Sunday, August 26, 2007

MEAC snapshots

BETHUNE-COOKMAN

wildcats
Coach: Alvin B. Wyatt Sr. (72-39, 11th year at school; 72-39, 11th year overall).

Record: 5-6, 3-5, 6th in MEAC.

Top returnees on offense (6 starters returning): TE Corey Council (13 car., 49 yds, 1 TD, 11 rec., 133 yds, 1 TD, Preseason All-MEAC); WR Victor Johnson (14 rec., 110 yds., 1 TD; QB Jimmie Russell (88-160, 1,139 yds., 9 TDs, 3 INTs).

Top returnees on defense (8 starters returning): LB Ronnie McCullough (73 tkls, 7.5 TFL); DL Dennis King (8.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, Preseason All-MEAC); FS Bobbie Williams (6 INT., Preseason All-MEAC); .

Make-or-break game: Florida A&M (No. 17). Wyatt is trying to avoid third consecutive loss to rival FAMU.

DELAWARE STATE

hornets
Coach: Al Lavan (19-14, 4th year at school; 21-15, 5th year overall).

Record: 8-3, 6-2, T-2nd in MEAC.

Top returnees on offense (8 starters returning): WR Shaheer McBride (55 rec. 852 yds., 11 TDs, Preseason All-MEAC); QB Vashon Winton (99-168, 1,171 yds., 10 TDs, 2 INTs); PK Peter Gaertner (8-12 FGs, 35-39 PATs, Preseason All-MEAC).

Top returnees on defense (7 starters returning): DL Kelly Rouse (47 tkls, 4 TFL, 3.5 sacks, Preseason All-MEAC); DB Akeem Green (48 tkls, Preseason All-MEAC); LB Russell Reeves (79 tkls, 8 TFL, 2 INT, Preseason All-MEACs); .

Make-or-break game: at South Carolina State (Oct. 27). The game has serious MEAC title implications.


FLORIDA A&M

rattlers
Coach: Rubin Carter (13-9, 3rd year at school; 13-9, third year overall).

Record: 7-4, 5-3, T-4th in MEAC.

Top returnees on offense (8 starters returning): WR Willie Hayward (49 rec., 647 yds., 5 TDs, Preseason All-MEAC); QB Albert Chester II (164-264, 1,986 yds., 18 TDs, 5 INTs, Preseason All-MEAC); RB Anthony Edwards (123 car. 482 yds., 5 TDs, Preseason All-MEAC).

Top returnees on defense (10 starters returning): LB Vernon Wilder (89 tkls, 5.5 TFL, Preseason All-MEAC); FS Jason Beach (70 tkls, 4 INT, Preseason All-MEAC); CB Michael Creary (39 tkls, 2 INT, 5 PBU., Preseason All-MEAC).

Make-or-break game: Delaware State (Sept. 8)
Carter's quest for MEAC Championship must start with first win against the Hornets.

HAMPTON

pirates
Coach: Joseph Taylor (130-43-1, 16th year at school; 191-71-4, 25th year overall).

Record: 10-2, 7-1, 1st in MEAC.

Top returnees on offense (3 starters returning): RB Kevin Beverly (134 car., 779 yds., 12 TDs, Preseason All-MEAC); OL Dennis Conley (Preseason All-MEAC); OL Ryan Cave (Preseason All-MEAC).

Top returnees on defense (6 starters returning): DL Kendall Langford (55 tkls, 15.5 TFL, 8 sacks, Preseason All-MEAC); DL Marcus Dixon (25 tkls, 5.5 TFL, 4.0 sacks, Preseason All-MEAC); P Jahmal Blanchard (39.7 ypp., Preseason All-MEAC).

Make-or-break game: South Carolina State (Oct. 20). Taylor has this homecoming monster sandwiched between four away games.

HOWARD

bison
Coach: Carey Bailey (first year at school and overall).

Record: 5-6, 4-4, T-5th in MEAC.

Top returnees on offense (7 starters returning): OL Randall White (Preseason All-MEAC); C Travis Harmon (Preseason All-MEAC); QB Brian Johnson (42-82, 474 yds., 6 TDs, 5 INTs).

Top returnees on defense (5 starters returning): DL Rudolph Hardie (43.5 tkls, 21.5 TFL, 10 sacks, Preseason All-MEAC); DB Thomas Claiborn (47.5 tkls, 7 PBU, Preseason All-MEAC); LB Endor Cooper (34 tkls, 11 TFL, 8.5 sacks, Preseason All-MEAC); .

