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2016 NCCU Football Season Preview:
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After repeating as Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference co-champions and posting the most wins as a Division I-FCS program with an 8-3 record last season, the 2016 North Carolina Central University football team welcomes the return of 15 starters on its quest for a historic three-peat.
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With consecutive league titles in hand, this year's Eagles squad will attempt to do something that no NCCU team has been able to do – win a third straight conference championship.
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Third-year head coach
Jerry Mack has not only captured conference titles in each of his first two seasons at NCCU, but he became the first head coach in school history to win 15 games in his first two years.
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2015 Team Highlights:
     - Won a share of the MEAC Championship with a 7-1 conference record
     - Posted the most wins as a NCAA Division I-FCS program with an 8-3 overall record
     - Earned the program's second win over a nationally-ranked FCS opponent by defeating No. 13/16 North Carolina A&T in the final game of the season on Nov. 21
     - Closed out season on a seven-game winning streak
     - Ranked No. 1 in the nation (FCS) in fourth down conversion percentage defense (8.3%) - allowing only one fourth down conversion all season (12 attempts) - and fourth down conversion percentage offense (81.8%/9 of 11)
Looking Back at 2015:Â Back-to-Back MEAC Champions
NCCU head coach Jerry Mack
"I thought we finished the season off extremely well," said Mack. "We closed the season on a seven-game winning streak, beating our arch rivals, a team that was ranked in the top-25 in the country, to end the season. We peaked at the right time last year. The last three games of the season we scored an average of 35 points per contest. Defensively, we did an excellent job of stopping the run last year (second in MEAC, holding opponents to 126.2 rushing yards per game). Overall, we are going to try to take that momentum from the final seven games of last year and try to carry it over into 2016."
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How do you carry momentum from one season to another?
"We have a lot of returning starters coming back (13 returning starters: 7 offense, 6 defense), so that helps with talking about the things we did successfully last year and trying to improve on that," Mack said. "Obviously, we could talk about missed opportunities. There were a couple of games and a couple of situations that we wish we could have back. We constantly try to include some of the things that happened, both positive and negative, from last year, and talk about how to build off of them and try to grow from those experiences."
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Explain this season's motto "Our Tradition – Our Legacy"
"We talk about, 'What is our legacy going to be at NCCU? What kind of legacy is the North Carolina Central University football team in 2016 going to leave?' We've been able to have success in the 2014 and 2015 years, and those seniors have laid a great foundation. But now it's the 2016 year. So now, we want to build off of that momentum from the last couple of seasons," Mack explained. "From a tradition standpoint, we want to always paying homage to the people who have laid the foundation for us. We would not be where we are today if not for those past Eagles and successful teams, or our sponsors and Eagle Club donors that provide scholarship dollars to make everything that we do possible. It's a way for us to pay respect to the traditions that have been laid before us, while also building our own legacy under this regime."
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A Chance to Make History
"There have been some great football teams in NCCU's past, but what we would like our legacy to be is that we won three championships in a row," said Mack. "There have been back-to-back championships, but never three titles in a row. That's one of the big goals of our team this year. Everybody is focused on trying to win that third championship. We feel that we have a really good football team. We have some experience mixed with some youth, but everybody understands that our goal is to make history."
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What is it going to take to win a third straight championship?
"We're going to need some young guys in key positions to step up," Mack said. "Some guys that had a smaller role last year will need to play at a level that is championship-caliber. We're breaking in some new offensive linemen. We have some skill guys that were injured last year that are going to have a chance to comeback and showcase what they hoped they could do in 2015. So we're looking forward to that piece. On the defensive side of the ball, we're looking for some of those guys that were in a back-up role last year to take the opportunity to be starters this year and excel. It's going to take tremendous effort, focus and detail from all parties – offense, defense, special teams and coaches - to get over the hump this year."
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Effort, Focus and Detail
"Effort, focus and detail… those are three of the principles of our program," Mack said. "One thing we talk about all the time is being able to give tremendous effort and play with a lot of energy on the field. We have to stay focused, whether good things happen or bad things happen. And detail is something that we stress a ton around here, because if we are a little bit more detailed we are probably outright champions in 2015."
