1. Central Michigan
#13 JR Dan LeFevour - #2 in Completion Pct: 65.4, #3 in Passing Efficiency: 135.69, #2 in Passing YPG: 260.9, #1 in Rushing YPG: 80.14
What sets Dan apart from everybody else in the MAC is his ability to both pass and take off on his feet for the 1st down. The mid-major Tim Tebow is a dark-horse candidate for the Heisman and has his own billboard in downtown Detroit. 3,000+ passing yds and 1,000+ rushing yds LY. Who was the last to do that? Vince Young.
2. Ball St
#13 JR Nate Davis - #8 in Completion Pct: 56.5, #1 in Passing Efficiency: 139.13, #1 in Passing YPG: 282.1, #4 in Rushing YPG: 18.08
Nate throws the ball all over the field while still maintaining the #1 ranking as the most efficient passer in the MAC. His 30-6 TD to INT ratio is incredible. Another darkhorse Heisman candidate.
Youtubage:
3. Bowling Green
#13 JR Tyler Sheehan - #4 in Completion Pct: 63.7, #4 in Passing Efficiency: 132.59, #4 in Passing YPG: 251.1
BGSU will be a huge passing team with Sheehan spreading the ball out to many receivers. This year could be special now with the recent news of former QB/RB for the Falcons Anthony Turner changing his position now to WR and every other starting WR returning.
4. Buffalo
#16 SR Drew Willy - #1 in Completion Pct: 68.4, #2 in Passing Efficiency: 135.69, #6 in Passing YPG: 214.3
Willy just is tearing up the Buffalo record book and is taking a large portion of the team on his back. He is surprisingly efficient, except 2 redshirt freshmen are the players backing him up. You have to give it up for Drew for making Buffalo relevant again. Hopefully they can develop a good QB for next year because this year is all Drew Willy.
5. Western Michigan
#3 JR Tim Hiller - #5 in Completion Pct: 63.4, #5 in Passing Efficiency: 132.25, #3 in Passing YPG: 251.8
Hiller tore up the MAC during the 2nd half of his freshman year in 2005, throwing for 1,334 yds and a 20-3 TD to INT ratio. He injured his ACL against NIU in his final game and sat out the entire 2006 season. As a Redshirt Soph last year, Hiller threw for a ton of yardage but the thing that scares me here is his 20-15 TD to INT ratio. That's a few more interceptions than he should have had. If Hiller gets hot and cuts down on the picks, then I think WMU can get past anybody in their schedule. He also has a strong backup in the speedy Sophomore Drew Burdi.
Youtubage:
6. Eastern Michigan
#7 JR Andy Schmitt - #3 in Completion Pct: 64.1, #6 in Passing Efficiency: 129.57, #11 in Passing YPG: 146.6, #3 in Rushing YPG: 25.36
Andy is a bit of a dual-threat in both running and passing, while also passing very efficiently. Schmitt is a little injury prone and backup Sophomore Kyle McMahon has some experience playing as a true frosh LY. Due to EMU's best RB graduating I think the Schmitt will pass a little bit more in their "Spread Eagle" offense. EMU fans are even bragging that their QBs are better than the ones in Ann Arbor.
7. Toledo
#19 JR Aaron Opelt - #7 in Completion Pct: 57.8, #7 in Passing Efficiency: 127.35, #7 in Passing YPG: 195.1, #5 in Rushing YPG: 17.33
Toledo has some great history of QB play and Aaron Opelt has enough experience to lead this team to some wins. This offense just went nuts last year starting mid-season and most of the games were shootouts due to Toledo's injuries in their secondary. True Soph DJ Lenehan also has some starting experience from last year. Again, health is vital to the success of this group.
8. Kent St
#1 SR Julian Edelman - #12 in Completion Pct: 51.9, #10 in Passing Efficiency: 113.13, #12 in Passing YPG: 146.4, #2 in Rushing YPG: 45.78
Edelman was really beat up last year playing through a knee injury and breaking his arm towards the end of the season. He's the type of QB that likes to run and his HC Doug Martin compares him to David Garrard. His backup Giorgio Morgan played as a True Freshman LY and is mobile like Edelman with an even stronger arm. Kent St is mainly a rushing team and this unit could be outstanding in 2008 if healthy.
Youtubage:
9. Miami OH
#12 JR Daniel Raudabaugh - #10 in Completion Pct: 54.7, #11 in Passing Efficiency: 112.26, #5 in Passing YPG: 221.0
Raudabaugh was the man in the spring, but there's also...
#13 rFR Clay Belton is might start which could spell trouble against Vanderbilt who has their entire secondary returning and @ the Big House for Michigan in their 2nd game. Belton is a lefty and also has some speed to his game. Good competition should result in 2 QBs being able to start for the Redhawks.
10. Temple
#13 SR Adam DiMichele - Last Year's Stats: 138 of 223 for 1,595 (6th if qualified) and a 61.9 Completion Pct (5th if qualified). 12-10 TD to INT ratio. He only played 8 games because he broke his tibia during the Miami game. JR Vaughn Charleton also has some experience LY starting the final 4 games. His entire offense returns and anything coming out of Temple is a positive.
Youtubage:
11. N Illinois
#19 SR Dan Nicholson - #6 in Completion Pct: 60.9, #9 in Passing Efficiency: 116.89, #8 in Passing YPG: 181.4
Dan Nicholson played most of the 2007 season hurt and had off-season shoulder surgery. He is healthy now and the starting QB spot for NIU is wide-open. The biggest contender for taking the starting spot is rFR Chandler Harnish. Another rFR DeMarcus Grady was the star of the spring game with his QB Keepers and could be a change of pace QB.
12. Akron
#11 JR Chris Jacquemain - #9 in Completion Pct: 56.0, #12 in Passing Efficiency: 111.51, #10 in Passing YPG: 147.5
Jacquemain and rFR Matt Rodgers have been going head to head all offseason which is good for both players. Akron has a history of good QBs (Frye, Getsy) and I expect a lot of improvement this upcoming season.
13. Ohio
#3 JR Theo Scott - Last Year's Stats: 63 of 109 for 743 yds and a 57.8 Completion Pct. 5-3 TD to INT ratio. Scott is a player that got in a few games last year while the starter Brad Bower was hurt. He has some speed and has the ability to win games. With Scott as the sure starter, I think that Ohio will improve their passing stats. Ohio's stud RB Calvin McRae has graduated, so I see Solich's offense being a little bit more focused on passing. This team may fall behind a lot this year, so coming-from-behind passing by Scott will be a huge factor for this Bobcat season.
Rankings from publications:
Athlon
1. Central Michigan
2. Ball St
3. Bowling Green
4. Western Michigan
5. Buffalo
6. Toledo
7. Miami OH
8. Kent St
9. Northern Illinois
10. Eastern Michigan
11. Akron
12. Ohio
13. Temple
Phil Steele
1. Central Michigan
2. Ball St
3. Western Michigan
3. Bowling Green
3. Kent St
6. Buffalo
7. Toledo
8. Miami OH
9. N Illinois
10. Eastern Michigan
10. Temple
12. Ohio
13. Akron
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