>One offensive question mark
Virtually everyone is back from an offense that finished 14th in Division II (434.8 yards per game) and actually was better passing (29th) than running (38th). If John Teigland or Jon Daniels, or both, takes control as the replacement for quarterback Greg Wunderlich, the offense could move into an even higher gear in 2010.

League-leading rusher
What can tailback Levi Terrell do now that he knows the offense and has been in the program for a full year? Terrell was pressed into service in the fifth game of his true freshman season because of injuries and effectiveness issues, and promptly responded with 1,182 yards in barely over seven games. He sat out all but a few plays of the regular-season finale with an ankle injury, playing only so that he could qualify for the MIAA's conference-only rushing title, which he won.

Receivers galore
Typically, UNO has one big threat in the passing game (think Ryan Krause, Chris Denney or Zac Herold). That's not the case any more as the Mavs have a stable of effective targets in 6-foot-5 All-American tight end Mike Higgins (50 catches, 848 yards, nine touchdowns), 6-4 sophomore wide receiver Brian Miller (45-700-3), backup tight end Austin Wells (20-248-2) and a group of smaller, but effective wide receivers in Adolph Overstreet (29-327), Justin Coleman (22-257), Tyler Oberembt (15-200-2) and Jonathan Patent (10-173-1). Added to the mix now is wide receiver Marques Parker, who was merely a Texas Christian scholarship recruit two years ago before off-field issues sidelined him.

Offensive line veterans
UNO's offensive line is talented, as usual, but could be deeper than it's been in several years, too. Tackle Harrison Lingenfelter (first team) and guard Dennis Bergland (second team) were all-MIAA picks last year, and center Anthony Sjuts is another grizzled veteran. Three others have starting experience, and guard James Davis transferred in from Ohio over the summer.

Zuerlein at kicker
Some outlets continue to try to find ways to keep Greg Zuerlein off their first-team All-America lists, and maybe his missing six field goals (out of 23, mind you) leads to red flags. But five of those misses were blocked — and they weren't the kind that were kicked too low, it was because of comically horrendous protection, with defenders coming clean up the middle. He could potentially hit from 60 yards out if given the chance. Zuerlein had 30 touchbacks on 76 kickoffs, a sign of leg strength that no Division II kicker (and few in Division I) can match.

— Rob White

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