Waldo Stadium, Kalamazoo, MI
It may not have the ring to it that some programs generate. But the Hawks can play some football, and MU does have a reputation among FCS programs. As a matter of fact, the Hawks ranked second behind Kennesaw State in the Big South preseason poll.
Western Michigan, meanwhile, was second in the MAC Media preseason poll. With talented quarterback Jon Wassink back at the helm, WMU’s offense should again be a very formidable force. Getting to the next level will involve improvement on defense, as well
ABOUT MONMOUTH
➤➤ The Hawks never lost more than one in a row last year. The three losses came to Eastern Michigan (in the season opener, 51-17), Princeton (51-9) and Kennesaw State (51.14).
➤➤ Monmouth is 0-3 versus MAC teams, previously falling to Central Michigan, Kent State and Eastern Michigan.
➤➤ Senior Kenji Bahar was named the Big South Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. He led the league in almost every passing category last season when he set the Monmouth single season passing record with 2,626 yards.
➤➤ Kevin Callahan is in his 27th season at the helm of the Hawks program. He is the only head coach in the history of the program, having been there when the program began in 1993.
➤➤ The Hawks return six starters on offense and seven on defense, along with the starting placekicker and punter.
➤➤ Monmouth has one of the deepest offensive backfields in all of FCS with preseason all-conference selections in Pete Guerriero and Juwon Farri. Guerriero was just 81 yards short of his second 1,000-yard season, despite missing three games. Farri averaged 7.4 ypc as a freshman. Senior Devel Jones, traditionally a short-yardage back, shed 20 pounds in preparation for his final campaign.
➤➤ Lonnie Moore is the team’s top returning receiver, although he has just 22 receptions for 292 yards to his credit. He did average over 13 yards per catch last year.
➤➤ Monmouth returns three starters along the defense’s front line.
➤➤ Tjord Team PreseasonAll-American Tymere Berry (134) is the only Hawk with 100+career tackles.
➤➤ The Hawks allowed a school record 49 touchdowns last year. Monmouth registered just 11 takeaways and 11 sacks.
➤➤ Senior placekicker Matt Mosquero was a First Team All-Big South kicker and all-conference pre-season selection. He nailed all 41-extra points in 2018.
ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN
➤➤ This is the first meeting between WMU and Monmouth.
➤➤ The Broncos ripped off six straight victories at one point last year. After dropping three straight, WMU knocked off Northern Illinois 28-21 to clinch a bowl trip. Western has reached bowl eligibility in five consecutive seasons.
➤➤ The Broncos are 0-2 (Southern Cal and Syracuse) in openers since Tim Lester took over the Broncos reins.
➤➤ Wassink has missed eight games over the last two years, having been felled by a fractured collarbone in 2017 and foot injury in 2018.
➤➤ Western has three returning All-MAC selections: RB Levante Bellamy and RG Luke Juriga were First Team honorees. TE Giovanni Ricci was tabbed for the Third Team.
➤➤ Last year, WMU was one of just two MAC teams to compile 2,000 or more rushing yards (2,593) and 3,000 or more passing yards (3,086), joining Buffalo.
➤➤ Three starters return along the offensive line.
➤➤ WMU returns the top eight tacklers.