QB - Brandon Noohi threw for more than 4,700 yards with 32 TDs the past two seasons and received first team All-LSC North honors in 2009, and second team in 2008. Ethan Sharp attempted just 4 passes last season.
RB - Another spot with no experience. Jason Palmer and Ben Birmingham combined for 1,203 yards and 9 TDs rushing, with Palmer picking up a spot on the first team LSC-North.
DL - Jermell Cudjo and Freddie Harris will be a hard act to follow. Sam Moses received honorable mention LSC North honors, and Quinton Price started 8 games, but it will be hard to replace Harris and Cudjo, who combined for 114 tackles, with 25 for losses and 12 sacks. The top 7 returning players totalled 97 tackles, 11.5 for losses and 5.5 sacks. The good news is that the seven are a young group - just one senior, three juniors and three sophomores for next fall.
LB - First team All-LSC North selection Tucker Cason is back, but it will be difficult to replace Terrance Hill and Terry Hardeman and their combined 169 tackles with 17.5 for losses.
Need Depth:
WR - The Bronchos lose another first team All-LSC North player in Ryan Gallimore, but do return some talented youngsters with experience. Daniel Morrell was a second team All-LSC North pick, and he combined with Dolphin Davis, Matt Jackson and Tucker Holland to catch 100 passes for 1,150 yards and 7 TDs.
OL - Luke Sapolu was a first team All-LSC North selection, and he combined with Andrew McCabe and Jeremy Palmoore to start 24 games last year. Cody Hughes (2nd All-LSC North) leads the returning linemen. Corbin Burchett, Cody Ellett, Jake Kessen and Hughes combined to start 25 games, but Kessen and Ellett will be seniors.
DB - Gone are starters Maurice Henry, Prentice Muse and Caleb Prince (with 8 Ints between them), but back are All American Giorgio Durham (8 Ints as a sophomore in 2009), Joey Fallon, Cordarrow Milton, and Anthony Anderson.
The Bronchos dipped into Texas for several of their offensive recruits. QB Brett Maxie, RB Dante Lipscomb and WR Terrance Davis were terrific pickups for UCO. They will join RB Kwame Tate and WR's Cole Eddy, Derek Serowski and Blake Gatewood from Oklahoma. Garrett Sullivan was a top rated offensive line prospect last year. Not as many signees on the defensive side, but DL Terry Williamson, LB Jon Bullock, LB Aaron James and DB Steven Daniels should be helping UCO before long.
The wildcard in the group of newcomers is Artrell Woods. Woods (ESPN profile) was a top 50 WR recruit out of HS. He was at Oklahoma State before a freak accident nearly left him paralyzed in 2007. He returned to the field in 2008 for his sophomore season, but did not have the same explosiveness and speed.
LSC Ranking - 10
Overall Grade- B
A nice class, but small, with just 18 announced signings. Appear to have done very well on offense, but not a great deal of help for the defense. This class could be an A if Woods is able to get back close to his pre-injury form.
