UNT: Analyzing Mean Green Football Squad for 2015

By Myka Williams | Sep 6, 2015

The North Texas football team finished with an abysmal 4-8 record last season, but head coach Dan McCarney is expecting the Mean Green program to bounce back in 2015.

It seems as if the North Texas Mean Green football team lost sight of its talent last year. After finishing an astonishing 2013 season with a 9-4 record and reaching their first bowl game in almost 10 years under head coach Dan McCarney, the program plummeted in 2014.

In ’13, the UNT football squad was laced with 22 seniors, a group of guys who impacted the Mean Green program with experience in all phases.

McCarney, who will be going into his fourth season with North Texas, will be looking to do whatever it takes to make sure his inexperienced young talent is prepared with a winning attitude going into the 2015 season.

In a detrimental ’14 campaign, the Mean Green saw their numbers degrade while finishing the season with a disappointing 4-8 record. But now that the UNT freshmen and sophomores, who couldn’t make key plays last season, have some much needed experience, the program could see some major improvements in ’15.

North Texas standout and senior wide receiver Carlos Harris is one of the marquee players to watch this season.

The Fred Biletnikoff Award is given annually to the most outstanding wide receiver in college football. A total of 48 players are named to the preseason watch list, and Harris is one of them.

The 5’8” offensive weapon is also on the preseason Paul Hornung Award watch list, that presentation offered to the most outstanding skill player in college football.

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That sounds like a pretty big deal.

Junior offensive lineman Kaydon Kirby has really proven himself since his freshmen season. Kirby joined Harris in also being selected to two preseason watch lists. Junior offensive lineman should be a strong contender for the Rimington Trophy and Lombardi Award. The Rimington is awarded to the best center in college football while the Lombardi is awarded to the best lineman or linebacker.

That’s another check mark for coach McCarney.

Sophomore place kicker Trevor Moore was named to the Lou Groza watch list. He’ll definitely be one of the more clutch kickers to keep an eye out for at UNT this season.

In 2014, Moore went 5-for-5 in his second game and 4-for-4 in the season finale. The sophomore went 15-for-17 in field goals with a perfect 37-for-37 in extra point attempts, finishing the season with an 88.2 percent success rate and setting a school record for field goal percentage in a single season.

As we all know, quarterbacks are the anchor of any football team. They’re the most important position that can make or break an offense.

If there’s anything UNT should focus on this season, it’s making sure their starting senior quarterback, Andrew McNulty, can be a true centerpiece and keep the offense rolling in ’15.

McNulty is more of a pocket passer, and hopefully his arm strength will enhance as time goes on. While he has struggled with mobility, McNulty will have to find better ways to avoid swarming defenses and get rid of the ball before it’s too late. .

If coach McCarney can blossom McNulty into being a more true and reliable quarterback on the turf, that will be a huge plus for the Mean Green success this season.

It’s going to be interesting to see what the North Texas football team brings to the table in ’15. UNT will be seeking to win the Conference USA championship, but if not, another trip to a bowl game within a three-year span would be more than acceptable.

Next: TCU Key in Minnesota Victory

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