WEST GEORGIA
Last season: 6-5, 3-3 in Gulf South Conference
Key returning players: The Wolves are returning senior running back Seth Hinsley (5-foot-10, 225 pounds). Hinsley ranked second in rushing last season for West Georgia, averaging 58.4 yards in 10 of 11 games played. A sophomore cornerback from Alpharetta, Marcus Sayles (5-10, 165) led West Georgia in interceptions, with three for 70 total yards as a freshman starter in 2013. His place in the starting lineup is safe, likely because two of his three interceptions were made against conference opponents Valdosta State and Florida Tech.
Emerging players: A senior from South Cobb High, guard Garrison Ushery (6-1, 335) was an All-GSC player last season and is a preseason All-American for this season. He started nine of 10 games last season. Another promising offensive line returnee and potential All-Star candidate is West Coast import Quincy Awa-Dubose (6-2, 320). A senior from Oxnard, Calif., Awa-Dubose increased his weight 25 pounds since being added to the UWG roster in April.
For the future: Coaches have high hopes for Quin Latimer of Sandersville. The redshirt freshman defensive end completed seven sacks in his senior season at Washington County High and was named to second-team All-State in Class AA. Kaline Toledo is another redshirt freshman with potential. Toledo is a 6-foot, 175-pound defensive back from Mill Creek High. He made 28 tackles as a senior, 13 of them.
They'll have a winning season if: The Wolves can success under new coach Will Hall's scheme changes. West Georgia is moving from a three-man to a four-man up-tempo offense instead of spread. Hall said he's also implementing new schemes in the Wolves' kicking game across the board and that the transition is going well. Hall and his style have proved potent. In his three seasons at West Alabama as head coach, Hall led the Tigers to first place in the GSC in all three.
They'll come up short if: West Georgia barely ended 2013 with a winning record and finished tied for fourth in conference play. To improve upon 2013 the Wolves need more red-zone touchdowns. The Wolves scored 28 in 47 opportunities (59.6 percent). While their opponents averaged an 81 percent red-zone touchdown success rate.
Chatter: Three of Hall's six new coaching hires come from his former West Alabama staff. Offensive coordinator Sam Gregg, assistant coach Desmond Lindsey and offensive line guards and centers coach Cody Kennedy all worked under Hall at West Alabama. … West Georgia plays rival Valdosta State at Valdosta on Oct. 11. … The Wolves have homecoming scheduled for Sept. 20 against Johnson C. Smith. … There are 16 returning starters (including specialists) and 36 lettermen.
Must-see game: West Georgia will kick off GSC play with an Oct. 4 game against Hall's former school, West Alabama. The home-turf advantage might not be enough to secure the Wolves a win, even with Hall on their side this time. West Georgia hasn't defeated West Alabama since 2009 — and they barely escaped with a win then (10-9).