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OFFENSE:
Returning Starters: 7 (OL
Carl Jones, QB
Malcolm Bell, OL
Desmond Cooper, WR
LaVontis Smith, OL
Tarrance Wells, WR
David Miller, RB
Dorrel McClain)
Coaches:
T.C. Taylor (co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks),
Jason Onyebuagu (run game coordinator/offensive line),
Carl Funderburk (tight ends),
Jordan Reid (running backs),
Jermaine Gales (wide receivers,
Quinn Billerman (offensive assistant)
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2015 NCAA Division I-FCS Rankings
         #1 – Fourth Down Conversion Percentage (81.8%/9 of 11)
         #11 – Sacks Allowed (1.0 per game)
         #11 – Tackles for Loss Allowed (4.45 per game)
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"I'm extremely excited about what we should be able to do on offense," Mack said. "We get a couple of all-conference-caliber wide receivers back that faced some injuries last season. In the last few years, we have been one of the most productive offensive groups in the league. Our hope is that this is the year we can separate ourselves and do some even better things, especially in our pass offense. We return some really good running backs, so we're excited about what we have in the backfield. On the offensive line, we have three returning starters up front. So the main pieces of the puzzle are back, locked and ready."
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Quarterback
Malcolm Bell
Malcolm Bell (R-Sr., 6-1, 190, Richmond, Va.): Third Team All-MEAC in 2015 with 1,581 passing yards, 8 passing TDs; 509 rushing yards, 5 rushing TDs. Started all 11 games last season. Among NCCU career leaders, ranks eighth in passing yards (3,909) and sixth in total offense yards (4,838) through first three seasons (2013-15). Boasts a career record of 15-7 as a starting quarterback. "Malcolm has the chance to be a premier quarterback in the league this year - with the tools that are around him and the experience that he has," Mack said. "He has won a lot of games, big games and close games, as the starter here at NCCU. Any time you have a trigger man with that kind of experience, you always feel like you have a chance to compete at a high level. He is moving up the charts statistically as one of the best quarterbacks to ever play at NCCU, and we hope that he can continue to grow and progress as a player. We really need his leadership this year and we really need him to make smart decisions. He has done a good job in the past few years, and we need him to take it to another level with this being his senior year. Malcolm is the true dual-threat quarterback. We've been able to use Malcolm's legs and take advantage of his throwing ability. He is the epitome of the prototype quarterback that we're looking for when we go out to recruit."
Naiil Ramadan (R-Fr., 6-0, 210, Charlotte, N.C.): Practiced, but did not play in first season at NCCU. "Naiil took some quality snaps in the spring. Our entire offense was really impressed with how he grew from a guy who did not take any snaps as a redshirt in 2015, to all of the snaps he was able to take in the spring. One of the things that stands out is his accuracy. He also does a good job of extending plays by moving around in the pocket. We feel like he is going to be a quality quarterback for us as he continues to learn and grow in the system."
Shoalin McGuire (Fr., 6-3, 205, Ridgeway, Va.): Led Magna Vista High School to back-to-back Virginia 3-A state championships with a combined record of 27-3 (14-1 in 2014, 13-2 in 2015). As a dual-threat quarterback, accounted for 3,247 total yards and 41 total touchdowns as a senior in 2015. Threw for 7,583 career passing yards and 81 career passing touchdowns. "We feel like Shoalin is going to come in and push Naiil for playing time this year as a freshman."
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Running Back
Dorrel McClain
Dorrel McClain (R-So., 5-10, 190, Cary, N.C.): First Team All-MEAC and MEAC Rookie of the Year in 2015. Played in all 11 games, including final seven contests as the starting running back. Second-leading rusher in MEAC with 958 yards (87.1 ground yards per contest and 5.6 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns. Ranked second in MEAC with 108.0 all-purpose yards per contest. "He has put on some weight and has gotten stronger in the weight room," said Mack. "He did a good job in the spring and his summer workouts are going really well for him. He runs the ball with more maturity than a typical player going into his sophomore year. So we're excited about what he is going to be able to bring to the table. Dorrel is a great combination of power and speed. He runs the ball extremely hard. He has enough power to break tackles in the open field, and he has another gear that allows him to separate from defenders."
