Game One Preview: Old Dominion vs. Albany

NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion University Football opens the 2017 season at Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 2 against Albany at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.

> ODU finished the 2016 season with a 10-3 record and was one of 26 FBS schools to record a 10-win season. The Monarchs defeated Eastern Michigan 24-20 in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl. The contest was the first bowl game in program history.

> Albany went 7-4 last season and finished 4-4 in the CAA. The Great Danes defeated FBS Buffalo in the 2016 opener, 22-16.

> The Monarchs are 6-2 all-time in regular-season openers. Last season, ODU beat Hampton 54-21. ODU’s last setback in the season-opener was in 2013 at East Carolina.

> ODU returns 16 starters from last season, including leading rusher Ray Lawry, and defensive end Oshane Ximines, who set the single-season record for sacks with 7.5

> Junior running back Ray Lawry led the offense with 200 carries for 1,255 yards and 11 touchdowns, while sophomore Jeremy Cox has 732 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns.

> Junior safety Sean Carter is ODU’s leading returning tackler, as he made 60 stops last season.

> The Monarchs are 67-30 all-time since 2009, and are 21-16 in three years playing a full FBS schedule. Head Coach Bobby Wilder is the only head coach ODU has ever known since restarting the program.

The Meeting
ODU and Albany have met one other time, a 66-10 win for the Monarchs in 2013. The 2013 season was ODU’s transition season to FBS. ODU played seven FCS teams and FBS opponents in 2013.

ODU vs. Albany Series Results
2013 - ODU vs. Albany - W, 66-10

Somebody Will Start
TJ Ricks and Anthony Wilson each started every game for ODU last season. They have both graduated leaving the Monarchs with zero returning starts at linebacker. Junior Marvin Branch is the leading returner of the group with 40 career tackles. Branch and Jordan Young are projected to start at linebacker for ODU.

ODU is one of four schools in the country that do not have a start from their returning linebackers.

Rk. School          Starts

Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better
Jeremy Cox and Ray Lawry combined to rush for 1,987 yards last season, the seventh most combined of any returning tandem in FBS. They also combined for 24 rushing touchdowns.

Top Returning Rushing Tandems
Team                                            Players                         Yards

*Denotes Quarterback

Kick Start to the Top
ODU redshirt sophomore kicker, Brad Davis, is the tallest kicker in FBS. Thrust into action after an injury to Chris Kirtley, Davis went onto to hit 45-of-46 of his extra points and converted 10-of-12 field goals with a long of 43. He made three field goals in the win over UMass.

Welcome Back
Junior defensive tackle Brandon Tyson missed all of last season after suffering a season-ending injury over the summer (torn achilles). He is projected to start at defensive tackle. After recovering from the injury, Tyson is able to play the drums in church again, where his dad is the pastor. Tyson has played the drums since he was five.

ODU Career Starts