POINT
Last season: 3-7, 1-0 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (since moved to The Sun Conference of NAIA)
Key returning players: RB Rufus Mason finished third in the country in rushing, with 5.6 yards per attempt, nine touchdowns and 155 yards per game. Five of Mason's touchdowns were scored in Point's first three games, and he scored one touchdown over the next five games. If he can keep his original momentum into the heart of the season, he will be a valuable asset for Point. P David Strickland ranked No. 4 in NAIA Division I punt yards per attempt (44.3). Mason and Strickland received first-team USA College Football NAIA preseason All-American honors.
Emerging players: LB Matt Hicks led the Skyhawks in tackles with 72 total, six for a loss and 3.5 sacks. K Alec Frear had an outstanding freshman season and should post better stats with a season under his belt. Frear converted 23 of 25 extra points. Frear ranked No. 43 in the nation in field-goal percentage last season.
For the future: Freshman DT Dikembe Billingslea played on the first-team offense during Point's preseason practices. Billingslea was a standout at Troup County High. WR Rodel Shorter (Dutchtown) made waves with an impressive diving catch during 7-on-7 drills in the preseason. Wide receiver is a shallow position for Point, so Shorter most likely will see crucial minutes in his freshman season.
They'll have a winning season if: Coach David Rocker can keep his team from burning out at the end of the season. Rocker is in his second season at the helm, and in his first, the Skyhawks lost their last three games of the season and any chance of having a winning record.
They'll come up short if: The Skyhawks can't replace the strong wide receiver core that dissipated with three seniors graduating. William Eichman, Anthony Armstrong, and Guillermo Rosaly all played their final season at Point. Eichman averaged 17.6 yards per catch, Armstrong had a team-high 25 receptions and four touchdowns, and Rosaly had 11 snags for 114 yards and a score. The Skyhawks' roster this season boasts only three upperclassmen wide receivers.
Chatter: The biggest unknown for the Skyhawks entering the season is the battle for quarterback. Four players are up for the job, and coaches haven't given any word as to who will be under center when Point takes the field against Charleston Southern on Aug. 28. Kier Houston and Jeremy Uzee, who combined for 12 touchdowns as the signal-callers for the Skyhawks, aren't on Point's roster this season, and the team desperately needs to replace them.
Must-see games: Point won one game on the road last season, and four of their first five games this season are in hostile territory. The Skyhawks' most resounding win last season came in a 57-28 blowout of Bluefield College in Point's home opener. If the Skyhawks can have that type of success at Charleston Southern on Aug. 28, it could start off a tough road stretch on the right foot and give Point some much-needed momentum.
