Season Preview - North Texas

Returning Starters

Offense (4)
WR Brandon Jackson (Sr.)
LG Adam Venegas (Sr.)
C Chad Rose (Jr.)
RB Jamario Thomas (Sr.)

Defense (10)
DE Blake Burruss (Sr.)
DE Jeremiah Chapman (Sr.)
LB Maurice Holman (Sr.)
LB Derek Mendoza (Sr.)
LB Germaine Dawson (Jr.)
LB Tobe Nwigwe (So.)
CB Dominique Green (Jr.)
CB Antoine Bush (So.)
SS Roy Loren (Sr.)
FS Aaron Weathers (Sr.)

Returning Leaders
Passing: Daniel Meager, 100-53-517-6, 4TDs
Rushing: Jamario Thomas, 181 carries, 668 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving: Brandon Jackson, 17 receptions, 188 yards, 1 TD
Tackles: Aaron Weathers, 78 total, 45 Solo
Sacks: Jeremiah Chapman, 4.5
Interceptions: Five players tied with 1

2006 National Rankings

Inexperienced is the best way to describe the Mean Green offense. New coach Todd Dodge is switching the offense to a spread attack and why not there isn't hardly anyone on the roster with experience playing in the old ground and pound offense that led North Texas to Sun Belt Championships from 2001-04.

Daniel Meager started only six games last season throwing for 517 yards and four touchdowns. While the starting quarterback position isn't settled yet Meager has to be considered the favorite to lead the Mean Green out onto Owen Field.

Jamario Thomas led the nation in rushing as a freshman in 2004 but has barely cracked 1,000 yards in the last two seasons combined.

Eight receivers will rotate in and out on the offense but only Brandon Jackson has started before and he only tallied 17 receptions last season.

The Mean Green defense returns 10 starters but are facing a scheme shift as well moving from a 3-4 to a 4-3. The linebackers will be the strength of the North Texas defense with four guys who had starts last season led by Derek Mendoza and Maurice Holman.

North Texas will be decent on defense and will most likely stack the box in an effort to try to force Oklahoma's green quarterback to make plays. Unfortunately it won't matter because the Sooners will have the talent to move the ball both on the ground and through the air.

You can also look for the Sooner defense to have scoring opportunities as well. The Mean Green will be breaking in a new offense that will attack the strength of Oklahoma's defense, the secondary. Turnovers could be in abundance.