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2012 FURMAN PALADINS p FOOTBALL Outlook F pair of hard-earned, late-season triumphs over FCS fifth-ranked Wofford (26-21) and third-ranked Appalachian State (20-10), and solid road victory against Chattanooga (14-7). With 15 starters and 37 lettermen returning, Furman appears to sport enough experience urman football entered a new era in 2011 under head coach Bruce Fowler, and the early yield included a winning season (6-5) and climb from fifth to third in the Southern Conference standings. Moreover, the Paladins displayed a return to more physical play, evidenced in a to be a factor in the league but several positional challenges loom, guaranteeing the Paladins another flight under the radar heading into the 2012 campaign. OFFENSE game (166.8 ypg) and nation's most efficient passing attack (222.5 ypg). The task to improve on those figures is a tall order given the fact that just six starters return. 2011 Rushing Offense: ...............................................................................................166.8 (4/42) 2011 Passing Offense: ................................................................................................222.5 (5/48) 2011 Passing Efficiency Offense: ................................................................................171.32 (1/1) 2011 Sacks Allowed: ....................................................................................................1.36 (4/28) 2011 Total Offense:.....................................................................................................389.4 (5/39) 2011 Scoring Offense: ..................................................................................................28.6 (4/39) (Southern Conference Rank/National Rank) OFFENSIVE LINE are two starters, including All-SoCon tackle Ryan Lee, an NFL free agent signee of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Three starters are back, but beyond that there is virtually no experience. The unquestioned strength of the offensive front — and one of Furman's premier players Of the areas of concern heading into the 2012 season, offensive line clearly tops the list. Gone — is tackle Dakota Dozier (6-4, 291, Jr.), who returns for his third season of starting duty. A consensus 2011 All-SoCon selection with pro ability according to Fowler, Dozier is a superb athlete with tremendous footwork, mobility, and strength. The other two returning starters are guard Ryan Storms (6-2, 270, Jr.) and tackle Charles Last year Furman posted solid offensive numbers on the strength of an effective ground in high school and threw a 47-yard touchdown in the Paladins' season finale against Florida last year, figures to again be a major factor in Furman's offensive game plan and will no doubt be vital to the Paladins' new starting quarterback in 2012. Proven performer Cameron Mason (6-3, 233, Jr.) also returns after catching seven passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns a year ago. WIDE RECEIVERS fective unit thanks to the return of Ryan Culbreath (6-4, 213, Jr.) and Daniel McFadden (6-2, 198, Sr.). Culbreath earned 10 starts at split end a year ago and caught 18 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns. McFadden, meanwhile, registered eight catches, including two for scores, and aver- aged a team leading 22.5 yards per reception. Will King (6-0, 180, Sr.) is an- Furman graduated two of its top three wide receivers but appears set to again field an ef- other returning wideout with quality experience, and the Paladins will also look to Gary Robinson (6-0, 209, So.), Kevin Allman (6-3, 209, Jr.), and Jordan Snellings (6-2, 185, R-Fr.) to round out their receiving rotation. QUARTERBACK Emert (6-2, 260, So.). Storms, who counts 12 career starts, battled back from an injury-plagued 2010 campaign to log nine starts at right guard a year ago. Emert, meanwhile, garnered SoCon All-Freshman Team and College Sports Journal All-Freshman Team accolades after displaying impressive versatility in 2011, logging starts in seven games and seeing action at three positions, including both guard slots and right tackle. The trio of Dozier, Storms, and Emert are critical to Furman's potential offensive success because the center and left guard positions will likely be manned by players with little game experience. Tank Phillips (6-1, 289, So.) appears to have the inside track to step in at left guard, and walk-on Eric Thoni (6-0, 269, R-Fr.) emerged from spring practice as the probable heir-apparent to graduated center Daniel Spisak. Aside from Will White (6-1, 260, Sr.), who is expected to back up Phillips, a number of untested per- formers will battle for backup roles, including tackles Justin Floyd (6-3, 270, R-Fr.) and Joey Negley (6-5, 265, R-Fr.), guard Joe Turner (6-3, 255, R-Fr.), and centers Grayson Weber (6-4, 276, So.) and Ryan Marks (6-4, 270, So.). TIGHT END Colin Anderson (40 rec., 696 yds., 7 TDs in 2011) is the top tight end in FCS. campaign that saw him register a Furman record 40 catches for 696 yards (17.4 ypc) and seven touchdowns. Blessed with outstanding hands and mobility, Anderson, who played quarterback strengths, tight end tops the list with the return of Sports Network and Walter Camp Foundation All-America performer Colin Anderson (6-4, 237, Sr.), who is coming off a 2011 4 In terms of Furman's positional tion was unsettled heading into the preseason until Chris Forcier stepped up, claimed the job, and proceeded to lead FCS in passing efficiency (172.36 rating) while rewriting several Furman passing and total offense standards. Fast forward a year and the Paladins will sport a new signal caller, mostly likely Dakota A year ago the quarterback posi- Dakota Derrick appears set to take over the start- ing quarterback duties this fall. Derrick (6-4, 222, Sr.), Forcier's understudy in 2011. Derrick brings experience to the field, having registered action in 12 games and a pair of starts over the past two seasons. He's passed for 300 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for 251 yards and three scores Derrick's backup will likely be Reese Hannon (6-0, 192, Fr.) RUNNING BACKS in rushing effectiveness over the last few seasons, Furman rediscovered its ground game last year behind a more physical line and instinctive, hard-nosed running by All-Southern Conference performer Jerodis Wil- liams (5-11, 208, Sr.). In rushing for 1,055 yards and nine touchdowns, he recorded the first 1,000-yard season by a Paladin since 2003, notching five 100-yard performances, including a season ending 133-yard, two- touchdown effort against Florida. Hank McCloud (5-8, 188, After a slow but steady decline So.) will serve as Williams' backup and see plenty of action following a freshman campaign that saw him rush for 241 yards and a score. The graduation of fullback Jerodis Williams, a 2011 All-SoCon choice, ran for 1,055 yards and nine touchdowns a year ago. Tersoo Uhaa, who tallied 1,491 yards and 31 rushing touchdowns in his career, is a notable loss. His