LAKE CHARLES, La. – HBU head coach Vic Shealy, senior linebacker Brennan Young and junior wide receiver Vernon Harrell represented the Huskies at Southland Conference Football Media, presented by B1 Patches Day Wednesday at L'Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles.
 
The preseason poll, voted on by the head coaches and sports information directors, was also released Wednesday morning and HBU was picked to finish eighth in the league.
 
The Huskies open the season on the road with an FCS matchup against Northern Colorado Sept. 3 in Greeley.
 
Below are selected quotes from HBU's representatives at Media Day.
 
HEAD COACH VIC SHEALY
"It's great to see Southland football starting back up. We're excited (for the season), we work hard, we've got good players and you ask them to sacrifice. It's not easy to do what we ask them to do. This time of year is the best time of year and certainly our players have earned the right and deserve the opportunity to compete for a chance at the playoffs. I expect them to play very, very well.
 
On history of the program:
"I think the journey through our program, from the early days when we were young, then in 2016 we made a significant leap, in 2019 and 2020 were about the most prolific offense in all the FCS, ranked three weeks in the polls. Last year was challenging, we were young and injured and was a really tough year. With the highs and the lows of the program, I think this year has the opportunity to be another high."
 
On the defense:
"What we feel we have is a program that has developed into 'Linebacker University', going back to Garrett Dolan and Cody Moncure, both all-conference players and Garrett was a two-time All-American, to Langston Tunson to Caleb Johnson to a Freshman All-American sitting next me (Brennan Young), who has led the conference to Rodney Dansby. That's been the core of our defense and Isaiah Cash, he's proven to be one of the best safeties in the league and I expect him to be a dominant player on the field.
 
On new additions on offense:
"I'm excited about the wide receiver room. We've really improved ourselves with Karl Reynolds, who led the nation in touchdowns and yards last year at Navarro Junior College. He will be a dominant player in this league. We have a quarterback from Northern Iowa and Justin Fomby started a lot of games as a redshirt freshman, he transferred, had a great spring and he looks like an NFL quarterback. You see him take the field and he's maybe the most talented arm we've had in our program. We have a couple of transfer offensive linemen that have helped us. We've plugged the areas we need to improve, but also to see the growth and maturity and the strength development in those areas.
 
SENIOR LB BRENNAN YOUNG
"I'm really excited this year. Coach (Shane) Eachus has developed our scheme a little more to fit the players we have. Our defense, we have a different mentality, a savagery to us that we're really excited about."
 
On the linebacker corps:
"It's in our room. It's something we talk about every day. Coach (Roger) Hinshaw expects us (linebackers) to be the best there is on the team."
 
On the mindset of the linebacker group:
"From the first year I was there to now, we (linebackers) have held each other accountable. We feed off each other. We work with each other to see how we can get better as a group. We're never not trying to help each other."
 
On linebackers he has played with in his career:
"Caleb (Johnson) is one of my best friends. The toughest dude I've ever met in my life. It was so much fun to play next to him. We were connected on the field. Now, Rodney (Dansby) is a lot of fun to play with. He makes me better. I see the roles now, where Rodney is to me kind of like I was to Caleb."
 
SENIOR WR VERNON HARRELL
"I'm feeling good and excited for the upcoming season. I can't wait to just get out there and compete. I've mainly been working on my footwork and doing what I need to do to become the dominant player I know I can be."
 
On playing in front of hometown crowd in Houston:
"It's great. It's always good to see family in the stands and the energy they bring."
 
On what the Huskies need to improve:
"Offensively, we need to cut down on penalties and turnovers. We need to be more efficient and score in the redzone. I need to put myself in the right positions to be successful."