The Horned Frogs are ranked number 6 by the pre-season Associated Press poll and the USA Today Coach’s Poll.  Oregon State will be considered a challenger for the Pac 10 Championship.  Their should be an electric atmosphere in Arlington on September 4th.

North Texas will kick off their season on the road against the always-dangerous Clemson Tigers (September 4th).  The Tigers always has exceptional talent, but will be starting over after the career of C. J. Spiller who had 3,547 yards rushing in four years for Clemson.  Could the Mean Green sneak in to Death Valley and pull off the upset?  Who will take the field at quarterback for Todd Dodge and UNT?  The Tigers have snagged a number 24 ranking in the pre-season AP poll.

SMU will start with a road game against Texas Tech and their new head coach Tommy Tuberville (September 5th).  Double T has a new meaning in Lubbock with Tuberville taking over for the departed Mike Leach.  Tech will enter the pre-season ranked 21st.  The quarterback battle is as big of a question in Lubbock as it is settled in Dallas.  Kyle Padron will start his second season as the top QB for June Jones and the Mustangs.  What kind of fireworks will these two teams shoot off  in the Lubbock sky?  Pony Up?  Guns Up?

In just a few short days, all three teams will begin Fall camp.  Of course, there is nothing Fall about the North Texas summers!  Could this be a magical year for DFW teams?  Can TCU return to a BCS bowl?  Can SMU upset Houston and go on to win the Conference USA Championship?  And, is this the breakthrough year for Todd Dodge in Denton?

Stay with Dfwfootball.net to find out!

Mean Green Outlook

Defense:

DL

The D-Line returns two JUCO transfers from last year at the defensive tackles. Seniors Kelvin Jackson (6’2” 309 lbs.) and Shavod Atkinson (6’2” 307 lbs.) bring a combined 14 starts and 49 tackles from 2009. Defensive end Brandon Akpunku (6’1” 226 lbs.) had 47 tackles in 2009 along with a team leading six sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss. Look for a breakout season from the other DE with K.C. Obi. Obi (6’2” 214 lbs.) is a sophomore who had 26 tackles last year. In the rotation will be; Kyle White (6’2” 309 lbs., So.), John Weber (6’3” 288 lbs., Sr.), Ryan Boutwell (6’3” 245 lbs., Fr.), and Tevinn Cantly (6’4” 301 lbs., So.).

LB’s

MeanGreenSports.com

Leading the linebackers will be yet another preseason 1st team All-SBC in 6’1” 221 lb. senior Craig Robertson. He is the leader of defensive coordinator Gary DeLoach’s 4-3 based scheme. In 2009 Robertson led the team with 107 tackles on his way to Honorable Mention All-SBC honors. Middle linebacker should be filled by A.J. Penson. The 6’1” 225 lb. senior had 51 tackles in 2009. Jeremy Phillips (6’3” 198 lbs.) registered 39 tackles last year and is slated to start at the remaining linebacker slot. Look for contributions from Daniel Prior (6’2” 215 lbs., So.), Forlando Johnson (6’0” 212 lbs., Jr.), and Brad Graham (6’0” 205 lbs., Jr.).

Secondary

The Mean Green secondary looks to improve again this year. Last year they improved from giving up 276 passing yards per game in 2008 to 217 in 2009. The corners will be guarded by Royce Hill (6’0”, 177 lbs., Jr.) who had 47 tackles and 3 int’s last year, and JUCO transfer D’Leon McCord (6’1”, 176 lbs., Jr.). Strong safety will be DaWaylon Cook (6’1”, 196 lbs., Jr.), who was second on the team in tackles with 85, and added 3 pass break ups. Ira Smith (5’11”, 183 lbs., Sr.) is returning to free safety where he contributed 53 tackles, 2 pbu, and a pick last year. Adding depth in the secondary are; Hilbert Jackson (6’1”, 176 lbs., Jr.), Ryan Downing (6’1”, 195 lbs., Jr.), Robbie Gordon (6’0”, 180 lbs., Sr.) and Chris Neal (5’9”, 168 lbs., Sr.).

Special Teams:

Will Atterberry (5’11”, 187 lbs., So.) returns as the punter. Atterberry averaged 39 yards per punt last year with a 31.1 net, also putting 22 punts inside the 20. Incoming freshman Zack Olen (5’9”, 210 lbs.) is slotted to take over the kicking duties.

Look for Darius Carey or Tyler Stradford to take the punt returns. Jamaal Jackson and Royce Hill averaged 27.2 and 26.3 yards per kick return respectively last year and should keep their role this year.

Overall:

The Mean Green look to close out the final season at Fouts Field on a winning note. North Texas travels to Clemson to open up the 2010 season. The season and Fouts Field finale will be against Kansas State. Sandwiched in between the power conference foes will be the usual Sun Belt conference competition, along with, Rice and Army.
2010 should be a turnaround season for the mean green. With better ball control and an improving defense, last years close losses can become wins.

