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2013 FURMAN PALADINS FOOTBALL OUTLOOK C oming off a disappointing 3-8 season, the Furman Paladins are anxious to return to the field this fall in pursuit of improvement under head coach Bruce Fowler, who begins his third season at the program's helm. The task of turning around Furman football is challenging but one that Fowler is fueling with solid recruiting and through the university's renewed commitment to facility construction and modernization. On the recruiting trail, the Paladins inked 17 players in February, nine of whom were rated as two-star recruits or better by Rivals.com and/or Scout.com. In addition seven of the newcomers earned first team all-state honors — a significant jump over the two first team all-state selections in the 2012 class. The foundation for future success is also getting a big assist with the construction of the Pearce-Horton Football Complex, the new $12 million, 44,000-square foot operational home for the Paladins, and installation of a new ShawSports "Thunderbolt" playing surface — due for completion this fall. In personnel terms, Furman returns 15 starters and 33 lettermen; however, the vast majority of the roster is clearly on the young side as evidenced by an 11-man senior class and combined freshman and sophomore contingent that features 59 players — almost 72 percent of the squad. OFFENSE Last year Furman posted credible offensive numbers, sporting an effective ground game (167.6 ypg) behind the work of All-Southern Conference running back Jerodis Williams, a free agent signee of the Minnesota Vikings, and capable passing attack (200.9 ypg). Improving on those figures appears to be clearly possible with the return of eight starters, including the entire offensive line and quarterback. 2012 Rushing Offense:................................................................................................167.6 (5/43) 2012 Passing Offense:.................................................................................................200.9 (4/68) 2012 Passing Efficiency Offense:...............................................................................116.77 (8/84) 2012 Sacks Allowed:.....................................................................................................1.45 (4/26) 2012 Total Offense:..................................................................................................... 368.4(6/60) 2012 Scoring Offense:...................................................................................................24.7 (6/68) (Southern Conference Rank/National Rank) OFFENSIVE LINE Furman's starting offensive line is back, and a bit of experienced depth appears available to a unit that looms as a major key to the Paladins' goal for improvement in 2013. For the second straight year the unquestioned strength of the offensive front — and the top rated offensive linemen in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) — is tackle Dakota Dozier (6-5, 303, R-Sr.), who returns for his fourth season as a starter. A two-time consensus All-SoCon selection and 2012 Sports Network and Associated Press All-America choice, Dozier is a superb athlete who sports tremendous footwork, mobility, and strength. The bonifide SoCon Jacobs Blocking Award candidate is clearly on the radar of NFL scouts and will be the mainstay along Furman's offensive line. Five experienced performers — nearly all of whom boast impressive versatility — will contend for the other four starting positions along the offensive front. The most experienced of the group are Ryan Storms (6-2, 270, R-Sr.), who boasts 21 career starts, mostly at guard, and Charles Emert (6-2, 253, R-Jr.), whose 17 starts have been registered at tackle, guard, All-America tackle Dakota Dozier has been rated and center. the best offensive lineman in FCS. The emergence of Tank Phillips (6-1, 290, R-Jr.) and Joe Turner (6-3, 260, R-So.), a SoCon All-Freshman Team selection last year, bodes well for the Paladins in 2013. Phillips logged six starts at guard in 2012 while Turner earned eight starts in his first season of action a year ago. The center position will likely be again be manned by Eric Thoni (6-0, 265, R-So.) following a 10-start 2012 season and selection to the College Sports Journal Freshman All-America team. Grayson Weber (6-4, 266, R-Jr.) tallied a pair of starts at tackle last year, and others who could push for playing time include Harrison Monk (6-4, 267, R-Fr.), Charlie Anderson (6-0, 265, R-So.), and Jackson Buonomia (6-2, 288, Fr.), who joined the program in Janurary following a semester at Air Force Prep. TIGHT END One of the biggest positional challenges Furman faces this year is tight end, where the Paladins graduated All-America performer Colin Anderson, a free agent signee of the Minnesota Vikings whose career production featured 90 receptions for 1,541 yards and 11 touchdowns. Anderson's replacement will likely be Cameron Mason (6-4, 241, R-Sr.), a three-year letterman who possesses quality experience and proven ability as a blocker. In addition he counts 12 receptions and two touchdown catches in his career. WIDE RECEIVERS Graduation claimed Will King (34 rec., 541 yds., 3 TDs), the squad's top wide receiver a year ago, but the return of Ryan Culbreath (6-4, 220, R-Sr.) along with Gary Robinson (6-0, 194, R-Jr.) and Jordan Snellings Ryan Culbreath (34 rec., 3 TDs in 2012) headlines (6-2, 191, R-So.) gives Furman a trio another Paladin wide receiving corps. of experienced wideouts for 2013. Culbreath matched King last fall with 34 catches, two of which went for scores. Robinson, meanwhile, collected 15 grabs in 2012, and Snellings, who sports a solid upside, nabbed 19 catches for 210 yards and three touchdowns en route to SoCon All-Freshman team recognition. In addition to Culbreath, Robinson, and Snellings, Furman appears poised to benefit from a trio of talented second year performers poised to see their first action. They include Corey Miller (6-0, 186, R-Fr.), Chad Scott (6-0, 171, R-Fr.), and Andrej Suttles (5-10, 182, R-Fr.). QUARTERBACK Two years ago Furman led the FCS in passing efficiency through the arm of quarterback Chris Forcier. Last year Forcier's positional heir, Dakota Dozier, suffered a shoulder injury two games into the season, after which signal calling duties passed to true freshman Reese Hannon (6-1, 202, So.), who returns this year to trigger the Paladin offense. Cast into the fray in the second half of Furman's early September clash with Coastal Carolina, Hannon proceeded to direct an impressive comeback, completing 22-of-35 passes for 255 yards and four touchdowns in the Paladins' eventual 47-45 triple overtime loss to the Chanticleers. The Greer, S.C., native went on to earn starts in the Paladins' final nine games and pass for a Paladin Hank McCloud (521 yds., 6 TDs) will take over the freshman record 1,896 yards and seven touchdowns. That hard-earned team's primary running back duties this year. Furman 4 Paladins