NCAA 14 2015-16 -- Guru's top teams to try for dynasty - thesportsguru11's Blog

thesportsguru11's Blog

NCAA 14 2015-16 -- Guru's top teams to try for dynasty

Posted on July 27, 2015 at 03:08 PM.

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As the PS3 community file is inching closer to having a playable dynasty file (and soon to be a Week 1 updated file around early September), I find myself in the same situation this year as I do every year. What team do I use for my dynasty? Great question. This is why I am here to provide (hopefully) a little insight if, like me, you can't find a team to try just yet. Below I examine 10 teams you might want to try in dynasty mode in 2015. 5 for the Power 5, 5 for the Group of 5. Enjoy!

Top Power 5 Teams to try

1.) Kansas Jayhawks (Big 12, 3-9 2014)

After the failed Charlie Weis experiment, Kansas is virtually starting at ground zero with former A&M WR coach David Beaty, in his first head coaching gig. Not to mention a virtually all-new starting lineup in a rather competitive conference, and we have the hardest rebuild of all the Power 5 schools. Junior QB Montell Cozart struggled last year, as did Mike Cummings (who is out hurt this year). You may be looking at freshman Ryan Willis before long, and you're relying on various JUCO players and young sophomores at receiver and tailback right now. Ben Goodman and T.J. Semke form a nice duo in your front seven, but you only have them for a year. Those guys you bring in via recruiting years 1 and 2 will be starting for you before long, so spend some extra time there while perhaps conceding the first year or two to build for later.

2.) Wake Forest Demon Deacons (ACC, 3-9 2014)

2014 was a trying year for Wake, not only fielding a very young offense, but a very bad one. While there is lots of promise for sophomore QB John Wolford and sophomore RB's Isaiah Robinson and Dez Wortham, good luck working with that young, patchwork O-Line. The only real star right now anywhere on O is tight end Cam Serigne, who burst on the scene to lead the Deacs in receiving as a true freshman. On defense, there is more hope fortunately. Linebackers Marquel Lee (junior) and Brandon Chubb (senior) each tallied over 100 stops last year and are primed for even better seasons in 2015. Safety Ryan Janvion, DE Wendell Dunn, LB Hunter Williams and CB Josh Okonye join them to form a promising defensive unit. But the big challenge for you is that offense and overcoming the youth and inexperience at the skill positions.

3.) Oregon St. Beavers (Pac-12, 5-7 2014)

Oregon St., too, is going through a coaching change, seeing long-time headman Mike Riley surprisingly depart for Nebraska, and in steps Gary Andersen. For now, his run-first offense may be good for the Beavs. A proven senior running back in Storm Barrs-Woods, decent backups in Chris Brown and Damien Haskins while OSU breaks in (likely) true freshman QB Seth Collins while Utah St. transfer Darrel Garretson sits out 2015. But for the long-term, unless you can recruit a burly tailback who is ready immediately, you may want to mix up the offense in 2016 when Barrs-Woods is gone and the smaller backs push to the top of the depth chart. Enjoy your solid, veteran O-Line now. OSU is working with a very inexperienced D as well, as they lose 9 of their top 11 tacklers from last year. Try building around sophomore strong safety Justin Strong, as there isn't much else you'll have for long. Recruiting well early, especially on D, is the big key here as well.

4.) Purdue Boilermakers (Big 10, 2-10 2014)

It seems as if Purdue has been perpetually bad the past few years. No matter what they try, they just can't get over the hump. In 2015, Purdue has a fair, veteran offensive line, but everywhere else is either young or just flat-out weak. Austin Appleby took the starting QB job mid-2014, but it is widely believed that redshirt freshman Dave Blough will be the guy, and you can build the offense around him. Enjoy senior Danny Anthrop, who has been the most consistent offensive weapon the past few seasons as you break in a quartet of young running backs (sophomores or younger) to replace 949 yard rusher Akeem Hunt. Ja'Whaun Bentley had a break-out freshman campaign and figures to be your leader for the next 3 years, while seniors Frankie Williams and Anthony Brown anchor the secondary, albeit temporarily. There's lots to develop, but if you can find some exciting weapons on offense and prepare new recruits for the defense, the Boilers can be a fun team.

5.) Illinois Fighting Illini (Big 10, 6-7 2014)

Though the Illini did make it to a bowl last year, Illinois needs to show more results to keep Tim Beckman around past this year. Illinois has some exciting pieces to build around in junior QB Wes Lunt (who missed time with injuries). Chayce Crouch and Jeff George Jr. are your freshmen for the future, so take your pick on who is the guy. Stud sophomore wideout Mike Dudek came out of nowhere and posted a 1000 yard season (though he'll miss at least a month recovering from a spring ACL injury). Running back Josh Ferguson reminds me of a bigger Shane Vereen and brings valuable senior leadership, as does wideout Geronimo Allison and NFL prospect Ted Karras at guard. Veterans are crawling on defense, the best being senior linebacker Mason Monheim. Junior 'backer T.J. Neal and safety Taylor Crawford are great supporting pieces (98 and 100 tackles in 2014, respectively), while senior Jihad Ward is disruptive on the line. Point is, there's talent everywhere. Can you get back to a bowl and save Beckman's job?

5 Group of 5 teams you might like

1.) Georgia St.Panthers (Sun Belt, 1-11 2014)

This is a fan favorite mainly because you are building from the ground-up with this new program. While GSU may escape the basement in the Sun Belt this year, the Panthers still have a long way to go to reach success. Lucky for you, Trent Miles has recruited well so far and you can have even more fun than the time you took GSU to the National Title cheesing with Ronnie Bell (it's OK, I think we all have). JUCO sensation Nick Arbuckle will lead you at QB for one more year while you develop talented redshirt freshman Emiere Scaife (and if you really want, Bell is back there, 3rd string). Kendrick Dorn, Kyler Bell and Jon Jean-Bart are your options at running back, while senior Donovan Harden is your star on the outside. GSU has a surprisingly veteran line, so that means you can find that big mauler in recruiting and start him immediately. Joseph Peterson is the man to watch from linebacker, while Trey Payne (a sophomore) had a big year last year and can be a star.