Look for Coach Dodge to be at the helm in 2011.

Mean Green Outlook

Author: Chase Rader

Overview

Heading into his fourth year, head coach Todd Dodge, is facing a make-or-break year. The highly touted former high school coach has yet to have success in Denton. The  North Texas A.D. has put win expectations at 7 to 8 games for the 2010 campaign, or else. Coach Dodge begins the season with possibly the best squad in his tenure. Dodge has 10 senior starters, 5 more in his two deep, and playmakers all over the field.

Dodge will switch to receiver

The biggest off-season move involved his son, Riley Dodge, moving from starting Quarterback to Wide Receiver. That move leaves the biggest void to fill in fall camp. Coach Dodge will have two QB’s to choose from come two-a-days.

Taking care of the football should be a point of emphasis for the Mean Green this season. North Texas was -14 in turnovers last year. A turnaround in ball control should equal more wins. North Texas lost 6 games by 7 points or less in 2009.

Offense

QB

UNT will be lead by either Nathan Tune (6’4”, 206 lbs.) or Derek Thompson (6’4”, 223 lbs.) in 2010. Tune, a redshirt senior, has the edge on experience, starting two games in his career including on the road at Alabama in 2009. Last season, Tune went 69 of 107 for 646 yards, five TD’s and a pair of Int’s. Derek Thompson, a big armed sophomore who burned his redshirt last year against Arkansas State, showed promise and success in the spring game going 14 of 24 for 234 yards and a touchdown.

RB

Whoever wins the QB battle will have a workhorse to hand the ball to. Lance Dunbar (5’9”, 202 lbs. Jr.), 2009 1st team All-Sunbelt Conference pick, returns to build from a solid 2009 campaign that saw him gain 1,378 yards on 200 carries producing 17 TD’s with a 6.9 average. As a sophomore in 2009 Dunbar was 14th in the nation with 114.8 yards per game. Dunbar’s presence should take a lot of pressure off the new quarterback. Adding depth behind Dunbar will be junior James Hamilton (11 att., 47 yds., 1 td., 4.3 avg. in 2009), and freshman Brandin Byrd (5’11”, 185 lbs, 50 yds. spring game).

Receivers

The receiving corps returns most of its’ 2009 unit and adds two more threats. Riley Dodge will add speed and game experience. OU transfer Tyler Stradford (6’2”, 190 lbs., Jr.) has lightning speed and had a great spring game with 3 catches for 111 yards and a big 69 yard TD grab. Senior Jamaal Jackson was picked as a 2010 All-SBC preseason 1st teamer. Jackson hauled in 71 catches for 701 yards with 6 TD’s, just shy of a first down average every time he touched the ball. He leads a solid returning core of receivers that also includes; sophomore Darius Carey (57 rec., 509 yds., 4 tds., 8.9 avg.), senior Michael Outlaw (41 rec., 473 yds., 2 tds., 11.5 avg.), junior B.J. Lewis (21 rec., 265 yds., 12.6 avg.), and senior Alex Lott (21 rec., 163 yds., 1 td., 7.4 avg.).

Line

Paving the way for Lance Dunbar and the new signal caller in 2010 will be a very experienced O-Line. Anchoring the line at the tackle positions are two seniors with 70 starts between them. Esteban Santiago (6’3”, 296 lbs.) was nabbed preseason 1st team All-SBC, as well as, 2nd team All-SBC last year. His counterpart is 6’4” 261 lbs. Victor Gill, who is a 3 year starter. Fellow senior Kelvin Drake (6’2”, 280 lbs.) adds 26 starts and will be at guard again this year where he earned SBC Honorable Mention honors last year. The other guard will be 6’4” 305 lbs. pound sophomore Coleman Feeley who had 8 appearances as a true freshman. The center will once again be J.J. Johnson. The 6’3” 283 lbs. junior adds 24 starts at his position.

New

New offensive coordinator Mike Canalas brings successful experience to a North Texas team that needs to win. He has tutored names such as; current San Diego Charger QB Phillip Rivers, and former South Florida QB Matt Grothe, who is the career leader in total offense in the Big East. With a veteran line, an All-SBC running back, and a talented group of receivers, breaking in a new QB for the Mean Green should be smooth transition for the former South Florida offensive coordinator.

TCU 41
UNLV 0
Recap

SMU  27
Tulsa 13
Recap

UNT 68
W KY 49
Recap

In fact, three of their first five games are at home.  Will that help them get more wins this year.  One can only hope.

2009 UNT Schedule

September 3
at Ball State

September 12
Ohio

September 19
at Alabama

September 26
Florida Atlantic

October 3
Middle Tennessee State

October 10
at Louisiana-Lafayette

October 17
Louisiana-Monroe

October 24
at Troy

October 31
Western Kentucky

November 14
at Florida International

November 21
Army

November 28
at Arkansas State

Bold=Home games, Itallics=Away games

As with all schedules, times and dates are subject to change due to television coverage, etc.