Ramone Simpson (R-So., 5-10, 185, Wilmington, N.C.): Rushed for 258 yards and three touchdowns in a back-up role in 2015. Averaged 4.0 yards per carry. "Ramone had a good year playing as a back-up to Dorrel. He is a different style of runner with a different skill set. He is really good at catching the ball out of the backfield and he came up with some really big plays for us down the stretch last year. Ramone is a slasher. He is a lot stronger than what his body looks like, but he is slippery and does a great job of breaking tackles and cutting on a dime."
Torri Cotton (R-Fr., 5-8, 160, Panama City Beach, Fla.): "Torri is a shiftier scat-back-type of player, who is probably one of the fastest players on our football team. We're excited about getting him the ball in space and seeing what he can do with it in his inaugural year in the MEAC."
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Wide Receiver
LaVontis Smith
Quentin Atkinson (R-Sr., 6-2, 205, Raleigh, N.C.): Suffered season-ending injury after first game. In lone contest, caught two passes for 60 yards, including a 56-yard reception. "Quentin is fully recovered," said Mack. "He brings leadership to the position. He's been around here now for the last three years, and being a fifth-year senior he is going to be able to give some experience to those younger guys, which is something we really didn't have last year. From a skill perspective, Quentin is going to provide us with a bigger body on the perimeter as far as his play-making ability down the field. Those are some of the things that he was able to do for us in 2014, which we missed a lot in 2015. So he is going to bring that back to the table."
Khalil Stinson (R-Jr., 6-2, 200, College Park, Ga.): Played three games in 2015, including two as a starter, before suffering season-ending injury in second quarter of third game at FIU (Sept. 19). Ended campaign with 10 receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown. Returned two punts for 43 yards. "Khalil is a really good outside receiver and also serves as a punt returner for us. He's explosive. He's able to put the ball in his hands, make defenders miss and catch the deep ball. He's just an all-around receiver that can play in the slot or on the outside for us."
LaVontis Smith (Sr., 5-10, 170, Maben, Miss.): Played all 11 games in 2015 in first season at NCCU, including seven as a starter. Topped team with 34 receptions and 372 receiving yards with one touchdown. Returned 12 punts for 213 yards (17.8 avg.) and two touchdowns. "LaVontis is one of our slot receivers who played extremely well for us, especially towards the backend of last year. He also serves as our starting punt returner. We are excited about getting him the ball in space. The things he can do with the ball are just tremendous."
David Miller (R-Jr., 6-0, 175, Wilmington, N.C.): Third on the team with 20 receptions for 245 yards and two touchdowns in 2015. Played in 10 games, including four as a starter. "David played for us last year in a reserve role. He had a tremendous spring. He's more of a vertical threat with the ability to stretch the field."
Jacen Murphy (Jr., 5-10, 185, Wilmington, N.C.): In 2015 at Copiah Lincoln Community College (Wesson, Miss.), collected 13 receptions for 147 yards. While at East Carolina in 2014, appeared in two games (NCCU and North Carolina). "Jacen is a slot receiver that has played FBS and junior college football. Similar style as LaVontis… a shiftier guy in the slot for us that can make plays in space. He will also probably be able to return some kicks for us, as well."
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Tight End
"With the departure of
Nathan Scruggs, who was an all-conference selection for us, we are rebuilding that position," said Mack.
Glen Calvin (So., 6-6, 220, Indianapolis, Ind.): Caught two passes for 25 yards as a freshman in 2015. Appeared in 10 games with one start at tight end. "Glen was in a reserve role last year, but he is going to have to dramatically increase his role and do some special things for us."
"We are also bringing in two freshmen that we feel are going to compete for playing time at that position.
Maleek Henderson (Fr., 6-3, 240, Danville, Va./George Washington HS) is an all-round tight end that can catch the ball and will also serve as a good blocker for us.
Bruce Davis (Fr., 6-3, 205, Greensboro, N.C./Grimsley HS) is a different style of tight end. He's more of a pass receiving threat that we can flex out. We are going to be young at that position."
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Offensive Line
Carl Jones
"We are going to be anchored by all-conference selection
Carl Jones. At the center position, he serves as the catalyst for that group," Mack said. "Those guys led the way when we finished third in the MEAC in rushing last year. Out of that group, three of the five starters are back. We are going to be young in some spots, as we have to play some younger guys to fill some voids with the departure of
Clevonne Davis (Second Team All-MEAC) and
Zachary Giles (Third Team All-MEAC)."
