By Southern Pigskin Staff
SouthernPigskin.com

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Five burning questions leading into Southern Conference Media Day.

n1. Can The Citadel continue its success from 2015?
n2015 saw The Citadel win the second most games in school history (9), win their first SOCON title in 24 years, beat South Carolina, reach the NCAA FCS Playoffs for the 4th time and win a playoff game on the road for the first time ever.xc2xa0 First year Coach Brent Thompson brings back 7 starters on offense including junior quarterback Dominique Allen returning to lead the Citadelxe2x80x99s vaunted Triple Option Offense. The Citadel also returns 7 starters on defense that led the SOCON and was 3rd in FCS with 20 interceptions.xc2xa0 The Citadel opens 2016 with a SOCON match-up on the road against Mercer on Thursday, September 1st.xc2xa0

n2. Is Mercer ready to make the move to the top?
nWith 5 of their 6 losses coming by 7 or less points, Mercer was on the cusp of a breakout season in 2015, only their second season with scholarship players.xc2xa0 Mercer will field a team in 2016 with a substantial senior class for the first time since football was brought back to Macon since the 1940xe2x80x99s.xc2xa0 Led by 5th year senior quarterback John Russ on offense and leading tackler Tripp Patterson, the Bears look to break into the top portion of the SOCON in 2016.xc2xa0 Mercer opens the season at home on September 1st against The Citadel before traveling to Atlanta to take on Georgia Tech on September 10th.xc2xa0

n3. ETSU is back in the SOCON, can they make some noise?
nAfter a winless 2015 returning to football in Johnson City for the first time since 2003, the Bucs return to SOCON play this season.xc2xa0 ETSU has one NCAA FCS Playoff appearance to their credit, in 1996 where they made it to the 2nd round losing to Montana.xc2xa0 Former North Carolina coach Carl Torbush returns to lead the Bucs back into SOCON play.xc2xa0 The Bucs make their conference debut on September 17th against Western Carolina in a game that will be played at Bristol Motor Speedway.xc2xa0

n4. Quarterback Conference?

• nDominique Allen, The Citadel, The Bulldogs quarterback led all Citadel rushers with 958 yards in 2015
• nJohn Russ, Mercer, fifth year starter for The Bears threw for 2,141 yards last year with 18 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions
• nAl Cobb, VMI, the Sophomore led the SOCON in passing with 273 yards per game following up his SOCON Freshman of the Year campaign in 2014 when he passed for a league best 247 yards per game.xc2xa0
• nReese Hannon, Furman, will the Senior signal caller be able to stay healthy for an entire season for the first time since 2013 when he led the Paladins to the SOCON title and the 2nd round of the FCS Playoffs?
• nDevlin Hodges, Samford, completed nearly 70% of his passes while throwing for 248 yards per game as a True Freshman in 2015.xc2xa0

n5. Can Chattanooga 4-Peat?
nThe Mocs are enjoying the greatest success in school history winning 27 games over the past three seasons with three SOCON Championships.xc2xa0 Chattanooga is looking to become the first xe2x80x9c4-peatxe2x80x9d SOCON Champion since Appalachian State won 6 titles in a row from 2005 to 2010.xc2xa0 The Mocs return 8 starters on offense but will have to replace two time SOCON Offensive Player of the Year in Quarterback Jacob Huesman, that duty will fall into the hands of Junior Alejandro Bennifield.xc2xa0 The Mocs Offense will be anchored by two time Jacobs Blocking Award winner Corey Levin.xc2xa0xc2xa0 The Mocs open the 2016 season at home against Shorter College.

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nWritten By Robbie Ross