The reigning Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, quarterback Giovanni Vizza, returns. But his job isn’t entirely secure with the signing of freshman Riley Dodge, a former University of Texas commitment and son of second-year North Texas coach Todd Dodge. Whether it’s Dodge or Vizza under center, UNT’s offense should put up big numbers in a four-wide passing attack.

Wide receiver Casey Fitzgerald returns after rewriting Sun Belt receiving records last season as the biggest beneficiary of Dodge’s pass-happy style. He’s joined by steady sophomore Sam Dibrell and athletic 6'4" freshman Sam Roberson.

Micah Mosley and Cam Montgomery will compete at running back, where receiving and pass-blocking are as key as rushing in Dodge’s offense. UNT must improve its pass protection. Four starters return on the line, including second-team All-Sun Belt center Kelvin Drake.

Dodge’s debut season started with converted tight ends and defensive backs at wideout, so his second go-around should be smoother. The quarterback battle between Vizza and the younger Dodge will garner attention, but UNT more desperately needs a playmaker to stretch the field vertically and turn 15-yard passes into 80-yard touchdowns.

Defense

Former North Texas defensive coordinator Gary DeLoach returns to Denton to try to revitalize the Mean Green defense. Before spending the last five years as a UCLA assistant, DeLoach guided UNT’s defense to top-10 national rankings. Improvement may be the only direction left for UNT, which allowed 45 points per game last season to finish dead last in the country in that category.

Last season’s top five tacklers are gone, but the defense may be better-served starting from scratch. Four starters return, led by linebacker Craig Robertson, who led the team with five interceptions last season. Meanwhile,  linebacker Tobe Nwigwe is a solid run-stopper in the middle. Junior cornerback Antoine Bush is a third-year starter, but the rest of the secondary is green. Former junior college teammates Adryan Adams and Kylee Hill could both start in the UNT secondary. Junior college transfer Alonzo Horton, a former Auburn Tiger, could boost an unproven defensive line.

Specialists

Senior Truman Spencer returns as one of the Sun Belt’s top punters. Junior college transfer Jeremy Knott will assume placekicking duties, after UNT made only 8-of-15 field goals last season. Walk-on Jamel Jackson should earn a scholarship as the kick and punt returner.

Final analysis

UNT is likely another year away from contending for the Sun Belt crown, and Dodge still doesn’t have his full allotment of personnel. Nevertheless, UNT could surprise plenty of conference front-runners if DeLoach’s defense can come close to matching UNT’s offensive production. UNT averaged 24 points per game in its 10 defeats last year, and it scored 62 points in a loss to Navy.

While a conference crown may be out of reach, North Texas could help itself just as much with a key non-conference victory. The Mean Green play Kansas State, Tulsa (at home) and Rice in the first month of the season. A win against any of them would boost regional recruiting, where Dodge has already made headway in pushing for a league title run in the near future. With its explosive offense, this year UNT may be the Sun Belt’s most feared spoiler rather than contender.