Carl Jones (R-Sr., 6-2, 285, Nashville, Tenn.): First Team All-MEAC. Announced to SBN Black College All-American Team, BOXTOROW (HBCU) All-America Team, HBCU Gameday FCS All-American Team and the Black College Sports Page "Baad Team" of Black College All-Americans (First Team). In 757 plays during 2015 campaign, graded out at 92 percent of blocking assignments with 63 pancake blocks, while only allowing one sack. Team Captain. Voted to 2015 CoSIDA Academic All-Districtâ„¢ Football Team as Division I First-Team honoree in District III (North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia). Has 27 career starts at NCCU, including 25 games in a row. "It all starts up front with Carl being the center directing traffic, being able to make the right calls to put us in a situation to be successful. His leadership and experience up front is going to be leaned on heavily this year. He's a guy that has played a lot of football and understands the game. He's a graduate already, so his maturity is at a high level right now."
Desmond Cooper (R-Sr., 6-6, 325, Stafford, Va.): Second Team All-MEAC. Started first 10 games of 2015 season at left tackle before missing last game due to an injury. In 653 plays, graded out at 87 percent of blocking assignments with 36 pancake blocks. "Desmond is probably the biggest player on our football team. If he can come back healthy, he'll have a chance to be a potential NFL prospect. He made second team all-conference last year, and hopefully he will be one of the better offensive linemen in our league this upcoming year."
Tarrance Wells (Sr., 6-3, 295, Oxon Hill, Md.): Played all 11 games in 2015, including final eight contests as a starter at left guard. Graded out at 84 percent of blocking assignments with 48 knockdowns and only one sack allowed. "Tarrance was a junior college transfer who learned and gained a ton of experience from last year's run. We expect him to come back and be even better this year."
Jamaal Symmonett (R-Sr., 6-3, 300, Nassau, Bahamas): Appeared in 10 games in 2015, including four starts. "Jamaal has played a lot of football here the last few years. He is going to be looking to get into that mix, as well. His savvy and experience should help us as we progress into the season."
Nick Leverett (R-Fr., 6-4, 290, Concord, N.C.): "Nick is a redshirt freshman that grew a ton in the spring. We are looking for him to add some depth along that line at one of those positions. He can play guard or tackle."
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DEFENSE:
Returning Starters: 6 (LB
Jeremy Miles, DT
Darius Spruill, DE
Antonio Brown, DT
Ja'Quan Smith, CB
Jamarcus Johnson, FS
Davanta Reynolds)
Coaches:
Granville Eastman (defensive coordinator/safeties),
Kenyatta McCoy (cornerbacks),
Jason Blalock (linebackers),
Jon Bradley (defensive line),
Chris Schultz (defensive assistant),
Bobby Turner (defensive assistant)
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2015 NCAA Division I-FCS Rankings
         #1 – Fourth Down Conversion Percentage Defense (8.3%/1 of 12)
         #3 – Tackles for Loss (9.4 per game) *104 TFL is most by NCCU since 1997
         #8 – Red Zone Defense (65.0%)
         #10 – Fumbles Recovered (13)
         #17 – Sacks (2.73 per game)
         #21 – Rush Defense (126.2 yards allowed per game)
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"I think our strength on defense is our front seven," Mack said. "We've finally got to the point where our linebacker corps and our defensive front have some experience and some depth. I think that is going to allow us to be really good against the run and add the needed pressure we need against the pass, as well."
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Defensive Line
Darius Spruill
Darius Spruill (R-Sr., 6-3, 280, Chester, Va.): Ranked second on the team with 5.0 sacks in 2015. Collected 27 total takedowns with 7.5 tackles for a loss, along with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Played in all 11 games with six starts. "Darius is a fifth-year senior who is a graduate, as well," said Mack. "We are going to lean on him up front from his experience and play-making ability. He did an extremely good job for us last year playing on the inside."
Antonio Brown (R-Jr., 6-3, 260, Jacksonville, Fla.): Played in 10 games, including six starts in 2015. Finished eighth on the team with 34 tackles and tied for sixth on the squad with 6.5 tackles for a loss. Added 2.0 sacks, three quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and two pass break-ups. "Antonio has made some huge plays for us and constantly puts pressure on the quarterback. He's a rising star in the MEAC at that position."
