Old Dominion Monarchs Roster 2019 Monarchs Roster

Head Coach: Bobby Wilder        2017 Salary: $650,000        Offensive Coordinator: Brian Scott       Defensive Coordinator: Rich Nagy         

Stadium: S. G. Ballard Stadium       Surface: Turf        City: Norfolk        State: Virginia

As a young team, the Old Dominion Monarchs took their lumps last season. However, 2017 was a learning experience, and more can be expected from players who are now returning veterans. Coach Bobby Wilder has put the building blocks in place for the team to become successful one more time. Just a season before, the Monarchs won 10 games.

Steven Williams became the starter at quarterback last season when he was still only 17 years old. Williams held his own last season and will benefit from another year of seasoning. Williams will get receiver Jonathan Duhart back. Duhart missed the 2017 campaign due to injury and has the potential to be the top receiver on the team. In order to take the pressure off of Williams, ODU will need to regain its prowess rushing the football.

The Monarchs have steadily improved on defense since they joined the FBS. The defense will be needed this season since the offense is not yet ready to prevail in shootouts. The secondary was riddled with injuries last season, and the pass defense suffered as a result. This season, the Monarchs are strong on the defensive line. They will need to exploit that superiority in order to prevent opposing quarterbacks from picking apart their secondary.

Conference USA has become a tougher address in recent years as the level of play has risen. There is nothing to say that ODU cannot become one of the conference's elite teams, but a young quarterback and weak secondary present issues.