Make-or-break game: Hampton (Sept. 8). A win against the three-tim defending MEAC Champions would jump start the Bailey era at Howard.

MORGAN STATE

bears
Coach: Donald Hill-Eley (25-31, 7th year at school and overall).

Record: 5-6, 4-4, T-4th in MEAC.

Top returnees on offense (10 starters returning): RB Chad Simpson (11 car. 795 yds., 9 TDs, Preseason All-MEAC); WR Roderick Wolfe (29 rec., 498 yds., 6 TDs, Preseason All-MEAC); OL Dakari Grimsley (All-MEAC).

Top returnees on defense (8 starters returning): LB Jerrel Guyton (56 tkls, 11.5 TFL, Preseason All-MEAC); DB Kendall Jackson (35 tkls, 3 PBU, Preseason All-MEAC); LB Kofi Nkrumah (48 tkls, Preseason All-MEAC).

Make-or-break game: at Hampton (Sept. 20). Win against former boss could put Hill-Eley's squad right in the thick of MEAC race.

NORFOLK STATE

spartans
Coach: Pete Adrian (8-14, 3rd year at school; 44-52 10th year overall).

Record: 4-7, 1-7, 8th in MEAC.

Top returnees on offense (4 starters returning): QB Casey Hansen (148-283, 2,166 yds., 10 TDs, 16 INTs); RB Daryl Jones (91 car., 366 yds., 7 TDs); C Jason Kressen.

Top returnees on defense (8 starters returning): DL Eric Bullock (36 tkls, 4 TFL, Preseason All-MEAC); DB Terrell Whitehead (40 tkls, 3 INT, Preseason All-MEAC); LB Maguell Davis (84 tkls, 8 TFL).

Make-or-break game: Bethune-Cookman (Sept. 22). A win against Wildcats would give Norfolk fans hope for the season.

NORTH CAROLINA A&T

aggies
Coach: Lee Fobbs Jr. (0-11, 2nd year at school; 0-11, 2nd year overall).

Record: 0-11, 0-8, 9th in MEAC.

Top returnees on offense (9 starters returning): WR Andre Garth (27 rec., 279 yds., 3 TDs, Preseason All-MEAC); RB Michael Ferguson (141 car., 631 yds., 4 TDs); WR Curtis Walls (42 rec. 477 yds., 1 TD).

Top returnees on defense (6 starters returning): LB Andre Thorton (64 tkls); LB Jamison Hedgepeth (63 tkls, 8 TFL, honors); DE Antonio Johnson (40 tkls, 3 sacks).

Make-or-break game: at Winston-Salem State (Sept. 1). Aggies must put losing of 2006 behind them.

SOUTH CAROLINA ST.

bulldogs
Coach: Oliver "Buddy" Pough (40-17, 6th year at school; 40-17, 6th year overall).

Record: 7-4, 6-2 T-2nd in MEAC.

Top returnees on offense (7 starters returning): OL James Lee (Preseason All-MEAC); RB William Ford (112 car., 752 yds., 10 TDs, Preseason All-MEAC); QB Cleveland McCoy (94-183, 1,224 yds., 10 TDs, 9 INTs; 113 car., 420 yds., 5 TDs, Preseason All-MEAC).

Top returnees on defense (6 starters returning): DB Marshall McFadden (43 tkls, 2 INT, Preseason All-MEAC); DE Xavier Littleberry (13 tkls, 3 sacks); LB Tony White (44 tkls).

Make-or-break game: at Hampton (Oct. 20). Could determine Bulldogs' MEAC title chances.

WINSTON-SALEM ST.

rams
Coach: Kermit W. Blount (81-64-3, 15th year at school; 81-64-3, 16th year overall).

Record: 4-7, I-AA independent.

Top returnees on offense (6 starters returning): RB Brandon McRae (118 car., 623 yds., 6 TDs); QB Monte Purvis (60-144, 865 yds., 5 TDs, 9 INTs); RB Tionti Powell (93 car., 432 yds., 2 TDs).

Top returnees on defense (7 starters returning): LB Thadeus Griffin (80 tkls, 5.5 TFL, 3 INT); DB Nathaniel Biggs (76 tkls); SS Demetrius Rivers (66 tkls, 7 TFL).

Make-or-break game: North Carolina A&T (Sept. 1). Winner could end up with recruiting edge in the state.

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