http://collegefootball.rivals.com/conten...ID=1230440

#117 Louisiana-Lafayette

COACH: Mark Hudspeth (first season)

LAST SEASON: 3-9, 3-5 (T-6th in Sun Belt)

OFFENSE: New coach Mark Hudspeth had been wide receivers coach at Mississippi State, and he takes over a team that was anemic running the ball last season. ULL reached the 100-yard plateau as a team just four times last season, and 11 of the team's 14 rushing TDs came from the quarterbacks. Two starting linemen return, and a priority will be finding a tailback who can handle 15-plus carries a game. The hunt for that guy will continue into fall drills; the starting quarterback job remains a battle, too, between Blaine Gautier and incumbent starter Chris Masson. TE Ladarius Green is a big-timer and led the nation's tight ends in receiving yards (794) last season; he needs to get the ball at least five times per game after finishing with just 44 receptions last season. The wide receivers have potential, but there is no proven go-to guy on the outside.

DEFENSE: New coordinator Greg Stewart prefers a base 4-3 set, but he isn't afraid to mix up his looks, including using a 5-2 on occasion. The defense had its moments last season and has one of the best corners in the Sun Belt in Dwight Bentley; he and 6-3 senior Melvin White could be quite a formidable duo at cornerback. SS Lionel Stokes is active, as is LB Devon Lewis-Buchanan. Stewart has to find a way to increase the sack total (just 17 last season), and coaches are high on senior E Dwight Smith. DT Cordian Hagans is an LSU transfer, but he had an inconsistent spring and needs to ramp up his intensity. There is no lack of experience on this side of the ball, as 10 of the 11 projected starters are seniors and the other is a junior.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Brett Baer might add punting duties this season. Baer was 7-of-7 on field-goal attempts last season, but his longest was just 42. True freshman Carlos Alvarez will get a shot at the punting job in fall drills. WR Daryl Surgent has some kick-return skills, but no one on the roster has returned a punt in a college game. The punt coverage was horrible last season, the kick coverage mediocre.

THE BUZZ: Hudspeth is a former coach at Division II power North Alabama, where he won a national title. He has the Sun Belt's biggest mystery team this season. If he can find a way to give the rushing attack some juice, the Ragin' Cajuns could challenge for an upper-half finish in the Sun Belt. The defense has potential, especially the secondary. But if ULL can't run, a rebuilt offensive line is going to see a lot of blitzes as opponents try to find a way to get to the quarterback - whoever it is. The schedule is challenging, with three of the first four games on the road. But ULL could make some hay in October; there are three home games and the road contests that month are against two of the Sun Belt's weaker teams.

Rivals Pre-season Countdown #115-#111
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/conten...ID=1230444

#112 Western Kentucky

COACH: Willie Taggart (2-10 in one season)

LAST SEASON: 2-10, 2-6 (9th in Sun Belt)

OFFENSE: The Hilltoppers' offense is centered on 5-foot-8 TB Bobby Rainey, who ran for 1,649 yards and 18 TDs last season. Those numbers are even more impressive when you consider WKU threw for just 1,722 yards and 11 TDs. In short - and no pun intended - Rainey is the offense. He ran for 155 yards and a TD against Nebraska and rumbled for 184 and two TDs against Kentucky. The line has two new starters but it should be fine; T Wes Jeffries is an All-Sun Belt candidate and headlines a big, physical unit. Now, unfortunately, it's time to talk about the passing attack. Junior Kawaun Jakes is the holdover starter at quarterback, and while he is a running threat, he needs a ton of work as a passer. TE Jack Doyle is a good target, but the wide receivers have a lot to prove. Rainey had 29 receptions last season and is the Hilltoppers' No. 2 returning receiver. Redshirt freshman WR Rico Brown had a good spring and needs to provide a boost this fall.