2.) Eastern Michigan Eagles (MAC, 2-10 2014)

EMU is another favorite of hardcore NCAA 14 players because of the challenge recruiting in Ypsilanti brings. Just ask Chris Creighton. With only something like 45 scholarship players in for spring practice, that 80-something ranked recruiting class you get can go a long way here. Reggie Bell is an exciting young piece on an otherwise obscure offense, and he is your building block. Darius Jackson has some speed at tailback, but everyone else on offense, the exception being wideouts Dustin Creel and Indiana transfer Kevin Davis, is expendable. EMU just might have one of the best defenses in the MAC, though. LB Great Ibe had a fantastic 133 tackles last year (he really is Great!), while Pat O'Connor racked up 7.5 sacks. Pair them with Anthony Zappone, sophomore safety Jason Beck and some other serviceable 'backers, and you have a potential top-notch MAC defense. Enjoy it while it lasts though, most of those starters are seniors.

3.) UTSA Roadrunners (C-USA, 4-8 2014)

Even the most experienced team in the country could only finish 4-8, and now you have a lot of work to do if you're Larry Coker. No QB out of the three that played did much of anything, so Michigan grad transfer Russell Bellomy needs to play well now. Find someone in recruiting, as none of the backups inspire much hope. Tight end David Morgan and wideouts Aaron Grubb and Kenny Bias are your only recievers with experience. On top of that, the O-Line will have at least 6 sophomores or younger in the two-deep. Only 3 of your top 11 tacklers return, and two of the three are seniors. Experiment with some of your younger players, as those guys will be seeing big playing time before long. Baylor transfer safety Austin Jupe could be one to watch. The best part about this build though is that with all the veterans and new starters, there is a lot of flexibility you have in recruiting and building up the team. Plus, the Alamodome is pretty cool.

4.) UL Monroe Warhawks (Sun Belt, 4-8 2014)

ULM faded to 4-8 last year, two years removed from an Arkansas upset (8-5 overall). Though NC St. transfer Pete Thomas played well at QB, he is gone and senior Brayle Brown takes the reins. While Brown can be productive, slot redshirt freshman Garrett Smith as the backup. He had a productive spring, and unless you want someone who will better suit your play style via recruiting, Smith is the guy for the future. With an inexperienced running back stable, you want to hit up 1st team all Sun Belt pick Rashon Ceaser as much as possible in the one year you have him. And have fun with that defense. With #1 ranks at all position groups, there are stars everywhere. Gerrand Johnson (93 tackles, 6 sacks) is an anchor in the middle, with Lorenzo Jackson back as well at end. Michael Johnson and Hunter Kissinger are tackling machines, and safety Mitch Lane may be the best player in the conference.

5.) UMass Minutemen (MAC, 3-9 2014)

I sincerely hope you use 2015 to have fun and throw, throw, and throw some more. Mark Whipple does have the program on track for a great year with star QB Blake Frohnapfel and WR Tajae Sharpe returning, but enjoy them now, as both are seniors. The big challenge for you is fighting through the transition years bound to come in 2016 and 2017. Try to find potential future stars early in 2015. Austin Whipple and Ross Comis are your two options as Frohnapfel's heir, but neither are impressive. You may want to be on the lookout for a QB early in recruiting. Freshman tailback Sekai Lindsay is one to watch, as he could be carrying the Minutemen (literally and figuratively) before long. Veterans litter the offensive line as well, and you need to work the productivity out of them now. Sophomore DE Sha-Ki Holines had a good redshirt freshman year, and LB Shane Huber has loads of potential, but is coming off an ACL injury. Jovan Santos-Knox leads the strength of UMass, the linebackers, after a 143 tackle season in 2014. Secondary depth is thin behind four starters, so get that squared away now. It's clear the Minutemen's destiny is in your hands. Sculpt how you like.

Comments

# 1 solmon @ Jul 27

Great overview! I'm pretty locked in to Western Michigan and Texas A&M as my dynasty teams this year, but you're making me think about an even greater challenge like ULM.

# 2 thesportsguru11 @ Jul 27

ULM is extremely appealing because that defense is just nasty for a Sun Belt school. The offense does need some work, but as long as you can hold them up for year 1, you can ride any success to the recruiting trail in year 2 to replace those stud defenders.

# 3 Mike7Vinas @ Jul 27

I'm doing an Arkansas State dynasty. I've been thinking for months but I finally decided.

# 4 thesportsguru11 @ Jul 28

Ark St. will be interesting. Obviously their two stars are in QB Knighten and RB Gordon, but the receiving corps is deep, and there are potential stars on that D. Good luck!

# 5 mattaponte @ Aug 9

I've been trying to find the worst(or one of them) Power 5 that has Nike Uniforms to start a dynasty with, and I was thinking about turning WASU into a SpreadOption offense under Coach Matt Aponte

# 6 thesportsguru11 @ Aug 9

Of the teams on my list, Wake, Oregon St., Purdue and Illinois all have Nike unis. The first 3 all have big rebuilds looming and in progress. Another team you may want to look at is UConn. Not exactly Power 5 anymore, but they've been really bad the past few seasons and have a rather young team right now.

This link may help you out...click on each team you're interested in to see if they are Nike/Adidas/Other.

http://uniformcritics.com/football/college/