Lee named SU Jaguars' starting quarterback

By Eric Narcisse, Daily World

BATON ROUGE - In the first of his weekly press conferences on Thursday held at The Table is Bread Restaurant, Southern Jaguars head football coach Pete Richardson addressed many issues, such as the strength and weaknesses of his team.
But the biggest announcement was that redshirt sophomore Bryant Lee will be the Jaguars' starting quarterback when they take the field at 2 p.m. Saturday in Birmingham, Ala. against Florida A&M in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

"Last year, we had a number of injuries occur at the quarterback position," Richardson said. "Lee started the last couple of games at the end of the season and did a good job. He had a good offseason. He's bigger, stronger and has developed a good chemistry with the receivers."

The 6-1, 185-pound Lee from Hahnville High School, started the final three games of the season finishing second on the team with 302 yards rushing with five touchdowns on 67 carries, while completing 51-of-87 passes for 571 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions.

Lee beat out stiff competition from fellow redshirt sophomore Warren Matthews, a 6-4, 240-pounder from Warren Easton High School in New Orleans.

"Warren received a lot of reps in the spring," Richardson said. "I'm confident that either one of these guys can run our football team."

Regardless of who is throwing the ball for the Jaguars this season, they'll have quality receivers to pass to with the return of second team All-SWAC honoree Gerard Landry.

The 6-2, 220-pound junior started every game last season for the Jaguars, finishing the year as the team's leading receiver in receptions (55), yards (727) and yards per game (66.1), while scoring a career-high five touchdowns.

"Landry has good size and strength," Richardson said. "He made a commitment in the offseason to lose weight and increase his speed, because he already has great hands."

Joining Landry out wide is sophomore Juamorris Stewart, a 6-3, 195-pounder from Istrouma High School, and Del Roberts, a 5-8, 170-pounder, who played in every game last season.

Stewart finished the year as the Jaguars third leading receiver with 21 receptions for 265 yards and one touchdown, while Roberts battled through injuries to finish as Southern's second leading receiver with 28 catches for 260 yards and one touchdown.

"We have developed some depth behind Landry at the receiver position," Richardson said. "Stewart is a great athlete, who has gained a lot of confidence this offseason.

"Roberts is also a lot bigger and stronger this year," Richardson said. "We have to find ways to get him the ball this year, because he can do some creative things once he gets it."

If there was one concern offensively for the Jaguars it was their offensive line according to Richardson.

"Our offensive line has almost been decimated," Richardson said. "But our coaches have been doing a good job of moving players around. They are shuffling people around and I think we'll be OK, we just can't have any injuries."

Defensively, everything starts in the secondary for the Jaguars, who return SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in safety Jarmaual George.

The 6-1, 195-pound senior led the Jaguars with five interceptions, while recording 51 tackles and one fumble recovery.

"Our defensive backs are really strong," Richardson said. "George is a guy who is always around the ball and he likes to hit."

Although names weren't released, Richardson said the Jaguars could be without several players when they face Florida A&M.

"We still haven't received paper work for some players," Richardson said. "If we don't receive that paper work on those players by the time we play, those individuals will not take part in the game."

JSU dependence on transfers shrinks

By David Brandt, Clarion Ledger

Photo: CB Domonique Johnson

This time last season, Jackson State's coaches had finished an exhausting run of recruiting that made the "previous school" category on the team's roster look like a who's who of Division I-A colleges.

There were two players added from Ohio State. One from Notre Dame. One from Tennessee. One each from Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Southern Miss.

Some got into trouble at their former schools while others had simply fallen out of favor with their respective coaching staffs.

Either way, they all had some interesting journeys into a Jackson State uniform.

Then first-year coach Rick Comegy said the sizable influx of talent - nine Division I-A transfers in all - was necessary to bolster the talent of the program to a reasonable level. All nine players started for JSU at various times during the season.

But in Comegy's second year with the Tigers, the newest wave of Division I-A help shouldn't be nearly as noticeable.

