Next up on my College football preview series is Prairie View A&M.
After a 6-6 season in 2013, head coach Heishma Northern is looking for a couple of more wins during his fourth season. There's a good chance that will happen considering the Panthers feature one of the most explosive offenses in the SWAC.
When you talk Panther football, it all begins with quarterback Jerry Lovelocke The senior from Baltimore already holds numerous offensive records at Prairie View. He threw for 2,833 yards and 23 touchdowns last season and he is one of 8 starters that return.
Running back Courtney Brown will also a factor in offensive game plan, he racked up 1,039 yards and 10 touchdowns, plus, he can dance.
The defense is where Prairie View needs to improve. They were near the bottom of the conference last season so Northern hired new defensive coordinator Clifford Yoshida to help turn it around.
If they want to challenge for a spot in the SWAC title game, then the defense behind senior Jerome Howard who had 19.5 tackles for loss season will need to step up. Prairie View returns 5 starters on the defensive side of the ball.
The Panthers open with TSU in the Labor Day Classic, but their biggest test will be reigning West division champ Southern. For the first time since 1967…Prairie View will actually host that game on campus so that should be a very fun game to watch.
-----
Prairie View's 2014 Schedule
08/31 vs. Texas Southern (NRG Stadium – Houston, TX)*
09/13 @ McNeese State
09/20 vs. Southern*
09/27 vs. Grambling State (The Cotton Bowl – Dallas, TX)*
10/04 at Jackson State*
10/11 vs. Alabama State*
10/18 at Mississippi Valley State*
10/25 vs. Alcorn State
11/08 at Arkansas Pine-Bluff*
11/15 at Alabama A&M*
*Conference Game
