Colleges: Esteban Santiago
Four UNT players named to All-Sun Belt team
Senior linebacker Craig Robertson, junior running back Lance Dunbar and senior offensive linemen Victor Gill and Esteban Santiago were all voted to the first team by Sun Belt head coaches and media.
Only Sun Belt Conference regular-season champion Florida International had more players named to the first team with six. This is also the most players North Texas has placed on the Sun Belt first team since 2004 when it had seven.
North Texas needs to win at least seven games to save coach Todd Dodge's job.
"All of us that grind here day in and day out, we realize that," Dodge said. "But that’s not our motivating factor, to save each other's jobs. It's just to get us all where we think that we can be. If we do hit on the goals that we've set for ourselves, it would be about the most excited group of players and coaches that anybody's ever hosted at a bowl game."
A glance at the Mean Green:
2009 record: 2-10 (eighth in Sun Belt)
Starters returning: 19
Offensive starters returning: 9
Defensive starters returning: 10
Key offensive returners: RB Lance Dunbar rushed for 1,378 yards and 17 touchdowns despite starting just the last eight games of the season. He averaged 6.9 yards per carry, which ranked second in the nation among backs with at least 200 carries. His 19 total touchdowns ranked seventh in the nation. … RT Esteban Santiago is one of four offensive linemen who have at least two seasons of starting experience. The 6-3, 285-pound Santiago, a second-team All-Sun Belt selection, has 35 career starts. … UNT's top six receivers return, led by Jamaal Jackson (71 catches, 701 yards, six TDs).
Will be missed: Riley Dodge is still on the team, but arm problems prevented him from continuing his career as the Mean Green’s starting quarterback. He'll play receiver and take about 10 to 12 snaps per game as a Wildcat quarterback.
Key defensive returners: LB Craig Robertson led the team with 107 tackles last season. He has eight career interceptions. … Safety DaWaylon Cook ranked second on the team with 85 tackles. He had two fumble recoveries. … CB Royce Hill had three of UNT's seven interceptions last season. … DE Brandon Akpunku bulked up 15 pounds to 240 after leading the Mean Green with 11.5 tackles for losses and six sacks last season.
Will be missed: MLB Tobe Nwigwe’s injury midway through the season was a devastating blow to the defense. He ranked third on the team with 57 tackles as a senior despite playing only six games.
On the rise: Transfers Christopher Bynes (Coffeyville CC) and Tyler Stradford (Oklahoma) step in as starting receivers despite the depth at that position. … Redshirt senior Nathan Tune takes over as the starting quarterback. He completed 69 of 107 passes for 646 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions last season.
Toughest schedule stretch: Sept. 4 at Clemson; Sept. 11 vs. Rice; Sept. 18 at Army.
By the numbers
5: Blown leads in the fourth quarter in 2009
7: Consecutive years in which the Mean Green opened the season with a different starting quarterback
58: Years of playing in Fouts Field, which will be replaced by a new $78 million stadium next season
TEAM RESOURCES
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Richard Durrett
Richard Durrett joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He writes about colleges, the Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers. Richard spent nine years at The Dallas Morning News covering the Rangers, Stars, colleges, motorsports and high schools.
Jeff Caplan
Jeff Caplan joined ESPNDallas.com in December 2009. Jeff covers the Mavericks, Stars and colleges. He has a wealth of experience in the area, covering multiple beats in his 11-plus years with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Tim MacMahon
Tim MacMahon joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. Tim covers the Cowboys and Mavericks. He has covered the local sports scene from high schools to colleges to pros during his six-year tenure at The Dallas Morning News. MacMahon is a graduate of UNT.
103.3 FM ESPN PODCASTS
Play Podcast Acting Big 12 commish Chuck Neinas dishes on the deal that pits SEC and Big 12 champions in a New Year's Day bowl game.
Play Podcast Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill talks about his knowledge of Miami's offense, playing time, Dan Marino, trying to be a leader as a rookie signal-caller and more.
Play Podcast Cowboys fifth-round pick Danny Coale talks about his road to the NFL and his chances of competing for a starting wide receiver spot in training camp.
Play Podcast Cowboys first-round pick Morris Claiborne recaps his draft experience and talks about growing up a Cowboys fan and his expectations playing in Dallas.
Play Podcast New SMU basketball coach Larry Brown discusses his new job, recruiting in Texas, one-and-done athletes, why he would like a coach in waiting and more.
Play Podcast Alabama coach Nick Saban talks about the draft prospects coming out of his program, how they could potentially help the Cowboys, his discussions with Jason Garrett and more.
Play Podcast Texas Tech AD Kirby Hocutt shares his thoughts on the Big 12 landscape, his desire to play Texas every Thanksgiving and more.
Play Podcast New Orleans Saints QB Chase Daniel talks with ESPN Dallas's Jeff Platt about how the Saints have reacted to the recent bounty penalties, and how Drew Brees's holdout has affected him.