Most likely, only one transfer, cornerback Domonique Johnson (Missouri), will be fresh from his old school to Jackson State's starting lineup when the Tigers play Delta State at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

"We'll always be looking for talent, no matter where it comes from," Comegy said. "But I think it's obvious that we had some talent stockpiled and didn't have to make as many wholesale changes. That's a good thing. You always want some continuity."

It's not that Jackson State completely ignored the transfer scene this year. In fact, five Division I-A transfers came to the Tigers in the off-season.

While Johnson may be the only transfer starter for Saturday's opener, four out of the five could see extended action.

Running back Cody Hull and receiver Rodney Gray (both formerly of Southern Miss) figure to see plenty of time on the field.

Quarterback Tray Rutland (Mississippi State) will back up Jimmy Oliver after a hotly contested preseason position battle, but Comegy said he hopes to get Rutland some action under center against Delta State.

"We like what we've done," Comegy said. "These guys will help us, but we're not putting the weight of the world on their shoulders."

Johnson figures to make the most immediate impact at the starting corner slot with his 6-foot-2 frame, cocky demeanor and ample speed. He started four games for Missouri last season, but left the team in the spring for a variety of personal reasons.

While the Jackson State surroundings are decidedly less swank than the Big 12 atmosphere at Missouri, Johnson said he appreciates the more humble surroundings.

"I'd rather be down here playing with guys that are hungry," Johnson said. "Not all the guys at Missouri were lazy, but it was easy to get complacent in that atmosphere. I know it even happened to me a few times.

"But it's not going to happen again - not with this group of guys around me."

TSU sneak peek

• COACH: James Webster (8-14 in 2 seasons, both at TSU)

• 2006: 6-5, 5-2 OVC.

• RETURNING STARTERS: Seven on offense and five on defense.

• KEY STORYLINE: The Tigers are making the type of progress Webster had in mind when he began his rebuilding process three years ago.

• REVEALING STAT: Antonio Heffner (passing and rushing) and Javarris Williams (rushing) combined for 3,073 yards and were responsible for 25 of TSU's 30 TDs last season.

KEY RETURNEES

• QB Antonio Heffner: Can be a playmaker if he overcomes shoulder injury.

• RB Javarris Williams: One of TSU's best ever wants another 1,000-yard season.

• CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: An exceptional athlete who was third in the nation with six interceptions last year.

TOP NEWCOMER

• WR Jonathan Moore. Former Maplewood standout already has impressed coaches with his intense work ethic.

SCOUTING QUICK-HITTERS

Rodgers-Cromartie could be one of the nation's best cornerbacks. The offensive line welcomes back tackle Avern Alexander from an ankle injury, but lost three key contributors. LB Kalvin Baker had 47 tackles last year.

