2015 Spring Preview: Taking The Next Step
3/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
2015 Spring Preview: Taking The Next Step
At first glance, a 2-10 overall and 2-6 Mid-American Conference record would look like a disappointing season, but head football coach Chuck Martin, his staff and the entire football team took major strides to returning this program back to where it belongs.
| Date | Opponent | Time |
| Sept. 5 | Presbyterian | TBA |
| Sept. 12 | at Wisconsin | TBA |
| Sept. 19 | Cincinnati | TBA |
| Sept. 26 | at WKU | TBA |
| Oct. 3 | at Kent State | TBA |
| Oct. 10 | at Ohio | TBA |
| Oct. 17 | NIU | TBA |
| Oct. 24 | at W. Michigan | TBA |
| Oct. 29 | Buffalo | TBA |
| Nov. 7 | E. Michigan | TBA |
| Nov. 14 | Akron | TBA |
| Nov. 21 | at UMass | TBA |
Miami improved in wins, passing yards, total yards, touchdowns scored, defensive yards allowed, turnovers forced and points allowed. They also had three different contests that they lost on the game’s final play and had six losses that were by a single score.
Offensively, Miami averaged 22.3 points per game, but return just four starters on the offensive side of the ball. Offensive lineman Trevan Brown and Collin Buchanan are joined by wide receivers Rokeem Williams and Jared Murphy.
Defensively Miami returns eight starters, including the entire defensive front, a pair of linebackers and two members of the secondary. Miami also returns every impact player on special teams, including third-team All-MAC performer, Fred McRae IV (punt returner).
Scouting the RedHawks
Quarterbacks
Lettermen Returning: 1, Lettermen Lost: 1
Starters Returning: 0, Starters Lost: 1
Miami will have to find a way to replace third-team All-MAC performer Andrew Hendrix, who threw for 3,280 yards and 23 touchdowns in his only year with the Red and White.
Looking to fill those shoes will be fifth-year senior Andrew Kummer, redshirt sophomore Tom Tupa, redshirt freshman Gus Ragland or newcomer Billy Bahl. Kummer is the lone RedHawk to complete a pass for Miami. He has 320 yards passing and one touchdown in his career. Ragland, a local product, sat out last season and Bahl has yet to even step foot on campus.
Running Backs
Lettermen Returning: 2, Lettermen Lost: 2
Starters Returning: 0, Starters Lost: 1
Running back will be an interesting position to watch throughout spring and into fall camp. Gone is converted wide receiver Dawan Scott (384 yards, 2 TDs), while Miami returns Spencer McInnis (246 yards) and Damon Washington (15 yards) as the only other running backs to see action last season.
Alonzo Smith and Kenny Young redshirted in 2014, while a handful of newcomers (Isaiah Hill, Leonard Ross and Maurice Thomas) are expected to compete for the job as well.
Wide Receivers
Lettermen Returning: 6, Lettermen Lost: 1
Starters Returning: 2, Starters Lost: 1
Miami will have a big hole to fill with the loss of second-team all-MAC performer David Frazier, but they also have a lot of talent returning for the 2015 season.
Jared Murphy leads all returners with 42 catches for 600 yards and four touchdowns, but expect Rokeem Williams (35 catches, 682 yards), Sam Martin (22 catches, 321 yards) and Fred McRae IV (8 catches, 60 yards) to make major strides in their second-year in Martin’s offense. Williams averaged 19.5 yards per catch and had three games of over 100-yards receiving, while Martin had eight catches for 111 yards and four touchdowns versus UMass in just his fifth game as a RedHawk.
Expect to see Chris Hudson, Alvonta Jenkins and Sam Shisso to also make an impact at the wide receiver position.
Tight Ends
Lettermen Returning: 2, Lettermen Lost: 1
Starters Returning: 0, Starters Lost: 1
The RedHawks’ group of tight ends has to be one of the youngest in the country following the loss of senior Alex Welch. Senior Orland David returns for his final year, but he had just one catch in 2014. Ryan Smith “leads” all returners with five receptions for 88 yards. Others expected to see much more action this spring and into the fall are redshirt freshmen Nate Becker (could also play OL), Alec Green and Nate Patterson.
