July 23, 2009

DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) - With 18 returning starters, including nine on each side of the football, the North Carolina Central University Eagles enter their third season of NCAA Division I-FCS competition with excitement and optimism.

Third-year NCCU head football coach Mose Rison will lead the Eagles against a challenging slate of opponents in 2009, including national FCS power Appalachian State and the program's first Bowl Championship Subdivision foe Duke University.

NCCU posted a 4-7 overall record during the 2008 campaign, but the Eagles finished strong with three victories in the final four games of the season.

Of the 18 returning starters, five will be seniors (4 offense, 1 defense), nine juniors (3 offense, 6 defense) and four sophomores (2 offense, 2 defense). And while the wealth of returning starters is comforting, there will be much competition for the starting roles between the returners, several red-shirt freshmen and a highly-touted recruiting class.

OFFENSE:

When NCCU has the ball, Rison will look to 33 Eagles with playing experience, including 16 who were in the starting lineup at some point a year ago. "Unlike in years past, we do have returning starters and people who have played on offense," Rison said. "They will be comfortable. They will not be shell-shocked playing in their first game."

The key to any productive offensive unit is a solid front line. The Eagles welcome the return of four starters and a host of other experienced and talented linemen. "We are going to line up with some experience, size and athleticism up front," Rison said.

Leading the front men is a pair of senior tackles, Gabriel Manns (6-6, 305, Winston-Salem, N.C.) and Eric Stanley (6-5, 347, Sterling, Va.). Manns is a three-year starter with loads of experience, athleticism and potential to get even better. "`Gabe' has all of the intangibles of being one of the best offensive linemen here at NCCU," Rison said. "I have watched him grow and get better and better each year."

Stanley has started as a guard for the past two seasons, but will move to the right tackle spot to firm up the outside protection. "Every time Stanley lines up to play, he takes it personally," Rison said.

Holding down the middle is junior center James Frye (6-2, 323, Catawba, N.C.). "He is the glue... our anchor," Rison said. "Good size and very athletic. He's nasty!"

The question mark on the offensive line is at the guard position. "We will have some quality candidates," said Rison, mentioning a few names like Timothy Charity (Jr., 6-0, 270, Manteo, N.C.), Mario Brice (Jr., 5-11, 296, Rock Hill, S.C.), Tamiko Kelly (Jr., 6-2, 316, Forest City, N.C.), and Alex Johnson (So., 6-2, 292, Monroe, N.C.). "The cupboard is not bare."

The highest profile battle for the starting job is at quarterback. Five games into last season, NCCU's fourth all-time leading passer, Stadford Brown, suffered a season-ending injury (broken collarbone). From that point on, a pair of red-shirt freshmen, Keon Williams and Michael Johnson, shared the signal-calling duties. The young quarterbacks gained valuable experience during the final seven games of the season and in spring practice, but neither has solidified himself as the starter.

"I am really pleased with what we saw in the spring from the quarterback position," Rison said. "We are going to have tremendous competition for the starting job."

Williams (So., 6-0, 183, Charlotte, N.C.) completed 57.6 percent of his passes (38-of-66) for 462 yards in seven games. "Keon is a very intelligent quarterback," Rison said. "He has done a fine job with his growth and is a steady performer."

Johnson (So., 6-2, 222, Durham, N.C.) was successful with 51.6 percent of his pass attempts (32-of-62) for 517 yards and six touchdowns in four outings. "I could see Michael's growth during spring practice, especially at the line of scrimmage," Rison said. "His thought process and vision at the line is much different now. He has been in the heat of the battle and feels comfortable with the system."

Standing behind the quarterback is a trio of junior running backs that accounted for more than 100 percent of the team's rushing output from last season. Tailbacks Tony McCord, Tim Shankle and Justin Campbell combined for 1,044 ground yards in 2008, while as a team the Eagles tallied 1,011 total net yards rushing (rest of team combined for a loss of 33 yards).

McCord (Jr., 5-11, 180, Stone Mountain, Ga.) led the way with 464 yards on 122 carries with a touchdown, averaging a team-best 42.2 yards per contest. Shankle (Jr., 5-10, 220, Gainesville, Fla.) was just off the pace with 449 yards and three scores on 109 rushes, while Campbell (Jr., 5-6, 194, Monroe, N.C.) contributed 131 yards on 26 attempts for an average of 5.0 yards per carry. "McCord has separated himself as our top back, but at any time Shankle and Campbell can come in and we won't miss a beat," Rison said. "We have legit running backs that continue to get even better."

The squad's fourth-leading rusher, fullback Saeed Abdul-Azeez (Sr., 6-0, 238, Durham, N.C.), is also one of the most formidable blockers. "He has gotten bigger and stronger," Rison said.

Sophomore DeMarcus Hill (5-11, 219, Charlotte, N.C.), who started at tight end as a red-shirt freshman, has moved to fullback. Rison said he sees "tremendous upside" for Hill in the backfield.

