Stingier defense key for Harding

SEARCY — The latest in a series profiling Gulf South Conference football teams in Arkansas.

For a while, it was fun to watch.

With an All-America quarterback, a loaded receiving corps and a veteran offensive line, the 2008 Harding Bisons were potent even by the standards of the rapidfire Gulf South Conference.

Problem was, the Bisons were just as adept at giving up the big play and spent part of the season ranked in the top four nationally in yards per game on offense and among the bottom four on defense.

Not only does giving up 40.2 points per game get old in a hurry, it also resulted in a 2-9 finish.

Harding probably won't score the 30.5 points per game it averaged last season, but it may not have to score that much. Third-year Coach Ronnie Huckeba made defensive improvement - especially in the secondary - an off-season priority, and even slight improvement means Harding can score less but win more.

"We are definitely more athletic in the secondary," Huckeba said. "I'm cautiously optimistic."

Huckeba proved he was serious about an overhaul when he brought in 14 defensive players in the off-season, three of them transfers with a shot of playing immediately.

Harding's strength is in its receiving corps. The Bisons return three starters, which should help offensive coordinator Tim Perry's pass-happy offense. The leader of the group is senior Kurt Adams, a former Harding Academy standout who caught 61 passes for 1,122 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2008.

Joining Adams is senior Zac Ross, who when not lining upwide will log time as a running back. Ross also filled in as an emergency starter at quarterback last season and may see some time as a punter.

Neither Ross nor Adams know who will be throwing to them. Three quarterbacks - redshirt freshman Chaz Rogers, junior Zach Tribble and junior transfer Josh Powell - are vying to replace David Knighton, who left Harding with virtually every school passing record.

Huckeba said the job will land to whomever demonstrates a full grasp of the offense, shows leadership and looks capable of moving the ball when a play breaks down. Don't expect Huckeba to waffle once he picks a starter, but don't be surprised if the competition goes past Saturday's opener at home against Missouri Southern.

"The new quarterbacks are doing a great job of throwing the ball," Adams said, "but right now the receivers are probably the take-charge kind of guys."

Quarterback play isn't the only missing piece. Only senior center Brad Parker returns on the offensive line, meaning whomever takes the snaps won't have the leisure in the pocket that Knighton so often enjoyed.

"The stabilizing factor is the great crew of receivers coming back," Huckeba said. "The key question is: Can we get the ball to them and can we protect? It all starts with the trigger man."