Offensive Line
Lettermen Returning: 7, Lettermen Lost: 3
Starters Returning: 2, Starters Lost: 3
The offensive line has been an issue for the Red and White for several years, but coach Martin and his staff have been adding much needed depth at this position for two straight recruiting classes.
Gone are three senior starters in Zach Lewis, Marcus Matthews and Jeff Tanner, but Miami returns seven letter-winners and a handful of offensive lineman that redshirted during the 2014 campaign.
Collin Buchanan and Trevan Brown are the lone returning starters, but will be joined by Luke Adams, Ryan Callen, Brandyn Cook, Terry Davis, Randy Heideman, Zach Hovey, Mitch Palmer, Jordan Rigg, Zach Swarts and Sam Smith to build a strong foundation up front. Also expect Ian Leever to participate in the spring after enrolling early into Miami.
Defensive Line
Lettermen Returning: 8, Lettermen Lost: 0
Starters Returning: 4, Starters Lost: 0
The defensive line should be a strength of this Miami defense in 2015 with the return of all four starters. J’Terius Jones (50 tkls., 5.0 sacks) and Bryson Albright (55 tkls., 6.0 sacks) will provide the pressure from the edge, while Jimmy Rousher (24 tkls., 3.0 TFL) and Mitch Winters (37 tkls., 2.5 TFL) will hold the inside.
Other outside rushers include Austin Gearing (former Miami starting QB), AJ Burdine, Parker White and Matt Smallbone. Inside, Wesley Scott, Ikeem Allen, Deion Cineus, Mack Duffin and Alex Demers will provide depth.
Linebackers
Lettermen Returning: 7, Lettermen Lost: 3
Starters Returning: 2, Starters Lost: 1
Linebacker is expected to also be a strength for this team with the return of Kent Kern and Joe Donlan. Kern, a second-team All-MAC performer in 2013, missed the final three games of the 2014 season with an injury, but still recorded 69 tackles and 8.0 tackles for loss. Donlan was second on the team with 77 stops, none bigger than a tackle at the Miami 2-yardline as time expired in a 42-41 win versus UMass.
Other returns include Josh Dooley, Nate Gerbus, TJ Williams, Zach Smierciak, Paul Moses (former running back) and Sam Connolly.
Defensive Backs
Lettermen Returning: 8, Lettermen Lost: 4
Starters Returning: 2, Starters Lost: 2
Miami returns eight letter-winners and two starters for 2015, but the biggest question going into next season ... how do the RedHawks replace Quinten Rollins? Rollins, the MAC Defensive Player of the Year and a potential first-round pick in the NFL Draft led the MAC with seven interceptions and 16 passes defended.
Marshall Taylor (CB) and Heath Harding (S) are expected to have big years in 2015 as Miami’s two returning starters. Taylor tied for the team lead with 9 pass breakups and had one interception, while Harding led the team with 98 tackles and added two interceptions.
The other corner position battle will be between Buchi Okafor, Bert Birdsall, Falon Lee, Daryus Thompson and Kelvin Cook. Only Okafor and Birdsall have ever seen action on the defensive side of the ball.
At safety, Brison Burris is expected to return after missing all of last season with an injury. Others to keep an eye on include Tony Reid (started 2 games in 2014) Jay Mastin, Bradley Earnest and Matt Merrimee.
Special Teams
Lettermen Returning: 3, Lettermen Lost: 0
Starters Returning: 3, Starters Lost: 0
Kaleb Patterson returns for his fourth year as Miami’s placekicker and has made 31-of-42 field goals in his career with the Red and White. Patterson recorded a career long 52 yard field goal last season.
Christian Koch averaged 40.1 yards per punt in 2014, with a long of 60 yards in his first year as Miami’s punter.
At returner, expect Fred McRae IV to have a big season in 2015 after earning third-team All-MAC honors as a returner in 2014. Overall, he averaged 8.4 yards per return on punts and 21.0 on kickoffs.
