Richmond Spiders: JMUSB CAA Football Preview #5

The Skinny: Richmond’s football program dates all the way back to 1881. For almost that entire history, the Ticks played consistently mediocre football. Dave Clawson got things pointed in the right direction, coaching the team to 3 winning seasons between 2004 and 2007.  In 2008 Mike London took over and elevated the program to new heights. Richmond won the National Championship in 2008 and had a team that might have been even better in 2009. They racked up 24 wins (13 in the CAA) in that short 2 year span. Then London got tapped to Coach UVA and Latrell Scott had the unenviable opportunity to try to fill his shoes. Scott’s coaching was often criticized, but he did lead the team to a 6-5 record last year. And he did it while battling injuries and being forced to play 4 QBs. So the question remains. Is Richmond an FCS power that took some lumps last year or were the London years an anomaly?

Sometimes Life Throws You a Curveball: Picture yourself as a hot-shot QB heading into your redshirt sophomore year ready to assume the role of starter for the USC Trojans. After a monster spring, you suffer an injury in the preseason and lose your starting spot to a true freshman. Just as your dreams are slipping away, that same freshman gets hurt, you’re vaulted back into the spotlight and named the starter for the PAC 10 opener against an overmatched Washington Huskies team. 60 minutes of terrible football later, you’ve just thrown the fewest passing yards of any USC QB under Pete Carrol, your team has lost, and you’ve earned yourself a permanent seat on the pine. Bim, bam, boom. Three years later and you’re entering your final season of college eligibility, attempting to come back from a nasty knee injury, and eager to prove yourself by quarterbacking the Richmond Spiders. Ladies and gentleman, the Aaron Corp story.

What They Bring Back: The Spiders bring back 8 offensive starters, highlighted by the QB featured above, Mr. Aaron Corp. The USC transfer came to Richmond with a lot of hype, but suffered a season ending knee injury in a week 4 loss against New Hampshire. He had played decent (not great) football up to that point, but if he lives up to the hype from the past, it will mean good things for the Spiders. His top target should be Tre Gray, a talented WR who made All CAA first team last year, despite only having 2 TDs. Fullback Kendal Gaskins also earned All CAA and will be back. Defensively, the Spiders are only returning 5 players, highlighted by Junior LB Darius McMillan. He lead the Spiders with 89 tackles last year. On special teams, Wil Kamin is back and is expected to be one of the top place kickers in the CAA.

What They Lose: The Spiders have some big holes to fill on the defense, with 5 starters lost from last year’s team. McMillan might have led the team in tackles, but his fellow starting linebacker, Eric McBride, was the heart and soul of last year’s defense. McBride was outstanding all year and shared the CAA Defensive Player of the Year with UMass’s Tyler Holmes. They’ll also be replacing half of the D-line, including All-CAA performer Martin Parker, who had a team high 5.5 sacks. On the offensive side of the ball, the Spiders lose their leading rusher, Tyler Kirchoff. However, the Richmond running game wasn’t that great (it sucked) and Kirchoff averaged fewer than 50 yards a game. The other 2 losses are on the o-line including All-CAA Second Team selection Drew Lachenmayer.

Season Outlook: If Corp can come back from injury and show the form that made him one of the top QB recruits in the country coming out of high school, Richmond could surprise some folks. If he merely returns to the form he displayed before his injury though, the Spiders appear destined to return to their mediocre roots. The rushing attack is suspect and they’ll be introducing 4 new starters in the front 7 on D. And the defense wasn’t even that great to begin with last year. Look for the Spiders to hover around .500 for much of the season and finish in the middle of the CAA pack.