EAST DIVISION
1. Miami -- The RedHawks likely won't match last year's amazingrun to their No. 10 ranking at season's end, but Terry Hoeppner'steam still has the goods to possibly repeat as MAC champions.Junior Josh Betts and redshirt freshman Mike Kokal are fighting toreplace first-round draft pick Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback.Senior Mike Smith is a dependable runner (18 touchdowns), sophomoreRyne Robinson is a dangerous punt returner (17.2 yards per return),and junior Martin Nance (1,498 yards) is potentially the bestreceiver in school history. Seven starters, including Matt Pusateriand the rest of the secondary, return to what was the league'sstingiest defense.
2. Marshall -- Bob Pruett's team wants to leave the MAC like itre-entered seven years ago -- on the top. Quarterback Stan Hillstarted the first half of 2003 before a knee injury sidelined him.His top target is Josh Davis, but the rest of the receivers aremostly green. Senior running back Earl Charles looks to postanother 1,000-yard season. A strong line led by ends JonathanGoddard and Jamus Martin paces the defense, but Pruett wants hissecondary to produce more turnovers.
3. Akron -- New coach J.D. Brookhart should feel fortunate tohave a quarterback like senior Charlie Frye (3,549 yards, 22 TDs)to begin his tenure. Frye, who holds about every school passingrecord, is the league's next NFL draftee at quarterback. Newstarters at running back and wide receiver must step up, though. Itwas a porous defense that led to Lee Owens' demise last year.
4. Central Florida -- About to join Marshall in an exodus to thesupposedly greener pastures of Conference USA, the Golden Knightshired George O'Leary (hopefully after double-checking his resume)to reverse last year's 3-9 dabacle. He hopes to develop sophomorequarterback Steven Moffett into the school's next star quarterback.Senior Alex Haynes has over 2,500 career rushing yards, and TavarisCapers is the top returning pass-catcher. The defense struggledabout as much as Ball State's in stopping the run.
5. Kent State -- Doug Martin, promoted from offensivecoordinator to head coach when Dean Pees left to join the NewEngland Patriots staff, greeted at least 15 returning starters --16 if quarterback Joshua Cribbs recovers from off-season legaltroubles. With the seniors, the Golden Flashes have the league'smost dangerous threats. Cribbs has recorded more than 3,000 careeryards each rushing and passing. Linebacker Eric Mahl and cornerbackUsama Young head a defense that was 12th in the MAC lastseason.
6. Ohio -- Attempting to inject life into the program -- andhopefully save his job as a result -- Brian Knorr shifted theoffense from option- to spread-oriented. Senior Ryan Hawk orsophomore Austen Everson will be the trigger man. With some of lastyear's running backs moving to receiver, Brad Young (319 yards)will probably be the top back. Dennis Chukwuemeka is one of theMAC's elite linebackers and hopes to lead a better defense thisyear.
7. Buffalo -- Juniors Dave Dawson and Aaron Leeper should belooking forward to running behind an offensive line that returnsfour starters. It shouldn't be too much for whoever wins thequarterback job to top last year's total of passing touchdowns -- amere six. The defensive line is also experienced, but the unit as awhole is fair at best.
WEST DIVISION
1. Toledo -- The offense, engineered by efficient junior BruceGradkowski, will put plenty of points on the scoreboard. In hisfirst year as starter, Gradkowski threw for 3,210 yards and 29touchdowns. Trinity Dawson ran for 999 yards out of the one-backset, Gradkowski added 504, and monster left tackle Nick Kaczur isan All-America candidate. If Ball State or Bowling Green doesn'thave the MAC's best group of receivers, than Toledo does. LanceMoore (103 catches for 1,194 yards), Steve Odom and tight endAndrew Clarke are the ringleaders. While Amstutz wants a newdefensive line to be more productive, the back seven of thedefense, paced by inside linebacker Anthony Jordan and safetyPatrick Body, is rather solid.
2. Bowling Green -- Sophomore Omar Jacobs takes over for JoshHarris, the most celebrated quarterback in school history and onecountry's top playmakers last year. Jacobs will have all of lastyear's receivers, including senior Cole Magner (99 catches for1,138 yards), to throw to. The running game is also strong, asjuniors P.J. Pope and B.J. Lane racked up 1,005 and 498 yards,respectively, and the middle of the offensive line returns. Leadingtackler and all-MAC safety Keon Newson moved to cornerback and willanchor what looks to be another stout defense.
3. Northern Illinois -- A 10-2 year, including a season-openingupset of Maryland, still seemed somewhat disappointing because theHuskies didn't make the league championship or a bowl game. Nowthey must deal with the graduation of Michael Turner, the13th-leading rusher in NCAA history. Quarterback Josh Haldi will bea three-year starter, however, and Jake VerStraete leads fourreturning linemen. Despite losing some strong starters, the defensestill has enough playmakers to remain solid, with leader BrianAtkinson moving from outside to middle linebacker.
4. Western Michigan -- Rutgers-transfer Ryan Cobit could be theanswer to Western's quarterback question. Juniors Trovon Riley andDaniel Marks are being counted on to improve a struggling runninggame and in doing so, provide support for the new quarterback. Withstud defensive end Jason Babin becoming a first-round selection,end Jack Gitler is the new leader on defense.
5. Eastern Michigan -- With a small, compact frame (5-9, 193),Anthony Sherrell was a true workhorse, rushing for 1,531 yards,scoring 13 TDs and leading the team with 44 catches. New coach JeffGenyk is counting on transfer quarterback Matt Bohnet producingmore than 154 passing yards per game (the Eagles average in 2003).Leading returning-receiver Chris Roberson switched sides and nowlooks to be the top cornerback.
6. Central Michigan -- Jerry Seymour, who was awared MACFreshman of the Year after piling up 1,117 yards rushing, isCentral's version of Sherrell. He gives new coach Brian Kelly agood weapon to build around and will hopefully provide balance forwhoever is the new quarterback. The defense has been a source ofheadaches for CMU coaches. This year it's led by senior James King,who is moving from safety to outside linebacker, and sophomore endDan Bazuin.
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