No. 22 – Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Season Preview

The 2020 football season was one to forget for most teams. However, Coastal Carolina put its program on the map with an 11-0 regular season. The Chanticleers had not finished better than 5-7 in the FBS prior to last year, but they thrived and knocked off previously unbeaten BYU before losing a shootout with Liberty in the Cure Bowl to close out easily the most successful campaign in school history.

Coastal Carolina’s breakout year has turned the Sun Belt into a very interesting conference. Louisiana and Appalachian State have already proven themselves to be two of the best Group of Five programs in the country, and Jamey Chadwell is out to show the Chanticleers are here to stay in 2021. They are the second favorite to win the Sun Belt behind Louisiana.

Coastal Carolina Regular Season Win Total

Over 10 Wins -115

Under 10 Wins -115

OFFENSE

Nearly every starter from last year’s team is back, making this potentially the best offense in the Sun Belt. Freshman Grayson McCall had a fantastic 2020 campaign, and he should be even better this season. McCall was a Freshman All-American quarterback, completing 68.8% of his passes for 2,488 yards with 26 touchdowns and three interceptions. Additionally, he was a very competent runner, picking up 569 yards (5.1 YPC) and seven touchdowns with his legs.

The ground game won’t be as strong with leading rusher C.J. Marable now in the NFL. Reese White and Shermari Jones both saw a lot of action last year though, so the production out of the backfield shouldn’t take too much of a hit.

Javon Heiligh and Isaiah Likely were both First Team All-Sun Belt selections in 2020. Heiligh caught 65 passes for 998 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Likely was a favorite target with 30 receptions for 601 yards and five touchdowns at tight end. They should be the best one-two punch in terms of receiving options in the conference.

This offensive line has a lot of experience. Guards Trey Carter and Willie Lampkin were two of the best in the Sun Belt last year, and the tackles played relatively well given their comparative inexperience.

DEFENSE

Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year Tarron Jackson was taken by the Philadelphia Eagles in this year’s NFL Draft, and it won’t be easy to replace the most impactful player on this defense last season. However, C.J. Brewer stands a good chance of winning that award in 2021 after being named a Third Team All-American. Brewer is the best player on the defensive line, and he will be the focal point of opposing teams’ attention.

The next two levels of Coastal Carolina’s defense have much more returning experience and production. First Team all-conference linebacker Jeffrey Gunter was second on the team in hits last season and registered 6.5 sacks and 6 TFL. Silas Kelly and Teddy Gallagher were both Second Team All-Sun Belt picks, and they were the leaders on the team in tackles.

D’Jordan Strong was the top cornerback on the Chanticleers last season, and this secondary seems to have significantly improved by being active in the transfer portal. Lance Boykin is coming in from Old Dominion and has the size to succeed at the next level, while Tre Douglas should make an immediate impact after he failed to see much of the field at Vanderbilt.

SCHEDULE

Coastal Carolina plays a Power Five team in its non-conference schedule, but no one is too concerned about Kansas given the state of that program. Instead, the following week’s showdown with Buffalo will draw much more attention. The good news there is that former Buffalo head coach Lance Leipold took over at Kansas, so there should be a lot of continuity in the gameplans from week to week.

The Chanticleers don’t have to worry about a regular season meeting with Louisiana. However, they must go on the road to face Appalachian State, and it’s never easy to win in Boone. That is the game the Chants are the most likely to lose in 2021.

PREDICTION

Expectations are high in Conway after last year. Coastal Carolina has a very manageable schedule, and all the returning talent means another double-digit win season seems likely.

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