The Citadel Bulldogs
SoCon
The Citadel has put together a great season. They started the season 10-0 with wins over Chattanooga, Wofford and Samford, before losing to North Carolina in the season finale. Of course there is no shame in losing to a borderline top 25 FBS team. Coach Brent Thompson has created very high expectations during his first campaign as the Bulldogs head coach and those expectations are continuing to rise heading into the playoffs.
2016 Record: 10-1, 8-0
Coach: Brent Thompson
Big Wins: 10/15 Chattanooga (22-14), 10/22 at Wofford (24-21)
Bad Losses: 11/19 at North Carolina (7-41)
Strengths:
The triple option is very potent, but it is the defense that deserves a lot of credit for this team taking the next step. The front line has done a great job of getting consistent pressure on the quarterback, most notably Jonathan King and Ken Allen. With linebackers Noah Dawkins and Joe Crochet joining the pass rush, The Citadel can throw out a lot of different blitz packages. That group in the front seven has also done a very good job stopping the run. They rank 22nd in the nation and 2nd in the Southern Conference in rush defense. The pass defense is just as good, ranking 21st in the FCS in yards allowed through the air. The secondary also boasts one of the best playmakers in the country in Dee Delaney. Malik Diggs and Kailik Williams have emerged as very good players in the secondary as well.
Weaknesses:
Teams that are adequately prepared for the triple option can slow down this offense. Against Chattanooga, the Bulldogs score just 22 points. Against Wofford, they scored 21. The defense did enough for The Citadel to win those games, but this is not a team that can come from behind and throw the ball. Quarterback Dominique Allen has done a superb job spearheading the triple option attack, but he is rarely a threat to throw the ball. Along with Allen, the nation’s best ground game features Tyler Renew, Cam Jackson and Reggie Williams. Those four will get a bulk of the yards on the ground for a team that averaged nearly 360 rushing yards per game.
Statistical Leaders:
Rushing: Tyler Renew, RB, 1,020 yards
Passing: Dominique Allen, QB, 526 yards
Receiving: Rudder Brown, WR, 171 yards
Tackles: Kailik Williams, DB, 95
Sacks: Noah Dawkins, LB, 5.0
Interceptions: Dee Delaney, DB, 4
2016 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 359.9 (1st in nation, 1st in conference)
Passing Offense: 67.3 (122, 9)
Total Offense: 427.2 (24, 2)
Scoring Offense: 30.7 (32, 3)
Rushing Defense: 121.2 (22, 2)
Pass Defense: 180.8 (21, 3)
Total Defense: 302.0 (11, 3)
Scoring Defense: 18.8 (11, 2)
Turnover Margin: 0.70 (20, 2)
Sacks: 2.70 (17, 1)
Sacks Allowed: 0.10 (1, 1)
Recent Playoff Appearances:
2015 First Round Defeated Coastal Carolina
1992 First Round Defeated North Carolina A&T
1992 Quarterfinals Lost to Youngstown State
1990 First Round Lost to Georgia Southern
1988 First Round Lost to Georgia Southern
*all team stats through 11/12
