Football 2024 Season Preview

FROSTBURG, Md. - Frostburg State Athletics will be taking a preview for each team competing in the fall season, covering eight total sports. Over the next two weeks, each team will be broken down into their expectations, key players, and overall outlook for their season and program.  To start this week is Football.
 
Overall
Frostburg State Football is set to play its 64^th season this fall in 2024.  Head Coach Eric Wagoner looks to embark on his third season at the head of the program, his fifth season overall, as he welcomes in multiple new additions to his coaching staff.
 
Last Season
FSU concluded their 2023 season with an overall record of 7-3, going for a 6-3 mark in MEC play, tying with Fairmont State, Notre Dame College, and UNC Pembroke for second place in the conference.  The Bobcats started last year with three straight wins, including an overtime road victory in their season opener against New Haven, followed by a huge Homecoming win over Pembroke, and a season finale win over Fairmont.  Having been ranked in the NCAA Regional Poll all throughout last year, Frostburg's three losses came from just three points each. 
 
The Bobcats finished as a top defensive team, allowing just 275.5 yards per game, 21 total touchdowns and 17 points per game, all the best in the MEC and all top-20 marks in all of Division II.  To show for the team's success last year, cornerback Darrell Scott took home MEC Defensive Freshman of the Year, while FSU filled out four spots on the All-MEC First Team, with offensive lineman Brandon Dillard, linebacker Colby Street, defensive lineman Leonard Scott, and defensive back Wylan Harich receiving the honors.  Rounding out the accolades on the field, running back Sean Aaron, offensive lineman Mike Hudren, defensive lineman Jaylen Parks, and linebacker Michael Morgan were named Second Team All-MEC, while defensive lineman Yasir Holmes, defensive backs Vincent Nwachi and Anthony Smith, and return specialist Max Davis earned All-MEC Honorable Mention.  To finish out the awards, Frostburg saw eight players recognized as College Sports Communicators Academic All District as well.
 
The Returners
Wagoner welcomes back a substantial number of returners, having lost a strong senior class that included key leaders of the program for the last few years, quarterback Graham Walker and kicker/punter Dayne Koontz.
 
Offense: With the quarterback spot up for grabs, redshirt sophomore Myles Fulton and sophomore Jordan Brooks return as the front runners for the starting role.  Fulton appeared in three games in 2023, throwing for 340 yards and three touchdowns.  Upperclassman Doug Pruim and Nick Blankenship return as juniors to represent the offensive line, with key running back pieces junior Sean Aaron and redshirt sophomore Owen Doyle in the backfield.  The returning running back duo combined for 1,060 yards and 13 touchdowns last year on 238 carries, as Aaron scored a team-high 10 touchdowns.  In the wide receiver slots, juniors Jeremiah Gibson and Amari N'namdi-Hall come back, with the former putting up 21 catches for 379 yards and one touchdown last season, while the latter finished with 23 catches for 183 yards and three touchdowns.  Jordan Marcucci looks to make his return, not playing since 2022, when he put up 498 yards and 10 touchdowns off 36 catches in his rookie season.
 
Defense: Besides losing Morgan and Parks in the graduating class, Wagoner returns his top-three in tackles last season, welcoming back Harich, Street, and Holmes.  Harich led the way in tackles with 31, while assisting on 16 and picking up one interception.  Street and Holmes were neck and neck, with the former picking up one more tackle than the latter for 23 on the year, as Street also grabbed a team-high four interceptions in the linebacker position, and Holmes recorded seven quarterback hurries for second most on the team.  On the line, both L. Scott and Delonta Butler return going for 15 and 14 tackles in 2023, with Scott leading the team in hurries (8) and tackles for a loss (13).  The trio of Nwachi, Smith, and D. Scott return as defensive backs, combining for a solid 50 tackles, 21 pass break ups, and seven interceptions in 2023, with Scott leading the way in break ups (9) and Smith leading the way in interceptions (5).
 
Special Teams: A trio of kickers will battle it out on special teams, with senior Brandon Keen and sophomores Harrison Fritz and Sam Dominguez returning to the team.  Also losing Davis in last year's senior class, N'namdi-Hall and Marcucci look to return the ball, with the former getting reps in 2023 and the latter having been one of the main returners in 2022.
 
Kick off to Season
Frostburg opens their season on Thursday, September 5 at home in Bobcat Stadium, as they host Millersville under the lights for a 7 PM game.  The team's first away game will be against West Liberty the following weekend on Saturday, September 14 at 1 PM.  FSU welcomes in the defending conference champions of Charleston (WV) on Saturday, October 19 for their Homecoming Game at 1 PM.
 
For more information and upcoming previews, please visit frostburgsports.com.