FROSTBURG, Md. - After the last two years, there wouldn't be much of a debate as to whether the Frostburg football program is still in a rebuilding mode. In fact, the argument should be made that FSU is one of the hottest teams in Division III.

The Bobcats have increased their win total in each of DeLane Fitzgerald's four seasons at the helm, but it's the last two years that have put the program on the national radar.

When combining the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Frostburg has totaled 21 wins, tied a school record with 13-straight victories and captured the Regents Cup title twice.

"I wouldn't say that we've spent the last four years turning the Frostburg football program around," said Fitzgerald. "Maybe the first year, but when we jumped out to a 6-1 start to the 2015 season things were turned in the right direction. Our players and coaches have continued to do the little things right each day that make a program successful."

Frostburg closed the '16 campaign with 10 wins and its first ECAC Bowl win in 20 seasons. Fast forward to the 2017 season and the Bobcats were part of the national playoff equation all season. Frostburg posted a school record 11 wins, spent the entire season ranked inside the top 25, collected three wins against ranked opponents, beat two of Division III's winningest programs and was one of the final eight teams left standing in the NCAA Playoffs.

Before losing to eventual national champion Mount Union in the NCAA Playoffs, Frostburg collected seven-straight wins and outscored its opponents during that stretch by nearly 30 points. The Bobcats knocked off No. 9 Wittenberg (35-7) and No. 10 Washington & Jefferson (46-23) in the first two rounds of the playoffs, DIII's second and third winningest programs of all-time, respectively.

The potent Frostburg offense posted a school-record 468 points last fall while averaging nearly 420 yards per game. Defensive coordinator John Kelling has driven Frostburg to a pair of top-20 efforts in Division III in total defense the last two seasons, while Peter Mayer's special teams units have finished inside the top 20 in blocked kicks in three of the last four seasons.

While Frostburg graduated 19 seniors last fall, eight starters return on offense and six return on the defensive side of the ball. The Bobcats also boast the return of one of the top special teams units in the NJAC.

Offense
The look of the offense won't change much in 2018 with key starters returning at every position. The Bobcat offense led the NJAC in scoring (36.0) and time of possession (33:57) a year ago and finished second in the league in total offense (418.4).

"Our offense is going to carry us early on in the season," said Fitzgerald. "We return eight starters, a three-year starter at quarterback and three very good players (starters) on the offensive line."

Senior tailback Jamaal Morant

The catalyst for the Bobcat offensive machine will be senior and three-year starter Connor Cox. A two-time All-NJAC performer, Cox paced the NJAC in passing TDs (29), passing yards (2,649) and points (174) in 2017 and was second in the league in total offense (234.0).

Cox tossed four touchdown passes against Mount Union in the NCAA quarterfinals and became Frostburg's all-time leader in TD passes (58) with one season to play. Cox is also a threat on the ground as he has rushed for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in his three seasons in a Bobcat uniform.

Sophomore T.J. Peer played in eight games as the backup last fall and completed 34-of-59 passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns. He helped Frostburg to a 17-14 win over Kean by throwing for 216 yards and two scores.

While Cox might be the most decorated quarterback returning in the NJAC this fall, the FSU ground game can make a case as one of the top units in the nation.

The Bobcats rushed for 2,353 yards and 24 touchdowns last fall and a pair of seniors will spearhead the group in Jamaal Morant and Grayson Boyce.

Morant, a Second Team All-NJAC honoree in '17, ran for nearly 1,000 yards (992) as a junior with 11 touchdowns. In three NCAA Playoff games, Morant rushed for 289 yards and four touchdowns.

Boyce, a team captain, exploded on the scene last fall with 159 yards and five TDs in his first two games before being hampered down the stretch with an injury.

Sophomore Malcolm Facey also returns after carrying the ball 20 times for 100 yards and one touchdown in his first year.

The receiving corps will be led by the return of senior Sergio Andino, junior Malik Morris and sophomore Lincoln Ikwubuo.

Andino shook off an injury that held him out of the first three games with 634 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns over the final nine contests. An Honorable Mention All-NJAC selection, Andino's 13 TDs finished 21^st in Division III and he capped his season with 105 receiving yards and one score against No. 2 ranked Mount Union.

Morris returns for his third season after hauling in 24 passes for 447 yards and five touchdowns, while Ikubuo caught 11 passes for 72 yards.

Senior Noah Teeter should emerge as Frostburg's top tight end this fall after playing in all 13 games last season. A team captain, Teeter hauled in eight passes for 90 yards and one touchdown.

Sophomores Nate Forte and Daniel Bittinger will be in a competition at fullback with a talented group of newcomers for playing time.

Frostburg totaled nearly 5,500 yards in total offense during the record setting '17 campaign and much of the credit can be attributed to the offensive line.

