Top 5 FCS Football Matchups for Week One of the NCAA

Hello, Justin from Draft Diamonds (@jrberendzen on Twitter) with my top 5 FCS matchups of week one.

Southern Illinois University at University of Incarnate Word

This matchup is the only matchup featuring two ranked teams this week. Incarnate Word has returning senior wide receiver Taylor Grimes who last season produced 1,145 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. Junior defensive back PJ Jules had 74 tackles and 6 PBUs in 2021 for the Salukis defense. The Southern Illinois offense has senior wide receiver Avante Cox who held 739 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns last season. For the Cardinal’s defense, they have grad linebacker Kelechi Anyalebechi who had 119 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, and 5 PBUs in 2021.

Missouri State University at University of Central Arkansas (Thursday)

In a matchup between 2 teams that are known as the bears. Central Arkansas offensively has sophomore running back Darius Hale who held 1,021 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in 2021. For the Missouri State defense, they have senior defensive end Kevin Ellis who had 59 tackles, 13 TFLs, and 8 sacks in 2021. Tyrone Scott junior wide receiver had 1,055 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns last season for Missouri State. The Central Arkansas defense has TaMuarion Wilson sophomore defensive back who had 52 tackles and 3 PBUs in 2021.

College of the Holy Cross at Merrimack College (Friday)

Two very defensive minded teams going at it in this one. Merrimack College’s defense has grad defensive back Darion McKenzie who held 34 tackles and 9 PBUs in 2021. Offensively for the Crusaders they have Ayir Asante who had in 2021 529 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. The Holy Cross defense has senior linebacker Jacob Dobbs who had 137 tackles, 17.5 TFLs and 9.5 sacks in the previous season. On Merrimack’s offense they have sophomore wide receiver Jacari Carter who held 713 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns in 2021.

Jackson State University vs Florida A&M University (Sunday)

This one will be interesting Florida A&M already played once at North Carolina shorthanded in a hard-fought game and Jackson State has a good team. Redshirt junior wide receiver Malachi Wideman had 540 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021 for Jackson State offensively. The Florida A&M defense, they have junior linebacker Isaiah Major who led the team in tackles against North Carolina. As for the Rattler’s offense, they have grad wide receiver Xavier Smith who had 10 catches against North Carolina and held 713 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns in 2021. Defensively for Jackson State, they still have Aubrey Miller Jr senior linebacker who had 109 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, and 6.5 sacks last season.

Towson University at Bucknell University

This is a very underrated matchup to me and both teams I feel like could put it together this year. The Bison offense has senior running back Jared Cooper who had 312 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns in 2021. For the Towson defense, they have redshirt senior defensive back Charles Peeples who had 30 tackles and 3 PBUs last season. Darian Street grad wide receiver had 336 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns in 2021 for the Tigers offense. Bucknell’s defense has sophomore defensive back Ethan Robinson who had 54 tackles and 5 PBUs last season.