North Texas offense jumped from 117th in scoring in 2016 all the way up to No. 24 in 2017 in coach Seth Littrell’s second season. Now, with an even more experienced quarterback, deep corps of receivers and a 1-2 punch at running back, the Mean Green are in position to kick it into overdrive.

Junior quarterback Mason Fine, the reigning Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year, keys what should be one of the loaded offenses among the Group of Five. 

“He’s one of the best guys in our league. But the thing you don’t see is the type of teammate he is,” Littrell said. “He’s starting to become more vocal. He’s starting to hold guys accountable to our standards. That’s the hardest thing.”

He’s got plenty to work with. His top three receivers all return, led by the trio of Michael Lawrence, Jalen Guyton and Rico Bussey Jr., who combined to catch 158 passes for 2,271 yards and 20 touchdowns. Like Fine, they’re all juniors, too. They’ve grown up in Littrell’s high-speed spread offense and look poised for an even bigger year in 2018 as the Mean Green chase a Conference USA title. Five of Fine’s top six pass-catchers are back, and UNT is ready to absorb the loss of leading rusher Jeffrey Wilson. Sophomore Nic Wilson will take over lead back duties, but junior college transfer DeAndre Torrey is in line to inherit a sizeable chunk of Wilson’s 188 carries from 2017. Littrell has no plans to ask Smith, at 5-10 and 182 pounds, to carry the ball 300 times.

All the questions for UNT lie along the offensive line, where improvement will be key in taking the next step forward. The Mean Green gave up 39 sacks in 2017, but 15 came in the final two games of the season, both lopsided losses to Florida Atlantic in the C-USA title game and to Troy in the New Orleans Bowl. They’ll have to do it with youth. Littrell is stuck replacing four starters on his line, with only tackle Jordan Murray, guard Elex Woodworth and center Sosaia Mose as returners with experience.