The senior trio of O'Shane McCall, Joey Powell and Riley Hartman will anchor the center, right guard and right tackle positions, respectively. All three started all 13 games a year ago and blocked for an offense that finished 10^th in the nation with 276 first downs. Hartman garnered Second-Team All-NJAC honors, while McCall was an honorable mention all-conference selection. Hartman, a team captain, is a 2018 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works team nominee.

Juniors Wade Olson and Jason Money will push for starting positions after both appeared in more than 10 games as sophomores.

"The left side of our line will see a very good competition throughout the camp," said Fitzgerald. "Olson and Money along with sophomore Gene Robinson will all push for the left guard and tackle starting positions."
 
Defense
Frostburg has finished inside the top-20 in total defense in each of the last two seasons and is a big reason why FSU has won 21 games with two postseason appearances during that span.

A year ago, the Bobcats finished 16^th in Division III in total defense (265.6), 13^th in rushing defense (82.2 ypg) and 17^th in tackles for loss per game (8.3).

In 13 games last fall, Frostburg held Stevenson, Christopher Newport and Kean to negative rushing yardage and held nine opponents to under 100 yards rushing.

The Bobcat defense has produced two All-Americans over the last two seasons and the 2018 version of the defense will be loaded once again. FSU returns six starters, four spot starters and plenty of depth at every position.

Junior defensive back Vincent Persichetti

The junior foursome of linebackers Matt Meier and Monte Jones, nose guard Jon Milstreed and defensive back Vincent Persichetti started 11 or more games last year and will be the backbone of this year's unit.

Meier registered 35 tackles with two tackles for loss and a forced fumble, while Milstreed posted 16 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss with a forced and recovered fumble.

Persichetti totaled 25 tackles behind 20 solo stops and he intercepted two passes (88 yds.) in FSU's win over Washington & Jefferson in the NCAA Playoffs. He has started a combined 22 games over his first two years in a Bobcat uniform.

Jones is Frostburg's leading returning tackler after posting 40 stops last fall. He also added 4.0 tackles for loss, one sack and forced four fumbles. He earned Honorable Mention All-NJAC honors and finished 17^th in the nation in forced fumbles per game (0.33).

Sophomore defensive end Zach Strand emerged as one of the top defensive players in the NJAC following an impressive first year. He finished second in the league in sacks (10) and sixth in tackles for loss (14) and was twice named the NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Week. He capped his season with three tackles, two TFLs and one sack against eventual national champion Mount Union.

Junior Paul Kumpar started two games at the other defensive end spot last fall and he finished the season with 12 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack. Senior Boakum Vital, junior Walter Riley and sophomore Trevor Booker will also push for playing time on the defensive line.

Vital, a team captain, appeared in 12 games as a junior and totaled 13 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss with 2.5 sacks, while Riley played in 11 games and added nine tackles with two tackles for loss. In his first year with Frostburg, Booker played in seven games and made five tackles.

Joining Meier and Jones at linebacker will be junior Wayne Palmer and sophomore Jake Broschart. Palmer played in all 13 games and finished with 19 tackles, one TFL and recovered one fumble. Meanwhile, Broschart contributed 18 tackles with two pass breakups and he blocked a punt and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown in a win over Montclair State.

Senior linebacker Dre'Quan Reed missed the 2017 campaign due to injury but returns for his final season in '18 and was voted as one of the team's five captains. In 2016, he was a First Team All-NJAC performer after finishing second on the roster with 59 tackles.

Aside from Persichetti, the Bobcat secondary returns five players that saw valuable time during the record-setting '17 campaign.

Senior Anthony Taylor started four games at cornerback and appeared in all 13 contests. He totaled 21 tackles with 16 solo stops with one pass breakup.

Juniors Michael Bell, Allen McKelton and Shalen Moore will push for a starting spot in the secondary and all three appeared in 12 or more games last fall. Bell led the group with 15 tackles with two TFLs.

Sophomore Avery Thurman played in 13 games as a first-year and posted 19 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss. Sophomores Stacey Watts, James Venerable and Tyler Winbush will also battle for playing time this fall.
 
Special Teams
The Bobcat special teams unit returns a pair of starters to a group that is arguably one of the top units in the DIII ranks.

Junior long snapper Ryan Landis has handled all snapping duties since his arrival to the team prior to the 2016 campaign.

Sophomore Jeremy Harrison handled all kickoffs duties last year and this fall he will be Frostburg's field goal and extra-point kicker as well. He connected on five extra-points as a first-year and averaged 56.2 yards per kickoff. Sophomore transfer Keegan Schimmelman is expected to be the team's primary punter this fall.

The return duties will be handled by Andino, Persichetti, Morris, Ikwubuo and sophomores Aizsha Horne and Tarell Poe. Andino returned eight punts for 88 yards as a junior, while Horne averaged 24.4 yards per kick return on seven tries.