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FOOTBALL |
ECU out to prove 'em wrong |
I
had the privilege of attending
my first American Athletic
Conference Football Media Day
earlier this week. The American
may not be a “Power 5”
conference, but it certainly
carries itself that way. ...
More from
Brian Bailey... |
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Keeping pace with Power 5 |
NEWPORT,
RI —
For American
Athletic Conference
commissioner Mike Aresco,
one element of full cost
tuition for student-athletes
is keeping pace with the
Power Five conferences – the
ACC, the Big Ten, the Big
12, the Pac-12 and the SEC.
Aresco led off the AAC football media day Tuesday at the
Hyatt Regency with wide-ranging remarks and touched on the provisions
for payments to athletes that will begin this academic year. ...
More
from Al Myatt...
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Pictured: Commissioner Mike
Aresco led off the media day agenda by addressing a
number of big picture topics concerning the AAC. (Photo
by W.A. Myatt) |
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Monday Fun Day for AAC |
NEWPORT, RI —
The Big East
kept the name for its
contingent of
basketball-geared athletic
programs but the American
Athletic Conference retained
some impressive traditions
for its football kickoff.
Those events over the last three years for the AAC
include a round of golf for athletic directors, coaches and media
members at Newport National Golf Club, a well-maintained challenge
complete with occasional sea breezes. ...
More
from Al Myatt...
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Pictured: East
Carolina athletic director Jeff Compher
enjoyed playing golf at Newport National on
Monday as part of the AAC's football kickoff. (Photo by
Al Myatt) |
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING |
Asheboro's Jones brings
versatility |
The majority of the recruiting
attention paid to the Asheboro
Comets this summer has focused on
defensive end Nick Coe, and rightly
so. The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder is an
exceptional jumbo athlete who is
being pursued by a number of major
college programs ...
More from Sammy Batten... |
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING |
WRH star plans to
enroll early |
Asked to describe the kind of impact
Keyshawn Canady has had on
the Wallace-Rose Hill football
program, head coach Joey Price
recalls the first play from
scrimmage in last year's 1-AA state
championship game against Starmount. ...
More from Sammy Batten... |
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By
Al Myatt
©2015 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
VIEW MOBILE VERSION OF THIS PAGE
GREENVILLE — The pertinent questions were asked at East
Carolina's football media day on Saturday. The Pirate coaches
essentially said we'll have to get back to you.
The quarterback situation in the absence of Shane Carden
and the potential impact of Minnesota/Rutgers transfer Philip Nelson as
well as the competition for placekicker are among the issues ECU is
dealing with as the 2015 season approaches. Nelson walked on with the
Pirates and his status for this season is to be determined.
It wasn't that Pirates coach Ruffin McNeill and staff
were being evasive, but three sessions into preseason camp and not yet
in full pads, there is still a lot of evaluating to be done before the
Sept. 5 opener at home with Towson.
In a program that seeks to develop players through
position competition with no entitlement, there are some important spots
to be earned.
Kurt Benkert appeared to be the leader at quarterback
coming out of spring. Left-hander Blake Kemp seemed to be the No. 2 guy.
Cody Keith missed the spring completing his rehab from arm surgery.
"The offensive guys are comfortable with all three
quarterbacks," said Keith who devoted his down time last season to film
study and becoming thoroughly schooled in the playbook.
Dave Nichol, promoted from outside receivers coach to
offensive coordinator with the departure of Lincoln Riley to Oklahoma,
doesn't plan to study long and study wrong. He knows there is value in
giving the starter more reps in preseason practice.
"With three quarterbacks, you'd rather have it at two,"
Nichol said. "Then you want to get to one so they're going to get
exponentially better. But we've just got to figure that out and we've
got to be fair to them. Trust me, the minute we think one doesn't need
reps anymore, then we'll let them know."
Benkert has a strong arm. The big question would be his
leadership skills in light of his lack of experience. Kemp has the
highest level of experience having put up some good numbers in junior
college. Keith has already graduated but is a junior on the field who
has been in the program since 2011.
"All three are very smart," McNeill said. "They’re all
team-first guys.”
Nichol said compliance personnel are sorting out Nelson's
eligibility but the new OC said he isn't expecting Nelson to impact the
quarterback picture this season.
The last time the Pirates had a preseason quarterback
competition was 2012 when Rio Johnson won the starting job. Carden moved
into the starting role the third game of the season at Southern Miss
that year.
