Preparations
to improve a 5-7 team last season will begin in Denton, Texas as the Mean Green
begin preseason practice today and conducts its annual media day, events that
will mark the next step in UNT’s preparations for its season opener at LSU.
Second year head coach Dan McCarney seeks leave the Sun Belt a winner.
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| North Texas |
“We
finished fifth in the league last year, which is unacceptable to me,” McCarney
said. “We want to make sure that we do everything we can to make a run at
winning the league this year.”
There
is little doubt about what UNT’s goals are heading into its showdown with the
Tigers and what will follow in the Mean Green’s final season in the Sun Belt
Conference.
UNT
is moving to Conference USA in 2013 and hasn’t been shy about talking of
leaving the league on a high note and ending its seven-year bowl drought. The
Mean Green hasn’t been to the postseason since the 2004 New Orleans Bowl.
The
question UNT will face is whether it has enough in the way of returning talent
and impact additions to make a run at the league title.
North
Texas will have competition at several key positions this fall. Here is a look
at those positions.
•
Running back — UNT lost its
career rushing leader in Lance Dunbar and backup James Hamilton. Brandin Byrd,
Jeremy Brown and Antoninne Jimmerson will be among the players competing for
playing time.
•
Cornerback — Four-year starter
Royce Hill and Steven Ford graduated, while Freddie Warner was injured in
spring practice, leaving UNT without a player who started a game last season.
Players such as Hilbert Jackson, D.Q. Johnson and freshman newcomers Devante
Davis and Xavier Kelly must fill the void.
•
Defensive end — UNT has one
sure starter back in Brandon McCoy but will have to replace Brandon Akpunku on
the other side. K.C. Obi, Aaron Bellazin and Daryl Mason will compete for
playing time.
