Team Preview (PDF) | Video
Central Arkansas followed up its first NCAA Division I playoff appearance in 2011 with another one in 2012. Both Bears squads reached the second round of the playoffs.
So what do they do for an encore in 2013? A deeper run in the playoffs is definitely the goal, and the Bears just might have the firepower to do that.
With a talented cast returning from last year’s 9-3 Southland Conference co-championship squad, and several quality newcomers set to fill some key holes, Coach Clint Conque’s 14th team hopes to once again challenge for the Southland Conference title and another playoff berth.
Conque, the winningest coach in UCA history with 98 victories, has to replace his top three running backs and top two wide receivers on the offensive side, as well as its Nos. 3-4 tackles on defense. But with a fast, deep and athletic defense and the leadership of Southland offensive player of the year Wynrick Smothers at quarterback, the Bears should not miss a beat.
Smothers, a senior from Destrehan, La., threw for 3,101 yards and 31 touchdowns last season, and added 449 rushing yards, which was second on the team. Smothers completed 64.9 percent of his passes and threw just nine interceptions in 427 attempts.
His top target in 2013 will be junior Dezmin Lewis, who caught 56 passes for 616 yards and six touchdowns a year ago. Transfers Justin Burdette from Southern Miss and Courtney Whitehead from Air Force will provide two more big targets, while sophomore Blake Gardner, juniors Clay Murphy, Damien Watts and Jacoby Walker and redshirt freshman Desmond Smith will also be in the rotation.
Junior Willie Matthews will be the feature running back, with help from sophomore Blake Veasley, replacing the trio of Jackie Hinton, Terence Bobo and Anthony Blackmon. Senior tight end Chase Dixon caught eight passes with four touchdowns last season and will fill that spot again.
The offensive line returns a load of experience from last season, led by senior All-Southland tackle Dominique Allen, junior All-Southland tackle Cole Caruthers and sophomore Kyle Stouffer. D.J. Appe, C.J. Simon, Lance Kloker and Alex Willis are the others with returning experience.
The defense will be led by yet another Southland freshman of the year Jonathan Woodard, a defensive end who garnered national attention after last season. He will be joined up front by senior end Markeith Gaines, one of the strongest players on the team, senior tackle Matt Hornbuckle, junior nose guard T. J. Randall and sophomore end Derek Floyd.
Senior linebacker Justin Heard led the Bears in tackles last season (100 total, 15 for loss) and heads an experienced group there. Senior Radarius Winston will fill the role of nickel back/linebacker that All-Southland selection Seth Allison filled the previous two years, while juniors Blake Childress and Zach Bush, sophomores Ricky Wyatt and D.J. Holland and redshirt freshman Aum’Arie Wallace will round out the linebacking corps.
All-Southland safety Jestin Love, the Southland Freshman of the year three years ago, leads and active secondary that includes seniors Marcus Peters and Josh Jones at corner and senior Karl Brady and junior Marvin Mitchell at safety. Sophomore cornerback Dillion Winfrey is also back after starting during the latter half of the 2012 season.
First team all-conference placekicker Eddie Camara returns for his junior season after hitting 53 of 54 PATs and 13 of 15 field goals, including a 47-yard, game-winner with 23 seconds left against McNeese State. Punting duties should fall to junior-college transfer Jonathan Harrison. Love will returns punts, while Whitehead and Winfrey are slated to fill Jesse Grandy’s shoes at kickoff returns. UCA’s holder and snappers all return from last season.
The Bears open the 2013 season at home on “The Stripes” against Southland newcomer UIW Aug. 29, before visiting Colorado. UCA has home league games with McNeese, Stephen F. Austin, Southeastern Louisiana and Sam Houston State.