JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - This is the sixth part in an 11-part series breaking down all of Carson-Newman football's opponents for the 2017 season. This feature analyzes the Eagles' week-six opponent, first-year SAC associate member the Limestone Saints.
Limestone again made strides in year three of existence as a collegiate football program under first-year head coach Mike Furrey. The former Marshall University wide receivers coach guided the Saints to school-record five wins in 2016.
Furrey returns plenty of talent to go for a winning season and a SAC championship in the Saints' first year as associate members of the league.
A grand total of 16 starters return from last year's team with nine back on defense.
The Saints especially put up crazy numbers on defense with a whopping 17 fumbles recovered and another 16 passes picked off.
Along the way, Limestone scored a whopping eight defensive touchdowns to lead all NCAA Division II.
For the Saints, it starts in the defensive backfield with preseason All-American Joshua Simmons and preseason All-SAC selection PJ Brown.
A two-time All-American and a finalist for the 2016 Cliff Harris Award, Simmons returns with an impressive resume after finishing second in Division II with eight interceptions. He led the nation with three interceptions returned for a touchdown, including a 95-yard return to seal a win at Lenoir-Rhyne.
Simmons, who was named to the College Football America 2017 Yearbook Division II Starting Lineup, posted 42 tackles, eight interceptions, 12 breakups, and a pair of fumble recoveries during his junior season. He tied his own team record with three picks in one game last year in a 6-0 win at Catawba.
Brown earned second-team honors after registering 40 tackles and a team-best 15 passes defended and 10 pass breakups. He finished second on a defense that ranked eighth in the nation in turnovers gained with five interceptions, including a pair returned for touchdowns.
They'll be aided by the return of linebacker Roman Hall, who comes off a season leading Limestone with 88 total tackles and 11 tackles for loss, including a season-high 13 tackle performance at Tusculum. He added 3.5 sacks on the season along with a forced fumble and a 37-yard fumble return for touchdown at Catawba.
Offensively, the Saints have to replace 60 percent of their offensive line with the loss of Michael Archie, Jacob Davis and James Littlejohn.
If quarterback Ivan Corbin has time to throw, he has plenty of weapons. Four receivers who caught at least 10 passes last year return to the Saints, including a pair of pass-catching stalwarts in D'Anta Fleming and Vyncint Smith.
Fleming earned preseason All-SAC honors after snaring 55 passes for 631 yards and nine touchdowns last year. Smith grabbed 44 passes for 709 yards and a quartet of scores.
Ga'Quan Maize and Carson-Newman transfer Daitwan Commodore lead a capable running back corps. Maize tallied 690 yards rushing and six scores last year.
The Better Know the Opponent Series continues August 11 with Mars Hill.
