BY PERRY GATTEGNO, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
South Florida players help Rattlers stop run and pass
Florida A&M is looking to improve on a seven-win season and will rely on a number of South Florida players who can't wait to play.
The Rattlers are ready to contend in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and need their young defense, anchored by Deerfield Beach cornerback Michael Creary and Hollywood defensive tackle Demetrius Lane, to grow up quickly.
Coming off a 7-4 record that included a loss to Miami, the Rubin Carter-led squad returns 20 starters.
But FAMU hopes players such as Creary, a walk-on, and Lane, who was almost converted to offensive line because of a lack of "urgency," according to Carter, will allow a program like FAMU's to win.
"The job description is to be able to work with young men, to develop their skills and to teach," Carter said. "They're not going to come to our program as polished athletes. The other institutions will get those players. We're usually in development mode."
Creary is a sophomore Carter's staff found on campus. At 5 feet 9 and 180 pounds, he does not look the part of a traditional physical cornerback. Carter, though, was impressed by Creary's agility and athleticism and invited him to the team. "I think it's his ability to cover," Carter said. "He's an excellent one-on-one cover corner. He also has the physical attributes to hit receivers. He's a good tackler. He can balance and wrap up on his tackling. Those are assets you have to have."
Photo: Michael Creary prepares to defend WR.
Creary started nine games in 2006 and had 31 unassisted tackles and two interceptions. He is one of five players out of nearly 200 who tried to walk on in 2006 and one of only two — Miami's Donovan Johnson, another cornerback, is the other — to start. He said he has "some pretty high goals" that include winning the national title and becoming an All-American.
"I have to give 110 percent [and] work on my technique and fundamentals," he said.
Creary and all-MEAC free safety Jason Beach lead a secondary that allowed only 141.4 yards passing per game. It was the rushing defense that was primarily responsible for giving up almost 30 points a game, allowing an average of 215 yards. That's where redshirt junior Lane comes in.
Carter called the 6-2, 295-pound Lane a "late bloomer" who didn't initially have the speed and energy to play defensive tackle. And then?
"Overnight the light just came on," Carter said, "and he said, 'I can play this position.'"
Lane credited his ascent to a new mindset that calls for focusing, preventing repeated mistakes and attacking, as well as hard work.
"[I was] doing things I didn't want to do," Lane said about his offseason workouts. "I just wanted to make a mark on the university."
Lane played in only five games in 2006 but had three tackles for loss for a defense with only linebacker Dannel Shepard, hitting double digits in that category.
On offense, quarterback Albert Chester II and running back Anthony Edwards replace graduated wide receiver and return man Roosevelt Kiser. "I think you're going to see a lot of energy and effort out of our kids," Carter said. "They're going to play until the very last seconds remain on the clock, and anytime you do that, there's usually positive results.
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