Ja'Quan Smith (R-Jr., 6-2, 300, Miramar, Fla.): Started all 11 games in 2015. Recorded 29 tackles, including 3.0 hits for a loss with an assisted sack.
Cyrus Stanback (So., 6-2, 280, Rockingham, N.C.): Played in all 11 games with three starts as a true freshman in 2105. Collected 14 total stops, including 2.5 tackles for a loss and an assisted sack, along with an interception.
"On the inside,
Ja'Quan Smith and
Cyrus Stanback is a combination that was really good for us last year. They are two quality guys that we feel can make plays and disrupt the other team's offense."
Frederick Henry-Ajudua (Sr., 6-2, 255, Durham, N.C.): Played in all 11 games in 2015. Finished with 14 tackles with 3.0 hits for a loss and a solo sack.
Stephen Gibson (R-Sr., 6-4, 255, Marrero, La.): Appeared in five games in 2015, making two assisted tackles.
"We are also going to lean on some experienced players,
Frederick Henry-Ajudua and
Stephen Gibson, who have played a lot of quality snaps for us and add some depth and experience at the defensive end position."
"One pass-rush specialist to be on the lookout for is
Kawuan Cox (R-Fr., 6-2, 230, Summerville, S.C.). His athletic ability makes him one of the better athletes on our football team."
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Linebacker
Jeremy Miles
Jeremy Miles (R-Sr., 6-1, 230, Durham, N.C.): Played and started nine games at linebacker (missed Duke and FIU contests due to injury). Collected 47 tackles, including 4.5 hits for a loss with 3.0 sacks. Added two pass break-ups, a forced fumble and a recovered fumble. Has played in 31 games in three season at NCCU. "We are expecting big things from Jeremy," Mack said. "He is a three-year starter for us, so we are excited about him. Jeremy is very active and can run around and make plays."
LeGrande Harley (R-Sr., 6-1, 230, Durham, N.C.): Sat out 2015 season at NCCU as a transfer. "LeGrande is a transfer from South Florida and a former high school teammate of Jeremy. With those two in the middle, we feel really good about our linebacker corps. LeGrande is a head-hunter who brings a physical presence to that position."
Reggie Hunter (R-Jr., 6-0, 225, Henderson, N.C.): Played all 11 games with two starts in 2015. Ranked fifth on the team with 48 tackles and tied for sixth on the squad with 6.5 tackles for a loss. Also recorded two forced fumbles, a sack, a 41-yard interception, a fumble recovery, and a blocked kick.
Kenneth O'Neal (R-Jr., 6-1, 225, Grand Prairie, Texas): Played in 10 games in 2015. Tallied 21 takedowns with a tackle for a loss and a pass break-up.
"Behind those guys (
Jeremy Miles and
LeGrande Harley) are
Reggie Hunter and Kenneth O'Neal. Those guys served a big role for us last year and they will push both Jeremy and LeGrande for playing time."
"So we are looking for a lot of great competition from the linebacker position going into fall camp."
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Cornerback
Mike Jones
Mike Jones (R-Jr., 5-10, 190, Baltimore, Md.): Started first three games of 2015 season before suffering season-ending injury in first quarter of third game at FIU. As a sophomore in 2014, earned First Team All-MEAC honors as both a defensive back and a return specialist. "The cornerback position is going to be led by
Mike Jones, who is coming off a season-ending injury," said Mack. "He has been tabbed as the best cornerback on our team right now. Mike is the prototypical man-to-man cover corner that everybody is looking for. He's not afraid of competition. He loves to play man coverage and be in receivers' faces and match his skillset against the best in the conference. I think his competitive edge is what makes him one of the better corners in our conference."
Ruben Saunders (Jr., 6-1, 185, Wilmington, Del.): As a sophomore at Dean College in 2015, tallied 31 tackles (23 solo) with four tackles for a loss, three interceptions with a touchdown, and seven pass break-ups. "Ruben is a taller, bigger corner with extraordinary explosiveness. He should match up well with the bigger receivers in our conference."
De'Mario Evans (R-So., 6-0, 175, Columbia, S.C.): In 2015 season at Eastern Arizona College, posted 32 tackles (28 solo) with two interceptions and a fumble recovery. "De'Mario is a great combination of size and speed."
