Know Your Foe: Mercer Bears
Record: 3-1 (3-0 SoCon)
2024 record: 3-8
Last week: W at ETSU, 38-34
Head Coach: Mike Jacobs (2nd season)
Last meeting: Samford W, 55-35 (2024)
Betting: Mercer -26.5, O/U
TV: ESPN+
Kick off time: 2:30pm CT
Fun Fact: Samford leads the all-time series vs Furman 16-14-1.
It was more of the same for Samford last time out against the Furman Paladins on Family Weekend. The Samford offense got off to a slow start as Furman found the end zone on two of their first three drives. Then with Furman leading 14-7, the Samford turnover bug appeared as Furman bats a Quincy Crittendon pass into the air and returns it for six.
It was all but over as Furman seized momentum with a 21-7 lead early in the second half and never looked back. Samford still outgained Furman but the early deficit was too much to overcome. Samford also lost a fumble in the second half to lose the turnover battle once again as they have 16 turnovers in five games on the season.
Samford continues to set a record and not in a good way. The 0-5 start is the worst in program history since 1984. Things do not get any easier as the Bulldogs will travel to Macon to take on the Mercer Bears.
Mercer, in their second season under Mike Jacobs, once again have the Southern Conference’s best defense. Last week Mercer had to erase a 14-point second half deficit to take down ETSU on the road.
Top 10 Mercer walked into Pete Hanna Stadium last year and Samford was able to upset the Bears with two defensive touchdowns en route to a win. Samford will have to use some of that magic going to Macon being almost a four touchdown underdog. The Bulldogs limped into the matchup at home last year and more of the same vibes are present in 2025.
How will Samford fare against this Mercer defense and limit the turnovers? This has been said every week but Samford has to limit their turnovers to have any chance for the upset. Can the Samford defense show up and play up to their preseason potential and force some Mercer turnovers for some short fields?
The last time Samford started 0-6 was…you guessed it, in 1985.
Below is where Mercer sits in the major offensive categories
Offensive Stats
PPG: 29.7 (4th in SoCon)
Total YPG: 330.3 (2nd)
Pass YPG: 239.3 (6th)
Rush YPG: 156.3 (3rd)
Key Offensive Players
QB #8 Braden Atkinson: 75% completion, 803 pass yards, 8 TDs, 3 INTs
RB #22 CJ Miller: 63 att, 381 rush yards, 6 yards per carry, 4 TDs
WR #18 Adjatay Dabbs: 18 rec, 248 yards, 3 TDs
WR #7 Kendall Harris: 15 rec, 220 yds, TD
WR #2 Adonis McDaniel: 15 rec, 107 yards, 3 TDs
Now here is where Mercer sits in defensive categories and key players on that side of the ball.
Defensive Stats
Opp PPG: 17.5 (1st in SoCon)
Opp Total YPG: 342.5 (1st)
Opp Pass YPG: 247.5 (3rd)
Opp Rush YPG: 95 (1st)
Key Defensive Players
LB #10 Julian Fox: 29 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1 sack, INT
LB #51 Drew Clare: 28 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, PBU
DB #17 Kaleb Hutchinson: 25 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, PBU
DL #0 Andrew Zock: 19 tackles, 8 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 10 QBH
