Midfield's Shackleford heading to Mississippi Valley

Birmingham, AL - Midfield linebacker James Shackleford, number 51 on your roster, has committed to Mississippi Valley State. A good student, the 6-foot-1, 215-pounder plans to major in chemistry. "I love the atmosphere and I think it's a great school," Shackleford said. "I see how they've made Birmingham a big focus of their recruiting."

Under Willie Totten, the SWAC school has turned Birmingham into a cornerstone of recruiting. During his official visit to the school, Shackleford met Erwin quarterback Anthony Bowie, another Mississippi Valley commitment.

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MVSU Totten retools attack

After 3-8 season, coach changes offense to better suit quarterbacks' abilities

Following an off-season of change in Willie Totten's Mississippi Valley State program, the Delta Devils seem set on a quarterback who can lead their offense. For now. That honor belongs to junior Ryan Burciaga. But if last year - when the team started three different QBs because of injuries and ineptitude - is any precursor, who knows how that'll wind up.

For the former quarterback Totten, whose Delta Devils open with Texas College on Aug. 30, the uncertainty at that position is troubling. Especially when the talented Paul Roberts, anointed as the starter as a freshman last season, is now the third-stringer. "It's a challenge for him," Totten said. "Either way you want to stay third string or you push up to challenge as the starter." MVSU ranked dead-last in the SWAC in total offense last year.

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MVSU Football Team Reports to Campus

Delta Devils head football coach Willie Totten.

Itta Bena, Miss. --- By end of day yesterday 85 student-athletes had reported to camp as the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils football team reported to began fall conditioning and practice. With five more expected players who had received clearance for late arrival expected over the weekend, there should be a total of 90 student-athletes aboard.

"Guys came in really excited," said head coach Willie Totten. "Now we're just ready to test them and get them on the field." In this morning's work out, the team went through time tests on the track which included 40-yard dash and vertical and broad jumps. They also hit the iron in the weight room working out at 225 lbs on the bench and inclines.

On the track freshman Gerard Hall (5-9, 189, DB, Memphis, TN) turned in a 4.3 in the 40-yard dash, while redshirt freshman Paul Cox, Jr. (6-5, 190, WR, Patterson, LA) had a 4.41. Running backs Johey Hargrett (6-0, 265, SR, Chicago, IL) and Ronald Brewer (5-10, 205, R-SO, Memphis), 2008 Preseason All-SWAC, each ran a 4.5.

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MVSU Delta Devils seek fresh start

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Last year, Steven Fulbright experienced the nightmare of any senior player who sweated through an entire offseason of work: He was injured, lost for the season with a ligament tear in his knee, on the first play of Mississippi Valley State's first game. So how did the defensive back deal with this crushing disappointment?

"Every game, I was in the press box writing down the plays," he said. "I learned more about the game and I just learned a lot being in the press box with the coaches, and learning the game from a higher point of view."

If anything gives Valley coach Willie Totten reason to believe his team can shake off its 3-8 season from a year ago and return to winning ways, it's players like Fulbright. He'll return, the recipient of a medical redshirt, with added knowledge about the game and a bunch of optimism, too.

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Valley already getting ready for football season

You won't find Willie Totten vacationing during the dog days of June. The Mississippi Valley State head football coach and the rest of his staff are hard at it preparing for the 2008 season. Each of the coaches will get a short break in early July, but for now, they are busy checking on players and newcomers making sure they are doing what they need to do to be eligible in the fall.
"It's constant phone calls and paper work," said Totten Thursday during an interview in his office on the Itta Bena campus. "June is a time to get organized for when everyone comes in early August. "We've got four new coaches in the (Southwestern Athletic Conference), so we're looking at film trying to pick up some things they might do against us this season."

The Delta Devils report to campus Aug. 3 and will begin two-a-day practices five days later in preperation for the Aug. 30 season opener at home against Texas College.

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