If there is a single word to describe Northeastern State University's football outlook for 2011, it would most definitely be "transition."

Head coach Kenny Evans has spent his entire four-year career attempting to get to this point. Through recruiting, and implementing a system to foster stability and discipline, the RiverHawks appear to be on the verge of returning to the days when football reigned supreme on this campus.

NSU began spring drills with 120 in uniform. Approximately 25 others will  join the squad in August, giving Evans and his coaching staff the luxury of having depth at several positions.

The RiverHawks will return 17 starters and feature 19 seniors from a 2010 squad that finished the year at 6-5 and won the Lone Star Conference North Division with a 5-1 mark. Five of the nine offensive starters are linemen. Several junior college transfers and freshmen signees have been brought in to bolster this critical position. Trey McVay, a bona fide All-America candidate at receiver, and quarterback Kenny Davis are back for their senior seasons. These components, spearheaded by third-year offensive coordinator Brad Cornelsen, should give the RiverHawks plenty of options heading into the season.

On defense, Northeastern State will return six starters -- Beau Beathard and Travis Boswell at defensive end, Langston Jones and Donald Dangerfield at linebackers, and Ryan Keenom and Nate Robinson, 2010 AFCA All-America, in the secondary. And, Cody Lenz (punter) and Drew Patton (kicker) are back for the second year on special teams.

This will also be a transition year for the football team as a whole. For the first time since 1929, Northeastern State will not be affiliated with a conference and will be classified as an independent in NCAA Division II. However, NSU could play its way into the postseason with its rugged 11-game slate, something that hasn't happened since 2000. Highlighting the 2011 schedule is a Sept. 3 date where the University of Texas-San Antonio will play their first-ever football game. The Roadrunners' head coach is Northeastern State alumnus, and former University of Miami coach, Larry Coker.

OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN

Kenny Davis, a three-year starter, should be the quarterback for the RiverHawks again this season. Davis started all 11 games a year ago with a 125.98 efficiency rating. The Adair, Okla., native, completed 154-of-303 passes for 2,068 yards and 20 touchdowns against just six interceptions. He owns the school record for total offense in a season after averaging 201.5 in 2010. His backup will be decided in fall camp. Cale Fulps (8-14-1, 85 yards) played some a year ago. Transfers Dallas McCutcheon (Southeastern Oklahoma), Ryan Nolan (Missouri Southern) and Hans Cook (Kilgore) are in the hunt, as well as incoming freshman Thor Long.

At running back, a trio of talented redshirt freshman are vying for the position vacated by Josh Lewis and Prince McKinney who combined for 811 of NSU's 1,367 rushing yards a year ago. Joel Rockmore (Lake Worth, Texas) may be the heir-apparent with a spectacular spring showing. Terrance Dixon (Sand Springs, Oklahoma) and Jaimon Gilstrap (Tulsa, Oklahoma East Central HS) are in the mix. All three have speed and talent, but feature different running styles. When the RiverHawks go with a fullback, Nick Whitlow and John Stelly both have one year of experience in the system. Stelly was First Team All-Lone Star North two years ago but missed last season with a knee injury. Ironically, Whitlow did not have a single run in 2010, but caught 15 passes for 134 yards and one TD.

A handful of receivers will provide plenty of targets. Trey McVay, the LSC North Receiver of the Year in 2010, is back for after a banner junior campaign. The Fort Gibson, Oklahoma product hauled in 58 passes a year ago for 887 yards and 12 touchdowns. McVay made history on Nov. 6 when he caught 12 receptions, tying a school record, for 175 yards and 3 TDs against Eastern New Mexico. Also returning is Sean Donohue (Spiro, Oklahoma) had eight catches for 142 yards and two TDs. Others battling for playing time include: Jahmai Coleman (Houston, Texas), a transfer from Navarro, who helped his team to the junior college national title a year ago; Jermaine Sherman (Wagoner, Oklahoma), Northeastern Oklahoma A&M transfer; Charles Bryant (Tahlequah, Oklahoma), a transfer from Arkansas Tech; and Gionni Harris (Fayetteville, Arkansas), who transferred to NSU two years ago.

As previously mentioned, the offensive line is experienced. Add in the newcomers, some of which are huge, and now the RiverHawks have depth.. Returning starters include center Ben Beam (6-3, 320), a senior from Garland, Texas, guards Stephen Anderson (6-3, 290), a senior from Wylie, Texas, and Caleb Tripp (6-0, 262), a senior from Stilwell, Oklahoma, and tackles Chris Cherry (6-6, 280), Tulsa Memorial senior, and Phillip Boyd (6-3, 271), junior from Garland, Texas. All are expected to play, and with the exception of Boyd, who missed some of spring drills with an injury, they all should start. However, there are some guys hungry to vie for the nod. Among those are Ira Davis (6-2, 275), a junior from Coffeyville Community College, Mitch Harrison (6-7, 290), a juco transfer from Garden City, and Ethan James (6-5, 280), redshirt freshman from Gore at tackles, T.J. Jones (6-6, 335), a Coweta junior via Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Jordan Karriman (6-5, 320), a junior from Grove who transferred from Louisiana Monroe, at guards and Tyler Lannen (6-3, 280), a returning letterman and senior at center. At tight end, mid-term signee Ryan Dvorak (6-4, 250), a transfer from Coffeyville, will battle returnee Kyle Beam (6-4, 250), junior from Broken Bow and Stephen Huckaby (6-5, 245), also a returnee from Mesquite, Texas.

DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK

Northeastern State's defensive ends will feature seniors Travis Boswell (6-2, 257, Tahlequah, Oklahoma-Sequoyah  HS) and Beau Beathard (6-3, 260, Kingwood, Texas), both of whom are returning for their senior seasons. Boswell lead NSU in sacks and tackles-for-loss last year with 5.5 and 12.0, respectively. Alan Stroup (6-1, 230, Coweta, Oklahoma) is a rush end who came on strong late last year, and James Renfrow (6-2, 215, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma) is pushing hard for playing time. At nose tackle, NSU will replace two-year starter Billy Blackard. Faafetai Te'o (6-1, 290) from New Mexico Military Academy, Yun Taala (6-0, 285), from Grossmont (Calif.) Community College, both of whom are Samoans, or James McGue (6-2, 265), from Trinity Valley. All three transfers looked good in the spring, paving the way for a spirited fall camp. At defensive tackle, Blake Dirteater (6-0, 275, Jr.) is a returnee from Coweta, Oklahoma and logged seven tackles a year ago. Behind him, Bobby Pointer (6-1, 290) from Dewar, Oklahoma via NEO, figures into the equation.

The linebacker corps will be anchored by three players who got loads of experience a season ago. The outside linebackers are Langston Jones (6-2, 195), from Calisburg, Texas and an All-Conference Honorable Mention selection in 2010, and Travon Brooks (5-11, 185), a junior from Muskogee, Oklahoma. Both lettered and the position has been altered to feature their speed and agility. Middle linebackers are Jack Gray (6-1, 230, Soph.), a returnee from Chandler, Oklahoma, who had six starts, 42 tackles and two interceptions in 2010. Chris Myers (6-1, 235, Sr.) is from Dickinson, Texas, and appeared in just five games a year ago with 27 tackles. At rover, Donald Dangerfield (6-0, 190, Sr.), from Hugo, Oklahoma, is a two-year starter. He is coming off a year where he had 43 tackles, one interception, 3 pass breakups, a blocked kick and 3.5 tackles-for-loss. Johnny Morton (6-0, 210, Soph.), from Chandler, Oklahoma, missed last season with an injury but had a good spring.

In the secondary, returning All-American Nate Robinson (5-9, 158, Sr., Rockingham, NC) is back after picking off four passes and garnering 31 tackles in 2010. Robinson also broke up a team-high 10 passes, blocked one kick and had 1,025 all-purpose yards (725 on kickoff returns, 258 on punt returns and 43 on interceptions). Victor Williams (5-7, 170, Soph., The Colony, Texas) is the projected starter at the other corner. Behind these two are Khalil Mitchell (5-9, 180, Jr., Topeka, KS) is a junior college transfer from Coffeyville and David Lewis (5-8, 175, Soph., Mesquite, Texas) is a returnee who appeared in five games as a freshman last year. Others are also in contention, including Bobby Marshall, from Tulsa's Booker T. Washington High School who runs a 10.3 100 meters. At free safety, Ryan Keenom (6-0, 195, Sr., Colcord, Okla.) is a returning three-year starter. His 54 tackles, 35 of which were unassisted, ranked second on the defensive chart. Chandler Barr (6-0, 160, So., Anadarko, Okla.) is listed as a backup. At strong safety, Kilgore transfer Terrance Leach (6-0, 180, Jr.) impressed the coaches enough to be listed as the starter after spring drills. Marquin Watts (5-10, 167, Jr., Lewisville, Texas) is back after recording 24 tackles a last season, mostly on punt cover.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Cody Lenz (6-0, 195, Sr., Deer Park, Texas) will handle the punting duties. Lenz averaged 41.4 yards on 57 punts in 2010. He had just three touchbacks, 12 over 50 yards, 14 inside the opponents' 20 yardline and a long of 61 yards. Drew Patton (6-0, 175, So., Fayetteville, Ark.) will be the kicker. Patton was 12-of-17 on field goals last season and made 22-of-23 PATs. Murphy Braden (5-11, 230, Jr., Cleveland, Okla.) is the deep snapper and Fulps will be the holder. Robinson will be the return specialist again for the RiverHawks, but don't be surprised to see McVay, Leach or others back from time-to-time.