Hill was pushed into the starting role at tight end last season after just two games when Earthan Ward (Jr., 6-4, 218, Edenton, N.C.) suffered a season-ending injury at James Madison. "We are pleased with Earthan's progress in the spring," said Rison. "He caught the ball extremely well. He has the ability to stretch the field. We are glad to have him back."

Arguably the deepest position for the NCCU offense is at wide receiver. While Rison mentioned six sets of capable hands, the head coach started with two-time team offensive MVP, senior Will Scott (6-2, 180, Charlotte, N.C.). Scott topped the Eagles with 45 catches for 787 yards with five trips to the end zone in 2008. Lindy's 2009 College Football Preview magazine tagged Scott as the FCS Independent Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. "Will Scott could be one of the most explosive receivers in the country," Rison said. "I could see a positive change in him at the end of last season. He has great speed and can run past people."

Complimenting Scott on the other side of the field is junior receiver Deshawn Spears (5-8, 152, Bunnlevel, N.C.), who was third on the team with 33 grabs for 439 yards a year ago. "Deshawn has shown the ability to make big plays," Rison said. "He is small in stature with a big heart."

Other leading candidates to haul in the pigskin are Corey Harris (Jr., 6-4, 180, Chesapeake, Va.), Jonathan Nicely (So., 6-4, 194, Augusta, Ga.), Andrew Johnson (RS-Fr., 6-2, 176, Fayetteville, N.C.), and Geovonie Irvine (So., 5-7, 145, Durham, N.C.).

DEFENSE:

In 2008, the NCCU starting defensive squad mainly consisted of two seniors, one junior, six sophomores and two freshmen. The youthful unit experienced a baptism by fire early on, but continued to improve. During the Eagles three victories down the stretch, the defense allowed an average of just 12.3 points per contest.

"Our defense was so young last year," Rison said. "We played a tough schedule, but every game was a good experience and helped us grow."

Thirteen of the team's top 16 tacklers from a year ago - all with 20 or more tackles to his ledger - return to the roster, including nine starters.

The marquee defensive Eagle for the upcoming season is junior lineman Teryl White (6-4, 278, Winston-Salem, N.C.), who led the squad with 11.0 tackles for a loss, including 3.0 sacks, and topped all linemen with 55 total takedowns. Both Phil Steele's and Lindy's 2009 College Football Preview magazines selected White as the FCS Independent Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. "A lot of schools missed out on Teryl White," Rison said. "He is athletic and can run. Teryl had an outstanding spring practice and I think he is going to have a great year."

The other returning starter in the trenches is junior nose guard Sam Battle (5-11, 266, Rocky Mount, N.C.), who recorded 22 tackles, including 6.5 hits for a loss with 1.5 sacks last season. "Sam is by far the strongest player on the team," said Rison, referring to Battle's ability to bench press 500 pounds. "He is difficult to block one-on-one because of how strong he is."

Other Eagles to watch on the defensive line are sophomore Dominique Moore (6-3, 289, Roanoke, Va.), who tallied 11 tackles with 1.5 sacks in limited action as a rookie, along with red-shirt freshmen Xavier Proctor (6-6, 229, Ellicott City, Md.) and Joe Hutchinson (6-2, 222, Charlotte, N.C.

"We have a lot of talent, athleticism and size on the defensive line, but we are still young," Rison said. "We will need to grow up fast."

Even with the departure of the team's leading defender from 2008, senior linebacker Troy McConico, NCCU's linebacker corps remains solid. Five returners accounted for more than 20 tackles each, including three backers with 40 or more.

Alex Winters (Sr., 5-10, 220, Burlington, N.C.) is tops among the returning linebackers with 56 takedowns, including 3.5 hits for a loss with a sack. He also recorded two fumble recoveries, including one for a 38-yard touchdown, a forced fumble, an interception and a pass break-up. "Alex is extremely excited about his senior year," Rison said. "He has made a lot of plays for us and is a tremendous asset because of his senior leadership."

Calvin Hillie (Jr., 6-1, 235, Concord, N.C.) blasted his way to 43 tackles as a sophomore, including 3.0 takedowns behind the line of scrimmage, a recovered fumble and a pass deflection. "Calvin is a very physical football player," Rison said. "He will strike you!"

Donald Laster (Jr., 6-0, 233, Shaker Heights, Ohio) spent a significant amount of time in the opposition's backfield last season. He amassed 40 tackles, including 9.5 hits for a loss with a team-high 6.0 sacks, while adding a team-best six quarterback hurries, more than twice as many as any other Eagle. "Donald had a good season last year," Rison said. "He was in a new position to start, but picked up what we were doing as the season went on."

Roger Stewart (So., 6-1, 207, Charlotte, N.C.) earned a starting role as a rookie, flying all over the field for 33 takedowns, including 4.0 hits for a loss with 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble. "Roger has done nothing but get better," Rison said. "Plus, he has put on weight and size, and had a great spring practice season."