The potential for a productive running game and
experience on the offensive line, even with the recent dismissal of
Larry Williams, will reduce the load on the quarterback. Depth at
receiver is a definite plus even with Justin Hardy and Cam Worthy gone.
ECU's defense looks like it may be improved. There is a
wealth of experience and talent up front. Everyone is happy to see
Terrell Stanley back up front after missing 2014 following an automobile
accident. Last year's leader in tackles, Zeek Bigger, is back at mike
linebacker and there are numerous candidates for the buck linebacker
spot where Brandon Williams played so well last season. Outside
linebacker Montese Overton appears poised for a breakout year.
Every team has a distinct personality which coaches and
team leaders help shape.
"Zeek Bigger is a vocal leader," said defensive
coordinator Rick Smith. "Brandon Williams was a leader by example."
Bigger was not in pads at the conclusion of practice
Saturday.
"Cramps," Smith said.
Smith has made some position switches in the secondary.
That group has the potential to be significantly improved.
Kicking competition
Consistent field goal kicking would be a huge plus for
the Pirates. Special teams coordinator Kirk Doll is working on that.
"We have two of our placekickers from last spring, Connor
Torruella and Davis Plowman," Doll said. "They've both been in our
program now a couple of years. They're starting out ahead of everybody."
Doll said Caleb Pratt and Tucker Smith are also kicking
candidates.
"They both are freshmen who we had in our camp two years
ago," Doll said. "Caleb is a left-footer, very athletic, played four
sports at Roanoke Rapids. Tucker was a highly-ranked high school
placekicker out of (Blythewood) South Carolina. He had an injury and
kind of got lost in the shuffle but because both of them had been in our
summer camp, we're very fortunate to have them here.
"We're going to have competition for probably three
weeks. We'll put them in different situations. We'll have a guy who has
earned it, as Coach Ruff says. The best man wins and helps the team."
Colton Oliver is working as the No. 1 snapper on the
field goal unit.
Punter Worth Gregory is back as holder.
"Having that part of the field goal unit back is a good
thing," McNeill said of Gregory.
Productive walk-ons
Hardy won the Burlsworth Award last season as the
nation's top former walk-on. He set the Football Bowl Subdivision record
for career receptions in 2014.
ECU obviously gets a lot out of walk-ons, particularly on
defense.
"Joe (Allely, will linebacker) started as a walk-on,"
Smith said. "Brandon Williams started as a walk-on. Terrell Richardson
(strong safety) started as a walk-on. Josh Hawkins (field corner)
started as a walk-on. Fred Presley (defensive end) started as a walk-on.
This year, Bobby Fulp is a walk-on. He's my back-up strong safety –
behind another walk-on.
"Recruiting is not an exact science. You can't measure a
kid's heart. ... I feel guilty when some of those kids aren't on
scholarship but you can't put one on until you get one available. Coach
tells all the walk-ons, 'the first scholarship that becomes available,
if you're a starter or a back-up, you will get.' Joe Allely was rewarded
and he got one this spring. He was put on scholarship this spring and it
was retroactive back to January.
"Josh Hawkns ended up being the starting corner the first
spring I was here and we put him on in the summer. Coach has done a nice
job of taking care of the good walk-ons. I look for Bobby Fulp to be put
on scholarship when we get one available."
McNeill announced at a team gathering after last season's
win over North Carolina that outside receiver Jimmy Williams was going
on scholarship.
Rematch in the Swamp
The Pirates ended 2014 with
a 28-20 loss to Florida in the Birmingham Bowl.
ECU visits the Gators on Sept. 12.
"It's going to be a great atmosphere," said Hawkins, who
led the Pirates with five interceptions last season. "It's going to be a
fun game."
The bowl loss put ECU at 8-5 last season. The Pirates
were 5-3 in their first time through the American Athletic Conference.
"I feel sorry that we didn't get that (conference
championship) for our seniors last year but I think that makes us hungry
this year," Hawkins said.
Offseason conditioning
Jeff Connors, assistant athletic director for strength
and conditioning, was praised by coaches and players for his efforts in
the offseason to prepare the Pirates for a schedule that includes 10
straight games without an open week.
"Jeff Connors is our secret weapon," Smith said. "I'm not
going to let him leave as long as I'm here."