*** NCAA Football Preview - UAB Blazers ***
From The My Sportsbook
By Ralph Lauro, College Football Staff Writer
2003 SEASON IN REVIEW: Plagued by injuries all season long, the Blazers stumbled to a 5-7 record in 2003. The team, however, did manage a respectable 4-4 mark in C-USA action, which is no surprise considering it has the league's third-best record since joining in 1999. Last season started off on a high note, as UAB defeated Big 12 foe Baylor, 24-19, on its own field. However, the club wasn't able to build off that win, as it dropped its next three games, including a disappointing 20-9 setback to Troy State at home. Still, the Blazers did not get down and they responded by taking two big victories over Memphis (24-10) and Cincinnati (31-14). The defining point in the season came in the next two games against nationally-ranked teams TCU and Georgia, both on the road. The Blazers shocked many with their strong play in those tilts, but all they had to show for it was a pair of three-point losses. The team split its final four games, putting it under .500 for the season.
2004 ANALYSIS:
OFFENSE: The Blazers' offense was dealt a huge blow in the seventh game of last season when quarterback Darrell Hackney was lost for the year with a thumb injury. Hackney is considered one of the top quarterbacks in C-USA after passing for 3,636 yards and 23 scores in 18 career games. He is a dual threat, a tough physical runner with a canon for an arm. With Hackney healthy this season the Blazers should have no problem improving their offense, which ranked 81st in the nation a year ago. At the other end of many of Hackney's passes this season will be Roddy White and Bradly Chavez. White has caught 78 passes for 1,424 yards and 10 touchdowns the last two seasons, while Chavez emerged last year as a dependable receiver with 22 grabs and an average of 16.2 yards per reception. Dan Burks is a bit inexperienced, but he has all the tools to become an outstanding tailback. Burks suffered through a couple of injuries last year which limited him to just 23 carries. Giving Burks a run for the starting tailback spot will be Corey White, who rushed for 325 yards over the Blazers' final three games last season. Opening holes for the running backs may be a problem for UAB this season, as it lost a combined 35 starts from a season ago with the departure of linemen Larry Coachman, Wilbert Hamilton and Artavious Williams. The only returning starters for UAB are center Matt Batusic and Andy Galloway, the latter being a preseason All- Conference USA selection the past two seasons. Marcel Binion and Cornelius Rogers are expected to fill some of the other spots on the line, as they got their feet wet in backup roles last year.
DEFENSE: The defense is where UAB should excel this season with 10 starters returning from a 2003 unit that ranked 70th in the nation. The linebacking trio of Zac Woodfin, Nigel Eldridge and Gaylon Black highlight what should be one of the best defenses in C-USA this year. Woodfin, a preseason Lombardi Award nominee, led the Blazers in tackles last season with 149. He also posted a team-best 20 quarterback hurries and three sacks which earned him First Team All-league accolades. Eldridge was right on Woodfin's heels, as he finished second on the team with 128 stops. As for Black, he contributed 68 tackles and 16 quarterback hurries. Up front, defensive tackle Shamar Abrams is a standout after recording 86 tackles and a team-high 10 TFLs in '03. He will be accompanied by Jermaine McElveen, who earned C-USA All-Freshman honors last season after posting 63 tackles and a team-best six sacks. All four starters return in a secondary that limited opponents to 208.3 passing ypg last season. Corners Bobby Keyes and Carlos Hendricks are both physical and fast. Keyes registered 51 tackles and two interceptions last season, while Hendricks came up with 49 stops of his own. Julius Wainwright gave the team a dependable free safety, finishing with 78 tackles. Dominique Cosper and Justin Whitmore split time at the strong safety spot and combined for 100 tackles and four interceptions.
SPECIAL TEAMS: With games to be determined late, UAB will surely be confident with All-American candidate Nick Hayes returning. Hayes has made 44-of-57 field goals in his career and all but one of his 73 PAT tries. Parker Mullins will once again handle the punting duties after averaging 41.1 yards on 72 punts in 2003.
OUTLOOK: This may be the season that UAB finally puts it all together and heads to a bowl game. The team has one of the most talented and deepest defenses in C-USA which should help it greatly in close games. The biggest concern for UAB is its offense which averaged just 20.4 ppg last season. With the return of a healthy Hackney, the Blazers should be able to finish league play with a winning record.
