

The UAB Blazers are coming off a 4-8 season in 2010 which featured several close calls along the way. They nearly beat two SEC opponents, but lost to Tennessee 29-32 in double-overtime after missing five field goal attempts. They also held a 24-23 lead over Mississippi State in the fourth quarter, but eventually lost 24-29. The Blazers did pick up a signature win in a 50-49 double-overtime victory at Southern Miss in Conference USA play.

I have USM winning CUSA’s East division this season, so UAB heads into 2011 with some confidence knowing they hung tough against some elite teams last year. They return 16 starters, and in Callaway’s fifth year on the job, this appears to be the most talented group he’s had yet. Look below to find a preview of their offense and defense, as well as my prediction on where the Blazers will finish in the East.

Offense:

Seven starters return to an offense that put up 26.3 points and 423 total yards/game last season. This unit is led by senior QB Bryan Ellis, who threw for 2,940 yards and 25 touchdowns to 12 interceptions in 2010 to earn honorable mention all-conference. Also back is their leading rusher from a year ago in senior Pat Shed, who scampered for 847 yards on 5.4/carry with 3 touchdowns. He set a UAB record for all-purpose yards (2,125) in a season, doing damage in the return game and leading the team in receptions (47) for 471 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Blazers add highly touted Georgia transfer Dontavious Jackson to the backfield, who had to sit out his sophomore season.

UAB parts ways with three of their top five receivers from last season, but the unit they bring back is just as talented. Junior Patrick Hearn (35 catches, 536 yards, 4 TD) finished second on the team in receiving, while sophomore Jackie Williams (30, 327, 3) was named to CUSA’s All-Freshman Team. Calloway stated that Nick Adams was the best WR on the team in 2010, but he had to take a medical redshirt and missed all of last season due to injury. Adams returns healthy for his senior season and will be a huge addition to the WR corps. Sophomore TE Bud Pruitt is expected to start this season after seeing time on special teams a year ago.

Callaway was a former offensive line coach at three different SEC schools. He knows how to groom O-linemen, and he has four returning starters to work with in 2011. This unit paved the way for 156 rushing yards/game on 4.5/carry while allowing only 12 sacks last year. They lose LG Greg Bulls (3-year starter), but have 118 career starts back. Caleb Thomas replaces Bulls at LG, and he started nine games in 2009 and four in 2010 before going down with an injury last year. UAB will have five senior starters up front and this is going to be one of the best offensive lines in the conference.

Defense:

The UAB defense limited opponents to 399 total yards/game last season, but surrendered 31.6 points/game. This was a middle-of-the-pack group in 2010, and they should be improved in 2011 with nine returning starters. The Blazers bring back each of their top five tacklers, and 10 of their top 13 overall. It all starts up front where UAB allowed 152 rushing yards/game on 4.2/carry a year ago. They lose two starters along the defensive line in DE Bryant Turner (23 tackles, 6.5 sacks) and DT DJ Reese (29 tackles, 4.5 for loss). They return two starters in sophomore DE Connor Boyett (21 tackles, 2.5 for loss) and senior DT Elliott Henigan (55 tackles, 15.5 for loss, 6 passes defensed), who earned first-team All-CUSA honors last year. UAB is likely to start talented JUCO transfer Tevin Wells at DT, while sophomore Andrew Mahan has big shoes to fill at DE.

The Blazers return the most veteran set of linebackers in all of CUSA. They are the only team with at least 5 LB’s coming back who have made five or more career starts. Leading the way is junior MLB Marvin Burdette, who was the team‘s #1 tackler (114, 8 for loss) and earned second-team All-CUSA honors last season. Junior WLB Daniel White finished #4 in tackles (55, 6.5 for loss). Senior SLB Lamanski Ware (71 tackles in 2009) only made three starts last year due to injury, but he returns healthy. Junior Greg Irvin (5 career starts) and senior Drew Luker (7 career starts) add depth.

The secondary was a weakness last season as the Blazers surrendered 248 passing yards/game on 58.0% completions. With nine of their top 10 defensive backs returning, including seven with starting experience and three JUCO transfers coming in, UAB should have their best secondary since 1999. The Blazers will feature four senior starters at the last level of the defense, led by FS Jamie Bender. He earned first-team All-CUSA honors last season after finishing #2 on the team in tackles (94) along with 10 passes defensed. SS Chase Daniel (#5 tackler, 38 stops), CB TJ Ballou (26 tackles, 11 passes defensed) and CB Marquis Coleman (21 tackles, 8 passes defensed) round out the senior starting rotation.

Conference USA Prediction: 3rd Place East Division – This is my sleeper team in Conference USA heading into the 2011 season. UAB is a squad that finished with a 4-8 record despite outgaining opponents by 24 yards/game last year. Turnovers were the difference, and I look for this team to improve on the -6 turnover ratio from 2010 and finish in the positive this year. That’s because 16 starters return, and 14 of their 22 projected starters are seniors. Few teams in CUSA can match the balance that this team has as a whole. The one concern is a daunting schedule, which features Houston and Tulsa out of the West, and tough road games against three East division rivals. UAB’s senior experience will help them get through many of these challenges, and they can look to a win at Southern Miss last season to know that they can go on the road and compete with anyone. If you are looking for a team capable of pulling off a few big upsets, then the Blazers fit the bill.

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