2019 NCAA Division I College Football Team Previews: Drake Bulldogs
Drake Bulldogs
Location: Des Moines, IA
Coach: Todd Stepsis (0-0), 1st season at Drake
Stadium: Drake Stadium (Capacity: 14,557)
CSJ Projections:
2nd: Pioneer
4th: Iowa
83rd: FCS
213th: Division I
2018 In A Sentence: The Bulldogs finished 2018 with a 7-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in the Pioneer Football League to tie for second in the league standings in what would be Coach Rich Fox’s last season with the team as he resigned after the season.
Biggest Shoes to Fill: DE Nathan Clayberg was named the PFL Defensive Player of the Year and captained one of the nation’s top as the Bulldogs ranked eighth nationally in scoring defense (18.3 ppg), 13th in total defense (198.3 ypg), and sixth in rushing defense (95.1 ypg). He recorded 33 tackles including 9.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
Key Player: S Will Warner will look to take over the leadership role this year on the Bulldog defense. The now-senior totaled 45 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss and recorded an FCS leading eight interceptions and an FCS leading 223 return yards on those picks in 2018. in being named an All-PFL first team performer. He was also named to the AP All-American squad for his efforts.
Fearless Prediction: The Bulldogs did not look far for its new head coach as defensive coordinator Todd Stepsis takes over the head spot this year. His defense should be the best in the PFL but the biggest question mark is the Bulldog offense. Drake ranked next to last in total offense and was dead last in rushing yards a year ago. If the offense can put up a little more, the Bulldogs will challenge for the PFL crown but that is a big if so Drake likely will be just short of the crown again (Drake last won the PFL in 2011).
Originally from LaMoure, North Dakota, Kent is a 1996 graduate of North Dakota State University. His prior writing experience is over 15 years having previously worked with D2football.com, I-AA.org, and College Sporting News before coming to College Sports Journal in 2016. His main focus is college football is the Missouri Valley Football Conference within the Division I FCS. And in 2017, he began also to look at the FBS Group of Five conferences of the American Athletic, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West, and Sun Belt.
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