Bearkats consensus No. 2 preseason pick
7/15/2016 4:47:00 PM | Football
HUNTSVILLE – Sam Houston State head coach K.C. Keeler believes his football program has all the pieces necessary to once again compete for a national championship. This time, the squad looks to grasp what has eluded it in five straight playoff appearances.
The Bearkats are the consensus second-ranked team nationally per Athlon, Sporting News and Lindy's, providing fans to be excited for the upcoming campaign which begins Sept. 3 at Bowers Stadium at 6:30 p.m. against Oklahoma Panhandle State.
“We're pleased with our talent level, our strength and conditioning efforts and the commitment of our players to winning a national championship,” said Keeler. “But we're maybe 10 percent away from a national title. Our goal is to keep improving on the little details that will make the difference in finishing as the No. 3 team in the nation and being the No. 1 team.”
Sam Houston returns 16 starters six on offense, eight on defense and two specialists from a team that stood No. 3 in last season's final STATS FCS poll. Over the past two seasons, the Kats have combined to post a 22-9 record, boasting 30 All-Southland Conference selections.
Among the 49 lettermen returning including first-team All-Southland selections running back Corey Avery and defensive end P.J. Hall. Second-team honoree Yedidiah Louis also is back, entering the season ranked sixth in team lore in career receiving with 142 catches for 1,797 yards.
With quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe under center full-time, Sam Houston will also look to replicate its eye-popping offensive numbers from a season ago. The Bearkats led the nation in total offense at 531.7 yards per game and first downs with 414.
The team reports on Aug. 4 in preparation for its 11-game regular-season schedule. After hosting Oklahoma Panhandle State on Sept. 3, the squad hits the road for four straight including the 91st “Battle of the Piney Woods” presented by H-E-B against Stephen F. Austin at Houston's NRG Stadium on Oct. 1 at 3 p.m.
Season tickets, which include admission to the Bearkats' five home games and matchup against the Lumberjacks in Houston, are currently on sale for as low as $110 by calling (936) 294-1729 or by visiting GoBearkats.com.
