APPALACHIAN STATE
Primary strength: The Mountaineers may not be quite as dominant as they were a few years ago, but in many ways they still set the SoCon standard. ASU’s defense is stout, led by a couple of outstanding linebackers in preseason All-American Jeremy Kimbrough and Brandon Grier.
Primary weakness: Appalachian State has gone through some player and coach turnover this offseason, and it remains to be seen what kind of impact the losses will have. There’s no easy way to replace 6-5 wideout Brian Quick, taken by the St. Louis Rams with the first pick of the second round in the NFL draft.
Incumbents: QB Jamal Jackson, LB Jeremy Kimbrough, LB Brandon Grier, DB Demetrius McCray, WR Andrew Peacock
THE CITADEL
Primary strength: The Bulldogs will continue to be led by their defense while the offense grows through triple-option growing pains. The defense was second only to UTC in 2011 in scoring defense (23.4 ppg) and third in total defense (343.8 ypg) in 2011.
Primary weakness: The Citadel has proven that it can move the ball on the ground with some success. Last season the Bulldogs were third in the FCS with 286.64 rushing yards a game. But the team was dead last in passing yardage at 32.2 per game. You can’t be completely one-dimensional in the SoCon.