Kendall Houston ready to help carry the load for South Alabama offense
MOBILE, Ala. – At first glance, there are plenty of talented individuals ready to line up and tote the ball for the University of South Alabama football team in the fall. According to assistant coach Tommy Perry, that’s not just a luxury but a necessity.
“I’ve said it before, you can’t really compete at the Division I level with just one guy; it’s too difficult, they take too many shots,” he commented. “We plan on running the ball too much to have just one individual back there.”
Two redshirt freshmen look to be the foundation of Perry’s unit, though there are potentially a total of eight individuals who could contribute at some point during the season.
Heading into preseason camp, Kendall Houston sits atop the depth chart. The 5-foot-10, 215-pound Mobile resident is the team’s leading rusher from a year ago, as he carried 140 times for 891 yards and a team-best 10 touchdowns. He ran for 100-plus yards in five of the Jaguars’ 10 victories, ending the season with three straight games in triple figures as USA defeated Georgia State, Henderson (Ark.) State and Arkansas-Monticello. Houston also collected 166 yards in a victory at Lamar and posted 116 yards and two scores when the Jags beat Nicholls State for their first-ever win over an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly NCAA I-AA) member.
Demetre Baker — a 6-foot-1, 210-pound native of Orange Park, Fla. — began last season at Georgia but transferred to the program prior to the start of the spring semester. After demonstrating that he is capable of making an impact in the backfield with his performance in both practices and scrimmages, Baker joined the school’s track and field team for the outdoor season. By the end of the year, he earned all-Sun Belt Conference honors in the discus after placing third at the league championships, and had qualified for the preliminary round of the NCAA Championships in both the discus and the shot put.
“Right now we feel like we have two well-rounded guys in Kendall and Demetre. My expectations are for them to lead us,” stated Perry. “Kendall did a fantastic job last year after Brandon [Ross] went down, he was really a surprising guy. He’s a hard-working player who gives you his all. He has very good balance; Kendall is not a high-end speed guy, but he will move the chains. If Kendall Houston is your running back, you will make first downs.
“With Demetre, you have a big-play guy; he’s got the burners, he can go,” he added. “He is very strong physically, though he probably needs to settle down a little bit in everything he does, whether it be in the weight room, study hall or wherever. He goes a million miles an hour — a lot of times that’s good, but sometimes when you’re running the ball it isn’t.”
The fact that Baker is listed among the top three on the preseason depth chart despite not yet suiting up for the Jags in a game did not surprise Perry and the rest of the USA coaching staff. “I don’t think anyone was surprised by what we had in Demetre,” he said. “When we found out he was going to be heading to a different school, we were all familiar with the name; but, the day we discovered it was going to happen, I was on a plane to find out more about the kid. With as much attention as he got coming out of high school, for whatever those scouting services are worth they had him very highly touted so we did know what we were getting with him.
“We did know there would be a little bit of a learning curve with him coming from linebacker — he was only playing a little bit of running back for Georgia — but physically he was everything he was billed to be from a size and strength perspective.”
The return of Ross would only add to the perceived strength of the group. As a redshirt freshman in 2009, the 6-foot, 240-pound Memphis transfer paced the Jaguars with 594 yards and 13 touchdowns on only 75 carries while rushing for 100 yards three times; he reached the end zone in all seven games, accomplishing the feat on multiple occasions in five contests. Ross was again leading USA in rushing midway through last season with 274 yards on 36 attempts, but his campaign was cut short when he was injured while being tackled against Missouri S&T.
In two years, the resident of Tuskegee, Ala., has an average of 7.8 yards per rush with 18 touchdowns in 12 appearances.
“He has done everything that has been asked, and in talking with the surgeon he is very pleased with where Brandon is at,” observed Perry. “If there is a soft timetable he would be ahead of that, and we are hoping he comes back. If you can add Brandon to the mix, you are looking at a team whose running back situation is pretty much covered; we’re not going to play anybody with a better stable of running backs than those three guys.”
While the Jaguars wait to see if and when Ross fits into their plans, Perry can turn to a duo with two seasons of experience to help take the load off Houston and Baker. A 5-foot-10, 175-pound native of Tallahassee, Fla., Santuan McGee has gained 584 rushing yards and scored seven times in helping USA win each of its first 17 games; that included ranking third on the squad with 234 yards and three touchdowns on only 41 attempts in 2010. Ellis Hill — who is from Tuscaloosa, Ala., and stands 5-foot-9, 200 pounds — averaged better than five yards an attempt while picking up 139 yards last fall.
“I’ve got to have Santuan and Ellis. They might not be two of the leaders on the depth chart, but they are the vocal leaders of our group,” Perry explained. “They lead by example, and they lead by word of mouth. They are two of the leaders of our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. They bring a level of maturity to my room that I don’t have. Anthony Mostella was certainly that guy, and when he was no longer with us I really challenged everybody in that room to try as best they could to take over that leadership mantle that he provided, and those two guys stepped up more than anybody.
“I can’t go through a practice or get through a meeting without those two.”
One other returning individual Perry hopes will make a contribution is Ryan Scott, a 5-foot-7, 170-pound junior from Lucedale, Miss. In the program’s first two years, Scott has rushed 32 times for 186 yards and four touchdowns, an average of nearly six yards per carry — he had 40 of those and a score in the Jags’ win over Edward Waters (Fla.), his best performance a season ago.
“Ryan is somebody I pull for a lot, and I know the staff is tired of hearing me talk about him,” Perry said. “He’s gotten much bigger. I certainly hope he is a contributor, he really deserves it. He does all the things you ask him to do, and he is very difficult to bring down in space. There is a role for Ryan on this team, one that is left up to us as coaches to try and find.
“It’s tough when there is one running back on the field and he is looking at guys a lot more physically gifted than more than 90 percent of the country at the spot — you just don’t find that quality of guys back there.”
There is the potential that either of two freshmen — J.J Keels and Devin Robinson — could find their way into the rotation at running back this fall. Keels, who is 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, rushed for 1,211 yards and 14 scores last season at Florida Air Academy in Melbourne, Fla.; he received three stars from ESPN.com and was considered by the organization to be among the top 10 running backs in the Sunshine State. Despite missing three games in ’10, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Robinson recorded 806 yards and scored 12 touchdowns for East Limestone High School. The resident of Madison, Ala., was ranked the second-best running back in Alabama by ESPN.com and was a three-start prospect according to Rivals.com.
“Devin has blown us all away with his work ethic, and his output in the weight room and on the field. He is one of the people that [strength and conditioning] coach [Justin] Schwind always talks very highly about, and that means a lot to me,” commented Perry. “He was recruited at Middle Tennessee as a wide receiver, at Southern Miss as a linebacker and here as a tailback; he can probably play any of those three spots. I know as a special teams coordinator I can’t wait to get him on the field.
“We’d love to redshirt him if we could — we’d love to redshirt all of our freshmen — but, I don’t know that if Devin is starting on special teams that we could afford to. You’d like to think he could play some running back too. He’s very big and strong, and a very good straight-down-the-line runner.
“J.J. is an explosive guy who is very, very fast. He’s going to get some looks as a returner as well,” he continued. “But there is a maturation process with all freshmen, you don’t know what you’ve got — more so with running backs than at any other position — until they put the pads on and carry the rock where they have to get that first down or the ball in the end zone. I’ll have a much better idea with those guys a week or so into camp, but I have high hopes for both of them.”
No matter who carries the ball for the Jaguars this fall, Perry is thrilled with where his unit is entering preseason camp. While he might not be ready to compare the group to any other backfield in the country, USA supporters should know that he is more than pleased with who will suit up in the backfield for the Jaguars in 2011.
“We don’t watch other running backs unless they are playing one of our opponents, so it’s hard to tell something like that. I know I tell them this all the time — I wouldn’t trade any of my guys for anybody else,” he stated. “We’ve got a certain cohesiveness, especially among the older guys. The first couple of years were difficult trying to get to that point and that maturity level, but I am to the point now where I don’t want to give any of them up for another player.
“They’re tough, they’re smart, they run the ball with violence, all those things that we really preach,” Perry added. “We’ve got a ways to go running our offense and continuing to make that next level of decisions; we’ve gotten to the point where we are finally beyond the elementary stuff — the steps, the initial reads and the footwork — and now we are looking to see how we can make really good plays into great ones.
“But I feel really fortunate to go to work every day with these running backs.”
“I’ve said it before, you can’t really compete at the Division I level with just one guy; it’s too difficult, they take too many shots,” he commented. “We plan on running the ball too much to have just one individual back there.”
Two redshirt freshmen look to be the foundation of Perry’s unit, though there are potentially a total of eight individuals who could contribute at some point during the season.
Heading into preseason camp, Kendall Houston sits atop the depth chart. The 5-foot-10, 215-pound Mobile resident is the team’s leading rusher from a year ago, as he carried 140 times for 891 yards and a team-best 10 touchdowns. He ran for 100-plus yards in five of the Jaguars’ 10 victories, ending the season with three straight games in triple figures as USA defeated Georgia State, Henderson (Ark.) State and Arkansas-Monticello. Houston also collected 166 yards in a victory at Lamar and posted 116 yards and two scores when the Jags beat Nicholls State for their first-ever win over an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly NCAA I-AA) member.
Demetre Baker — a 6-foot-1, 210-pound native of Orange Park, Fla. — began last season at Georgia but transferred to the program prior to the start of the spring semester. After demonstrating that he is capable of making an impact in the backfield with his performance in both practices and scrimmages, Baker joined the school’s track and field team for the outdoor season. By the end of the year, he earned all-Sun Belt Conference honors in the discus after placing third at the league championships, and had qualified for the preliminary round of the NCAA Championships in both the discus and the shot put.
“Right now we feel like we have two well-rounded guys in Kendall and Demetre. My expectations are for them to lead us,” stated Perry. “Kendall did a fantastic job last year after Brandon [Ross] went down, he was really a surprising guy. He’s a hard-working player who gives you his all. He has very good balance; Kendall is not a high-end speed guy, but he will move the chains. If Kendall Houston is your running back, you will make first downs.
“With Demetre, you have a big-play guy; he’s got the burners, he can go,” he added. “He is very strong physically, though he probably needs to settle down a little bit in everything he does, whether it be in the weight room, study hall or wherever. He goes a million miles an hour — a lot of times that’s good, but sometimes when you’re running the ball it isn’t.”
The fact that Baker is listed among the top three on the preseason depth chart despite not yet suiting up for the Jags in a game did not surprise Perry and the rest of the USA coaching staff. “I don’t think anyone was surprised by what we had in Demetre,” he said. “When we found out he was going to be heading to a different school, we were all familiar with the name; but, the day we discovered it was going to happen, I was on a plane to find out more about the kid. With as much attention as he got coming out of high school, for whatever those scouting services are worth they had him very highly touted so we did know what we were getting with him.
