UAB Blazers

Head Coach

Neil Callaway	2nd year
07-08	2-10
C-USA	1-7
FCR	113

Previous Season Wins

Head Coach - The Blazers should improve on last seasons two wins in Neil Calloways’ 2nd year at the helm with seventeen returning starters and an influx of 11 JUCO’s. But in order to accomplish this they’ll need improvement on both sides of the ball and they must win the turnover battle, they were -5 last season and ranked 88th nationally in turnovers.

Quarterback - Returning at quarterback is junior Joseph Webb; he’s a big mobile QB with the skills to take over a game. He split time last season and his numbers reflect that as he threw for only 679 yards and 5 TD’s, the job is his now and Webb showed with an outstanding spring performance that he’s ready. Sophomore Anthony Speight will backup Webb and he has a good arm and much like Webb is more than capable of tucking the ball and running when the need arises.

Running Backs - The competition for the starting spot is at running back is currently between sophomore Dexter Barnett and junior Justin Brooks. UAB had the 104th ranked rushing attack last season, Similar in size Brooks runs better between the tackles and Barnett is a true scat back. JUCO Aaron Brooks, a one-time Alabama player is clearly the most talented back and will start if he can get his grades in order, but that’s a big if.

Receivers - The Blazers have a solid group of young receivers returning led sophomore Frantrell Forrest who’ll start at the H slot, he had a team-high 49 receptions for 563 yards and 5 TD’s. Other retuning starters include sophomore Mario Wright at the X and at tight end sophomore Jeffery Anderson, Wright had 27 receptions for 272 TD’s and had a great spring while Anderson man the C-USA All-Freshman team last season. At the X will be sophomore Mike Jones, UAB has good depth in junior Rashaud Slaughter and seniors Darryl Harris and Sylvester Mencer, Slaughter was at running back last year and had 325 yards on the ground and caught 22 passes for 123 yards. Incoming JUCO star Roddell Carter is a big receiver and should be immediately in the mix this fall.

Offensive Line - UAB has many questions up front, one thing is certain junior Jake Seitz will start and it looks like at right guard with redshirt freshman Caleb Thomas appearing to be the starter coming out of spring practice at center. Likewise look for a pair of sophomores outside with Matt McCants at left tackle and at right tackle Terrence Edge with junior Daniel Seahorn at the right guard spot. Another pair of sophomores will provide depth in Adam Hollifield and Logan Creel, the units’ pass protection is adequate but there needs to be a concerned effort to improve the running attack if UAB hopes to improve on last seasons W-L.

Defensive Line - Another young unit with four returning starters and not a senior among them, at defensive end are sophomore Bryant Turner and junior Joe Happe, inside will be a pair of sophomore in D.J. Reese at defensive and at nose tackle Tim Davis. Senior Richard Carter will push for playing time on the outside, it’s an undersized unit that struggles mightily against the run as they were ranked 119th nationally.

Linebackers - Linebacker Joe Henderson is the unquestioned leader of the defense, the senior had 109 tackles and 5 sacks from his strongside position and he’s outstanding against the pass as well. and junior Kyle Roget Senior Terry Thomas had a solid spring and has locked up the spot in the middle and on weakside sophomores Keon Harris and Mike Tashman will battle for time. With the exception of Henderson they’re undersized and struggle against the run, look for UAB to blitz often with the linebackers to take advantage of the groups main strength, speed.

Defensive Backs - This is a veteran unit with three starter retuning, at the safeties a pair of seniors in Will Dunbar at free safety and at strong safety Matt Taylor and at one corner junior Kevin Sanders. Dunbar is a returning 1st team All-C-USA performer who’s a physical player who led the Blazers with 122 tackles, Taylor is solid against the run and had 70 tackles last year. Junior Brandon Carlisle will man the other corner but redshirt freshman Ugonna Amarikawa played well in the spring and has the speed to bean asset to a unit that has struggled mightily against the pass for past few years.

Special Teams - Senior Swayze Waters was solid at placekicker last season hitting 22 of 28 including an outstanding 11 from beyond 40 yards, he’ll also line up at punter where he averaged 41.4 on his kicks. The return units are solid with senior Kevin Sanders, junior Rashaud Slaughter and sophomore Frantrell Forrest all capable of taking it the distance.

Schedule - Bad, very bad for a team hoping to improve on a two win season this isn’t a schedule conducive to that goal. Seven road games, certain losses at Tennessee and South Carolina and they avoid none of projected the C-USA powers. If they can beat Memphis and Marshall at home they could be playing late in the year with a .500 mark in their sights, the Blazers are a still a year away look for only 2 wins in 08’.