Five To Ponder: Bowling Green

Last year, he had 78 catches for 1,089 yards and 12 touchdowns. So he was the main target all year long. Teams knew that and he was stable to actually produce pretty well.

The receiver with the most experience is a kid named

He had 21 catches in 12 games last year. Then there's another young man,

Stokes will be one at wide receiver. I think placekicking has been a problem. There's a kid named Tyler Tate, he redshirted last year and he'll be getting a chance to be the placekicker as well as an incoming freshman.

That's a big need there. They have a kid returning but his longest field goal has been 39 yards in his career. They definitely need someone with a big leg.

Anton Samuel was the freshman of the year in the MAC last year, played in nine games before he got hurt. He should be back and there's some veterans on the line, so I don't think anything is gonna change that much.

Nobody on the offensive side on the coaching staff changed and I don't think their philosophies or strategies changed either. Defensively, it's kinda the same thing too. They didn't really change anything with the coaches.

They just kinda split the way they're coaching outside linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties. But the coaches are the same and they've got nine or ten starters back on defense. They just need them to get better because they gave up right around 28 points per game last year. Even though they're coming back, they need some work done.

At the end of spring, I don't remember anyone who coach thought jumped out and attracted their attention.

If I had to put a number on it, I'd say they're looking at 6-2 in the league. The month is September is their four non-league games, but the game with their arch-rival is the third game of the season, against Toledo.

They go to Florida, play home to Idaho, at Toledo and then Virginia Tech and homecoming against Rhode Island. The game with Toledo will be a big early-season test. With Schilz being in his third year, they should be able to solve their wide receiver question and the defense will get better.

I don't think the MAC east is as strong as the west. Ohio, Miami (OH) and Bowling Green are the three best teams in the east and Bowling Green can be competitive with them. They don't have to play Northern Illinois, which is a good team in the west. It's definitely doable.