Jalen Dampier (Fr., 6-0, 165, Kennesaw, Ga./North Cobb HS): "Jalen is a freshman corner that was highly-touted out of high school who we were able to steal away from some FBS programs. We expect him to come in and compete for playing time at that position."
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Safety
Davanta Reynolds (R-So., 5-10, 200, Tucker, Ga.): Started all 11 games in 2015. Amassed 33 tackles (20 solo), including 3.5 hits for a loss, with two interceptions, five pass break-ups and two forced fumbles. "Davanta did an outstanding job as a starter for us last year as a redshirt freshman. Davanta is a head-hunter type of safety who can come down and make tackles. He can play the strong and free safety positions for us."
Jaquell Taylor (So., 6-1, 185, Raleigh, N.C.): Appeared in eight games in 2015, including a start as a true freshman. "Jaquell received a lot of playing time as a freshman last year. He's more of a traditional rangy free safety that can make plays. He has the size-speed combination that allows him the ability to play some corner if we need him to do that."
Alden McClellon (So., 5-11, 190, Lake Butler, Fla.): Played in eight games as a true freshman. Collected 19 tackles, including 1.5 hits for a loss with a sack. "Alden is a very active tackler. I think he is going to be involved in a lot of run stops and tackles for loss this year."
"Behind those guys are transfers Josiah Dailey (R-Jr., 6-2, 205, Chicago Heights, Ill./College of Dupage) and
Charles Hicks, Jr. (Jr., 6-1, 195, Akron, Ohio/Feather River JC), and
Ronald Conyers (R-Sr., 5-11, 200, Raleigh, N.C.), who has served primarily in a special teams role for us. We hope these guys can push for playing time, as well."
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SPECIAL TEAMS:
Returning Starters: 4 (P
Nathaniel Tilque, PK
Brandon McLaren, PR
LaVontis Smith, KOR Jonathan "Petey" Williams)
Coordinator:
Chris Schultz
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2015 NCAA Division I-FCS Rankings
         #1 (tie) – Punt Return Touchdowns (3)
         #5 – Blocked Punts (4)
         #7 – Punt Returns (16.2 yards per return)
         #13 – Kickoff Returns (23.4 yards per return)
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Nathaniel Tilque
Nathaniel Tilque (Jr., 6-2, 190, Charlotte, N.C.): Averaged 38.6 yards per punt (64 punts for 2,468 yards) with long punt of 62 yards in 2015. Placed 19 punts inside the 20-yard line, forced 18 fair catches and had eight punts of 50 yards or better. "We bring back some consistency with Nathaniel as our punter," said Mack. "He has been a two-year starter for us."
Blayke Lindenman (Jr., 6-0, 210, Shawnee, Kan.): In 2015 during second season at Fort Scott Community College, accounted for 47 points without missing a kick, making all eight field goal attempts and all 23 extra-point kicks. "Blayke is an older, more mature placekicker."
Brandon McLaren (R-Sr., 5-9, 175, Miami, Fla.): Served as a kickoff specialist in 2015. Averaged 59.3 yards per kickoff with 12 touchbacks.
"We have a host of return specialists," said Mack.
LaVontis Smith (Sr., 5-10, 170, Maben, Miss.): Returned 12 punts for 213 yards (17.8 avg.) and two touchdowns in 2015. "LaVontis did an outstanding job of returning punts for us last year. LaVontis is really good at seeing a crease and accelerating. He is also able to break tackles."
Mike Jones (R-Jr., 5-10, 190, Baltimore, Md.): Broke the school record with 145 punt return yards versus Saint Augustine's last year. As a sophomore in 2014, earned All-America and First Team All-MEAC honors as a return specialist. "Mike was one of the top returners in the league before his injury. Mike is elusive. He does a great job with making the first defender miss and breaking tackles in the open field."
Jonathan "Petey" Williams (Jr., 5-8, 160, Wake Forest, N.C.): Averaged 29.8 yards per kickoff return (268 yards on 9 returns) in 2015. "Jonathan is all natural speed. He also runs on our track team. Once he finds a crease and accelerates, it's tough to stop him."
Chance Kennedy (Fr., 5-8, 160, Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg HS): "Chance should push for playing time as a return specialist, as well. Chance is elusive. He is a small, compact guy that is very hard to tackle in space. He has great change of direction."
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