UB Stadium - Buffalo, NY
With the loss of some key playmakers, however, 2019 Bulls hopes are entwined with key questions - starting at quarterback.
The process of answering those questions begins Thursday when Buffalo hosts the Robert Morris. The Colonials finished last in the Northeast Conference last year, so how much they can test UB remains to be seen.
ABOUT ROBERT MORRIS:
➤➤ The Colonials belong to the Northeast Conference, in which they failed to win a game last year. RMU went 0-6 in the loop and 2-9 overall.
➤➤ This is the second season at the helm for head coach Bernard Clark, who starred as a linebacker for the Miami Hurricanes and later played professionally for the Cincinnati Bengals and Seattle Seahawks. He held a number of collegiate coaching positions, with the last being defensive coordinator and associate head coach at Albany before taking the Robert Morris head coaching post.
➤➤ The Colonials last winning season was in 2010 when they went 8-3and made the FCS playoffs.
➤➤ Close losses to Bryant (49-46) and a pretty good Eastern Kentucky team (40-39) suggested some progress beyond RMU’s two wins in Clark’s first season. However, it also points to a defense that needs to improve.
➤➤ Robert Morris was near the bottom of FCS stats, allowing 43.5 ppg. Clark has brought in some junior college and young help for a number of spots.
➤➤ Nine starters return on offense and eight on the defensive side. Senior linebacker Tyler Lamica should help anchor the defense, while senior tight end Matthew Gonzalez could be one of the league’s best offensive players.
Terrence Stephens gained 831 rushing yards and scored 4 TDs, while DeLano Madison (Sr, WR) caught 25 balls (326 yards, 1 TD). Trevor Hicks is a returning starter up front. Several other players there picked up valuable experience last year.
ABOUT BUFFALO
➤➤ The Bulls return 14 starters (6 offense, 6 defense, 2 special teams) from last year’s outstanding contingent. Still, it’s the players who didn’t return that create some big questions for UB.
➤➤ Quarterback Tyree Jackson, was the MAC’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2018, is now with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. Anthony Johnson, who caught 57 balls for 1,011 yards ands 11 TDs last year is now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL.
On the defensive side, Khalil Hodge (144 tackles in 2018) has also departed.
➤➤ With a solid, experienced line up front, the Bulls should still be able to field a dangerous run game. RB Jaret Patterson (183 rushes, 1,013 yards, 14 TDs) was MAC Freshman of the Year in 2018.
Antonio Nunn will be one of the more experienced targets, but UB hopes to develop some young talent in the receiving room.
For more on the Bulls, see the complete season preview HERE