The Kent State Golden Flashes broke a 40 year bowl drought in 2012, by going 11-3 on the year. Last year it seemed business as normal, as they went just 4-8 overall and 3-5 in the MAC, so are they one-hit wonders or can their 14 returning starters make a comeback this year? We shall see. Preview & schedule are below.
The Golden Flashes put up 12.3 ppg less last year than they did in 2012 and a big reason was inconsistent play at the QB spot. Colin Reardon is back to run the offense and according to spring reports he should be much better than his freshman year. He has a few solid weapons to throw to this year, including last year’s receiver Chris Humphrey, who caught 51 balls for 61 yards and 3 TD’s last year. The Running game should be solid, with the return of top back, Trayion Durham, who ran for 766 yards and 6 TDs last year. The OL was a big problem for this team last year, but with 3 starters back and decent depth it now looks like the strength of this offense. The defense has been average for Kent the last few years and it looks to be average again, although they should allow less than the 26.9 ppg they allowed last year. 7 starters are back including 2 of their top 3 tacklers from last year and LB Nate Vance who tied for the team lead in sacks with 3.5. The LB corps is still the weakness of this defense, while the secondary is very average and the DL should improve greatly on the 199 ypg rushing they allowed last year.
The Golden Flashes had a brilliant year in 2012, but last year it was back to losing and this year looks like it could be another losing one. They really have just average talent overall on both sides of the ball, but they do look to be solid in the trenches. The schedule looks much tougher in 2012 and certainly tougher than last year, as they have non-conf road games vs Ohio State and Virginia, while also going on the road vs Bowling Green, buffalo and Northern Illinois in the MAC, plus they get home games vs Toledo and a dangerous and improved Akron team at home. Hard to see more than 5 wins from Kent this year. KEY TREND: 0-6 ATS before playing Miami-Ohio
2014 Kent State Football Schedule
Aug. 30 Ohio
Sep. 6 South Alabama
Sep. 13 at Ohio State
Sep. 20 OPEN DATE
Sep. 27 at Virginia
Oct. 4 at NIU
Oct. 11 UMass
Oct. 18 Army
Oct. 25 at Miami Univ.
Nov. 4 Toledo
Nov. 8 OPEN DATE
Nov. 12 at Bowling Green
Nov. 19 at Buffalo
Nov. 25 Akron
Info gathered From Phil Steele's CFB Preview and Athlon Sports
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