Nelson Chenault-US PRESSWIRE
COACH: Sonny Dykes — At Louisiana Tech and overall: 13-12, 2 years
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Tony Franklin
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Tommy Spangler
LAST LEAGUE TITLE: 2011
LAST TIME DIDN’T GO BOWLING: 2010
RETURNING STARTERS: 14; 7 offense, 5 defense, kicker, punter
PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Colby Cameron, WR Quinton Patton, WR Myles White, DE IK Enemkpali, SS Chad Boyd, FS Jamel Johnson, P Ryan Allen
PRIMARY STRENGTHS: The offense has four returning starters up front, a returning starter at QB and a 1,200-yard receiver in the mix. Ray Guy Award-winning punter Ryan Allen is back. Coach Sonny Dykes signed an extension the day before last year’s bowl game, giving the returning WAC champs a solid foundation for repeat success.
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: The defense lost the WAC Defensive Player of the Year in LB Adrien Cole, and several other key performers. Could non-conference games vs. Texas A&M, Illinois, Virginia and Houston lead to another 1-4 start? If so, that would kill the momentum of the team’s surprising 2011 campaign.
