A Look Back at Some 2014 Southern Conference Recruits

Oct 11, 2014; Tucson, AZ, USA; Detailed view of an official Nike football on the field during the game between the Southern California Trojans against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. The Trojans defeated the Wildcats 28-26. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Chandler Curtis (Mercer)–When head coach Bobby Lamb took his post at Mercer, folks around the Southern Conference knew he would go in and recruit some good talent and make the Bears a competitor right away in the SoCon.

And Lamb’s Bears did just that, giving Chattanooga more headaches than any other team in the league, dropping a tough 38-31 decision in the Scenic.

Though the Bears just won once in the SoCon, they were competing with the best in the league though under-manned due to scholarship numbers. The reason the Bears were able to compete in the SoCon was due in large part to signing one of the top classes in the SoCon last season, and one of the key contributors of that 2014 signing class was Chandler Curtis.

The Calhoun, GA product went on to have an outstanding Freshman season in the Orange and Black, garnering Sports Network Third-Team All-America honors, College Sports Madness Second Team All-America honors, and consensus First Team All-SoCon honors as a return specialist after completing the 2014 as one of the top return men in the nation. Curtis was also named the FCS Return Specialist of the Year by College Football Performance Awards.

As a receiving threat, Curtis finished his freshman season with 564 receiving yards to go with five scores on 28 receptions.

He finished the 2014 season as Mercer’s leader in receiving yards, while ranking second to only PC transfer J.T. Palmer in receptions.

As a kick return threat last season, Curtis completed the campaign with 17 kick returns for 503 yards and a TD. Curtis had a 91-yard return for a score in the Bears’ opening win of the season over Reinhardt, garnering SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his efforts.

Curtis would do most of his damage, however, as a punt return threat, posting 11 returns for 271 yards, including returning three for scores. He averaged 24.6 YPR on kickoffs, while averaging 29.6 YPR on punts, ranking near the top of the nation in both return categories, while his four combined kick and punt returns led the FCS in 2014.

All told, the Calhoun High School product totaled 1,430 all-purpose yards and 10 total TDs in his freshman season with the Bears.

Next: Isiaha Smith-The Citadel