Florida A&M (9-3, 5-3)
Key returning players: QB Curtis Pulley (1,382 yards passing, 17 TDs, 885 yards rushing); DB/KR Leroy Vann (1,612 total yards, 6 TDs).

Outlook: Year Two of the Joe Taylor era in Tallahassee could very well be the Year of the Rattlers in the MEAC. The Rattlers return 18 starters and are brimming with confidence after a year in Taylor’s system. They have an abundance of playmakers on offense in addition to Pulley, a preseason candidate for the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the top offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). TB Philip Sylvester (717 yards) is a home run threat with sprinter’s speed, and WRs Kevin Elliott, Adrian Smith and Isaac West combined for 125 receptions, almost 2,000 yards and 17 TDs. C Steven Brazzle is the lone newcomer on the offensive line. If there is a concern for the Rattlers, it would have to be their defense, which allowed a conference high 204.1 yards passing a game and eighth among nine teams in total yards allowed per game (339.2). The Rattlers were also in the bottom third in the conference in points allowed per game (23.6). Another problem for the Rattlers: They have lost six consecutive times to South Carolina State and four consecutive times to Delaware State.

What they’re saying: “We want to accomplish at a high level. There is a lot of want to be anyplace where people don’t expect much because you are a part of it.’ I always say don’t let people think more of you than you think of yourself.’’ – Head Coach Joe Taylor

South Carolina State (10-3, 8-0)
Key returning players: RB Will Ford (1,499 yards rushing, 13 TDs); S Markee Hamlin (All-MEAC).

Outlook: The Bulldogs are primed to defend 2008 MEAC championship – their first outright title under Coach Buddy Pough – with 45 lettermen and 13 starters returning. Their success hinges on their ability to retool the offensive line, where they lost three starters, and to replace Octavius Darby, their do-everything tight end. All-MEAC LT Johnny Culbreath (6-6, 310) is the cornerstone of the offensive line. Dewain Clark has moved from quarterback to tight end, and figures to be adequate replacement for Darby. The Bulldogs should have a potent passing game. QB Malcolm Long returns after stellar performance in his first season as the starter, and he will have WR Oliver Young (48 catches, 605 yards) back as his favorite target. But the running game will be where the Bulldogs make their money. Ford and Travil Jamison (586 rushing yards, 16 TDs) form the most productive rushing tandem in the conference. Once again, the Bulldogs will hang their hat on defense. They were No. 1 fewest points allowed (17.0) and No.2 in fewest rushing yards allowed per game (106.2 a game) and fewest total yards allowed per game (270.0). With seven defensive starters returning, including Hamlim and LB Marshall McFadden (2nd team All-MEAC), there is no reason to expect a drop off.

Norfolk State (5-7, 3-5)
Key returning players: FS Terrell Whitehead (FCS All-American; 4 INTs, 83 tackles); RB DeAngelo Branche (1,055 yards rushing, 10 TDs).

Outlook: Injuries ruined the 2008 season for the Spartans, the surprise team in the conference the year before with eight victories, as a dozen players went down with a variety of ailments. Last season’s debacle, however, may well have laid the foundation for success this season. The Spartans ended 2008 by winning three of their last four games; 16 starters return to build on that momentum. QB Dennis Brown returns after passing for 1,582 yards in his first season as the starter. The Spartans tweaked their offense during the spring to take advantage of Brown’s running and passing ability. That should give Branche more room to operate in the running game. Penn State transfer Chris Bell will be a prime target for Brown’s passes. The Spartans must replace two-thirds of their defensive line. Senior Ray Jennings is the most experienced returning defensive lineman, having started seven games. The secondary is the strength of the defense with three returning starters – Whitehead, who has 13 career INTs, CB Jamie Short and SS Josh Anderson.
What they’re saying: “We got to win the fourth quarter. We didn’t win the fourth quarter last year. If we win it, we’ve got a chance to go 8-4 or 9-3 by winning those games. We had the opportunity but we didn’t win it. I think we have the opportunity to win this year.’’ – Head Coach Pete Adrian

Bethune-Cookman (8-3, 5-3)
Key returning players: QB Maurice Francois (205 yards passing, 363 yards rushing); DT Dexter Jackson (57 tackles, 4.5 sacks).

Outlook: The Wildcats proclaim they are “Refreshed and Ready’’ for the 2009 season after tying for second place in the conference last year. Their success will depend largely on how effective Coach Alvin Wyatt is in rebuilding the offensive line, where Ryan Griffin and Justin Cotman top experienced returnees. Coach Alvin Wyatt has shuffled some players around in an effort to bolster the line. If the line jells, the Wildcats’ Wyatt-bone offense should be extremely potent. Francois is fully covered from a broken collarbone that he suffered against Delaware State and will give the Wildcats a true option quarterback for the first time in the past several seasons. The Wildcats are loaded on defense with nine starters returning from the unit that was second in the conference in points allowed per game in 2008 (19.0). Wyatt has set some lofty goals for the defense. They include leading the nation in turnover margin and ranking among the top teams nationally in fewest rushing yards allowed. If the Wildcats reach those marks, and lead the nation in rushing offense as Wyatt hope they will, they should finish atop the MEAC.

