For the 2016 season, I have decided to do the season previews differently. In past years, the individual team capsules did not get many clicks. It was a lot of work to prepare 16 individual blogs, most of which received very little readership, so this year, there will be one blog for the East and one for the West. Here is how I see the East division shaping up as week 1 approaches...

1. Shippensburg

Team Website
2016 Schedule
2016 Roster
2015 Statistics
Preseason Notes

Five Year HistoryFive Players to watch
QB Ryan Zapoticky (Jr.)
OT Schuyler Harting (Jr.)
LB Allen Holman (Sr.)
DB Chavez Cheatham (Jr.)
DB D.J. Burkey (Sr.)


Last yearThis year:Bottom line: 2. West Chester

Team Website
2016 Schedule
2016 Roster
2015 Statistics (Unavailable)
Golden Ram Football Club blog

Five Year History
2015: 7-4 (PSAC East Champions)
2014: 11-2 (NCAA Playoffs - second round)
2013: 13-2 (NCAA Playoffs - National semi-finals)
2012: 7-4
2011: 5-6

Head Coach: Bill Zwaan (14th season, 108-51)
Defensive Coordinator: Mike Furlong
Offensive Coordinator: Bill Zwaan, Jr.

Five Players to watch
RB Jarel Elder (Jr.)
OL Doug Gilbert (Sr.)
OL Tyler Drob (Jr.)
LB Ralph Reeves (Sr.)
DB Shaquille James (Jr.)

Last year:This year:Bottom line: Having a strong, experienced and deep O-line is a tremendous asset. Possibly as good as any they could have. The defense also looks like a unit that will be very physical and hard to run against. There are some big variables on offense, but if things come together in camp, they will be in contention all season.

3. Kutztown

Team Website
2016 Schedule
2016 Roster
2015 Statistics

Five Year HistoryFive Players to watch
WR Kellen Williams (Sr.)
OL Jordan Morgan (Sr.)
DT Eric Condron (Sr.)
LB Zack Delp (Sr.)
LB Tajier Jefferson (So.)

Last year:This year: Kutztown returns many starters on both sides of the ball, which should put them in position to contend for the PSAC East. The defense returns a very solid front seven, led by linebacker Zack Delp and DL Eric Condron, who is back from a medical redshirt year. They have a pair of stout D-ends in Zameer McDowell and Robby Tomasetti, as well as PSAC East freshman of the year, LB Taj Jefferson. The defense needs to be a little stronger against the pass and more consistent on third down, but the talent and experience is there. Clements and DC Ross Pennypacker have put solid defenses on the field in their time together, and this year should be their best so far.

Offensively, the Bears return all five starters, led by All America tackle Jordan Morgan. Fellow senior Ben Cregger is a rock at Center. The only things keeping the Bears from being a preseason pick to win the east division are the unknowns at the skill positions. Standout QB Chad Barton has graduated. Who will replace him is a big unknown. Chris Kane was the only QB besides Barton to see snaps last year. The redshirt junior is in his fourth year with the program and would appear to be the favorite for the job, but four others will compete for the position. Receivers Kodi Reed and Anthony Kelly have moved on, as has RB Terry Williams. Kellen Williams (62 catches, 941 yards, 9TD) is the top returning skill talent, along with RB James Wah (51 carries, 318 yards, 5TD).

Bottom line: Jim Clements has been steadily improving this program since his arrival and that should continue. There is a solid core of talent to work, especially in the offensive and defensive lines, but there is substantial skill talent to replace on offense. If the Bears can survive a week one trip to defending NE10 champ Assumption, they could have a big start to the season.