“We did know there would be a little bit of a learning curve with him coming from linebacker — he was only playing a little bit of running back for Georgia — but physically he was everything he was billed to be from a size and strength perspective.”
The return of Ross would only add to the perceived strength of the group. As a redshirt freshman in 2009, the 6-foot, 240-pound Memphis transfer paced the Jaguars with 594 yards and 13 touchdowns on only 75 carries while rushing for 100 yards three times; he reached the end zone in all seven games, accomplishing the feat on multiple occasions in five contests. Ross was again leading USA in rushing midway through last season with 274 yards on 36 attempts, but his campaign was cut short when he was injured while being tackled against Missouri S&T.
In two years, the resident of Tuskegee, Ala., has an average of 7.8 yards per rush with 18 touchdowns in 12 appearances.
“He has done everything that has been asked, and in talking with the surgeon he is very pleased with where Brandon is at,” observed Perry. “If there is a soft timetable he would be ahead of that, and we are hoping he comes back. If you can add Brandon to the mix, you are looking at a team whose running back situation is pretty much covered; we’re not going to play anybody with a better stable of running backs than those three guys.”
While the Jaguars wait to see if and when Ross fits into their plans, Perry can turn to a duo with two seasons of experience to help take the load off Houston and Baker. A 5-foot-10, 175-pound native of Tallahassee, Fla., Santuan McGee has gained 584 rushing yards and scored seven times in helping USA win each of its first 17 games; that included ranking third on the squad with 234 yards and three touchdowns on only 41 attempts in 2010. Ellis Hill — who is from Tuscaloosa, Ala., and stands 5-foot-9, 200 pounds — averaged better than five yards an attempt while picking up 139 yards last fall.
“I’ve got to have Santuan and Ellis. They might not be two of the leaders on the depth chart, but they are the vocal leaders of our group,” Perry explained. “They lead by example, and they lead by word of mouth. They are two of the leaders of our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. They bring a level of maturity to my room that I don’t have. Anthony Mostella was certainly that guy, and when he was no longer with us I really challenged everybody in that room to try as best they could to take over that leadership mantle that he provided, and those two guys stepped up more than anybody.
“I can’t go through a practice or get through a meeting without those two.”
One other returning individual Perry hopes will make a contribution is Ryan Scott, a 5-foot-7, 170-pound junior from Lucedale, Miss. In the program’s first two years, Scott has rushed 32 times for 186 yards and four touchdowns, an average of nearly six yards per carry — he had 40 of those and a score in the Jags’ win over Edward Waters (Fla.), his best performance a season ago.
“Ryan is somebody I pull for a lot, and I know the staff is tired of hearing me talk about him,” Perry said. “He’s gotten much bigger. I certainly hope he is a contributor, he really deserves it. He does all the things you ask him to do, and he is very difficult to bring down in space. There is a role for Ryan on this team, one that is left up to us as coaches to try and find.
“It’s tough when there is one running back on the field and he is looking at guys a lot more physically gifted than more than 90 percent of the country at the spot — you just don’t find that quality of guys back there.”
There is the potential that either of two freshmen — J.J Keels and Devin Robinson — could find their way into the rotation at running back this fall. Keels, who is 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, rushed for 1,211 yards and 14 scores last season at Florida Air Academy in Melbourne, Fla.; he received three stars from ESPN.com and was considered by the organization to be among the top 10 running backs in the Sunshine State. Despite missing three games in ’10, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Robinson recorded 806 yards and scored 12 touchdowns for East Limestone High School. The resident of Madison, Ala., was ranked the second-best running back in Alabama by ESPN.com and was a three-start prospect according to Rivals.com.
“Devin has blown us all away with his work ethic, and his output in the weight room and on the field. He is one of the people that [strength and conditioning] coach [Justin] Schwind always talks very highly about, and that means a lot to me,” commented Perry. “He was recruited at Middle Tennessee as a wide receiver, at Southern Miss as a linebacker and here as a tailback; he can probably play any of those three spots. I know as a special teams coordinator I can’t wait to get him on the field.
“We’d love to redshirt him if we could — we’d love to redshirt all of our freshmen — but, I don’t know that if Devin is starting on special teams that we could afford to. You’d like to think he could play some running back too. He’s very big and strong, and a very good straight-down-the-line runner.
“J.J. is an explosive guy who is very, very fast. He’s going to get some looks as a returner as well,” he continued. “But there is a maturation process with all freshmen, you don’t know what you’ve got — more so with running backs than at any other position — until they put the pads on and carry the rock where they have to get that first down or the ball in the end zone. I’ll have a much better idea with those guys a week or so into camp, but I have high hopes for both of them.”
No matter who carries the ball for the Jaguars this fall, Perry is thrilled with where his unit is entering preseason camp. While he might not be ready to compare the group to any other backfield in the country, USA supporters should know that he is more than pleased with who will suit up in the backfield for the Jaguars in 2011.
“We don’t watch other running backs unless they are playing one of our opponents, so it’s hard to tell something like that. I know I tell them this all the time — I wouldn’t trade any of my guys for anybody else,” he stated. “We’ve got a certain cohesiveness, especially among the older guys. The first couple of years were difficult trying to get to that point and that maturity level, but I am to the point now where I don’t want to give any of them up for another player.
“They’re tough, they’re smart, they run the ball with violence, all those things that we really preach,” Perry added. “We’ve got a ways to go running our offense and continuing to make that next level of decisions; we’ve gotten to the point where we are finally beyond the elementary stuff — the steps, the initial reads and the footwork — and now we are looking to see how we can make really good plays into great ones.
“But I feel really fortunate to go to work every day with these running backs.”
USF Bulls get oral commitment from North Carolina prep school defensive tackle
By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Marquis White has orally committed to USF, his high school coach said Monday. White, 6 feet 5, 297 pounds, played at Orlando Olympia with current Bulls commitment Corian Hamilton and spent the past year at North Carolina Tech, a prep school in Charlotte. He visited USF on Jan. 21 and made his final recruiting trip to Florida A&M over the weekend before picking the Bulls, helping them fill a need. White also had North Carolina and Minnesota among his suitors.
"I think South Florida made him feel the most comfortable with the offer they gave him," said Tim Newman, White's coach at N.C. Tech. "He'll probably be playing on Sundays; he made a great impact here for us. A year or two from now, he'll be a fantastic player; he just has to mature into his position.
"This is a natural-born athlete, like a freak of nature. He's got great size, he's fast, he's got great instincts. We had to tell him to stop hitting the quarterback in practice one day. They got a quality football player. It looks like that program is going in the right direction, getting guys like Marquis."
In Print: Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Marquis White has orally committed to USF, his high school coach said Monday. White, 6 feet 5, 297 pounds, played at Orlando Olympia with current Bulls commitment Corian Hamilton and spent the past year at North Carolina Tech, a prep school in Charlotte. He visited USF on Jan. 21 and made his final recruiting trip to Florida A&M over the weekend before picking the Bulls, helping them fill a need. White also had North Carolina and Minnesota among his suitors.
"I think South Florida made him feel the most comfortable with the offer they gave him," said Tim Newman, White's coach at N.C. Tech. "He'll probably be playing on Sundays; he made a great impact here for us. A year or two from now, he'll be a fantastic player; he just has to mature into his position.
"This is a natural-born athlete, like a freak of nature. He's got great size, he's fast, he's got great instincts. We had to tell him to stop hitting the quarterback in practice one day. They got a quality football player. It looks like that program is going in the right direction, getting guys like Marquis."
Five newcomers added to spring Razorback football roster; 2011 football schedule announced
FAYETTEVILLE — FAYETTEVILLE - On the same day the Razorbacks announced their 2011 football
schedule, five football newcomers began University of Arkansas spring semester
classes Tuesday and intend to go through the offseason condition program and spring
practices with coach Bobby Petrino’s Razorbacks.
New enrollees include midterm high school graduates Brey Cook a 6-7, 310 offensive
lineman from Springdale Har-Ber, wide receiver Quinta Funderburk of Chesapeake, Va.
and Oscar Frommel Smith High; junior college transfer and Muskogee, Okla. native
Robert Thomas, a 6-3, 321 defensive tackle from Coffeyville, (Kan.) Community
College and recent prep school graduates Marquel Wade, a wide receiver/punt
returner and a Jacksonville, Fla. native come to Arkansas via Milford (N.J.)
Military Academy, and Tyler Gilbert, a 6-3, 245 linebacker from Sorrento, La. via
North Carolina Tech Prep.
Gilbert recorded 62 tackles with five sacks for a 13-1 North Carolina Tech Prep in
2010.
schedule, five football newcomers began University of Arkansas spring semester
classes Tuesday and intend to go through the offseason condition program and spring
practices with coach Bobby Petrino’s Razorbacks.
New enrollees include midterm high school graduates Brey Cook a 6-7, 310 offensive
lineman from Springdale Har-Ber, wide receiver Quinta Funderburk of Chesapeake, Va.
and Oscar Frommel Smith High; junior college transfer and Muskogee, Okla. native
Robert Thomas, a 6-3, 321 defensive tackle from Coffeyville, (Kan.) Community
College and recent prep school graduates Marquel Wade, a wide receiver/punt
returner and a Jacksonville, Fla. native come to Arkansas via Milford (N.J.)
Military Academy, and Tyler Gilbert, a 6-3, 245 linebacker from Sorrento, La. via
North Carolina Tech Prep.
Gilbert recorded 62 tackles with five sacks for a 13-1 North Carolina Tech Prep in
2010.
NC Tech Quarterback Jawan Simmons signs with WCU
The 2011 incoming class - Jawan Simmons
Post by thecats on Apr 14, 2011, 6:16am
Attended North Carolina Tech after graduating from Nottingham HS in Syracuse, N.Y., in June of 2010... Tabbed first team offense on the New York Section 3 National Division Class A football team as a junior at Nottingham HS ... Threw for more than 3,000 yards during his career with the Bulldogs... Rated a three-star quarterback coming out of high school class 2010 by Rivals.com... Pre-season top 10 in New York State by rivals.com while also ranked as one of the Top 125 QBs in the nation by Scout.com... Played in the Upstate-Downstate All-Star game in New York at the Carrier Dome during the summer of 2010... Listed in the 2010 pre-season issue of Super Prep Magazine... Guided NC Tech to a 9-1 record a season ago... Also played basketball at Nottingham HS.