Eliezer Sandifer (So., 5-11, 212, Miami, Fla.) collected 21 tackles in limited action as a freshman, but is expected to compete for a starting role as a sophomore. "Eliezer continued to improve in the spring," Rison said. "He runs extremely well and has a great nose for the football."

Anthony Sharp (Jr., 5-10, 215, Chapel Hill, N.C.) contributed 17 tackles last season. "Anthony is the vocal leader on our defense," Rison said. "He made a lot of plays in the spring."

Of all the positions on the field, Rison said he is the most excited about who is returning in the secondary. "We did not give up a lot of big plays in the passing game," he noted.

The four top returners, free safety Jeffery Henderson, strong safety Derek Harvey, cornerback Rashad Fox and cornerback David Ingram, all started for the Eagles at some point last season.

Henderson (Jr., 6-0, 187, Garner, N.C.), who is considered "really steady" by Rison, placed second on the team with 56 tackles (33 solo) last year, while adding five pass break-ups and a team-best three forced fumbles.

Ingram (So., 5-8, 167, Waldorf, Md.) topped the Eagles with nine passes defended, including a team-high four interceptions returned for 82 yards with a trip to the end zone. He also had 24 tackles and a recovered fumble to his credit.

Fox (Jr., 5-11, 180, Washington, D.C.) recorded 26 tackles (17 solo), three pass break-ups, an interception and a fumble recovery as a sophomore. "We lock him up against the opposition's top receiver," Rison said. "Fox is our shut-down corner."

Harvey (Sr., 5-8, 188, Raeford, N.C.) posted 22 tackles, including a hit for a loss with a half-sack, along with an interception and a pass deflection as a junior, and had a strong spring practice campaign, according to Rison.

Rison also noted that junior JaQuez Canty (5-9, 184, Winston-Salem, N.C.) will move from linebacker to the safety position. Canty tallied 20 takedowns with a sack last season.

The goal of the NCCU defense has not changed from a year ago, according to Rison. "We want to make an offense one dimensional by stopping the run," he said.

SPECIAL TEAMS:

The NCCU special teams unit took a big hit due to the graduation of the program's all-time leading scorer, place-kicker Brandon Gilbert, who amassed 279 career points and either holds or shares every kicking record in school history.

The kicking duties will be placed in front of two true freshmen, Frankie Cardelle (5-10, 175, Salisbury, N.C.) and Nickolas Hahula (5-11, 205, Rocky Mount, N.C.), and there will be an open competition, according to Rison.

"Brandon Gilbert cannot be replaced," Rison said. "What I am hoping is that these young kickers can come in here and be close to where B.G. was his freshman year. If they can come close, then the kicking game will be in good hands."

Two newcomers, a junior college transfer and freshman Brian Haselsberger (6-0, 180, Oak Ridge, N.C.), will also be vying for a starting role as the team's punter.

One special teams position that Rison feels is taken care of is long snapper, where sophomore Zachary Means has solidified himself. "He is snapping rockets back there," Rison said.

Rison also feels optimistic about the Eagles return game, which boasts speed and big-play potential.

Deshawn Spears averaged 16.6 yards per kickoff return and 6.1 yards per punt return last season, both team highs. Newcomer Geovonie Irvine will also get the chance for some game-breakers as a return specialist.

The 2009 edition of the NCCU Eagles will report to campus on Aug. 7. The first practice is slated for Aug. 8. Fans will have the opportunity to "Meet the Eagles" on Aug. 29 starting at 11 a.m.

THE 2009 SCHEDULE:

The North Carolina Central University 2009 Eagles football schedule features eight games played in North Carolina, including first-time meetings with Duke University and Appalachian State University.

The 2009 slate is considered fan-friendly because NCCU Eagles supporters can witness all 11 games without having to travel more the 200 miles from Durham. NCCU's three road games not contested in-state, will take place in neighboring Virginia, all less than a four-hour drive campus.

That is in sharp contrast to the team's 2008 travel itinerary, which saw the Eagles visit five different states, including California, Connecticut, Maryland, South Carolina and Virginia.

In 2009, NCCU will face eight NCAA Division I-Football Championship Subdivision programs and will meet six opponents for the first time on the gridiron.

The Eagles take their shortest bus ride of the season (4.8 miles one way) for a historic first-ever meeting with neighbor Duke University on Sept. 26, as the Blue Devils celebrate Homecoming. This will also be NCCU's first contest against a team from the NCAA Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision.

Inside the Numbers:

1st - first meetings with Liberty, Morehead State, Duke, Appalachian State, Central Methodist and Old Dominion

3 - number of Homecoming games the Eagles will serve as visitors (Duke, Appalachian State, Old Dominion)

4.8 - length in miles on NCCU's shortest road trip (at Duke)

8 - number of Football Championship Subdivision opponents

199 - length in miles on NCCU's longest road trip (at Hampton/drive time 3 hours, 42 minutes)

1,623 - total miles (round trip) to road games

For more information, contact Kyle Serba, NCCU Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations, at (919) 530-7054 or kserba@nccu.edu.