McNeese State Cowboys

Suspensions

Season Report Posted: July 10, 2021 14:57  

Ryan Reid - three games
Adam Davis - one game
Alex Pressley - one game
Brian Anderson - one game
Adam Payne - one game

Injuries

Season Report Posted: July 09, 2021 20:35  

Ryan Reid - one week
Phil Williams - three weeks
Sean Hart - four weeks

Season Preview

Season Report Posted: July 09, 2021 19:21  

Quarterback: Average

Offensive captain Richard O'Neal (RSr., 5-10, 210) is an undersized but competitive leader for the Cowboys. His passing should be fine - he has solid arm strength and decent enough accuracy - but a weak group of receivers will likely hamper things somewhat. O'Neal has just enough mobility and toughness to be used as an occasional runner.

Kurt Lee (RJr., 5-10, 181) is the backup - he lacks O'Neal's arm, and is another marginal athlete.

Halfback: Below average

Redshirt sophomore Ryan Barnes (5-8, 174) has reasonable quickness and speed, but won't break many tackles. Adam Payne (RSo., 5-10, 180) is another smallish back who has enough athleticism to get what's blocked but not a whole lot more.

Phil Williams (RSo., 6-0, 224) starts at fullback and is mobile enough to get a few carries.

Receiver: Poor

Ivan Brooks (RSr., 6-2, 213) is a good sized outside option, but lacks significant athleticism or reliable hands. Opposite him is Paul Wade (RSr., 5-11, 166) who's similar but smaller. After that the talent drops off even further, sadly.

Corey Dodds (RSo., 5-11, 205) and Johnnie Sanders (RSr., 6-0, 210) are a pair of undersized tight ends, who are unlikely to add much to the pass or the run game.

O-Line: Poor

Shawn Carroll (RSr., 6-5, 300) is the line's best player, although he'd be a marginal talent at any other BCS school. He'll start at left tackle and is a better run, than pass, blocker. Inside him at left guard is Bruce Golston (RSo., 6-4, 276), a rather lean player for the position who needs to add strength. Senior Erik Harper is a good sized (6-3, 311) center with balanced, if below par, skills.

At right guard, Ryan Copeland (RSr., 6-4, 294) brings similarly marginal skills, as does Khalif Hughes (RSr., 6-2, 289) at right tackle.

D-Line: Below average

Everybody is slightly below average, apart from James Ross (RSr., 6-3, 243) who starts at right end. Ross is defensive captain and a decent athlete for the position, who should be able to get into the backfield.

Linebacker: Below average

At left outside linebacker Adam Davis (RFr., 6-2, 205) is slow but an ok tackler. In the middle, Zach Cole (Sr., 6-0, 230) is an ok athlete, but not the hitter his size suggests. On the right, Jon Fifita (6-1, 230) has good size but is another slowish player who won't knock anybody backwards.

Defensive backs: Below average

Caleb Burch (RSr., 5-10, 202) is probably the best player on the team. He combines decent speed and athleticism with very good leaping ability, and solid tackling for the corner spot. Opposite him is Ryan Reid (RJr., 5-11, 179) who might just have enough ability to get by, but lacks ideal speed. Halfback Adam Payne, and receivers Ivan Brooks and Paul Wade will provide corner depth, as best available (and expendable) athletes.

Alex Pressley (RJr., 6-1, 192) and Sean Hart (RSr., 5-10, 180) are the safeties who will need a lot of good fortune just to survive.

Special teams: Average

Will Chambers (RSr., 6-0, 187) will handle all kicks - he has a reasonable and balanced leg. Burch and Barnes will return kicks and punts, and Harper is the long snapper.

Preseason Benchmarks

Season Report Posted: July 06, 2021 19:52  

Preseason rank: 119
Program prestige: 1-star
Academic prestige: 3-stars
Coach prestige: 1-star
Average attendance: 15,986
Predicted placing: 8 of 8 in Sun Belt
Playbooks: Balanced Run and 4-3