Check out the CSD preview for the FBS Independents’ 2019 season in this loaded preview featuring in-depth coverage of everything you need to know about all six teams, projected records based on thousands of computer simulations, and a list of the top players in the conference.
2019 Unit Rankings
| QB | RB | WR/TE | OL | DL | LB | DB |
| 1. notre dame | 1. notre dame | 1. notre dame | 1. notre dame | 1. notre dame | 1. notre Dame | 1. notre dame |
| 2. army | 2. army | 2. byu | 2. byu | 2 byu | 2. byu | 2. army |
| 3. byu | 3. liberty | 3. liberty | 3. army | 3. new mexico state | 3. army | 3. byu |
All-Independents Team
Offense
QB – Ian Book, Notre Dame
RB – Connor Slomka, Army
RB – Kell Walker, Army
WR – Chae Claypool, Notre Dame
WR – Antonio Gandy-Golden, Liberty
WR – Chris Finke, Notre Dame
TE – Matt Bushman, BYU
C – James Empey, BYU
OL – Tommy Kraemer, Notre Dame
OL – Dontae Duff, Liberty
OL – JB Hunter, Army
OL – Ray Thomas-Ishman, UMass
Defense
DL – Cedric Wilcots, New Mexico State
DL – Roy Lopez, New Mexico State
DL – Khalid Kareem, Notre Dame
DL – Julian Okwara, Notre Dame
LB – Javahn Fergurson, New Mexico State
LB – Cole Christiansen, Army
LB – Isaiah Kaufusi, BYU
LB – Solomon Ajayi, Liberty
DB – Elijah Riley, Army
DB – Shamad Lomax, New Mexico State
DB – Troy Pride, Notre Dame
DB – Jalen Elliott, Notre Dame
Awards
Offensive POY: QB Ian Book, Notre Dame
Defensive POY: DL Julian Okwara, Notre Dame
Freshman OTY: WR Josiah Johnson, UMass
Newcomer OTY: RB Ty’Son Williams, BYU
Coach OTY: Jeff Monken, Army
Game OTY: ummm…. not a lot of options here… Liberty @ BYU (November 9th)
Breakout Player: S Alohi Gilman, Notre Dame
Note: Teams ranked by average projected winning percentage as there is, of course, no conference record to go by.
1. Notre Dame
Top Returning Players: T Robert Hainsey, EDGE Khalid Kareem, EDGE Julian Okwara, CB Troy Pride Jr., S Jalen Elliott, S Alohi Gilman
Notable Players Leaving: RB Dexter Williams, WR Miles Boykin, IDL Jerry Tillery, LB Drue Tranquill, LB Te’Von Coney, CB Julian Love
Final 2018 CSD Prime Ranking: 11th
Projected 2019 CSD Prime Ranking: 10th
Average Projected Record: 8.8 wins, 3.2 losses
Click Here to Read the 2019 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Team Preview
2. Army
Top Returning Players: QB Kelvin Hopkins Jr., CB Elijah Riley
Notable Players Leaving: FB Jordan Asberry, C Bryce Holland, LB James Nachtigal
Final 2018 CSD Prime Ranking: 90th
Projected 2019 CSD Prime Ranking: 78th
Average Projected Record: 9.3 wins, 3.7 losses
3. BYU
Top Returning Players: QB Zach Wilson, TE Matt Bushman, C James Empey, S Austin Lee
Notable Players Leaving: EDGE Corbin Kaufusi, LB Sione Takitaki, CB Michael Shelton
Final 2018 CSD Prime Ranking: 44th
Projected 2019 CSD Prime Ranking: 58th
Average Projected Record: 6.5 wins, 5.5 losses
4. Liberty
Top Returning Players: RB Frankie Hickson, WR Antonio Gandy-Golden, LB Solomon Ajayi, S Elijah Benton
Notable Players Leaving: EDGE Juwan Wells Sr.
Final 2018 CSD Prime Ranking: 120th
Projected 2019 CSD Prime Ranking: 121st
Average Projected Record: 5.2 wins, 6.8 losses
5. UMass
Notable Players Leaving: WR Andy Isabella, LB Bryton Barr, CB Lee Moses
Final 2018 CSD Prime Ranking: 116th
Projected 2019 CSD Prime Ranking: 124th
Average Projected Record: 4.8 wins, 7.2 losses
6. New Mexico State
Top Returning Players: IDL Roy Lopez
Final 2018 CSD Prime Ranking: 118th
Projected 2019 CSD Prime Ranking: 125th
Average Projected Record: 3.9 wins, 8.1 losses
Click Here to Read the 2019 New Mexico State Aggies Team Preview