Post by thecats on Apr 14, 2011, 6:16am
Attended North Carolina Tech after graduating from Nottingham HS in Syracuse, N.Y., in June of 2010... Tabbed first team offense on the New York Section 3 National Division Class A football team as a junior at Nottingham HS ... Threw for more than 3,000 yards during his career with the Bulldogs... Rated a three-star quarterback coming out of high school class 2010 by Rivals.com... Pre-season top 10 in New York State by rivals.com while also ranked as one of the Top 125 QBs in the nation by Scout.com... Played in the Upstate-Downstate All-Star game in New York at the Carrier Dome during the summer of 2010... Listed in the 2010 pre-season issue of Super Prep Magazine... Guided NC Tech to a 9-1 record a season ago... Also played basketball at Nottingham HS.
Churchland’s Scott Takes Prep Year
Churchland’s Scott Takes Prep Year posted by Andy Hilton at 8:41pm on Mar 25th
by Andy Hilton,
Churchland DE Wydean Scott (Photo: Andy Hilton)
High school seniors look forward to making a college commitment after four years of high school. Not every deserving player gets a college scholarship. There are options coming out of high school and one popular choice is an extra year of development at prep school.
Last year, Keevon Newsome and Sage Harold were two highly regarded players that elected to go to prep school. Coming out of Churchland, Newsome went to Hargrave Military Academy. Sage Harold left Ocean Lakes for Fork Union Military Academy in 2010. Sometimes grades need improvement. Sometimes a player needs to grow and develop just one more year. Other times, a player just may not be satisfied with the offers he’s getting coming out of high school. This year, Wydean Scott of Churchland has elected to take a prep year in order to improve academically and athletically.
Scott is headed for North Carolina Tech Preparatory Christian Academy. It’s essentially a private prep school that will buy Scott an extra year of development without his college clock starting. North Carolina Tech Prep fields a solid team that went 9-1 in 2010 in games against mostly small college JV teams. No less than six players from the 2010 team have gone on to Division I schools and routinely sends players to MEAC and CIAA colleges. Current ODU wide receiver Marquel Thomas is an alum of NC Tech Prep.
Wydean was very upbeat about the opportunities that North Carolina Tech Prep provides. “I get a second chance to play without losing any college years and I can take the SAT and ACT as many times as possible in the six months. It’s basically senior year again, but this time we’re playing junior college teams and other post grad teams,” Scott said of his upcoming year at NC Tech Prep.
Scott was recruited to play weakside linebacker for the Tigers and expects the season to be good for him. “I plan on staying a year and doing the recuitment process over again. I didn’t get many looks except from Division II schools because of my low test scores on the SAT. I need help getting my score up and there’s a class I will be taking there to help me with that,” Wydean said.
Prep school is just the ticket for Scott. It worked for Newsome and Harold last year. Keevon Newsome ended up at Richmond and Sage Harold ended up at James Madison. Not bad for two guys who got a second chance at their recruitment.
- Andy Hilton
by Andy Hilton,
Churchland DE Wydean Scott (Photo: Andy Hilton)
High school seniors look forward to making a college commitment after four years of high school. Not every deserving player gets a college scholarship. There are options coming out of high school and one popular choice is an extra year of development at prep school.
Last year, Keevon Newsome and Sage Harold were two highly regarded players that elected to go to prep school. Coming out of Churchland, Newsome went to Hargrave Military Academy. Sage Harold left Ocean Lakes for Fork Union Military Academy in 2010. Sometimes grades need improvement. Sometimes a player needs to grow and develop just one more year. Other times, a player just may not be satisfied with the offers he’s getting coming out of high school. This year, Wydean Scott of Churchland has elected to take a prep year in order to improve academically and athletically.
Scott is headed for North Carolina Tech Preparatory Christian Academy. It’s essentially a private prep school that will buy Scott an extra year of development without his college clock starting. North Carolina Tech Prep fields a solid team that went 9-1 in 2010 in games against mostly small college JV teams. No less than six players from the 2010 team have gone on to Division I schools and routinely sends players to MEAC and CIAA colleges. Current ODU wide receiver Marquel Thomas is an alum of NC Tech Prep.
Wydean was very upbeat about the opportunities that North Carolina Tech Prep provides. “I get a second chance to play without losing any college years and I can take the SAT and ACT as many times as possible in the six months. It’s basically senior year again, but this time we’re playing junior college teams and other post grad teams,” Scott said of his upcoming year at NC Tech Prep.
Scott was recruited to play weakside linebacker for the Tigers and expects the season to be good for him. “I plan on staying a year and doing the recuitment process over again. I didn’t get many looks except from Division II schools because of my low test scores on the SAT. I need help getting my score up and there’s a class I will be taking there to help me with that,” Wydean said.
Prep school is just the ticket for Scott. It worked for Newsome and Harold last year. Keevon Newsome ended up at Richmond and Sage Harold ended up at James Madison. Not bad for two guys who got a second chance at their recruitment.
- Andy Hilton
NC Tech LB Isaiah Jackson Signs with Seton Hill!
Seton Hill Football Announces 2009 Recruiting Class
By: SID - Thursday, March 12, 2009
Head Coach Joel Dolinski has announced his signings for the Seton Hill 2009 recruiting class. The Griffins new additions include lineman Scott Brewer (Greensburg, PA/Greensburg Salem), defensive back Deavon Elam (Flint, MI/Flint Carman Ainsworth), defensive back Kelley Barnes (Cincinnati, OH/Cincinnati Moeller), wide receiver D.J. Pearson (New Brighton, PA/New Brighton), wide receiver Tyler McIntosh (Columbus, OH/Hilliard Darby), defensive back Ricky Cardwell (Hamilton, OH/Hamilton), quarterback Mike Bongivengo (New Castle, PA/New Castle), offensive lineman Ronnel Ramsey (Los Angeles, CA /Los Angeles Southwest College), linebacker Isaiah Jackson (Pittsburgh, PA/Serra/North Carolina Tech Prep) and defensive lineman Orlando Irby (Richmond, VA/JR Tucker).
The tenacious linebacker, Jackson, comes to Greensburg, PA from North Carolina Tech Prep where he was Conference Defensive Player of the Year. At Serra Catholic H.S. in McKeesport, PA Jackson garnered Fabulous 22, Daily News Defensive MVP, Elite 8 Player’s of the Year, WPIAL Single A Player of the Year, East vs. West All-Star Game, and Team MVP Honors. Jackson’s scholastic career establishments also include being a 2 times All-State and 3 times 1st Team All Conference player at linebacker. On defense for his career Jackson had 302 tackles, 2 interceptions, 12 sacks and 20 forced fumbles. On offense Jackson rushed for over 3,900 yards, with 64 Touchdowns.
By: SID - Thursday, March 12, 2009
Head Coach Joel Dolinski has announced his signings for the Seton Hill 2009 recruiting class. The Griffins new additions include lineman Scott Brewer (Greensburg, PA/Greensburg Salem), defensive back Deavon Elam (Flint, MI/Flint Carman Ainsworth), defensive back Kelley Barnes (Cincinnati, OH/Cincinnati Moeller), wide receiver D.J. Pearson (New Brighton, PA/New Brighton), wide receiver Tyler McIntosh (Columbus, OH/Hilliard Darby), defensive back Ricky Cardwell (Hamilton, OH/Hamilton), quarterback Mike Bongivengo (New Castle, PA/New Castle), offensive lineman Ronnel Ramsey (Los Angeles, CA /Los Angeles Southwest College), linebacker Isaiah Jackson (Pittsburgh, PA/Serra/North Carolina Tech Prep) and defensive lineman Orlando Irby (Richmond, VA/JR Tucker).
The tenacious linebacker, Jackson, comes to Greensburg, PA from North Carolina Tech Prep where he was Conference Defensive Player of the Year. At Serra Catholic H.S. in McKeesport, PA Jackson garnered Fabulous 22, Daily News Defensive MVP, Elite 8 Player’s of the Year, WPIAL Single A Player of the Year, East vs. West All-Star Game, and Team MVP Honors. Jackson’s scholastic career establishments also include being a 2 times All-State and 3 times 1st Team All Conference player at linebacker. On defense for his career Jackson had 302 tackles, 2 interceptions, 12 sacks and 20 forced fumbles. On offense Jackson rushed for over 3,900 yards, with 64 Touchdowns.
NC Tech OL Signs with Virginia Union!
Coach Bailey's First Signing Class Email to a Friend | Print 2/11/2009 11:48:06 AMVirginia Union University has signed 15 student-athletes to their Football program last Thursday, February 5th. Coach Michael Bailey has received his first signing class for the 2009 season and the future of the football program. On the biggest day of the recruiting season, 15 talented student-athletes have signed the NCAA Letters of Intent to commit to VUU. Seven of the signees are from the Commonwealth of Virginia while others are from Georgia, North Carolina, and Maryland.
VUU Panthers (5-5, 2-4 CIAA) were denied a chance to play for the CIAA championship title based on two key divisional lost against Bowie State and Virginia State University. Coach Bailey and his staff are focused on improving its depth on the offensive and defensive line. Bailey is expecting additional signees before spring practice begins.
Rashawn Allen OL/DL 6'2 310 Newport News, VA NC Tech Prep
VUU Panthers (5-5, 2-4 CIAA) were denied a chance to play for the CIAA championship title based on two key divisional lost against Bowie State and Virginia State University. Coach Bailey and his staff are focused on improving its depth on the offensive and defensive line. Bailey is expecting additional signees before spring practice begins.
Rashawn Allen OL/DL 6'2 310 Newport News, VA NC Tech Prep
NC Tech TE Dante Burton Signs with University of Buffalo!
Dante Burton Tight End 6-4, 230Lodi, NJ/Paterson Catholic North Carolina Tech Prep
Athletic tight end prospect who spent the past season at North Carolina Tech, helping
his team advance to the national prep school championship versus Fork Union…
enrolled at UB in January…an All-State player at powerhouse Paterson Catholic, where
he helped the Cougars to back-to-back state championships (and a 21-1 record) while
twice serving as captain…UB coaches call him a wide receiver in a tight end’s body with
the ability to stretch the field vertically with soft hands…showed his versatility in high
school by playing five positions (wide receiver, tight end, defensive end, linebacker and
kicker).
BUFFALO, NY– University at Buffalo head football coach Jeff Quinn announced today members of the 2010 Bulls
recruiting class on the first day of the National Signing Period.
Quinn, who begins his first season as head coach at Buffalo after serving as Offensive Coordinator at Cincinnati
during their run to back-to-back Big East titles (2008-09), announced the signing of 19 players and one preferred
walk-on.
“We are elated to welcome this class to Buffalo and feel as though they will make tremendous contributions
towards our goal of winning Mid-American Conference championships,” said Quinn. “As a group this is a highlycompetitive
and physical group of athletes, and equally important, have been part of winning cultures throughout
their football experiences. Five of our signees won multiple state championships during their high school careers
and that is so essential to continuing to cultivate a championship expectation here at UB.”
