Soccer is a sport by which you win so long as you could have yet one more level than your opponent on the finish of play.
That is very true in a aggressive convention such because the MEAC.
Nonetheless, it’s all the time good to have a protection that may restrict the variety of factors scored towards you to make the offense’s job simpler.
With three groups rating within the FCS prime 20 a season in the past, we look at which MEAC groups have the very best and worst defenses heading into the 2025 season.
6. Delaware State
The place do the Hornets need assistance? Take your decide.
DSU allowed 37 factors per sport final yr, 242 yards per contest passing, and a ghastly 190 yards dashing per sport, all good (or unhealthy) for final within the MEAC.
DeSean Jackson’s recruiting class contains FBS transfers Derek Boyd (Hawai’i) and Alexander Cobbs (San Jose State) to help the entrance seven, however shedding defensive again and main tackler Khaleef Jimmison to convention rival Norfolk State hurts an already inexperienced secondary a fantastic deal.
5. Norfolk State
Talking of the Spartans, new head coach Michael Vick has retooled the defensive aspect of the ball solely, with transfers in all places from Division II (Chowan defensive deal with Main Dillard) to FBS (Pitt defensive finish David Ojiegbe). These new gamers will exchange unit leaders A.J. Richardson (N.C. State) and Eric Etienne (Western Kentucky).
The Spartans as a unit had been second tier when it comes to factors (28.2) and whole yards (376 per sport) allowed, although they did drive 23 turnovers, second solely to South Carolina State within the MEAC rankings. They’ll must maintain that as much as make a transfer within the convention race this season.
4. Howard
After their 2023 MEAC title yr, which featured a defensive unit ranked second within the convention, the Bison fell onerous in 2024, permitting 341 whole yards per sport and surrendering 26 factors every trip.
Contemplating the variety of stars on their protection (Kenny Gallop Jr., Robert Jones, and Xavier Robiou within the secondary, to call a couple of), that may be a gorgeous reversal.
The important thing for the Bison in 2025 will probably be producing takeaways: Their 13 takeaways in 2024 ranked final within the convention.
3. Morgan State
The Bears have assembled a top-tier protection for the reason that arrival of head coach Damon Wilson and defensive coordinator Antone Sewell from Bowie State in 2022.
The Bears had been prime 3 within the MEAC in factors and yards allowed, second in sacks (28) and sixteenth within the nation in yards allowed.
Dropping all-conference defensive lineman Elijah Williams to commencement diminishes the Bears’ defensive armor. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to anticipate a brand new group of Morgan State gamers will probably be able to step up in key roles in 2025.
2. South Carolina State
Chennis Berry introduced some canines—Bulldogs, that’s—with him in his first season as head coach, they usually had been relentless of their assault, resulting in a MEAC title and Celebration Bowl look final season.
SCSU was second behind North Carolina Central in scoring protection, whole yards allowed and led the convention in dashing protection (119 yards per sport) and whole takeaways (25).
The Bulldogs did lose some key gamers, as Aaron Smith has moved on to the professionals and others have hit the portal, however SC State’s chew can nonetheless be far more harmful than its bark in defending its convention title.
1. North Carolina Central
Contemplating head coach Trei Oliver was an all-CIAA defensive again (and punter), it’s no shock that North Carolina Central has been stable on the defensive aspect of the ball.
The Eagles entrance seven gave groups suits within the passing sport final yr, gathering 28 sacks, appropriate for a second-place MEAC tie with Morgan State. Central ranked tops within the convention in go protection (151 yards per sport allowed) and defensive effectivity (100.5). Their 296 yards allowed had been the seventh-best within the FCS final season.
If the Eagles offense can keep a step forward of the protection, Central will probably be again within the hunt for a visit to Atlanta once more this season.