Tigers Depth Chart

Offense

Tight end

43 Antonio Graham, Jr., 6-3, 190

97 James Finch, Jr., 6-3, 285

Left tackle

67 Qudus Adeboyejo, Sr., 6-6, 260

73 Avern Alexander, Sr., 6-5, 300

Left guard

68 Duvall Young, So., 6-2, 305

75 Jarvis Cante, Fr., 6-6, 350

Center

64 Cecil Newton, Jr., 6-2, 305

60 Sherman Carter, Fr., 6-4, 300

Right guard

65 Eugene Banks, Sr., 6-6, 365

76 Alex Davis, Fr., 6-2, 310

Right tackle

66 Cornelius Lewis, Jr., 6-5, 310

78 Justin Ridgeway, Fr., 6-5, 280

Wide receiver

5 Chris Johnson, Jr., 6-2, 180

87 Jamal Ruffin, Jr., 6-3, 205

Wide receiver

83 Brandon Belvin, Jr., 6-3, 200

86 Javier Jackson, Fr., 5-10, 170

Quarterback

16 Antonio Heffner, Jr., 6-2, 195

1 Calvin McNairl, Fr., 6-0, 210

Running back

25 Terrence Wright, So., 5-10, 190

28 Javarris Williams, Jr., 5-11, 215

Fullback

4 Brandon Jackson, Jr., 6-1, 232

30 Brandon Williams, Sr., 6-0, 220

Defense

End

13 Shaun Richardson, Sr., 6-3, 250

52 Mark Drew, Sr., 6-1, 225

Tackle

91 Lamar Divens, Jr., 6-4, 315

59 Maurice Davis, Jr., 6-2, 245

Nose tackle

93 Harold Ayodele, Jr., 6-2, 315

61 Travis Stubblefield, Fr., 6-2, 270

End

53 Kellen Woodard, So., 6-3, 220

94 Maurice Royster, Jr., 6-3, 230

Outside linebacker

55 Nahshon Bigham, Jr., 6-2, 210

51 Carl Buford, Jr., 6-0, 210

Middle linebacker

9 Ramone Willis, Jr., 6-2, 245

27 Kalvin Baker, So., 6-1, 225

Outside linebacker

10 Reno Thompson, 6-0, 190

15 Brandon Blackmon, Jr., 6-4, 200

Cornerback

45 Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Sr., 6-2, 185

26 Kevin Bledsoe, Jr., 5-9, 180

Free safety

6 Anthony Levine So., 6-1, 195

36 Brandon Bather, So., 5-11, 185

Strong safety

2 Larry Williford Jr., 6-1, 185

24 Marcus Snow Fr., 5-10, 203

Cornerback

21 Marquez Hall So., 5-9, 170

3 Ozzie Harrell Fr., 6-0, 200

Special teams

Placekicker

19 Eric Benson Jr., 5-10, 189

34 Taylor Cisneros, Fr., 6-0, 205

Punter

34 Taylor Cisneros, Fr., 6-0, 205

19 Eric Benson Jr., 5-10, 189

Kickoffs

19 Eric Benson Jr., 5-10, 189

34 Taylor Cisneros, Fr., 6-0, 205

Returner

18 Ronnie Powell, Fr., 5-8, 180

21 Marquez Hall So., 5-9, 170

TSU has painful memories

By MIKE ORGAN, Staff Writer

Coach says many injuries cost Tigers an OVC title

Tennessee State quarterback Antonio Heffner is healthy again, and if he can improve his game management skills he could lead the Tigers to the OVC title.

It hurts James Webster to talk about injuries. Especially the ones Tennessee State encountered last season.

It hurts the Tigers coach because he hates to blame injuries for shortcomings.

But if so many of TSU's key players hadn't been hurt, Webster believes the Tigers would have come even closer to winning the Ohio Valley Conference title last year than they did.

If the Tigers avoid injuries this year, then they expect again to be in the hunt for the conference title.

TSU headed into the final game with a shot at the championship, but lost at Eastern Kentucky 20-3 and finished behind UT Martin and Eastern Illinois, which tied for first.

''All that needs to happen for us to contend for the title is for us to stay healthy,'' Webster said. ''It wasn't so much that it was an inordinate amount of injuries last season, but I've never been anywhere where you had so many injuries to key people.''

TSU stars started falling early. First it was starting offensive tackle Avern Alexander in the first series of the first game who was lost for the season with an ankle injury.

In the second game, North Carolina transfer Mike Mason, the team's best receiver, went down with a knee injury.

Late in the year quarterback Antonio Heffner suffered a shoulder injury, which never fully healed.

The list went on and on and included linebacker Kalvin Baker, a transfer from Florida and the leading tackler at the time, who hurt his knee.

''All teams have injuries, I realize that,'' Webster said. ''But it was just the fact that it was to key people for us.''

No let-up

Keeping key players healthy is a priority this year, but Webster won't back off from the heavy demands he places on his team.

''I'll never be easier on a football team; that's not in my vocabulary,'' Webster said. ''All of those guys got hurt in the games; they didn't get hurt in practice. So I'm not worried that it was anything we were doing in practice.''

Not only is Heffner healthy again, he says he is prepared to be the leader the Tigers needed last year.