The initial members of the 2010 class:
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown High School/Last School
Dante Burton* TE 6-4 230 Lodi, NJ Paterson Catholic/N. Carolina Tech Prep
*enrolled at UB in January
Athletic tight end prospect who spent the past season at North Carolina Tech, helping
his team advance to the national prep school championship versus Fork Union…
enrolled at UB in January…an All-State player at powerhouse Paterson Catholic, where
he helped the Cougars to back-to-back state championships (and a 21-1 record) while
twice serving as captain…UB coaches call him a wide receiver in a tight end’s body with
the ability to stretch the field vertically with soft hands…showed his versatility in high
school by playing five positions (wide receiver, tight end, defensive end, linebacker and
kicker).
BUFFALO, NY– University at Buffalo head football coach Jeff Quinn announced today members of the 2010 Bulls
recruiting class on the first day of the National Signing Period.
Quinn, who begins his first season as head coach at Buffalo after serving as Offensive Coordinator at Cincinnati
during their run to back-to-back Big East titles (2008-09), announced the signing of 19 players and one preferred
walk-on.
“We are elated to welcome this class to Buffalo and feel as though they will make tremendous contributions
towards our goal of winning Mid-American Conference championships,” said Quinn. “As a group this is a highlycompetitive
and physical group of athletes, and equally important, have been part of winning cultures throughout
their football experiences. Five of our signees won multiple state championships during their high school careers
and that is so essential to continuing to cultivate a championship expectation here at UB.”
The initial members of the 2010 class:
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown High School/Last School
Dante Burton* TE 6-4 230 Lodi, NJ Paterson Catholic/N. Carolina Tech Prep
*enrolled at UB in January
Moore enrolls in North Carolina prep school
By Marq Mitcham Bastrop Daily Enterprise Posted Mar 26, 2009 @ 01:11 AM
Bastrop, La. — Bastrop High wide receiver Stanley Moore has enrolled at North Carolina Tech Preparatory Christian Academy in Charlotte.
Moore (6-3, 175) had numerous junior college offers, but saw playing for the Tigers as a better option. By getting his academics in order, Moore will be eligible to sign with a four-year school in January. Playing at a prep school will not count against his college eligibility.
“Coach A.B. and coach Brad (Bastrop wide receivers coach Adrian Burnette and head coach Brad Bradshaw) thought this was the best situation for me,” Moore said Wednesday during a telephone interview. “It just made sense for me to come here instead of spending two years at a junior college.
“This is a great opportunity for me. I just have to do my part by getting my grades up and working hard on the football field while I’m here. I should graduate the first week of December, then be able to sign in January.”
Moore arrived in Charlotte on Saturday and will attend his first day of classes next week.
Bradshaw says Moore is getting a head start by enrolling now.
“This speeds up the process,” Bradshaw said. “If he had stayed here and finished, he would have had to go through the same process or go to a junior college. Stanley will be able to get to where he needs to be faster by going up there. North Carolina Tech has a good track record of getting kids in and out of there in a hurry.”
North Carolina Tech provides Moore with an opportunity to complete his academic work while continuing to play football.
“So many kids, when they get behind a little bit, have the tendency to give up,” Bradshaw said. “I’m glad Stanley had the courage to give (prep school) a shot.”
As a senior, Moore caught 52 passes for 953 yards (18.3 yards per catch) and 11 touchdowns — all team highs — en route to earning first-team Class 4A All-State honors and helping the Rams reach the state semifinals.
Moore caught 10 passes for 180 yards and one touchdown for the Rams’ 2007 state championship team, which finished the season ranked No. 13 in the nation.
Prior to enrolling in Bastrop after the merger of Morehouse Parish’s two public high schools as a sophomore, Moore was a three-sport athlete (football, basketball and track) at Delta.
Bastrop, La. — Bastrop High wide receiver Stanley Moore has enrolled at North Carolina Tech Preparatory Christian Academy in Charlotte.
Moore (6-3, 175) had numerous junior college offers, but saw playing for the Tigers as a better option. By getting his academics in order, Moore will be eligible to sign with a four-year school in January. Playing at a prep school will not count against his college eligibility.
“Coach A.B. and coach Brad (Bastrop wide receivers coach Adrian Burnette and head coach Brad Bradshaw) thought this was the best situation for me,” Moore said Wednesday during a telephone interview. “It just made sense for me to come here instead of spending two years at a junior college.
“This is a great opportunity for me. I just have to do my part by getting my grades up and working hard on the football field while I’m here. I should graduate the first week of December, then be able to sign in January.”
Moore arrived in Charlotte on Saturday and will attend his first day of classes next week.
Bradshaw says Moore is getting a head start by enrolling now.
“This speeds up the process,” Bradshaw said. “If he had stayed here and finished, he would have had to go through the same process or go to a junior college. Stanley will be able to get to where he needs to be faster by going up there. North Carolina Tech has a good track record of getting kids in and out of there in a hurry.”
North Carolina Tech provides Moore with an opportunity to complete his academic work while continuing to play football.
“So many kids, when they get behind a little bit, have the tendency to give up,” Bradshaw said. “I’m glad Stanley had the courage to give (prep school) a shot.”
As a senior, Moore caught 52 passes for 953 yards (18.3 yards per catch) and 11 touchdowns — all team highs — en route to earning first-team Class 4A All-State honors and helping the Rams reach the state semifinals.
Moore caught 10 passes for 180 yards and one touchdown for the Rams’ 2007 state championship team, which finished the season ranked No. 13 in the nation.
Prior to enrolling in Bastrop after the merger of Morehouse Parish’s two public high schools as a sophomore, Moore was a three-sport athlete (football, basketball and track) at Delta.
Tailback Jas Hopkins rushed for a career-high 104 yards and a touchdown in NIU's 71-3 victory over Eastern Michigan on Friday, November 26.
Huskies rout Eastern Michigan, finish MAC campaign at 8-0 NIU to face Miami University in MAC Championship game
Northern Illinois won its ninth-straight game and the outright Mid-American Conference West Division title with a dominating 71-3 victory over Eastern Michigan at Rynearson Stadium on Friday afternoon.
“The big thing is I am proud the team – they have gone to Ball State and Eastern Michigan in some tough atmospheres and they just like playing football,” NIU head coachJerry Kill said. “It doesn’t seem to matter what else is going on with weather or crowd. We’ve got 10 wins and we did it with only five home games and no one else in the country can say that.”
The Huskies completed a 10-2 regular season and finished 8-0 in conference play, completing its first undefeated MAC season in school history. Eastern Michigan finished the season 2-10 overall and 2-6 in the conference.
It was a record-setting day for the Huskies as NIU rushed for season highs in rushing yards with 544 and touchdowns with eight, including TD runs of 71, 81, 61, 61 and 74 yards. The Huskies’ rushing total ranks second all-time in school history and is the highest in the NCAA Division I FBS ranks this year. NIU amassed a season-high 642 yards of total offense which ties for fourth all-time in NIU history and its 10 touchdowns ties the modern record for touchdowns scored in a game.
Leading the way for the Huskie ground attack was redshirt freshmanJordan Lynch, who rushed for 142 yards on just two carries, ripping off touchdown runs of 81 and 61 yards in the third quarter. Junior Jasmin Hopkins followed with 104 yards on four carries including a 74-yard TD. Michigan native DeMarcus Grady had a strong performance, rushing for 91 yards on two carries with touchdown runs of 61 and 30 yards.
Northern Illinois raced out to an early 20-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked. The Huskies opened the scoring on the first play of its second possession when tailback Chad Spann burst through the line and rushed 71 yards for a touchdown.
AJake Coffman sack and forced fumble of Eastern Michigan quarterback Alex Gillett on Eastern Michigan’s following possession set up the Huskies’ second touchdown of the game as Ricky Crider scored on a 22-yard scamper to give the Huskies a 13-0 lead. A two-yard Spann touchdown run capped the scoring for the Huskies in the first quarter and gave NIU a 20-0 lead.
Spann finished the day with 88 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns, as he broke the school record for rushing touchdowns in a season with 20 after tying the record a year ago.
After a Sean Graham field goal made the score 20-3, quarterbackChandler Harnish connected with Willie Clark on two touchdown passes to increase NIU’s advantage to 34-3. A 38-yard field goal by Michael Cklamovski gave the Huskies a 37-3 lead heading into halftime.
Harnish, who only played in the first half, finished the day with 101 yards on 8-of-13 passing and two touchdowns, while rushing for 32 yards on three carries. Willie Clark led all receivers with a game-high 65 yards on five receptions and two touchdowns. The Huskies only attempted one pass in the second half.
Northern Illinois’ defense was stout, allowing 160 yards of total offense, including just 11 yards passing by the Eagles. Coffman led the way for the Huskie defensive unit finishing with five tackles, all solo, including a sack, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble, whilePat Schiller led the team in tackles with six. NIU also recorded a season high 10 tackles for loss.
“There is no question that is as fast as I’ve seen our defense play all year,” Kill said. “We looked like we played with a lot more speed today. It’s a good momentum builder.”
“It’s definitely been a special year with a lot of guys stepping up and a lot of young guys stepping up,” Coffman said. “We are playing really well right now. I am kind of speechless. I’m just so happy I came back.”
The Huskies will face MAC East Champion Miami (OH) in the 2010Marathon MAC Championship Friday, December 3 at Ford Field in Detroit. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CST and can be seen on ESPN2. To order tickets, log on to NIUHuskies.com or call 815-752-6800.
by Joe Summins
Northern Illinois won its ninth-straight game and the outright Mid-American Conference West Division title with a dominating 71-3 victory over Eastern Michigan at Rynearson Stadium on Friday afternoon.
“The big thing is I am proud the team – they have gone to Ball State and Eastern Michigan in some tough atmospheres and they just like playing football,” NIU head coach
The Huskies completed a 10-2 regular season and finished 8-0 in conference play, completing its first undefeated MAC season in school history. Eastern Michigan finished the season 2-10 overall and 2-6 in the conference.
It was a record-setting day for the Huskies as NIU rushed for season highs in rushing yards with 544 and touchdowns with eight, including TD runs of 71, 81, 61, 61 and 74 yards. The Huskies’ rushing total ranks second all-time in school history and is the highest in the NCAA Division I FBS ranks this year. NIU amassed a season-high 642 yards of total offense which ties for fourth all-time in NIU history and its 10 touchdowns ties the modern record for touchdowns scored in a game.
Leading the way for the Huskie ground attack was redshirt freshman
A
Spann finished the day with 88 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns, as he broke the school record for rushing touchdowns in a season with 20 after tying the record a year ago.
After a Sean Graham field goal made the score 20-3, quarterback
Harnish, who only played in the first half, finished the day with 101 yards on 8-of-13 passing and two touchdowns, while rushing for 32 yards on three carries. Willie Clark led all receivers with a game-high 65 yards on five receptions and two touchdowns. The Huskies only attempted one pass in the second half.
