Rob Ambrose’s first 10 years as Towson Tigers head coach produced a variety of historic milestones: the program’s first Division I conference championship and FCS Playoffs appearance in 2011; a national championship game appearance in 2013; and the highest drafted NFL prospect in Towson history (Terrance West in the third round in 2014). 

The 2019 campaign promises opportunities for more historic moments. Two Tigers open the season on the Walter Payton Award watch list, Tom Flacco and Shane Simpson. Either could be Towson’s first recipient of the top offensive honor in FCS since Dave Meggett in 1988. 

Flacco and Simpson join fellow Preseason 1^st Team All-CAA honoree and wide receiver Shane Leatherbury to form perhaps the most dangerous offensive trio in the nation. Scoring on Colonial Athletic Association defenses is a cumbersome task – each of James Madison, Maine and Stony Brook appear on the schedule – but Towson has the firepower to boast one of the most potent offenses in the FCS. 

Head Coach: Rob Ambrose (11th year at Towson; 12th season overall, 62-66) 

Defensive Coordinator: Eric Daniels

2018 Record: 7-5, 5-3 CAA 

2019 Preseason Poll: 2nd place, 217 points; 3 first-place votes 

Defense 

A folly of playing a no-huddle, quick-strike offense akin to Towson’s is onus placed on the defense to keep pace. The Tigers led the CAA in scoring—and ranked No. 10 in points allowed with 28.8 per game. And while the 805 opponent snaps Towson defended did rank in the higher half of the Colonial, it was less than Stony Brook’s excellent defense saw in the same number of games (818), and significantly fewer than Maine faced in two games more (960).

With an opponent yard-per-play output of 5.8, highest in the conference, the Tigers defense has plenty of room for improvement. Making those improvements could be the difference in Towson contending for a championship and not.

Towson’s defense isn’t lacking for playmakers. Linebackers Keon Payne and Preseason first team All-CAA nominee Robert Heyward bring versatility. Heyward made 99 tackles, including 10.5 for loss, forced two fumbles and deflected four passes, while Payne recorded 74 tackles, five tackles for loss and two picks. Add Ricky DeBerry and Malik Tyne, and the Towson linebacker corps has enough veteran pieces to make big strides in 2019. 

Defensive end Bryce Carter is coming off a 14-tackle for loss, 6.5-sack 2018 and anchors the line.

Offense

There aren’t enough superlatives to describe the Towson offense: fun, fast, exciting; maybe even a few that don’t meet FloFootball.com editorial standards. No matter how one describes the Tigers, they put points on the board at a pace that should rank near the top of the nation in 2019.

Much of the Tigers’ production from a 2018 campaign in which they averaged 34.5 points per game (No. 15 nationally) returns: quarterback Tom Flacco, running backs Shane Simpson and Kobe Young, wide receivers Shane Leatherbury and Jabari Allen, as well as a strong offensive line with Aaron Grzymkowski as anchor.

The most glaring departure from last season is coordinator Jared Ambrose, who left for CAA counterpart Delaware. Despite his exit, the nucleus of dual-threat Flacco and the remarkably versatile Simpson will keep the engine running.

For Towson to reach its full potential, Flacco can cut down on turnovers; he threw 11 picks in 2018. And while his mobility is a huge asset – Flacco rushed for a team-high 742 yards – the Tigers can cut down on the number of hits he’s taking. They surrendered almost three sacks per game in 2018.

Special Teams 

Dynamic playmaker Shane Simpson handled punt and kickoff return duties in 2018. He averaged 24 yards per on the latter, and ran one back for a touchdown.

Placekicker Aidan O’Neill returns, last year connecting on 22-of-29 field-goal attempts. O’Neill hit a 50-yarder, and was good on 6-of-9 from 40 yards and out.

The Schedule

@ The Citadel, Aug. 31: The two programs met for the first time ever last season in the first half of a home-and-home series. Tom Flacco passed and rushed for two touchdowns apiece in the 44-27 Tigers home win.

North Carolina Central, Sept. 7 | Watch Live: This season’s matchup marks the third between Towson and North Carolina Central, the first two coming in 2013 and 2014. Trei Oliver takes over in his first season as head coach at his alma mater. Oliver played a key role in the recent rise of North Carolina A&T as recruiting coordinator from 2011 through 2015.

@ Maine*, Sept. 14 | Watch Live: Defending CAA champion escaped a 35-28 winner in a back-and-forth contest last season. If history between these programs is any indication, expect a similarly close affair. Each of the last four meetings, dating back to 2012, were decided by a total of 18 points.

Villanova*, Sept. 21 | Watch Live: A 35-point explosion in the first half paced Towson to a 45-35 win over Villanova a season ago. Shane Leatherbury scored two touchdowns in the win, including a 76-yard reception.

@ Florida, Sept. 28: Towson pays its first visit to SEC country since giving LSU a scare in 2012. The Tigers’ last win over an FBS conference opponent came in the unforgettable 2013 season, when they routed UConn to open the campaign, 33-18.

UAlbany*, Oct. 12 | Watch Live: Tom Flacco’s four touchdowns – two passing, two rushing – and Shane Leatherbury’s 114 yards receiving highlighted a 56-28 Tigers romp last season on the road.

Bucknell, Oct. 19 | Watch Live: Before joining CAA forerunner the Atlantic 10 in 2004, Towson was a remember of the Patriot League. All three of the Tigers’ matchups against Bucknell came during that brief affiliation. 

@ James Madison*, Oct. 26 | Watch Live: Halloween treats come early, thanks to this showdown of the teams slotted No. 1 and 2 atop the preseason CAA poll. James Madison’s stifling defense contrasts with the versatile, explosive Towson offense in a fun matchup that could well give the winner an inside lane to the Colonial crown. 

Delaware*, Nov. 2 | Watch Live: Delaware scored a measure of revenge for a 18-17 loss in 2017 to the Tigers, scoring the game-winning field goal with 30 seconds remaining last year for a 40-36 win. The lead changed four times in the final 14:55. 

@ Stony Brook*, Nov. 9 | Watch Live: Towson and Stony Brook have met every season since the Seawolves joined the Colonial in 2013, splitting the series, 3-3. The Tigers rolled last year, putting an unheard-of 52 points on the outstanding Seawolves defense. Shane Simpson’s game-opening, 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown was all Towson needed to lead wire-to-wire. 

@ William & Mary*, Nov. 16 | Watch Live: Six seasons spanning the final years of the A-10 and inaugural few of the CAA saw Towson endure utter futility against William & Mary. The Tigers went 0-6 from 2004 through 2009, but lead the series 4-2 since 2013. That includes last year’s 29-13 win.  

Elon*, Nov. 23 | Watch Live: If all goes according to plan, this regular-season finale will be for Playoffs positioning for both the Tigers and Phoenix. Towson cruised last season, 41-10, behind 326 yards passing and three touchdowns from Tom Flacco.