Carrollton, GA - After months of waiting, the time is here, as the highly anticipated 2011 version of the UWG football squad is set to take the field on Saturday against a tough season opening opponent in Tusculum College.

Football Gameweek

The Wolves' defense will have their chance to take center stage in the opener, as they face an outstanding junior quarterback in Tusculum's Bo Cordell. As a sophomore, he accounted for 425 yards per game, tops in NCAA Division II football last season. He will have nine starters returning around him to throw at the UWG defense.

But the cupboard is definitely not bare at UWG, as the Wolves have three preseason All-GSC candidates and one preseason All-American on its defense. That group is led by senior safety Waylon Kimble, who had six interceptions a year ago and has already provided a lot of leadership through the early part of the 2011 fall practice schedule.

In addition to Kimble, Cordell will have to throw through a defense that features no less than 15 players who saw significant snaps at various points in the season. That group includes preseason All-GSC defensive end Juan Pickett and cornerback Tim Green. Pickett has been terrorizing opposing offensive lines for the better part of four seasons, but is a redshirt junior after suffering a knee injury during the 2009 campaign.

Green's accomplishments were somewhat overshadowed last season, as most eyes were on the opposite side with Ken Hale. While Hale has moved on after his senior season, Green is back for his this year and is a hard-hitting corner who is tough to get through.

On offense, the Wolves will depend on new quarterback Emmanuel Taylor, a transfer from Division I UAB. Taylor was the state AA Player of the Year at Early County High as a senior and is back in Georgia and ready to move the UWG offense up and down the field this season.

Taylor will have a plethora of receivers to throw to this season, led by senior Arkeem French and sophomore Malcolm Johnson. The two receivers have been the go-to guy for the past two seasons at West Georgia, although not at the same time. Johnson was a true freshman in 2009 and burst onto the scene with 26 receptions for 387 yards and three touchdowns that year.

French was the stud in 2010, hauling in three late-game touchdowns for the Wolves in gaining a reputation as a clutch receiver. Last year, he had 40 receptions for 503 yards and six scores, including the game-winner in the waning minutes against Harding.

Taylor will be joined in the backfield by two All-GSC running backs, as seniors James Kennebrew and Yusuf Holloway return for their final seasons on the UWG gridiron. The pair combined for nearly 900 yards rushing in 2010 with six combined touchdowns. They will be a vital part of the Wolves' success in 2010.

But the backs are only as good as the line, which has improved in each season under head coach Daryl Dickey. Anchored by senior guards Kyle Yates and Terrance Turman, the UWG offensive line has the opportunity to open up the Wolves' offensive attack this fall. 

The Wolves had two other preseason All-GSC selections in junior tight end Daniel Youssif and sophomore punt returner Denarius Appling. Youssif collected eight receptions for 60 yards last season and hauled in his first career touchdown against Concordia. Appling burst onto the scene as a speedy returner who is a threat to take it the distance on any given return.