Dri Archer

Running back/wide receiver/kick returner

Number: 1

Height: 5’8”

Weight: 175 lbs.

Hometown: Laurel, Fla.

High school: Venice

Year: 5th-year senior

2012 statistics:

159 rushing attempts, 1,482 yards rushing (9.0 YPC), 16 rushing TD

39 receptions, 561 yards, 4 receiving TD

16 kick returns, 591 yards, 3 TD

Honors:

• 2013 Phil Steele’s Preseason All-Purpose Player of the Year

• 2013 Athlon and Phil Steele’s Preseason All-MAC First Team

• 2013 Columbus Touchdown Club Player to Watch

• Named to Associated Press, Walter Camp, ESPN.com, Sporting News and Phil Steele All-American teams

• Set a single-season record at Kent State for touchdowns with 23

• MAC Special Teams Player of the Year

• All-MAC First Team at running back and kick returner

• One of four finalists for the Paul Hornung Award

• Named Dapper Dan Club of Akron’s Co-Sports Person of the Year

• Named to Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll three times during season

• Earned Joe Fogg Award, honoring national collegiate player of the year in the Midwest

• MAC Player of the Week (Nov. 17)

• Four-time College Football Performance Awards Honorable Mention

• MAC East Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 13)

• Two-time MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week (Aug. 30, Sept. 29)

• Phil Steele postseason First Team All-MAC as kick returner, Second Team as running back

• Doak Walker Award nominee, for the nation’s best running back

What to expect in 2013:

Archer was the Flashes’ most electric player on the field in 2012. In order to replicate the success he found last season, Archer must step it up a notch or three in 2013 because he is no longer the Flashes’ secret weapon. Defenses will be sure to know where he is on the field at all times, but Archer will have an expanded role this season, adding punt returns to his repertoire. National attention has already fallen on Archer, including multiple preseason honors and a Heisman campaign started by Kent State’s athletic department.

Roosevelt Nix

Defensive lineman

Number: 5

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 260 lbs.

Hometown: Reynoldsburg, Ohio

High school: Reynoldsburg

Year: Senior

2012 statistics:

• 59 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss and six sacks

Honors:

• 2013 Nagurski, Outland and Bednarik Award Watch Lists

• 2013 Phil Steele’s Preseason All-American Fourth Team

• Athlon and Phil Steele’s Preseason All-MAC First Team

• MAC East Defensive Player of the Week (in 2012)

• OhioCollegeFootball.com Defensive Player of the Week

• Phil Steele’s mid-season First Team All-MAC squad

What to expect in 2013:

Nix has been a household name at Kent State and in the Mid-American Conference since his freshman season in 2010, when he earned MAC Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors. This defensive tackle hasn’t let up since his first year on the field. With goals of another division title, conference championship game appearance and bowl berth, expect Nix to raise his play to new heights in 2013. Nix will be the main cog in a defensive line that will be counted on to provide much of the defense’s run-stopping ability.

Trayion Durham

Running back

Number: 34

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 250 lbs.

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio

High school: Colerain

Year: Junior

2012 statistics:

• 276 rushing attempts, 1,346 yards rushing (4.8 YPC), 14 rushing TD

• 17 receptions, 181 yards, one TD

Honors:

• 2013 Columbus Touchdown Club Player to Watch

• 2012 All-MAC Third Team

• Phil Steele’s All-MAC Team

• College Football Performance Awards Honorable Mention as running back

• Two-time MAC Offensive Player of the Week

• Nominated for Doak Walker Award

What to expect in 2013:

Durham was the thunder to Archer’s lightning in 2012, and fans should expect a similar performance in 2013. Durham will carry the bulk of the load offensively for Kent State and improved conditioning should help the big running back perform greater than he did in 2012.

Trayion Durham

Running back

Number: 5

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 183 lbs.

Hometown: Syracuse, N.Y.

High school: Hargrave Military Academy

Year: 5th-year senior

2012 statistics:

• Sat out 2012 season due to injury

• 2011 stats: 24 receptions, 316 yards (13.2 YPC), two TD

Honors:

• 2011 Phil Steele’s Preseason All-MAC Third Team

What to expect in 2013:

Goode missed the 2012 season due to a hamstring injury but is fully healed and “hungrier than ever” to play football. The fifth-year senior will be counted on as a primary threat in the passing game, backed by either David Fisher or Colin Reardon as quarterback. Expect a big season from Goode.

Luke Wollet

Safety

Number: 39

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 198 lbs.

Hometown: Poland, Ohio

High school: Poland Seminary

Year: Senior

2012 statistics:

• 119 tackles (66 solo, 53 assisted), four interceptions, four pass breakups and one sack

• Two punt returns, 14 returning yards

• Honors/Accomplishments:

• Named to Athlon and Phil Steele’s Preseason All-MAC Second Team in 2013

• 2012 All-MAC Second Team

• 2012 Phil Steele’s All-MAC Team

• Nine tackles, one sack in MAC Championship Game

• Eleven tackles in GoDaddy.com Bowl

What to expect in 2013:

Wollet brings plenty of experience to the Flashes’ secondary, and with new coach Paul Haynes bringing special expertise to the defensive backfield, Wollet will likely improve as a safety. Few in the MAC rival Wollet’s ball-hawking ability, and despite weighing fewer than 200 pounds, he packs a surprising amount of force. Along with Nix, expect Wollet to lead a fierce defense this coming season.

Contact Nick Shook at [email protected].