Underdog Dynasty ranked each position for each team in C-USA. Here is how ODU ranks:
Quarterback: #7 - In the We'll See Category
"After entering last season with a huge question mark at quarterback, the Monarchs have found their QB in sophomore Steven Williams. As a 17-year-old (!) true freshman, Williams performed exactly how you’d think a 17-year-old would. Although Williams finished the season with six touchdowns and 11 interceptions for 1,528 yards, he closed the season strong. In his last three starts Williams passed for 511 yards and two touchdowns with zero turnovers, while adding two touchdowns on the ground."
Running Back: #5 - In the Good Shape Category
"Jeremy Cox had an up-and-down 2017 mainly due to being injured, but was productive when healthy. In nine games Cox rushed for 621 yards and four touchdowns. Cox has never had to burden the load of being the primary ball carrier but now that Ray Lawry is in the NFL, that very well could be the case this year. The depth behind him is pretty green when it comes to game experience so an injury to Cox could be dire for the Monarchs."
WR and TEs: #9 - In the Good Shape Category
"Isaiah Harper and Travis Fulgham give the Monarchs quality options in the passing offense. Harper especially, as he has teased how potent he can be as a receiver. Its now time for the senior to breakout. ODU will need at least one of their former young three-star recruits (Noah Ellison, Scott McCluney, Marcus Joyner or Amari Colbert) to step up though." Seemed to have missed that Duhart is back.
Offensive Line: #4 - In the Great Shape Category
"Sometimes suffering through terrible injury luck provides benefits in the long run. A lot of fresh faces saw playing time in 2017 due to injuries and in 2018 this unit should be better for it. Nick Clarke and Isaac Weaver return after garnering Honorable Mention nods. Weaver earned C-USA All-Freshman honors too. ODU will return seven players from 2018 that started last season and between these linemen are 100 combined games started in their career. As long as the injury bug doesn’t strike again, this unit’s play will drastically improve."
Defensive Line: #1 - In the Great Shape Category
"The Monarchs will return five senior linemen who combined for 45 TFLs and 23.5 sacks last year. That type of production led to the most disruptive DL in the conference as they ranked 13th in DL Havoc Rate (a stat that measures TFLs, forced fumbles and tipped passes). Oshane Ximines is the headliner as he’s made multiple all-conference teams in his career, but don’t sleep on Miles Fox and Tim Ward, as they are just as capable of making big plays."
Linebacker: #5 - In the Good Shape Category
"Senior Marvin Branch Jr. and sophomore Jordan Young return as ODU’s stalwarts. Young had a fantastic freshman season with 6 TFLs and 12 Run Stuffs. Branch Jr. had 3.5 TFLs and 13 Run Stuffs. Depth isn’t the best though; behind Branch Jr. and Young are a host of LBs who saw the field sparingly in 2017."
Defensive Backs: #5 - In the Good Shape Category
"All-conference DB Brandon Addison is gone, leaving a pretty big void at corner but the emergence of Joe Joe Headen should alleviate some concerns. Headen earned All-Freshman honors in C-USA with 36 tackles and 2 INTs. Sean Carter returns at safety, as well as Justice Davila who missed 2017 with an injury. Given how good ODU’s defensive line is, the passing defense should be one of the best in the conference if the injury bug is more kind to the Monarchs in 2018."
Kicker: #5 - In the Great Shape Category
"Nick Rice went 15-of-20 last season as a freshman and didn’t miss a single PAT. His longest FG made on the season was a 48-yarder."
Punter: #6 - In the Good Shape Category
"Bailey Cate averaged 40.5 yards per punt with 18 punts downed inside the 20. Cate returns as a junior."
Average Ranking 5.22 out of 14. Not bad and I think the WR ranking is low. Here is a link to the final tally from UD:
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/conferen...bill-clark