|
Gridiron Addict Alert - Time For Spring Football
 By Craig R. Turner
Bluedeathvalley.com
Date: March 26, 2007
For all of us A&T gridiron fanatics, this is probably the third most important day on the sports calendar next to the beginning of football season and national signing day.
The annual spring football game marks the transition to the beginning of a new season and the hopes of raising the bar for college football aficionados.
North Carolina A&T is heading into its second year under head coach Lee Fobbs Jr., a former Texas A&M staffer and longtime running back coach for several major division one programs in the SEC and Big 12 conferences.
After a disappointing 0-11 mark in 2006, the Aggies look to be in far better shape than a year ago, heading into this Saturday’s spring game at Aggie Stadium and Football Alumni weekend.
On the Upswing
Fobbs will have two returning quarterbacks with playing and starting experience in sophomores Herb Miller and Wayne Campbell. Campbell is the starter but the competition is wide open as Miller has now healed from a knee injury that sidelined him at midseason and knocked him out of the picture for the second half of 2006. Both had their good and bad moments last year as freshmen but now with a year of experience under their belts the maturation process should be smoother.
Newcomer Shelton Morgan (6-2, 205, R-Fr.) has had a nagging thumb problem this month but is expected to make his presence felt by the time fall camp opens in August. Morgan was a prolific passer coming out of Northeastern High School two years ago, throwing for 4,537 yards and 25 touchdowns over his high school career. Even more intriguing is his 4.43 forty time and running ability.
The Aggies now have enough roster players available to finally have a true spring game instead of a controlled 40-play contact drill as they did a year ago. The omens that have begun to appear have been very good ones if you’re superstitious enough to believe in such things.
First off, Brandon Sweeney, the leading rusher in 2005 with over 900 yards, returns to the team from a near- fatal kidney injury suffered last spring. That injury appeared to have ended his playing career.
Sweeney, a 5-10, 185 senior dynamo, spent the year recuperating from life-threatening surgery and allowed his lacerated kidney to fully heal. A very religious young man, Sweeney vowed that he would return this year with hard work and some spiritual help. This far, he has been on target with his prediction. And although the Aggie coaching staff has kept him out of serious contact during practice, his speed and agility are intact and the psychological boost of his return has done miracles for team morale while bringing some much needed leadership to a team loaded with sophomores and juniors.
Another plus is the return of eleven upperclassmen who sat out last year due to either injury or academic considerations including proven linebackers Tim Shropshire (6-1, 240) and Brandon Wade (6-2, 220) along with linemen Juan Williams (6-3,305, OG) and Chris Hill (6-3,310, DT), and free safety Brian Ringgold (6-3, 195) who were all sorely missed in ’06.
The New Guys and Their Impact
Don’t look now, but a running back controversy may be brewing this fall. Not that Mike Ferguson, a 6-1, 200 pound rising junior, the team’s leading rushing with over 700 yards isn’t capable. Far from it. He still retains the starting position coming out of spring practice.
But the multi-talented, all-purpose tailback is being pushed extremely hard by JUCO transfer David “Speedy” Robinson (5-9,180) who has electrified the running game with his game breaking speed and shifty moves through the spring workouts.
The much heralded Clemson transfer Demmerick Chancellor (6-1.210, So.) is still learning the ropes of his new surroundings but will get his chance to show what he has learned thus far this weekend as well.
Strong safety Brandon Croley (6-1,205, So.), is another Clemson transfer has been outstanding in spring workouts with his speed, tackling ability, and ball hawking that now gives the league’s worst defense in 2006 a tremendous boost . Another legitimate all conference candidate in the secondary is transfer cornerback Ihsan Saheed (5-11,175), a big time hitter, whose 4.33 speed allows him to play man on man coverage with little fear.
The defensive side of ball has really benefited from the new and more stringent off-season weight training program. Also, the addition of two red shirt freshmen in former all-state linebacker Quantres Grant (6-0, 227) and versatile Morgan Vincent (6-2, 260, LB/DE) has been duly noted . Both have had interesting spring performances and will play considerably this fall in their first full year of competition. They should help give some quality depth behind sophomore starters Andre Thornton, Jamison Hedgepeth, and Davion Hemphill.
Another pleasant development has been the smooth transition of red shirt linemen Kelvin Jackson (6-4, 310) and Fred Eubanks (6-6, 275) from offense to defense. These two large bodies now give A&T plenty of match-up size and speed to help improve one of the weakest part of its defense: stopping the run.
Two wide outs that will get a significantly long look on offense will be good looking freshmen red shirts Cedric Bryd (6-4,210) and Lavonte Kendrick (6-3,205). They are both big targets with good hands.
What to Look for Saturday
Take special note in observing a more seasoned offensive line, a bigger defense, more speed at the skill spots and visibly improved strength up front. How well these upgrades in key personnel will fair this fall is still unknown, but the production has been evident even to the untrained eye.
Consistency along both lines has been coming around slowly and much work is still left to be done. Returnees along the offensive front like Tim Bess, Chad Wiley, Ron Foxx, Andrew Sagote and Desmoine Ware had better begin performing like the experienced juniors and seniors they are, because four incoming linemen- most notably Jason Valmont and Enoch Cohen- are all physically advanced enough to actually replace all of the incumbents and start as true freshmen.
In the meantime, the Aggies have indeed taken steps in improve both sides of the football and fans should notice the difference in its young players, both in their execution and physical development. If the progress continues over the summer months with the nearly 50 sophomore lettermen who all earned considerable minutes last fall, then A&T should be heard from this fall.
A&T fans need to show up for their team this week and provide some much-needed emotional support by giving up a few hours on Saturday to attend this final wrap up. It would be nice to see three or four thousand Aggies on what should be a enjoyable afternoon before the NCAA Final Four games begin later in the day. That would be a good way to show this team that the fans support them and that it’s a new beginning with higher expectations after such a rocky road in 2006.
Hope to see you all at Aggie Stadium this Saturday.
|
Print this page
Email article
