Chris Hatcher proved to the Georgia Southern faithful that the spread offense can work when the Eagles finished only a few points short of sharing the 2007 Southern Conference title.

The Eagles rebounded from a 3-8 season in 2006 to win seven games last year.

Hatcher lost top talent Jayson Foster and returns a defense that gave up too many big plays, so he knows his work will be cut out for him entering his second term.

"There's probably more unknowns going into this season than the last," the coach said.

Hatcher has good reason to feel uncertain about his team. Almost half of his players are freshmen. He returns only three starters on an offense that will be missing Foster and running back Lamar Lewis, who accounted for most of the Eagles' rushing yardage.

Then, Hatcher announced the suspensions of eight players last week, including two projected starters on defense, for the team's opener at Georgia. Three of the eight also must sit out the next week, the Sept. 6 home opener against Austin Peay.

Hatcher said Monday that he entered preseason practice knowing he would take the disciplinary action against the eight players, so he said it's not as if he has had to make late adjustments.

Foster ran for 1,844 yards with 24 touchdowns at quarterback last season. He was 109-for-170 passing for 1,203 yards and six touchdowns to help Georgia Southern finish 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the conference.

He caused defenses trouble as a passer and runner. Lewis was the next threat, rushing for 955 yards and five scores.

Hatcher surely knows the task of filling the void of both Foster and Lewis should be a tough one.

Redshirt freshman Lee Chapple took the lead this summer toward winning the starting job at quarterback. Chapple is competing with Ohio State transfer Antonio Henton, who has been impressive.

Zeke Rozier and LaVelle Larry could share time at running back.

At receiver, senior Raja Andrew looks to have an expanded role in the "Hatch Attack" offense. He led the team with 38 receptions for 388 yards and three touchdowns.

"We got some good pieces there from those positions," Hatcher said. "We have a good crop of players I feel fine with."

But Hatcher's main concern is on the offensive line.

"Foster ran behind five guys up front who were very talented players," he said. "They were all seniors. That'll be the biggest challenge in building that line back up."

Georgia Southern signed 36 players, including six offensive linemen, in February. Hatcher hopes top recruits such as Larry, receiver Nick Bass or even linebacker Tavaris Williams can have a significant impact.

"We don't have any choice," he said. "When you are the third coach in three years, you're going to have attrition throughout the program. But this was a very large signing class for us. We're going to need to have players play immediately."

Williams, who led Lowndes High School in Valdosta with 161 tackles, might be a quick contributor to an Eagle defense that made too many mistakes last season. Georgia Southern gave up 404 yards per game and was fifth in the conference in points allowed.

The Eagles had only 19 sacks, next to last in the conference.

The Eagles are returning nine defensive starters, including all-conference defensive end Larry Beard and safety Chris Covington, who switched from being the leading rusher to leading the defense with 67 tackles last season.

Even without much talent last season, Hatcher achieved the improbable by leading his squad to the cusp of winning the conference. The Eagles even beat league leaders Wofford and Appalachian State -- the team that stunned then-No. 5 Michigan at Ann Arbor last year and took the Football Championship Subdivision title.

"Hopefully we can build upon the success we had last year," Hatcher said. "But we have to get better mentally as a football team. We just have to compete consistently. If we do that, we should have a good season."