Many thought the inability of coach Neil Callaway to get UAB to a bowl game in 2010 would be his undoing with the program.

It wasn't.

And whether 2011 is an all-in type of season or not, it's safe to say Callaway at least has a few positives working in his favor.

First off, he has a proven starter at quarterback in Bryan Ellis who will have the entire spring and summer to work as the unquestioned starter rather than being in a constant battle with now former UAB quarterback David Isabelle, who transferred after the 2010 season.

But the reality is offense wasn't UAB's problem a year ago. It was defense and special teams. The kicking woes for UAB won't really begin to improve until the summer, when a pair of recruits get on campus to start battling for the job, but it's clear the overhaul on offense is already in full swing.

In late December, Callaway hired former Clemson and Memphis head coach Tommy West to be the team's new defensive coordinator. The last time West served solely as a defensive coordinator, the Memphis Tigers led the nation in rushing defense (72.7 yards allowed per game in 2000). That's less than half of what the Blazers allowed in 2010.

For those disgruntled fans around the program still crying for Callaway's job, West is the type of guy many would have loved to have seen come in as head coach to revamp the entire team. For now, though, Blazers fans will just have to hope West can at least pull off the minor miracle of improving the team's defense.

TOP OF THE CLASS

QB Austin Brown (Flowery Branch High, Flowery Branch, Ga.) -- Brown won't step in right away, but with a pair of backup QBs transferring after the 2010 season, Brown could be a No. 2 guy immediately in the fall and is considered a drop-back passer like starter Bryan Ellis. Brown threw for more than 2,500 passing yards as a senior and 214 TDs.

OG Uneik Crumbley (Sumter High, Americus, Ga.) -- The 6-foot-3, 340-pound bulldozer should make UAB RB Pat Shed real happy. Crumbley is an instant impact potential player who helped pave the road to a 2,000-yard rushing season in 2010 for his high school team.

K Colin Anderson (Stephenson High, Stone Mountain, Ga.) -- Two-year starter Josh Zahn was disappointing last year. Anderson will step in this summer and get every chance to beat out last year's P Trey Ragland and fellow recruit Ty Long for the job. Despite just being a freshman next fall, it's Anderson's kicking job to lose.

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