2013 Record: 8-4 (7-2 SWAC)
Key Losses: RB Isaiah Crowell, WR Jamel Johnson, LB Leland Baker, P/K Bob Wenzig
Offensive Outlook: The most glaring difference between the 2013 season and 2014 season for Alabama State will be the absence of All-American running back Isaiah Crowell. While Crowell isn’t the type of player you come across at the HBCU or FCS level, ASU certainly has plenty of talent left over from last year’s squad.
Stepping in to get the bulk of the carries left behind will be running back Malcolm Cyrus. Cyrus had a solid 2013 campaign as a complementary back to Crowell. The 5’9, 180 lb running back ran for 759 yards and six touchdowns as a junior, averaging nearly six yards per carry. He also caught 17 passes, averaging over 10 yards per catch.
While Cyrus and the other backs should be able to make up for some of Crowell’s missed production, they may not have to make up all of it. The Hornets have a potential star signal caller in Daniel Duhart.
Duhart passed for nearly over 1,900 yards in 2013, throwing 18 touchdowns to just eight interceptions in his first season as the full-time starter. He will also have a great weapon in Demario Bell, one of the SWAC’s emerging young recievers. Bell caught 30 passes, including three touchdowns, while averaging a blistering 19.4 yards per game. The scary thing is, the 6’3, 180 lb wide out still has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Defensive Outlook: Much like the offense, ASU’s defense has plenty of talent to go around. The defense will return it’s leading tackler, pass defender and sack leader in 2014.
Kourtney Berry led ASU with 105 tackles as a freshman, and tied for the lead in sacks with 7. He won’t have Leland Baker opposite him this year, but Deontrelle Silmon seems to be doing well so far.
Defensive End Edward Mosley, who tied Berry with seven sacks as a junior will return, as will Najee Bright who picked off four passes as a sophomore last year.
Final Scrimmage: Saturday, April 6