By Jackson Schroeder
SouthernPigskin.com

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Eastern Tennessee State is Ready for the SoCon in 2016

East Tennessee State makes its return to the Southern Conference for the 2016 season after competing as an independent in 2015 following a 12-year hiatus from football, altogether.

ETSU decided to let go of their football program in 2003 due to a lack of community support. The program was costing the school money rather than bringing in revenue. Due to a new, young, sports loving president in Brian Noland, ETSU decided to bring back football with the ultimate goal of once again competing in the SoCon.

The Buccaneers made their return to the gridiron in 2015. ETSU finished their inaugural season with a record of 2-9, defeating only Kentucky Wesleyan and Warner University (a small liberal arts college with an enrollment of just over 1,000).

ETSU has a strong backing with former Tennessee Volunteers head coach Philip Fulmer, who is fully on board as an assistant to the AD. He looks to help rebuild the program with a goal of the Buccaneers once again establishing themselves in four to five years.

ETSU saw some promise on both sides of the ball in the recent spring game. 2015 starting quarterback, Austin Herink went 16-22 for 147 yards and a touchdown, despite opening the game with a pick six. His competition, Nick Sexton, went 11-18 for 124 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Vincent Lowe (WR transfer from Old Dominion) looks to be the playmaker on offense for the Buccaneers. He had six receptions for 73 yards and a score in the spring game.

Defensively, ETSU looks to freshman linebacker Dylan Weigal to take an important role in leading this young squad. Weigal comes from Pickerington North high school in Pickerington, Ohio. There, he listed a record breaking 175 tackles in a single season and 389 career tackles.0

The Buccaneers look to start the 2016 season off with a win over a strong Kennesaw State team that crushed them in the 2015 opener by a score of 56-16. The next week they make their SoCon debut at home against Western Carolina.