4. Bloomsburg

Team Website
2016 Schedule
2016 Roster
2015 Statistics

Five Year History
2015: 7-4
2014: 11-2 (PSAC East Champions, NCAA Playoffs, regional final)
2013: 10-2 (PSAC East Champions, PSAC Champions, NCAA Playoffs - second round)
2012: 10-2 (NCAA Playoffs)
2011: 9-2

Head Coach: Paul Darragh (4th season, 28-8)
Defensive Coordinator: Chet Henicle
Offensive Coordinator: Brian McBryan

Five Players to watch
RB Lawrence Elliot, Jr. (Sr.)
WR Chad Hoffman (Sr.)
OL John Garland (Sr.)
DL Ezra Ranco (Sr.)
DE Joe Wetty (Sr.)


Last year: It says a lot about the state of a program when 7-4 is a big disappointment. Bloomsburg has won at least 7 games in every season since 2000. The Huskies appeared to be capable of much more in 2015, but lack of production on offense cost them week in and week out. There are really two ways to look at how last year played out. They were only a play away from winning games against Mercyhurst, West Chester and East Stroudsburg. The opportunities were there, they just failed to take advantage. They could have been east division champs. On the other hand, they were lucky to beat Kutztown and Lock Haven and beat Seton Hill on the last play of the game. Considering how close they were to being division champs, and how close they were to a losing season, 7-4 was a just result.

This year:Bottom line:5. East Stroudsburg

Team Website
2016 Schedule
2016 Roster (Unavailable)
2015 Statistics
Preseason Notes

Five Year History
2015: 6-5
2014: 6-5
2013: 7-4
2012: 5-5
2011: 3-8

Head Coach: Denny Douds (43rd season, 256-181-3)
Defensive Coordinator: Chad Braine
Offensive Coordinator: Mike Terwilliger

Five Players to watch
RB Robert Healy (Sr.)
OL Fran McMenamin ( Sr.)
OL Michael Fleming (So.)
DE Ahmad McFarland (Sr.)
LB Sekou Jones (Jr.)

Last year:This year:Bottom line:
6. Lock Haven

Team Website
2016 Schedule
2016 Roster
2015 Statistics

Five Year History
2015: 2-9
2014: 2-9
2013: 3-8
2012: 1-10
2011: 0-10

Head Coach: Dave Taynor (2nd season, 2-9)
Defensive Coordinator: Randi Moore
Offensive Coordinator: Bill Nickell / J. Stephen Pribble

Five Players to watch
QB Caleb Walton (Sr.)
RB Malyk Harris (Sr.)
WR Shawn Seif (Sr.)
DB Daniel Strawbridge (Sr.)
DB Isaiah Flamer (So.)

Last year:This year:Bottom line:7. Millersville

Team Website
2016 Schedule
2016 Roster
2015 Statistics

Five Year History
2015: 2-9
2014: 1-10
2013: 1-10
2012: 2-9
2011: 3-8

Head Coach: Greg Breitbach (4th season, 4-29)
Defensive Coordinator: Matt Sutjak
Offensive Coordinator: Breitbach

Five Players to watch
WR Kevin Wiggins (Jr.)
QB JJ Paige (Sr.)
LB Rob Varner (So.)
LB Sean Dugan (Jr.)
DB PJ Santos (Sr.)

Last year: This year:Bottom line:8. Cheyney

Team Website
2016 Schedule
2016 Roster (Unavailable)
2015 Statistics

Five Year History
2015: 0-11
2014: 0-11
2013: 0-11
2012: 1-10
2011: 1-10

Head Coach: Chris Roulhac (5th season overall, 2nd season in current stint, 3-41)

Five Players to watch
QB Dominick Trautz (Jr.)
OL Adonis Cruz (Sr.)
LB Keyson Dingle (Jr.)
DL Joseph Bryant (Sr.)
DB Marvin Easter (Sr.)

Last year: The Wolves finished a third straight winless season and currently own a losing streak of 44 consecutive games. The Wolves were last in the PSAC in all offensive team stat categories and scored a total of just 94 points. On the national level, the Wolves finished 167th in scoring offense and total offense, out of a total of 168 Division II teams.

This year: Bottom line:[email protected] and you can follow me on Twitter @D2Chuck