Position-by-position breakdown for UAB vs. Alabama A&M
Bill Clark retired at the end of June. The UABB football team is returning for its final season in Conference USA. They play their first game against Alabama A&M on September 1, 2022 at 7 p.m. CST at Protective Stadium in Birmingham.
Zeno is 10-5 as a starter and led the Blazers to a 7-3 record last year. Zeno took the majority of first-team reps in spring and will see action throughout the season. Bryson Lucero started five games for Tyler Johnston in the 2020 season, and provides quality depth along with junior college transfer Damon Stewart. Alabama A&M must move past record-setting quarterback Aqeel Glass.
DeWayne McBride and Jermaine "Skull" Brown are dangerous back-up running backs for UAB. Gary Quarles is the only other player with more than 100 yards last season. A.J. Gates is injured and is questionable for the first game. Lee Witherspoon and Taven Curry will get some opportunities to play.
UAB is deep at receiver and tight end. Alabama A&M is a little better at that position. UNA and UAB have more experienced players at the receiver position than Alabama. AAMU has a better receiver/tight end position with more experience. Alabama has more receivers than AAMA. The Bulldogs have a more talented tight-end position, with a lot of transfers. They have better receivers. It's a close game. iReport.com has the position-by-position breakdown for UA and AMA. Iverson “Strap” Hooks and Fred Farrier II are the best players in the slot position for AAV.
UAB's offensive line returns four healthy starters. Kadeem Telfort returns for his final season at left tackle. Sidney Wells takes back up the right tackle spot. Will Rykard anchors the line at center, Brady Wilson behind him, and Matthew Trehern moves from right guard to left guard. Alabama A&M returns three starters on the offensive lines, but needs to replace the interior guard positions.
UAB lost three starters along the defensive line. Fish McWilliams, Tyrique Howard, Isaiah Forte, Drew Tuazama, Justin Goodwin, Jalen Mayala and Joker Gill are new to the team. Alabama A&M returns a key piece on its defensive lines, Dreyvione Carter, and a bevy of underclassmen. The team also has incoming transfers, including Zareon Hayes (Appalachian State), Dorian Wesley (Toledo), Kristopher Wilkins (Texas State) and Malcolm Williams (UCF).
UAB returns three starters at linebacker. Noah Wilder is the team's active leading tackler. Tyler Taylor assumed the WILL position last season. Reynard Ellis and Kelle Sanders will share the starting role this season with Tyler. Nikia Eason will receive plenty of reps behind them. Bulldogs brought in a trio of transfers to bolster their linebacker depth. Phillip Hopkins, Dimitris Biamby and Dayven Coleman are the starters. They also have Dayvin Coleman, Dre’shuwn Terry and Farrell Hester.
Starling Thomas V, CD Daniels, Colby Dempsey, Mac McWilliams, Devodric Bynum and Xavier Lanier are the starters for UAB's secondary. Keondre Swoopes, Will Boler, Grayson Cash, Cody Martin, Damon Miller, Jaylen Key and Ike Rowell are other starters at Alabama A&M's back-up secondary positions. The secondary was depleted by graduation, but Kenechukwu Eziomume and JaBraun McNeal return to provide leadership to a large number of transfer players.
Matt Quinn returns for his third season as the Blazers’ resident placekicker. Kyle Greenwell has 231 career punts for an average of 41.8 yards. Troy Lendvay averaged 41 yards on 34 punting last season. Brian Jenkins, Terrell Gardner and Cameron Young served in both punt and kick returns last year. Alabama A&M returns one specialist and a trio of athletes in the return game.
Bryant Vincent takes over as head coach following Bill Clark's retirement. Vincent was a successful high school coach in Alabama, leading Spanish Fort to a state title.
Vincent's debut should go without a hitch considering the experience and talent UAB returns this season. Alabama A&M is a solid opponent to gauge the team's focus and intensity under Vincent but is overmatched despite an influx of transfers.
