Conference-USA Predictions and Analysis
By Michael Schneid
CONFERENCE USA PREDICTED STANDINGS
New Coaches:
Ellis Johnson, Southern Miss
Johnson replaces Larry Fedora who took the job at UNC. Fedora led Southern Miss to the C-USA title in 2011, after a surprising upset over then-undefeated Houston. Johnson has been the assistant head coach to Steve Spurrier at South Carolina the last few years, not a bad mentor to have.
Justin Fuente, Memphis
Fuente replaces Larry Porter who was 3-21 in two seasons. Memphis was reportedly highly interested in Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain, but wound up with the TCU Offensive Coordinator. This is a big promotion from Fuente, who has only been coaching since 2001; he was with Illinois State before TCU. He was the Oklahoma QB in 1996-1997. Fuente has a very tough task ahead of him as Memphis does return 15 starters from a team who won just one game in 2011.
Tony Levine, Houston
Levine inherits the job from Kevin Sumlin, who left to take the job at Texas A&M. Levine will go about his first season without legendary QB Case Keenum. Levine has been with the Cougars since 2008 and this is his first shot at a head coaching job.
Garrick McGee, UAB
Neil Callaway went 26-57 in seven seasons with the Blazers. UAB will be McGee's first head coaching job. His most recent experience was with Arkansas where he coached and helped develop QBs Ryan Mallet and Tyler Wilson. McGee inherits junior Jonathan Perry, who started 8 games in 2011. Perry is not on the same level as Mallet or Wilson but expect McGee to put Perry in position to succeed.
Notable Transfers:
QB Tyler Gabbert (from Missouri to UCF)
Gabbert is the younger brother of former Missou and current NFL QB Blaine Gabbert. UCF QB Jeff Godfrey transferred after the 2011 season so Gabbert has a great chance to come in and start.
QB Garrett Gilbert (Texas to SMU)
Gilbert played the second half of the national championship game in 2010 when Colt McCoy got injured. Gilbert never met the expectations that followed him as one of the top QB recruits. After suffering an injury early last season, Gilbert decided to transfer and will resurface in 2011 in June Jones high-powered offense. Gilbert, like Gabbert above, is the beneficiary of the previous starter transferring so Gilbert is the front runner to start week one.
QB Cody Green (Nebraska to Tulsa)
Tulsa must replace GJ Kinne. Kinne graduated at the end of 2011 after throwing for 9,472 yards and 81 touchdowns in his four years. Green started four games in two years at Nebraska and while he does not have a lot of starting experience, he does have the experience of being in the Big Ten and Big 12. Tulsa hopes that experience and his knowledge translates to success in Conference USA.
RB Storm Johnson (Miami to UCF)
Johnson was rated one of the top 150 players coming out of high school but did not receive the playing time he felt he deserved at Miami and Johnson will join a crowded backfield at UCF but should receive more than the nine carries he received as a freshmen in 2010.
AWARDS:
Offensive Player of the Year: Zach Line, RB, SMU
Defensive MVP: DL Victor Gray, UCF
Coach of the Year: June Jones, SMU
CONFERENCE USA PREDICTED STANDINGS
|
EAST DIVISION |
WEST DIVISION |
| Central Florida | SMU |
|
Southern Miss |
Houston |
|
East Carolina |
Tulsa |
| Marshall | UTEP |
|
UAB |
Rice |
|
Memphis |
Tulane |
New Coaches:
Ellis Johnson, Southern Miss
Johnson replaces Larry Fedora who took the job at UNC. Fedora led Southern Miss to the C-USA title in 2011, after a surprising upset over then-undefeated Houston. Johnson has been the assistant head coach to Steve Spurrier at South Carolina the last few years, not a bad mentor to have.
Justin Fuente, Memphis
Fuente replaces Larry Porter who was 3-21 in two seasons. Memphis was reportedly highly interested in Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain, but wound up with the TCU Offensive Coordinator. This is a big promotion from Fuente, who has only been coaching since 2001; he was with Illinois State before TCU. He was the Oklahoma QB in 1996-1997. Fuente has a very tough task ahead of him as Memphis does return 15 starters from a team who won just one game in 2011.
Tony Levine, Houston
Levine inherits the job from Kevin Sumlin, who left to take the job at Texas A&M. Levine will go about his first season without legendary QB Case Keenum. Levine has been with the Cougars since 2008 and this is his first shot at a head coaching job.
Garrick McGee, UAB
Neil Callaway went 26-57 in seven seasons with the Blazers. UAB will be McGee's first head coaching job. His most recent experience was with Arkansas where he coached and helped develop QBs Ryan Mallet and Tyler Wilson. McGee inherits junior Jonathan Perry, who started 8 games in 2011. Perry is not on the same level as Mallet or Wilson but expect McGee to put Perry in position to succeed.
Notable Transfers:
QB Tyler Gabbert (from Missouri to UCF)
Gabbert is the younger brother of former Missou and current NFL QB Blaine Gabbert. UCF QB Jeff Godfrey transferred after the 2011 season so Gabbert has a great chance to come in and start.
QB Garrett Gilbert (Texas to SMU)
Gilbert played the second half of the national championship game in 2010 when Colt McCoy got injured. Gilbert never met the expectations that followed him as one of the top QB recruits. After suffering an injury early last season, Gilbert decided to transfer and will resurface in 2011 in June Jones high-powered offense. Gilbert, like Gabbert above, is the beneficiary of the previous starter transferring so Gilbert is the front runner to start week one.
QB Cody Green (Nebraska to Tulsa)
Tulsa must replace GJ Kinne. Kinne graduated at the end of 2011 after throwing for 9,472 yards and 81 touchdowns in his four years. Green started four games in two years at Nebraska and while he does not have a lot of starting experience, he does have the experience of being in the Big Ten and Big 12. Tulsa hopes that experience and his knowledge translates to success in Conference USA.
RB Storm Johnson (Miami to UCF)
Johnson was rated one of the top 150 players coming out of high school but did not receive the playing time he felt he deserved at Miami and Johnson will join a crowded backfield at UCF but should receive more than the nine carries he received as a freshmen in 2010.
AWARDS:
Offensive Player of the Year: Zach Line, RB, SMU
Defensive MVP: DL Victor Gray, UCF
Coach of the Year: June Jones, SMU
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