And So It Begins

With camp over, Ferrum has posted their roster, and had a scrimmage against Guilford. While I have no specific information, I understand that Ferrum struggled somewhat against a strong Quaker team. Guilford, who until last year had not had a lot of recent success with football, turned things around last year, and were in the mix for the ODAC title. This year, they received votes in the d3football.com top 25 pre-season poll. As long as there were no serious injuries, Ferrum benefited from the scrimmage.

What Should We Expect This Season?

As I see it, Ferrum has some real positives coming into the season. They also have some areas that I would call unknowns. I read today in the D3football.com publication of Kickoff, that Ferrum is predicted to finish last in the USA South with a record of 1-9. I was a little shocked by this, but with the parity in the conference, anything is possible.

I think we can look for Tim Reynolds to have a very good year, and in general for the offense to be effective. The offensive line will be young, and they will need to develop quickly for Ferrum to contend, but Ferrum will be better on offense. On defense, I am at a loss as to what to expect. I do believe the defense will improve for three reasons. One is Phil Elmassian. Coach E is solid, and will have these guys on point. Second, I think this has been a good recruiting season, and I look for some solid freshman help on defense, and Third, there is nowhere to go but up. Ferrum's defense will be a work in progress, but I am confident, they will improve.

Ferrum can contend for the conference, but they will have an uphill battle. Look for this to be a rebuilding year. A strong foundation is being built, but patience is key.