DEFENSE: There is work to do on defense. Western managed a paltry 12 sacks last season, and it's vital the Hilltoppers do something in an attempt to apply consistent pressure. All four starting linemen return, but two are set to begin the season as second-teamers. Four linebackers started at least seven games last season, but only one returns (Xavius Boyd) and he begins the season as a backup. The secondary should be adequate, assuming they get some help from the pass rush. The corners, especially, have potential, and depth is solid at safety. Sophomore Jonathan Dowling, a transfer from Florida, has the talent to make a big impact in the Sun Belt; he could play safety, corner or even wide receiver. He is from the same hometown (Bradenton, Fla.) as coach Willie Taggart.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Casey Tinius is back, but he was dreadful last season, going 6-of-15; he was 2-of-11 from 30 yards and longer. P Hendrix Brakefield is competent, and in an attempt to rev up the return units, Rainey will be used to return kicks and punts. He was taken off those duties last season. The coverage units need some work.

THE BUZZ: This is Taggart's second season as coach - he's a WKU alum who was Stanford's running backs coach when he was hired - and using his ties in Florida, he has done a nice job in recruiting. But it likely won't show on the field this season, which is Rainey's last with the Hilltoppers. Rainey is a big-time running back who received zero help from the passing attack last season. Western's defense is going to struggle again, but if the passing attack moves from "dreadful" to "bad," Rainey's presence could mean another one or two wins over last season. The schedule is navigable, with just two true road games among the first six contests. But the closing stretch is a tough one, so if Western wants to get to three or four wins, it had better bear down in September and October.

#107 Middle Tennessee

COACH: Rick Stockstill (33-30 in six seasons)
LAST SEASON: 6-7, 5-3 (3rd in Sun Belt; lost to Miami of Ohio in GoDaddy.com Bowl)

OFFENSE: The Blue Raiders played Santa Claus far too often last season, turning it over an amazing 38 times, including 24 interceptions (with just nine TD passes). Logan Kilgore and Jeff Murphy will vie for the starting quarterback job in fall drills; both played in three games last season. There is a solid group of receivers, though there is no established go-to guy. The talent is there for a productive passing attack, assuming the quarterback comes through. Look for a committee approach at tailback with Benjamin Cunningham and D.D. Kyles, who combined for 769 yards and eight TDs in backup roles last season. With mobile QB Dwight Dasher gone, the tailbacks will get more carries this season. G Brandon McLeroy and T Mike Williams should contend for all-league honors, and they head what should be one of the Sun Belt's best lines.

DEFENSE: Just three starters return on this side of the ball, and one of those - LB Justin Allen - could lose his starting job. MTSU struggled against the run last season and the Blue Raiders must get physically tougher up front. There could be two redshirt freshmen starting at tackle. The linebacker corps has the potential to be a good one. Stephen Roberts is returning from injury, and his play in the middle bears watching,. The secondary was one of the best in the Sun Belt last season, but there will be three new starters in the defensive backfield this season. The one returning starter is CB Arness Ikner, who had 56 tackles, an interception and four pass breakups last season. While there are three new starters, each of the projected starting quartet is a senior.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Alan Gendreau was just 10-of-12 last season, but that was more a function of an underachieving offense than a lack of faith in his leg. Gendreau made a 55-yarder last season and might be the best kicker in the league. Senior Nathaniel Toulson is the new punter; he kicked 16 times last season as the backup. SS Eric Russell again will return kicks and punts; he is dangerous on kickoffs, averaging 26.3 yards with a TD last season, but merely adequate as a punt returner. The kickoff coverage was fine, but the punt coverage needs to improve.

THE BUZZ[/b[b]]: MTSU went to a bowl last season - its third in five seasons - but it still was a disappointing season. The Blue Raiders were the preseason favorite to win the league, but Dasher was suspended for the first four games for receiving illegal benefits and he never seemed to find his groove. Turnovers were a huge problem, and Stockstill knows it. Even without Dasher, the offense should be good enough to contend for a top-four finish in the Sun Belt. But what about the rebuilt defense? The secondary lost its three best players, and there's a giant question as to who will pressure opposing passers. MTSU has little time to get all the new starters acclimated, as the season starts off with two games against Big Six foes and a road trip to league title contender Troy. The schedule eases up in the middle before toughening again down the stretch

Thus far:

120. New Mexico State
119. Memphis
118. Akron
117. Louisiana-Lafayette
116. Ball State
115. Eastern Michigan
114. Idaho
113. Buffalo
112. Western Kentucky
111. San Jose State
110. New Mexico
109. UTEP
108. Bowling Green
107. Middle Tennessee State
106. Rice