Northern Illinois’ defense was stout, allowing 160 yards of total offense, including just 11 yards passing by the Eagles. Coffman led the way for the Huskie defensive unit finishing with five tackles, all solo, including a sack, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble, while
“There is no question that is as fast as I’ve seen our defense play all year,” Kill said. “We looked like we played with a lot more speed today. It’s a good momentum builder.”
“It’s definitely been a special year with a lot of guys stepping up and a lot of young guys stepping up,” Coffman said. “We are playing really well right now. I am kind of speechless. I’m just so happy I came back.”
The Huskies will face MAC East Champion Miami (OH) in the 2010
Giddy grandfather: Monroeville resident excited for grandson's hardwood success
George Saddler wasn't able to make it to Dayton to watch the University of Pittsburgh men's basketball team battle in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
The Monroeville resident was, however, glued to his television as he saw the Panthers make it through two tough games in victories over East Tennessee State and Oklahoma State.
Saddler was excited to see Pitt do well on college basketball's biggest stage.
He was especially happy to see the tournament success of his grandson -- Panthers 6-foot-7 sophomore forward DeJuan Blair.
The Big East Co-Player of the Year averaged 18.5 points and 14 rebounds over the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
Pitt resumes tournament play to- night, Thursday, against Xavier in the Sweet 16. The game is set to tip off at around 7:30.
"I've been excited about DeJuan ever since he was a little kid," said Saddler, who texts or calls his grandson after every game if he can't be there in person.
"I've watched him grow up every step of the way. Seeing him succeed makes me one of the proudest grandfathers around."
Blair is the son of Saddler's eldest daughter, Shari.
Saddler said his grandson always has had the will to succeed in whatever he's chosen to do.
"DeJuan's not only a great athlete, but a great person," Saddler said.
"When he signed with Pitt, people said he wasn't tall enough to play (Division I) college basketball at (center). People were also concerned about his weight. He worked so hard at improving his game and proving people wrong."
Blair, who grew up in the shadow of the University of Pittsburgh's Petersen Events Center, became a Division I recruit and widely known in basketball circles while playing four years on the Schenley High School varsity boys team.
He battled through two separate ACL knee injuries while in high school and finished his varsity career on top as a state champion.
As a senior, Blair helped Schenley capture the 2007 PIAA Quad-A title with a 78-71 victory over Chester.
He had 18 points, 23 rebounds and six blocks in the game, similar to the numbers he's had throughout his standout sophomore season at Pitt.
Saddler also is pleased to see Blair's brother, Greg, succeed in athletics.
A 2008 Schenley graduate, Greg Blair will join the Lackawanna (Pa.) College football team in June.
Greg Blair, who shared the court with DeJuan Blair on Schenley's 2007 state title team, captained the Charlotte-based North Carolina Tech Prep football team in the fall.
Saddler's son and Blair's uncle, Cameron Saddler, made his mark in high school and amazed Gateway Gator football fans as a explosive running back, defensive back and kick returner.
He earned honors at the local and state levels and signed to play football at Pitt.
Cameron Saddler, who is 19 years younger than his sister, Shari, and five months younger than DeJuan Blair, currently is battling back in Pitt spring practice from a knee injury suffered before the 2008 football season in August.
The elder Saddler said there is a special relationship between Cameron Saddler and his nephews.
He said that, as members of the Pitt athletic community, Cameron and DeJuan have strengthened their bond.
"Cameron and DeJuan are pretty close and a lot alike," George Saddler said.
"They are both pretty competitive. Each is very interested in how the other one is doing. DeJuan is probably more excited for Cameron to get back on the field than Cameron is himself.
"They always joke around about DeJuan calling Cameron 'uncle.' I don't know if anyone can imagine how proud of (Cameron, DeJuan and Greg) I am. My heart bleeds joy."
The Monroeville resident was, however, glued to his television as he saw the Panthers make it through two tough games in victories over East Tennessee State and Oklahoma State.
Saddler was excited to see Pitt do well on college basketball's biggest stage.
He was especially happy to see the tournament success of his grandson -- Panthers 6-foot-7 sophomore forward DeJuan Blair.
The Big East Co-Player of the Year averaged 18.5 points and 14 rebounds over the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
Pitt resumes tournament play to- night, Thursday, against Xavier in the Sweet 16. The game is set to tip off at around 7:30.
"I've been excited about DeJuan ever since he was a little kid," said Saddler, who texts or calls his grandson after every game if he can't be there in person.
"I've watched him grow up every step of the way. Seeing him succeed makes me one of the proudest grandfathers around."
Blair is the son of Saddler's eldest daughter, Shari.
Saddler said his grandson always has had the will to succeed in whatever he's chosen to do.
"DeJuan's not only a great athlete, but a great person," Saddler said.
"When he signed with Pitt, people said he wasn't tall enough to play (Division I) college basketball at (center). People were also concerned about his weight. He worked so hard at improving his game and proving people wrong."
Blair, who grew up in the shadow of the University of Pittsburgh's Petersen Events Center, became a Division I recruit and widely known in basketball circles while playing four years on the Schenley High School varsity boys team.
He battled through two separate ACL knee injuries while in high school and finished his varsity career on top as a state champion.
As a senior, Blair helped Schenley capture the 2007 PIAA Quad-A title with a 78-71 victory over Chester.
He had 18 points, 23 rebounds and six blocks in the game, similar to the numbers he's had throughout his standout sophomore season at Pitt.
Saddler also is pleased to see Blair's brother, Greg, succeed in athletics.
A 2008 Schenley graduate, Greg Blair will join the Lackawanna (Pa.) College football team in June.
Greg Blair, who shared the court with DeJuan Blair on Schenley's 2007 state title team, captained the Charlotte-based North Carolina Tech Prep football team in the fall.
Saddler's son and Blair's uncle, Cameron Saddler, made his mark in high school and amazed Gateway Gator football fans as a explosive running back, defensive back and kick returner.
He earned honors at the local and state levels and signed to play football at Pitt.
Cameron Saddler, who is 19 years younger than his sister, Shari, and five months younger than DeJuan Blair, currently is battling back in Pitt spring practice from a knee injury suffered before the 2008 football season in August.
The elder Saddler said there is a special relationship between Cameron Saddler and his nephews.
He said that, as members of the Pitt athletic community, Cameron and DeJuan have strengthened their bond.
"Cameron and DeJuan are pretty close and a lot alike," George Saddler said.
"They are both pretty competitive. Each is very interested in how the other one is doing. DeJuan is probably more excited for Cameron to get back on the field than Cameron is himself.
"They always joke around about DeJuan calling Cameron 'uncle.' I don't know if anyone can imagine how proud of (Cameron, DeJuan and Greg) I am. My heart bleeds joy."
Tech comes up short against University of Maryland, 1st lose in 39 games
Oct. 6, 2008
Maryland 20, North Carolina Tech 7 Quarterback Jamarr Robinson and running back Morgan Green each rushed for a touchdown, leading Maryland to a 20-7 victory over North Carolina Tech Monday afternoon in a junior varsity game at the team's practice facility. "Looked like (the kids) had fun," head coach Ralph Friedgen said. "I'm amazed that they executed as well as they did without really having any practice. I've been involved with these before and sometimes they don't go as well. That's a credit to our coaching staff, especially the (graduate assistants) for getting the kids prepared." Robinson got the Terps on the board first, scoring from two yards out on the second possession of the game, which featured four, 12-minute quarters. The score was set up by the Tigers who botched the snap on a punt deep in their own territory.
After backup place-kicker Nick Wallace connected on a 23-yard field goal late in the first quarter, Maryland extended its lead to 17-0 on Green's 18-yard touchdown run with 3:20 left before halftime. Robinson helped set up the Green touchdown with his feet, scrambling for 23 yards on a third-down play from the Tigers' 47. Green also had a hand in the Terps' final score, accounting for more than 30 rushing yards on a drive which stalled at the 4-yard line. Wallace capped that drive with a 21-yard field goal, giving Maryland a 20-0 lead with under two minutes left in the third quarter. NC Tech avoided the shutout when it scored on long touchdown late in the fourth quarter. QB Clint Sharpe-Granger connected with Philip Norman on a 63-yard score with 4:58 to go in the game. Maryland was able to run out the final five minutes after recovering an on-sides kick. "The experiences these kids get (are important),' Friedgen said. "You get kids to experience situations that you don't get in practice. Some of these kids will gain confidence from this and maybe help us down the stretch."
Oct. 6, 2008 GREENSBORO, N.C. - Kickoff for the University of Maryland's football game vs. Wake Forest on Saturday, Oct. 18 has been set for noon with the contest being telecast regionally on Raycom Sports. The Atlantic Coast Conference office made the announcement Monday. The Terrapins (4-2, 1-1 ACC) are off this weekend, while No. 21 Wake Forest (3-1, 1-0) plays host to Clemson (3-2, 1-1) Thursday. The Demon Deacons have won the last two games with Maryland, but the Terps hold a 40-15-1 edge in the all-time series. After playing their first two conference games on the road, the Terps will now enjoy a stretch of four of six in College Park. North Carolina State visits on Saturday, Oct. 25 in the annual Homecoming contest. ACC home games are selected on a 12-day option by ESPN/ABC or Raycom Sports. Four times during the season, ESPN/ABC can choose certain ACC games on a six-day window.
Maryland 20, North Carolina Tech 7 Quarterback Jamarr Robinson and running back Morgan Green each rushed for a touchdown, leading Maryland to a 20-7 victory over North Carolina Tech Monday afternoon in a junior varsity game at the team's practice facility. "Looked like (the kids) had fun," head coach Ralph Friedgen said. "I'm amazed that they executed as well as they did without really having any practice. I've been involved with these before and sometimes they don't go as well. That's a credit to our coaching staff, especially the (graduate assistants) for getting the kids prepared." Robinson got the Terps on the board first, scoring from two yards out on the second possession of the game, which featured four, 12-minute quarters. The score was set up by the Tigers who botched the snap on a punt deep in their own territory.
After backup place-kicker Nick Wallace connected on a 23-yard field goal late in the first quarter, Maryland extended its lead to 17-0 on Green's 18-yard touchdown run with 3:20 left before halftime. Robinson helped set up the Green touchdown with his feet, scrambling for 23 yards on a third-down play from the Tigers' 47. Green also had a hand in the Terps' final score, accounting for more than 30 rushing yards on a drive which stalled at the 4-yard line. Wallace capped that drive with a 21-yard field goal, giving Maryland a 20-0 lead with under two minutes left in the third quarter. NC Tech avoided the shutout when it scored on long touchdown late in the fourth quarter. QB Clint Sharpe-Granger connected with Philip Norman on a 63-yard score with 4:58 to go in the game. Maryland was able to run out the final five minutes after recovering an on-sides kick. "The experiences these kids get (are important),' Friedgen said. "You get kids to experience situations that you don't get in practice. Some of these kids will gain confidence from this and maybe help us down the stretch."
