2011 Season Preview: Wofford players to watch, history and trends

Our analysis on the starters, top backups, history and trends for the Wofford Terriers coming to Clemson on September 10…

2010 Record: 10-3 (7-2 SoCon, SoCon champ)

2011 Wofford Schedule

Sept. 3 PRESBYTERIAN

Sept. 10 at Clemson, 3:30 ET, ESPN3

Sept. 24 SAMFORD

Oct. 1 APPALACHIAN STATE

Oct. 8 at The Citadel

Oct. 15 VIRGINIA-WISE

Oct. 22 at Furman

Oct. 29 ELON

Nov. 5 at Western Carolina

Nov. 12 GEORGIA SOUTHERN

Nov. 19 at Chattanooga

Courtesy of WG Sports Photos

Wofford coach Mike Ayers is going into his 23rd season coaching the Terriers and has compiled a 165-128-2 record.

Coach: Mike Ayers (165-128-2 career record, 23rd year at Wofford).

Offense (2010 FCS ranks): Wingbone (Total offense: 26th/Rush offense: 1st/Pass offense: 115th)

Defense (2010 FCS ranks): Multiple 50 (Total defense: 7th/Rush defense: 37th/Pass defense: 7th).

2010 Special Team FCS Ranks: Net punting – 68th/Kickoff returns – 42nd/Punt returns – 83rd/Punt return yardage defense – 68th.

2010 Misc. FCS stats: Turnover margin – 24th/Fewest penalties – 10th/First downs – 61st/First downs allowed – 20th/Third down efficiency – 28th/Red zone efficiency – 36th/Red zone defense – 30th/Time of possession – 37th.

Outgoing starters: 11.

2011 Starters (2010 stats)

Returning Offense (4)

QB: Mitch Allen (Senior, 681 rushing yards/22 rush TD/871 pass yards/8 TD-3 INT).

FB: Eric Breitenstein (Junior, 1,639 rushing yards/22 TD)

WR: Brenton Bersin (Senior, 703 rec. yards/9 TD).

O-line: LT Calvin Cantrell (Junior, 6-4 288).

New Projected Starters (7)

RB: Donovan Johnson (Sophomore, 353 rushing yards/2 TD); Derek Boyce (Junior).

WR: Andrew Young (Senior, 4 catches/68 rec. yards)/Jeff Ashley (Sophomore, 3 catches/38 rec. yards).

O-line: LG Nate Page (Senior, 6-2 292); Jared Singleton (Sophomore, 6-2 330); Ty Gregory (Sophomore, 6-2 293); Jake Miles (Junior, 6-3 261).

Outlook: In Wofford’s Georgia Tech-esque offense, the Terriers have a couple of the key parts – an experienced QB and fullback.

Senior Mitch Allen leads the Wofford attack at QB as the Terriers best passer and second-best rusher back. Junior fullback Eric Breitenstein finished atop the Football Championship Subdivision in touchdowns with 22 last season.

On the wings of the Wingbone offense, sophomore Donovan Johnson anchors the ground assault (after finishing fourth on team in rushing yards in 2010) on one side with the host of running backs fighting for a spot with him.

At receiver, they have a mix of youth and experience, and with the o-line – the Terriers return only their left tackle from the 10-3 campaign that finished in the second round of the FCS playoffs.

Returning Defense (7)

D-line: DE Ameet Pall (Senior, 12.5 sacks/22.5 TFL/60 tackles); NT Eric Eberhardt (Senior, 5.5 sacks/10 TFL/41 tackles); DE Alex Goltry (Senior, 1 sack/7 TFL/31 tackles).

LB: ILB Mike Niam (Junior, 65 tackles/2 TFL); ILB Mike McCrimon (Sophomore, 55 tackles/1 INT).

DB: CB Preston Roseboro (Senior, 44 tackles/2 TFL/1 INT); CB Blake Wylie (Junior, 51 tackles/2 INT/1 TFL);

New Projected Starters (4)

LB: OLB SeQuan Stanley (Junior, 47 tackles/2 TFL); OLB Alvin Scineaux (Junior, 38 tackles/1.5 TFL)/Phillip Legrande (Junior, 41 tackles/5 TFL/0.5 sack).

DB: FS James Zotto (Sophomore, 44 tackles/2 TFL/1 INT); C.J. Turner (Junior, 14 tackles).

Outlook: A defensive line comprised all of seniors with the star being 2010 FCS All-American Ameet Pall, after he racked up 12.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss.

The Terriers have their middle linebacker spots set, but are searching for their guys on the edges with the movement of players back into the secondary to plug the holes left at safety.

One of the stars of spring football, sophomore James Zotto, moved to free safety from linebacker in a secondary that finished seventh in pass defense last year.

Returning Kicker/Punter (2)

PK: Christian Reed (Junior, 13-15 on FGs/43-48 on XPs).

P: Kasey Redfern (Sophomore, 36.2 yards per punt).

Outlook: Both starters are back for Wofford – kicker Christian Reed hit five of his last six FG attempts in 2010 from clinching the SoCon through two rounds of the FCS playoffs.

Clemson/Wofford recent history: Not all that recent, but they did play in 2001, where Wofford held a 14-7 lead in Death Valley for a short time before Clemson won 38-14.

Trends Wofford lost their only 2010 FBS level game 33-10 at Ohio. The Terriers played two BCS opponents in 2009 with a 40-7 loss to South Florida and 44-14 loss to Wisconsin (both on the road).

2010 Schedule/Results

Sept. 4 at Ohio – L 33-10

Sept. 11 at Charleston Southern – W 34-23

Sept. 18 UNION (KY) – W 48-10

Oct. 2 FURMAN – W 38-17

Oct. 9 at Georgia Southern – W 33-31

Oct. 16 WESTERN CAROLINA – W 45-14

Oct. 23 at Elon – W 28-21

Oct. 30 THE CITADEL – W 35-0

Nov. 6 at Samford – W 10-3

Nov. 13 at Appalachian State – L 43-13

Nov. 20 CHATTANOOGA – W 45-14

Dec. 4 at Jacksonville State – W 17-14

Dec. 11 GEORGIA SOUTHERN – L 23-20