VanDelaySports.com > MAC Football > 2009 MAC Football Pigskin Preview > Kent State Golden Flashes

2009 MAC Football Preview:
Akron preview | BGSU preview | UB preview | Kent preview | Miami preview | OU preview | Temple preview
Ball St. preview | CMU preview | EMU preview | NIU preview | Toledo preview | WMU preview

2009 Kent Football Preview

Kent State Offense:

Julian Edelman accounted for nearly two-thirds of the total offense a season ago with much of that production coming on the ground. Giorgio Morgan and Anthony Magazu are the heirs to the QB position; Morgan has a rocket of an arm. Don’t be surprised if redshirt freshman Sal Battles, a top recruit in the 2008 class, plays as well as he is a Josh Cribbs type of game-breaker. The running game will have a healthy Eugene Jarvis who needs only 722 yards to become the schools all time leading rusher. Jacquise Terry and Alan Vanderlink provide solid depth. The receiving unit has under performed over the past few seasons but with Phil Garner, Kendrick Pressley and Jameson Konz, there seems to be more perimeter playmakers this season. Mike Roder leads the O-line that will be young but talented. Overall six starters return.

Kent State Defense:

The Golden Flashes welcome back a solid group of defensive linemen led by Sam Frist and Aaron Hull. Ishmaa’ily Kitchen and Kevin Hogan also are proven commodities along the defensive front. The linebackers saw the departure of Derek Burrell to graduation but look for Michigan transfer Cobrani Mixon to step up like he did a season ago when he had 73 tackles as well Anthony Mirando. The secondary is led by FS Brian Lainhart who had 106 tackles and six interceptions. Josh Pleasant, Darius Polk and Leon Green and young players with tremendous upside.

Intangibles for Kent State:

The Flashes continue to be haunted by dreadful special teams play. KSU lost two games last season due to missed FGs and struggled in both phases of the return game ranking 115 th nationally in punt returns and 116 th nationally in kickoff returns. The Flashes hope to build on the momentum from last season; winning two of their final three games which included a 24-21 upset of MAC Champ Buffalo. The non-conference schedule features two non-conference home games (Coastal Carolina and Iowa State); which is a rarity for this program.

Kent State's 2009 Outlook:

The past two years KSU has lost six games by a touchdown or less resulting in 3-9 (2007) and 4-8 (2008) seasons. It’s no longer a talent issue for the Golden Flashes, evident by being the only MAC East team to beat Buffalo last year, but there is a major concern why the program continues to flounder. Somehow, someway, Kent State just came seem to win the close games very often and just 1-4 over the past five seasons against arch-rival Akron. This year’s team is solid at tailback and the defensive line but there are too many holes to fill for Coach Martin and his squad to be a serious factor in 2009.

The Big Game for Kent State in 2009:

September 26 hosting Miami. The RedHawks have historically dominated this series but after last seasons 54-21 thrashing, this could be the first time since the 1987-88 seasons that KSU has beaten Miami in back-to-back seasons, back when Glen Mason was the coach. Getting off to a good divisional start could propel Kent State into some meaningful November contests.

Team Article by Evan Meyer of Sports Vault - Especially for VanDelaySports.com
Predictions, Stats, Key Game & Outlook by Nick Gerogosian of VanDelaySports.com

> Back to the 2009 MAC football preview