''Last season I was just out there, and my teammates were depending on me because of what they had heard about me,'' said Heffner, who transferred from South Carolina. ''Now everybody knows what I can do. They expect me to be their leader on and off the field.

''We're more of an experienced team this year, we know what to expect in the OVC, and we believe we can win a championship.''

Coach James Webster's three keys for taking it up a notch

Photo: TSU Head Football Coach James Webster

1. AVOID INJURIES

''We lost so many key players throughout the season that by the end of the year we were forced to play guys out of position and to rely on a lot of young guys. Hopefully, we'll stay healthy this season and benefit from some of the young players who were pushed into action last year.''

2. MANAGE THE GAME

''Make sure (QB) Antonio Heffner knows he does not have to win football games on his own. It is more important for him to manage the game. There are enough good players around him on offense to help out.''

3. REBUILD THE INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE

''That is the No. 1 place where we lost players. On the upside it will be an opportunity for some backups to step up. Getting Lamar Divens back (after being ruled ineligible last season) obviously will be a big help up front.''

Follow DSU's schedule to some great golf

By BRAD MYERS, The News Journal

Debate the strengths and weaknesses of the football teams at the University of Delaware and Delaware State University all you want. Until they play, we'll never know who is better.

But we already know which football team's fans travel to the better golf areas. Nothing against Delaware, but the Blue Hens' conference schedule can take them to New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Maine -- often not the warmest places to be in late October or November.

Delaware State's conference schedule has the Hornets frequently traveling to North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Case closed.

The Hornets will always play where top-flight golf isn't far away, and this year is no exception.

Sept. 8 at Florida A&M

You wish the Hornets were playing here later, because early September in Tallahassee promises to be hot. But look at the bright side: Hot weather makes a golf ball go farther.

The best choices nearby are Don Veller Seminole Golf Course, owned by Florida State University, and the Golf Club at Summerbrooke.

Sept. 15 at Kent State

This Division I-A opponent will likely be a tough go for the Hornets, but it will be early in the season. That's good, because Kent, Ohio, is about 35 miles southeast of Cleveland, and a round of golf there in November would likely be chilly.

Not so in mid-September, however, and there are three good choices. Kent State has its own university golf course, Raccoon Hill Golf Club is just north of town, and Fox Den Golf Course is owned by the City of Stow, northwest of Kent.

Sept. 29 at Hampton

The Virginia Beach area is loaded with quality golf courses, and the best are before you even cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

Bay Creek Golf Club is just off U.S. 13, about five miles before the start of the bridge, with 36 holes designed by a couple of guys you may be familiar with -- Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.

The Nicklaus Course has three holes that play right along Chesapeake Bay and match any stretch on the East Coast for difficulty and beauty. The third hole on the Palmer Course does the same.

There are more quality courses across the bay, including Hell's Point, Heron Ridge, Honey Bee, Red Wing Lake and Signature at West Neck.

Oct. 13 at North Carolina A&T and Nov. 3 at Winston-Salem State

The Greensboro/Winston-Salem area has dozens of quality public courses, and the Hornets will visit this area twice this season.

The top recommendation is Bryan Park in Greensboro, which has 36 holes good enough to play host to the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in 2010.

Stoney Creek Golf Club is another highly rated course just east of Greensboro. Oak Valley Golf Club is in Advance, closer to Winston-Salem, and is where Bear's Eric Onesi qualified for the U.S. Amateur earlier this month.

Oct. 27 at South Carolina State

There isn't a lot of golf in Orangeburg, but Santee is just 25 miles away, right on Interstate 95, which makes for a convenient stop before or after the game.

There are three top-notch public courses in Santee -- Lake Marion, Santee Cooper Country Club and Santee National Golf Club. And late October should be a nice time to add an extra day or two and make it a golf/football vacation.

IF YOU GO


Tallahassee, Fla.

