2018 College Football Team Previews: Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs
Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs
Location: Boiling Springs, NC
Coach: Carroll McCray (21-36)
Stadium: Ernest W. Spangler Stadium (Capacity: 9,000)
CSJ Projections:
4th: Big South
12th: North Carolina
93th: FCS
223rd: Division I
2017 In A Sentence: Debate if you want whether the Runnin’ Bulldogs had the toughest schedule in the Big South last year – with three nationally-ranked teams and two FBS schools, essentially, in Wyoming and Liberty – but the 1-10 season was by any measure a bitter disappointment after showing some promise at the end of 2016.
Biggest Shoes to Fill: The biggest question mark facing coach McCray is who will replace QB Tyrell Maxwell, who led the team in passing (1,324 yards) and rushing (930 yards). Three redshirt freshmen QBs lurk on the roster looking to claim the role.
Key Player: In order to play an effective 3-4 defense, you need a big, powerful nose guard, and 5’11, 283 lb NG Josh Ramseur will continue to cement that role in 2018 as the Runnin’ Bulldogs establish their defensive identity.
Fearless Prediction: It seems like there’s too much talent for a repeat 1-10 performance from this Gardner-Webb team, but they’ll need to establish their offense quickly if they want to make any noise in the Big South title race.
Chuck has been writing about Lehigh football since the dawn of the internet, or perhaps it only seems like it. He’s executive editor of the College Sports Journal and has also written a book, The Rivalry: How Two Schools Started the Most Played College Football Series.
Reach him at: this email or click below:
