2015 Football Preview: Prairie View A&M
Sam Peshek
First-year Prairie View A&M head coach Willie Simmons inherits plenty of firepower but enters his first season with the Panthers searching for defensive answers.
Prairie View (5-5, 5-4 SWAC) ranked at the top of the conference in most offensive categories last season, finishing second in scoring (36.6 points per game), second in total offense (460.6 yards per game), third in rushing (196 ypg) and sixth in passing (222.1 ypg) while allowing only eight sacks.
It was a different story on the defensive side of the ball as the Panthers ranked eighth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in scoring defense (35.3 ppg), 10th in total defense (463.6 ypg), 10th in rushing defense (217.2 ypg) and sixth in passing defense (246.4 ypg). Among the nation's 121 FCS teams, PVAMU ranked 106th in total defense and 107th against the run.
Simmons, the former Alcorn State offensive coordinator, is looking to instill some discipline into the SWAC's most heavily-penalized team (103.1 ypg).
Following the graduation of Jerry Lovelocke, the Panthers will start the season with a new quarterback. Junior Trey Green, who completed 10-of-15 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown.
Despite the absence of a seasoned quarterback, the Panthers bring back plenty of firepower, starting with senior running back Johnta Hebert. A first-team All-SWAC performer, the former Baton Rouge Glen Oaks standout accounted for a conference-best 2,253 all-purpose yards. He led the SWAC in kickoff returns with 32 for a 28.7-yard average and placed second in the league in rushing with 170 carries for 1,063 yards and 12 scores while hauling in 32 receptions for 269 yards and two TDs.
Hebert is complemented in the rushing attack by sophomore Arthur Lockett (55 carries, 355 yards, 1 TD).
Lake Charles LaGrange product Nick Pitre (30 receptions, 541 yards, 7 TDs) and sophomore Rayshaun Givens (16-317-2) return at the receiver positions.
PVAMU lost its best defensive player in first-team All-SWAC linebacker Jerome Howard (119 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks).
Sophomore nickelback Damond Jackson (80 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1 interception) ranked third on the team in tackles and earned second-team All-SWAC recognition as a true freshman out of New Orleans Landry-Walker.
Among the other key holdovers are junior linebacker Jamespaul Bryant (40 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 sacks) and senior cornerback and LaGrange product Jalen Thibodeaux (38 tackles, 2 TFL).
Losing both specialists, including first-team All-Conference kicker Chris Barrick, the Panthers face the task of overhauling the kicking game.
PRAIRIE VIEW A&M SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT TIME
(Labor Day Classic at Houston/BBVA Compass Stadium)
Sept. 5 Texas Southern TBA
Sept. 12 Texas State 6:00
Sept. 19 at Alabama A&M* 6:00
(State Fair Classic at Dallas/Cotton Bowl)
Sept. 26 Grambling* 4:00
Oct. 3 University of Faith 1:00
Oct. 10 Mississippi Valley* (HC) 2:00
Oct. 17 at Southern* 4:00
Oct. 31 Arkansas-Pine Bluff* 1:00
Nov. 7 at Alcorn State* 2:00
Nov. 14 at Alabama State* 2:00
Nov. 21 Jackson State* 1:00
Bold Games: Home
* Conference Games
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