Don Veller Seminole Golf Course, (850) 644-2582

Golf Club at Summerbrooke, (850) 894-4653

Kent, Ohio

Kent State University Golf Club, (330) 672-2500

Raccoon Hill Golf Club, (330) 673-2111

Fox Den Golf Course, (330) 673-3443

Hampton, Va.

Bay Creek Golf Club, (757) 331-8620

Information on all other courses listed at Virginia Beach Golf.

Greensboro/Winston-Salem, N.C.

Bryan Park Golf Course, (336) 375-2200

Stoney Creek Golf Club, (336) 449-5688

Oak Valley Golf Club, (336) 940-2000

Santee, S.C.

Lake Marion Golf Course and Santee Cooper Country Club, (800) 344-6534

Santee National Golf Club, (803) 854-3531

SSU aims for first season-opening victory since 2004

By Noell Barnidge, Savannah Morning News

Savannah State has not won its football season opener since 2004, when the Tigers beat host Norfolk (Va.) State 41-34 in double overtime.

To win its season opener against Morgan State at 7 tonight in Baltimore, SSU's defense must find a way to stop Chad Simpson, one of the premier running backs in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound senior from Miami, was selected to the preseason All-MEAC first team.

As a junior, Simpson was chosen to the All-MEAC second team. He also was named the Bears' Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for a team-high 795 yards and nine touchdowns on 147 carries, an average of 5.4 yards per carry.

Against Norfolk State last season, Simpson gained a career-high 192 yards on 26 carries and scored two touchdowns. Don't think for a second that he isn't savoring the chance to break his own record against SSU, which was 2-9 last season.

"If they've looked at film of us from last year, they've seen that we had some problems stopping the run," said SSU second-year coach Theo Lemon, whose Tigers gave up 203.7 yards rushing per game. "I think (SSU) is a different team. They need to see and understand that this isn't the same Savannah St. that is coming up to play them. I hope we show them that."

Lemon said he expects Morgan St. to unleash Simpson, who transferred there from Big East school South Florida. Simpson was USF's top kick returner in 2005 and ranked 25th in the nation in NCAA Division I-A, averaging 25.6 yards per return. In an upset win that season against No. 9 Louisville, he returned the opening second-half kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown.

Photo: SSU wide receiver Deleon Hollinger hauls in a pass.

"They have the same coaches (as last season), and that means they're going to be the same type of team," Lemon said of Morgan St.. "They're a power football team and they're going to try to knock you off the ball. They have a lot of great offensive linemen, some guys who really come after you. What we're going to try to do, defensively, is attack them and show them some different things to keep them off guard."

SSU also faces the task of dealing with Morgan St.'s All-MEAC second-team selections: senior wideout Roderick Wolfe, senior linebacker Kofi Nkrumah, senior defensive back Kendell Jackson, and junior offensive lineman Dakari Grimsley. "Everybody's been talking about (the game)," said SSU junior middle linebacker Calvin Leonard. "Everybody is ready."

SSU will play Morgan St. for the fifth time in the series. The Tigers have never beaten the Bears, and have been outscored 138-46. When the teams last played in 2005, Morgan St. cruised to a 55-26 victory.

Last season, Morgan St. finished 5-6 overall and 4-4 in the MEAC. The Bears are predicted to finish sixth by MEAC coaches and sports information directors. "We've got to go up to Baltimore and show them what we've got," SSU senior defensive end Dominique Clark said. "Everybody is pumped."

Notes

Trent Newton, SSU's leading tackler the past two seasons, has transferred to NCAA Division II Fort Valley State, FVSU quarterback Garrett Williams confirmed Wednesday.
Newton and Williams were roommates at SSU.

Newton, who made 114 tackles last season as a sophomore, was suspended by SSU coach Theo Lemon on March 20 for the remainder of SSU's spring practice for violating unspecified team policy. Newton did not play for FVSU on Saturday.

Williams, SSU's starting quarterback the past two seasons, is FVSU's starting quarterback. The junior led the Wildcats to a 13-10 victory over host Clark Atlanta last Saturday. He threw a 29-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.