Oct. 6, 2008 GREENSBORO, N.C. - Kickoff for the University of Maryland's football game vs. Wake Forest on Saturday, Oct. 18 has been set for noon with the contest being telecast regionally on Raycom Sports. The Atlantic Coast Conference office made the announcement Monday. The Terrapins (4-2, 1-1 ACC) are off this weekend, while No. 21 Wake Forest (3-1, 1-0) plays host to Clemson (3-2, 1-1) Thursday. The Demon Deacons have won the last two games with Maryland, but the Terps hold a 40-15-1 edge in the all-time series. After playing their first two conference games on the road, the Terps will now enjoy a stretch of four of six in College Park. North Carolina State visits on Saturday, Oct. 25 in the annual Homecoming contest. ACC home games are selected on a 12-day option by ESPN/ABC or Raycom Sports. Four times during the season, ESPN/ABC can choose certain ACC games on a six-day window.
Erie drops 7-6 game to North Carolina Tech
Erie drops 7-6 game to North Carolina Tech Posted on September 20, 2009 by BSD Staff Report s
The Erie Community College football team dropped to 0-2 versus teams from North Carolina as they fell 7-6 to North Carolina Tech in front of 700 at Jim Ball Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Kats looked primed for a great offensive day as they won the coin toss, took the ball and drove 51 yards in five plays, ending with a Lawrence Coleman 12-yard touchdown catch from Justin Minor. They key play on the drive came on a 38- yard hookup from Minor to Dwayne Bennett.
The key play of the game came when North Carolina Tech blocked the ensuing Mike Lawandus extra point to give the Kats a 6-0 lead they would hold into the half.
The Erie defense played tough for the third-straight game, holding NC Tech to 10 total yards in the first half, including minus 10 yards rushing.
NC Tech scored their touchdown with 5:45 left in the third quarter after they sacked Erie quarterback Gavin Gaiser on the Kats five yard line, forcing a punt their own end zone. The resulting punt gave NC Tech the ball at the Kats 39-yard line.
ReShawn Landry scored on a six-yard run and Will Roper added the extra point to give NC Tech a 7-6 lead.
Erie did have an apparent go-ahead touchdown when Minor hit Coleman with a 40-yard scoring pass with 11:40 remaining in the game. The touchdown was negated by holding call.
The Kats did have their chances, having three drives end in turnovers in the fourth quarter, one on an interception and two on lost fumbles.
For the game, the Erie defense held NC Teach to just 65 total yards, 36 rushing and 29 passing. They sacked the NC Tech quarterbacks three times and had 14 tackles for loss in the game.
Nicholas Brock and Naylor Robinson each had outstanding games for the Kats defense, recording seven tackles. Each had six solos and one assisted. Brock had five tackles for loss and Robinson two. Jerome Fields also added seven tackles, including a sack.
On the offensive side, starting quarterback Justin Minor was 14-23 for 126 yards with one touchdown. Obadiah Dykes caught six passes for 59 yards.
The Kats (1-2,1-0) have another tough task on their hands when they travel to conference rival Nassau Community College in Garden City September 26.
The Erie Community College football team dropped to 0-2 versus teams from North Carolina as they fell 7-6 to North Carolina Tech in front of 700 at Jim Ball Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Kats looked primed for a great offensive day as they won the coin toss, took the ball and drove 51 yards in five plays, ending with a Lawrence Coleman 12-yard touchdown catch from Justin Minor. They key play on the drive came on a 38- yard hookup from Minor to Dwayne Bennett.
The key play of the game came when North Carolina Tech blocked the ensuing Mike Lawandus extra point to give the Kats a 6-0 lead they would hold into the half.
The Erie defense played tough for the third-straight game, holding NC Tech to 10 total yards in the first half, including minus 10 yards rushing.
NC Tech scored their touchdown with 5:45 left in the third quarter after they sacked Erie quarterback Gavin Gaiser on the Kats five yard line, forcing a punt their own end zone. The resulting punt gave NC Tech the ball at the Kats 39-yard line.
ReShawn Landry scored on a six-yard run and Will Roper added the extra point to give NC Tech a 7-6 lead.
Erie did have an apparent go-ahead touchdown when Minor hit Coleman with a 40-yard scoring pass with 11:40 remaining in the game. The touchdown was negated by holding call.
The Kats did have their chances, having three drives end in turnovers in the fourth quarter, one on an interception and two on lost fumbles.
For the game, the Erie defense held NC Teach to just 65 total yards, 36 rushing and 29 passing. They sacked the NC Tech quarterbacks three times and had 14 tackles for loss in the game.
Nicholas Brock and Naylor Robinson each had outstanding games for the Kats defense, recording seven tackles. Each had six solos and one assisted. Brock had five tackles for loss and Robinson two. Jerome Fields also added seven tackles, including a sack.
On the offensive side, starting quarterback Justin Minor was 14-23 for 126 yards with one touchdown. Obadiah Dykes caught six passes for 59 yards.
The Kats (1-2,1-0) have another tough task on their hands when they travel to conference rival Nassau Community College in Garden City September 26.
Charlotte Observer 12/9/2008
Former West Charlotte quarterback Darius Thomas, the Observer's 2007 Offensive Player of the Year, signed to play at N.C. Tech. Tech is a post-high school graduate program based in Charlotte. Thomas committed to Gardner-Webb but did not enroll.
-Langston Wertz
Former West Charlotte quarterback Darius Thomas, the Observer's 2007 Offensive Player of the Year, signed to play at N.C. Tech. Tech is a post-high school graduate program based in Charlotte. Thomas committed to Gardner-Webb but did not enroll.
-Langston Wertz
Breaking News!! Former NC Tech WR, George Richardson, has a great Spring Game at Western Carolina University!!
Charlotte Observer Recognizes NC Tech Signees (Click For More Info)
Ex-Providence QB leads high-power NC Tech
Charlotte Observer, The (NC)2006-10-19Section: SPORTS Edition: ONE-THREE Page: 8C PROGRAM IS 2ND SHOT AT COLLEGE 90-PLAYER TEAM MAKES UP ENTIRE STUDENT BODY JOE HABINA, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTCoach Tim Newman tosses a football into the air as he huddles with members of his N.C. Tech football team. The team features mostly area athletes and they play prep schools like Fork Union Military Academy, their opponent tonight.
They're no longer playing for their respective student bodies or communities. The cheerleaders, pep rallies and marching bands are merely memories of more spirited seasons. Some of the young men who play for N.C. Tech (7-0) might be a year or two removed from their heyday as high school stars. But for most, this is their final grasp at reeling in a college scholarship, a dream the players still pursue.
Fielding its inaugural team this fall, N.C. Tech is an educational program rooted in Concord. Its primary interest is molding post-graduate and junior-college students into a competitive team.
Administrators and coaches hope the program can serve as a stepping stone to traditional college programs for its players, who have had difficulty achieving that goal.
Newman founded N.C. Tech last year after winding his way through college sports. Three years ago, he was tapped to lead Barber-Scotia College's attempt to start a football program.
But when the small liberal arts college in Concord lost its accreditation in 2004, the football program and other established athletic programs evaporated.
Newman resurfaced in 2005 at Louisburg College, which also was starting a football program at the junior-college level. But he left without coaching a game because he and the school couldn't agree on contract terms, he said.
The groundwork for N.C. Tech was laid in September 2005, and students attended their first classes in January. Its student body, made up solely of the players on the roster, falls into two categories:
Some of N.C. Tech's students qualify as prep school students. They want to improve their chances of getting into college and approved to play football by the NCAA by improving their grade-point averages and SAT scores.
Those students attend college prep classes at Barber-Scotia.
Other students are enrolled at either Rowan-Cabarrus Community College or Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte.
They earn college credit and can play football, which doesn't count against their years of college athletic eligibility.
Players are allowed to live in Barber-Scotia dormitories, but most live off-campus.
The N.C. Tech team - about 90 players strong - is not a member of a conference and does not play under the regulations of any sanctioning body.
Its schedule includes teams from other college preparatory schools.
Newman said the team is eligible to play junior college and college junior varsity teams.
Newman, the program's chief administrator, said the team is funded by private sponsors.
It practices at an all-purpose field at Barber-Scotia and plays its home games at Waddell High in Charlotte, where it charges $10 for admission.
Newman and his staff of seven assistants (who are paid a stipend, he said) have recruited athletes from all over the Southeast. Nine players are from Cabarrus County.
Many of his players were recruited by colleges in high school, he said, but they couldn't qualify academically. On the field, they've had fewer problems. The results of the team's first two games: victories of 63-0 over a school in Raleigh and 99-0 over Walter Reed (Washington, D.C.).
1. MARTY PRICE - SPECIAL TO THE OBSERVER. Coach Tim Newman, quarterback Chris Smith and N.C. Tech practice at Barber-Scotia and play home games at Waddell High.
Charlotte Observer, The (NC)
October 18, 2007
Column: LANGSTON WERTZ JR. - SPORTS
FORK UNION GAME WILL TEST N.C. TECH
CAN POST-HIGH SCHOOL TEAM UPSET NATIONAL POWER AGAIN THIS YEAR?
Author: LANGSTON WERTZ Jr., Staff Writer
Edition: THREE
Section: SOUTHMECK
Page: 11S
Estimated printed pages: 2
Article Text:
Tonight is the biggest in the two-year history of N.C. Tech.
Tech is a post-high school team that plays Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy at 7 tonight at Waddell High. Coach Tim Newman is calling this his team's Super Bowl.
Tech was 12-0 last year and is 8-0 this season. Newman's team upset Fork Union 22-20 last year, and Fork Union is a nationally respected program that has produced more than 70 NFL players.
Newman wants to put his program on the map, and the best way to do that, he said, is to beat name programs.
Newman started Tech because he saw a need. He grew up poor in Charlotte and starred at Olympic High and Johnson C. Smith University. He played in the NFL for the New York Jets in 1987.
Since then, he's been a minor league coach, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools middle school coach and coached at the college level.
He said he's never stopped wanting to help kids who get a little behind, who need a second chance.
"I can relate to those kids," Newman said, "because I was one of those kids."
Tech takes players who didn't qualify for college and enrolls them in classes at Central Piedmont Community College or Charlotte's Evelyn Mack Learning Center on Monroe Road, for five months, from August to January. The players live in apartments and have strict rules, with curfew and tutorials and practice.
This year's team is more than 100 strong and includes 17 players who played for CMS and many more who played in the area.