What they’re saying: “We’re going to compete and we’re going to show up. Whoever shows up is going to have an opponent who will fight them to the bitter end. I can’t predict what’s going to happen, but I feel good about our chances.” – Head Coach Alvin Wyatt

Hampton (6-5, 5-3)
Key returning players: QB Herbert Bynes (2,713 passing yards, 19 TDs); DT Kendrick Ellis (All-MEAC; 39 tackles, 3.5 sacks).

Outlook: First-year coach Donovan Rose is no stranger to the Pirates’ program. He was an assistant coach at Hampton the past 18 years, including last season when he was defensive coordinator, and played four years in the Pirates’ defensive secondary in the late 1970s. His job is to pick up the pieces of what was a disappointing 2008 season that saw the Pirates lose four of their last five games following a 5-1 start. Having 42 lettermen and 13 starters will be an immense help. The Pirates have Bynes, their record-setting quarterback, back. However, they must develop a receiving corps as the top three receivers graduated. RB LaMarcus Coker is top pass catcher among returnee with 20 receptions in 2008. Kyle Lloyd is the top returning wide receiver with 14 receptions. Rose will also need to figure out a way to get more production from the running game, which only averaged 106.4 yards a game. The defense should be solid with Ellis, LB Michael Swett and S Jonathan Wade expected to have big years.

What they’re saying: “I want our players and our alumni to know where we came from. We’ve had a lot of success over the years. When we were successful, we did things a certain way. I think the discipline, leadership and attention to detail were some of the things that were missing (last season). I think under my leadership, we’ll bring that back.’’ – Head Coach Donovan Rose

Morgan State (6-6, 4-5)
Key returning players: CB Darren McKhan (preseason All-MEAC); RB Devan James (1,337 yards rushing, 8 TDs).

Outlook: This could be the season that the Bears get over the hump after several seasons of knocking on the door of becoming one the premier teams in the MEAC. Carlton Jackson runs at quarterback and will command a more wide-open attack that first-year coordinator Lawrence Livingston has installed. The Bears want to achieve better balance between throwing the ball and running it, involve more people in their offense and spread opponents out. A solid and experienced line, led by preseason All-American OT Robert Norris (6-4, 315), will go a long way toward allowing the Bears to implement their new scheme. The Bears were No. 1 in FCS in total defense (213.4 yards a game) in 2008, and there is no reason they won’t be just as good. They have an imposing front four. All-MEAC DE Justin Lawrence (8 sacks) and DT Sheldon Jacques (6-3, 305) form the most imposing pass duos in the conference. McKhan and CB Kendall Jamison are among the best in the conference at their position.

What they’re saying: “In the past, when you looked at Morgan, we were going to come downhill at you with two back, try to keep the score close and the game at the end. We have gravitated back to the one-back set, spreading people out and throwing the ball around and running it as well. You’re going to see a different tempo that what you’ve seen from us in the past.” – Head Coach Donald Hill-Eley 

Delaware State (5-6, 5-3)
Key returning players: SS Avery Grant (68 tackles, 2 sacks); OT Mike Maloney (preseason All-MEAC).

Outlook: The Hornets are out to regain their championship swagger after enduring their first losing record since 2004. It will be difficult off the bat to compete for the championship as the Hornets were forced to forfeit their meeting with North Carolina A&T on Oct. 17 because they will play the University of Michigan instead.  To do so, they must retool their offense, particularly at the skill positions. The Hornets return four of five linemen, led by Maloney. But they will count on unproven performers at virtually every other position. The most critical spot is quarterback, where redshirt freshman Nick Elko and redshirt sophomore Anthony Glaud are vying to replace four-year starter Vashon Winton. Glaud played in eight games and completed 23 of 36 passes for 266 yards and 2 TDs. Larrone Moore (32 catches, 319 yards, 1 TD) is the top returning wide receiver. The Hornets will be equally inexperienced on defense with just five starters back. Three of those starters – Grant, FS Jerome Strums and CB Francis Adjei – play in the secondary. DT Andre Carroll and LB Mike Gable are the only returning starters among the front seven.

What they’re saying: “Last year was the opposite of the year before. Two years ago we won three or four games right at the very end. This past year we had three opportunities exactly like that and we couldn’t capitalize. As a result we had a very ordinary team. – Head Coach Al Lavan