Many, like Victory Christian's Sanquan Davis, were big-time college recruits last season.
Some will be this season.
More than 20 on last year's team signed with colleges. Newman, whose office is littered with letters from college coaches inquiring about his players, expects that number to double this season.
In the fall, Newman hopes to launch a new private high school, based at Evelyn Mack. He hopes to take some of the kids from CMS who are branded as troublemakers and those struggling to make it and give them a place to put their lives back together.
"I believe in second chances," Newman said. "I want those kids that nobody else wants. I think what we are doing over here can help. We can make this work."
Langston Wertz Jr: 704-358-5133; lwertz@charlotteobserver.com
Caption:
RICK HAVNER - SPECIAL TO THE OBSERVER. N.C. Tech coach Tim Newman rallies his team before a game earlier this year. His post-high school team gives a second chance to athletes who didn't qualify for college.PHOTO: 1
Copyright (c) 2007 The Charlotte Observer
Charlotte Observer, The (NC)
September 28, 2006
N.C. TECH IS A PLACE TO TACKLE GRADES, FOOTBALL
PLAYERS AIM TO BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR COLLEGE AND NCAA FOOTBALL
Author: JOE HABINA, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Edition: TWO
Section: CABARRUS NEIGHBORS
Page: 8K
Estimated printed pages: 4
Article Text:
No longer are they playing for their respective student bodies or communities.
The cheerleaders, pep rallies and marching bands are merely memories of more spirited seasons.
Some of the young men who play for N.C. Tech may be a year or two removed from their heydays as high school standouts. But for most, this is their final grasp at reeling in a college football scholarship, a dream they still pursue.
Fielding its inaugural team this fall, N.C. Tech is an educational program rooted in Concord. Its primary interest is molding post-graduate and junior-college students into a competitive football team.
Administrators and coaches hope the program can serve as a steppingstone toward traditional college programs for its players, who have had past difficulty in achieving that goal.
*
Working toward bigger things
N.C. Tech was founded by Tim Newman, who three years ago was tabbed to lead Barber-Scotia College's attempt at starting a football team.
When the small Concord liberal arts college lost its accreditation in 2004, however, the football program, along with the school's established athletic programs, also was lost.
Newman resurfaced in 2005 at Louisburg College, which also was starting its own football program at the junior-college level. Newman said he coached from January to July 2005 but left without coaching a game because he and the school couldn't agree on contract terms.
The groundwork for N.C. Tech was laid in September 2005, and students attended their first classes in January. Its student body, which numbers the same as the players on the Tigers' football roster, falls into two categories.
Some of N.C. Tech's students qualify as prep school students. They want to better their chances of college enrollment and NCAA approval to play by improving their grade-point averages and SAT scores.
Those students attend college prep classes at Barber-Scotia, which, in the meantime, is contemplating its own plans for the future.
The second type of N.C. Tech student is enrolled as a regular student at either Rowan-Cabarrus Community College or Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte. They earn college credit and can play football; the football doesn't count against their years of college athletic eligibility.
Both types of students and players are allowed to live in Barber-Scotia dormitories, but most live off campus.
They all want to gain academic eligibility to play at the college level and grab the attention of college recruiters.
*
90 players strong
The N.C. Tech football team - around 90 players strong - is not a member of a conference and does not play under the regulations of any sanctioning body.
Its schedule is made up of teams from other college preparatory schools. Newman said the team is eligible to play junior college and college junior varsity teams.
Newman, the program's chief administrator and the football team's head coach, said the team is funded by private sponsors.
It practices at an all-purpose field at Barber-Scotia and plays its home games at Charlotte's Waddell High, where it charges $10 admission and has drawn perhaps a few hundred spectators to each of its contests.
Numerous players from area high schools are on the Tigers' roster. Among them are Tim Bradley, Houston Stamper and Chris Fusaro from Mount Pleasant; Ques Cagler, Mike Mulligan and Richard Williams from Concord; Derrick Parks from Northwest Cabarrus; and Andre Robinson and Andrew Robinson from Kannapolis A.L. Brown.
*
Team overcomes difficulties
Bradley and Stamper, 2004 Mount Pleasant graduates, initially attended Cumberland College in Kentucky with the intention of playing football there.
Bradley played on the junior varsity for one season; Stamper sat out his first year while he gained academic eligibility.
Neither really cared for Cumberland, however. Since returning to Cabarrus County after one semester, they each got jobs and began attending classes at RCCC.
They learned about N.C. Tech through Fusaro (at age 22, one of the team's older players), whom Newman had recruited to play, first at Barber-Scotia, then at Louisburg.
"Coming back home and sitting out a year of football, doors started to close," said Stamper. "Any opportunity that (Bradley) or I got was better than nothing. Anything that would help me get back to school, and playing football, is a blessing in any regard."
Newman and his staff of seven assistants (who are paid a stipend, he said), have recruited kids from all over the Southeastern United States.
Many of his players were recruited by colleges out of high school, he said; they just couldn't qualify for them academically.
Players admit that gelling as a team presented its challenges, since they came from such diverse backgrounds. They hinted about scuffles as egos clashed during preseason practices.
Now, however, they have overcome those difficulties, they said. The proof is in the results of the team's first two games: victories of 63-0 over a school in Raleigh and 99-0 over Walter Reed (Washington, D.C.).
Yes, that's 99 to nil.
Winning games that way may be enough to help them forget about those disagreements - and the lack of cheerleaders, pep rallies and marching bands.
*
Freelance writer Joe Habina lives in Kannapolis.
Caption:
1. Tim Newman tells quarterback Chris Smith what play to call.; 2. PHOTOS BY MARTY PRICE - SPECIAL TO THE OBSERVER. Tim Newman tosses a football in the air as he huddles with members of his N.C. Tech football team. The team features mostly area kids and they play prep schools like Fork Union Military Academy.PHOTO:2
Copyright (c) 2006 The Charlotte Observer
The Charlotte ObserverN.C. Tech, Charlotte's post-high school graduate team, has 110 football players on its third squad.The Tigers are a combined 27-0 in two years under coach Tim Newman. This year's team features Thomas Shuler, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound fullback from Florida who was rated No. 8 at his position by rivals.com as a high school senior last year.
Shuler has committed to Arkansas.
WCNC.com (NC Tech Produces Big)
USA Today
WR Antonio Brown put on a dazzling offensive display in the Chips' spring game, recording a 58-yard TD on a swing pass from backup QB Brian Brunner and then later Brown and Brunner connected again for a six-yard scoring strike. Brown finished with 97 yards receiving.
Rivals recognize Tigers
Charlotte (N.C.) North Carolina Tech is home to two prep prospects who are receiving college interest. One of them is safety Gerald Bowman. A 6-foot-1, 208-pound prospect that is hearing from schools in the Big East and ACC among others.
"I've started to talk to coaches and I'm putting my film together from this year," he said. "I'm in touch with Louisville, Maryland, North Carolina, Temple, Miami and Miami (Ohio).
"I'm planning to go to Temple with my team this weekend. I think they might offer."
At this point, no schools have offered the defensive back.
"I'm still waiting for my first one," he said. "Schools are waiting on me to take the SAT on October 4th. They want to see how I do since I have a 2.5 GPA."
Does Bowman like anybody?
"I'm pushing for Maryland," he said. "I'm hoping they'll offer. They are closer to home for me. I also like the environment and education.
"I've been looking at the schools, what they are recruiting at safety and who they have now. It seems like it'd be a good fit for me. I think if I go there I could at least get in the rotation pretty early."
At this time, Bowman still plans to enroll in January wherever he ends up.
In the meantime, Bowman has played four games for North Carolina Tech.
"I've done pretty well," he said. "I don't have any interceptions, but I've been in the mix for tackles and have a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown."
The other one is a 6-foot-3, 240-pound quarterback, Clinton Granger.
"I went to high school at Philadelphia (Pa.) George Washington," he said. "My whole senior year in high school I was getting looks from Temple, UConn, Boston College, Toledo and Kent State. I don't think many people know where I am right now."
What is Granger looking for in a college?
"I want a good program and I don't want to go so far from home."
Granger went on about his abilities.
"I haven't played a lot yet, but last game I was 5-of-6 for 48-yards and a touchdown," he said. "I think I have a strong arm, good size, great footwork and good speed. I'm not that slow for a big guy.
"I do need to work on my accuracy and touch more this season though."
Granger threw for 1,300-yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions as a senior last season.
Charlotte Observer Recognizes NC Tech Signees (Click For More Info)
Ex-Providence QB leads high-power NC Tech
Charlotte Observer, The (NC)2006-10-19Section: SPORTS Edition: ONE-THREE Page: 8C PROGRAM IS 2ND SHOT AT COLLEGE 90-PLAYER TEAM MAKES UP ENTIRE STUDENT BODY JOE HABINA, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTCoach Tim Newman tosses a football into the air as he huddles with members of his N.C. Tech football team. The team features mostly area athletes and they play prep schools like Fork Union Military Academy, their opponent tonight.
They're no longer playing for their respective student bodies or communities. The cheerleaders, pep rallies and marching bands are merely memories of more spirited seasons. Some of the young men who play for N.C. Tech (7-0) might be a year or two removed from their heyday as high school stars. But for most, this is their final grasp at reeling in a college scholarship, a dream the players still pursue.
Fielding its inaugural team this fall, N.C. Tech is an educational program rooted in Concord. Its primary interest is molding post-graduate and junior-college students into a competitive team.
Administrators and coaches hope the program can serve as a stepping stone to traditional college programs for its players, who have had difficulty achieving that goal.
Newman founded N.C. Tech last year after winding his way through college sports. Three years ago, he was tapped to lead Barber-Scotia College's attempt to start a football program.
But when the small liberal arts college in Concord lost its accreditation in 2004, the football program and other established athletic programs evaporated.
Newman resurfaced in 2005 at Louisburg College, which also was starting a football program at the junior-college level. But he left without coaching a game because he and the school couldn't agree on contract terms, he said.
The groundwork for N.C. Tech was laid in September 2005, and students attended their first classes in January. Its student body, made up solely of the players on the roster, falls into two categories:
Some of N.C. Tech's students qualify as prep school students. They want to improve their chances of getting into college and approved to play football by the NCAA by improving their grade-point averages and SAT scores.
Those students attend college prep classes at Barber-Scotia.
Other students are enrolled at either Rowan-Cabarrus Community College or Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte.
They earn college credit and can play football, which doesn't count against their years of college athletic eligibility.
Players are allowed to live in Barber-Scotia dormitories, but most live off-campus.
The N.C. Tech team - about 90 players strong - is not a member of a conference and does not play under the regulations of any sanctioning body.
Its schedule includes teams from other college preparatory schools.
Newman said the team is eligible to play junior college and college junior varsity teams.
Newman, the program's chief administrator, said the team is funded by private sponsors.
It practices at an all-purpose field at Barber-Scotia and plays its home games at Waddell High in Charlotte, where it charges $10 for admission.
Newman and his staff of seven assistants (who are paid a stipend, he said) have recruited athletes from all over the Southeast. Nine players are from Cabarrus County.
Many of his players were recruited by colleges in high school, he said, but they couldn't qualify academically. On the field, they've had fewer problems. The results of the team's first two games: victories of 63-0 over a school in Raleigh and 99-0 over Walter Reed (Washington, D.C.).
1. MARTY PRICE - SPECIAL TO THE OBSERVER. Coach Tim Newman, quarterback Chris Smith and N.C. Tech practice at Barber-Scotia and play home games at Waddell High.
Charlotte Observer, The (NC)
October 18, 2007
Column: LANGSTON WERTZ JR. - SPORTS
FORK UNION GAME WILL TEST N.C. TECH
CAN POST-HIGH SCHOOL TEAM UPSET NATIONAL POWER AGAIN THIS YEAR?
Author: LANGSTON WERTZ Jr., Staff Writer
Edition: THREE
Section: SOUTHMECK
Page: 11S
Estimated printed pages: 2
Article Text:
Tonight is the biggest in the two-year history of N.C. Tech.
Tech is a post-high school team that plays Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy at 7 tonight at Waddell High. Coach Tim Newman is calling this his team's Super Bowl.
Tech was 12-0 last year and is 8-0 this season. Newman's team upset Fork Union 22-20 last year, and Fork Union is a nationally respected program that has produced more than 70 NFL players.
Newman wants to put his program on the map, and the best way to do that, he said, is to beat name programs.
Newman started Tech because he saw a need. He grew up poor in Charlotte and starred at Olympic High and Johnson C. Smith University. He played in the NFL for the New York Jets in 1987.
Since then, he's been a minor league coach, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools middle school coach and coached at the college level.
He said he's never stopped wanting to help kids who get a little behind, who need a second chance.
"I can relate to those kids," Newman said, "because I was one of those kids."
Tech takes players who didn't qualify for college and enrolls them in classes at Central Piedmont Community College or Charlotte's Evelyn Mack Learning Center on Monroe Road, for five months, from August to January. The players live in apartments and have strict rules, with curfew and tutorials and practice.
This year's team is more than 100 strong and includes 17 players who played for CMS and many more who played in the area.
Many, like Victory Christian's Sanquan Davis, were big-time college recruits last season.
Some will be this season.
More than 20 on last year's team signed with colleges. Newman, whose office is littered with letters from college coaches inquiring about his players, expects that number to double this season.
In the fall, Newman hopes to launch a new private high school, based at Evelyn Mack. He hopes to take some of the kids from CMS who are branded as troublemakers and those struggling to make it and give them a place to put their lives back together.
"I believe in second chances," Newman said. "I want those kids that nobody else wants. I think what we are doing over here can help. We can make this work."
Langston Wertz Jr: 704-358-5133; lwertz@charlotteobserver.com
Caption:
RICK HAVNER - SPECIAL TO THE OBSERVER. N.C. Tech coach Tim Newman rallies his team before a game earlier this year. His post-high school team gives a second chance to athletes who didn't qualify for college.PHOTO: 1
Copyright (c) 2007 The Charlotte Observer
Charlotte Observer, The (NC)
September 28, 2006
N.C. TECH IS A PLACE TO TACKLE GRADES, FOOTBALL
PLAYERS AIM TO BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR COLLEGE AND NCAA FOOTBALL
Author: JOE HABINA, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Edition: TWO
Section: CABARRUS NEIGHBORS
Page: 8K
Estimated printed pages: 4
Article Text:
No longer are they playing for their respective student bodies or communities.
The cheerleaders, pep rallies and marching bands are merely memories of more spirited seasons.
Some of the young men who play for N.C. Tech may be a year or two removed from their heydays as high school standouts. But for most, this is their final grasp at reeling in a college football scholarship, a dream they still pursue.
Fielding its inaugural team this fall, N.C. Tech is an educational program rooted in Concord. Its primary interest is molding post-graduate and junior-college students into a competitive football team.
Administrators and coaches hope the program can serve as a steppingstone toward traditional college programs for its players, who have had past difficulty in achieving that goal.
*
Working toward bigger things
N.C. Tech was founded by Tim Newman, who three years ago was tabbed to lead Barber-Scotia College's attempt at starting a football team.
When the small Concord liberal arts college lost its accreditation in 2004, however, the football program, along with the school's established athletic programs, also was lost.
Newman resurfaced in 2005 at Louisburg College, which also was starting its own football program at the junior-college level. Newman said he coached from January to July 2005 but left without coaching a game because he and the school couldn't agree on contract terms.
The groundwork for N.C. Tech was laid in September 2005, and students attended their first classes in January. Its student body, which numbers the same as the players on the Tigers' football roster, falls into two categories.
Some of N.C. Tech's students qualify as prep school students. They want to better their chances of college enrollment and NCAA approval to play by improving their grade-point averages and SAT scores.
Those students attend college prep classes at Barber-Scotia, which, in the meantime, is contemplating its own plans for the future.
The second type of N.C. Tech student is enrolled as a regular student at either Rowan-Cabarrus Community College or Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte. They earn college credit and can play football; the football doesn't count against their years of college athletic eligibility.
Both types of students and players are allowed to live in Barber-Scotia dormitories, but most live off campus.
They all want to gain academic eligibility to play at the college level and grab the attention of college recruiters.
*
90 players strong
The N.C. Tech football team - around 90 players strong - is not a member of a conference and does not play under the regulations of any sanctioning body.
Its schedule is made up of teams from other college preparatory schools. Newman said the team is eligible to play junior college and college junior varsity teams.
Newman, the program's chief administrator and the football team's head coach, said the team is funded by private sponsors.
It practices at an all-purpose field at Barber-Scotia and plays its home games at Charlotte's Waddell High, where it charges $10 admission and has drawn perhaps a few hundred spectators to each of its contests.
Numerous players from area high schools are on the Tigers' roster. Among them are Tim Bradley, Houston Stamper and Chris Fusaro from Mount Pleasant; Ques Cagler, Mike Mulligan and Richard Williams from Concord; Derrick Parks from Northwest Cabarrus; and Andre Robinson and Andrew Robinson from Kannapolis A.L. Brown.
*
Team overcomes difficulties
Bradley and Stamper, 2004 Mount Pleasant graduates, initially attended Cumberland College in Kentucky with the intention of playing football there.
Bradley played on the junior varsity for one season; Stamper sat out his first year while he gained academic eligibility.
Neither really cared for Cumberland, however. Since returning to Cabarrus County after one semester, they each got jobs and began attending classes at RCCC.
They learned about N.C. Tech through Fusaro (at age 22, one of the team's older players), whom Newman had recruited to play, first at Barber-Scotia, then at Louisburg.
"Coming back home and sitting out a year of football, doors started to close," said Stamper. "Any opportunity that (Bradley) or I got was better than nothing. Anything that would help me get back to school, and playing football, is a blessing in any regard."
Newman and his staff of seven assistants (who are paid a stipend, he said), have recruited kids from all over the Southeastern United States.
Many of his players were recruited by colleges out of high school, he said; they just couldn't qualify for them academically.
Players admit that gelling as a team presented its challenges, since they came from such diverse backgrounds. They hinted about scuffles as egos clashed during preseason practices.
Now, however, they have overcome those difficulties, they said. The proof is in the results of the team's first two games: victories of 63-0 over a school in Raleigh and 99-0 over Walter Reed (Washington, D.C.).
Yes, that's 99 to nil.
Winning games that way may be enough to help them forget about those disagreements - and the lack of cheerleaders, pep rallies and marching bands.
*
Freelance writer Joe Habina lives in Kannapolis.
Caption:
1. Tim Newman tells quarterback Chris Smith what play to call.; 2. PHOTOS BY MARTY PRICE - SPECIAL TO THE OBSERVER. Tim Newman tosses a football in the air as he huddles with members of his N.C. Tech football team. The team features mostly area kids and they play prep schools like Fork Union Military Academy.PHOTO:2
Copyright (c) 2006 The Charlotte Observer
The Charlotte ObserverN.C. Tech, Charlotte's post-high school graduate team, has 110 football players on its third squad.The Tigers are a combined 27-0 in two years under coach Tim Newman. This year's team features Thomas Shuler, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound fullback from Florida who was rated No. 8 at his position by rivals.com as a high school senior last year.
Shuler has committed to Arkansas.
WCNC.com (NC Tech Produces Big)
USA Today
WR Antonio Brown put on a dazzling offensive display in the Chips' spring game, recording a 58-yard TD on a swing pass from backup QB Brian Brunner and then later Brown and Brunner connected again for a six-yard scoring strike. Brown finished with 97 yards receiving.
Rivals recognize Tigers
Charlotte (N.C.) North Carolina Tech is home to two prep prospects who are receiving college interest. One of them is safety Gerald Bowman. A 6-foot-1, 208-pound prospect that is hearing from schools in the Big East and ACC among others.
"I've started to talk to coaches and I'm putting my film together from this year," he said. "I'm in touch with Louisville, Maryland, North Carolina, Temple, Miami and Miami (Ohio).
"I'm planning to go to Temple with my team this weekend. I think they might offer."
At this point, no schools have offered the defensive back.
"I'm still waiting for my first one," he said. "Schools are waiting on me to take the SAT on October 4th. They want to see how I do since I have a 2.5 GPA."
Does Bowman like anybody?
"I'm pushing for Maryland," he said. "I'm hoping they'll offer. They are closer to home for me. I also like the environment and education.
"I've been looking at the schools, what they are recruiting at safety and who they have now. It seems like it'd be a good fit for me. I think if I go there I could at least get in the rotation pretty early."
At this time, Bowman still plans to enroll in January wherever he ends up.
In the meantime, Bowman has played four games for North Carolina Tech.
"I've done pretty well," he said. "I don't have any interceptions, but I've been in the mix for tackles and have a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown."
The other one is a 6-foot-3, 240-pound quarterback, Clinton Granger.
"I went to high school at Philadelphia (Pa.) George Washington," he said. "My whole senior year in high school I was getting looks from Temple, UConn, Boston College, Toledo and Kent State. I don't think many people know where I am right now."
What is Granger looking for in a college?
"I want a good program and I don't want to go so far from home."
Granger went on about his abilities.
"I haven't played a lot yet, but last game I was 5-of-6 for 48-yards and a touchdown," he said. "I think I have a strong arm, good size, great footwork and good speed. I'm not that slow for a big guy.
"I do need to work on my accuracy and touch more this season though."
Granger threw for 1,300-yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions as a senior last season.