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News Nuggets, 08.05.06
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Holtz likes what he sees as camp starts

East Carolina football coach Skip Holtz, who led the Pirates to their highest win total since 2001 during his initial season at the helm last fall, officially welcomed his 105-man preseason camp roster for a morning walk-through on Friday before guiding ECU through its first workout of the season, a three-hour afternoon session in helmets and shorts at the Cliff Moore Practice Complex.

East Carolina will have single workouts at the practice facility through Tuesday before conducting the first of three two-a-day periods Wednesday, Aug. 9, according to a release from the university's athletic media relations department.

The Pirates are scheduled to put on shoulder pads for the first time Sunday before following with full gear Tuesday per NCAA rules. ECU's preseason practice schedule will culminate Sept. 2 when the Pirates travel to Navy for a season-opening 5:30 p.m. kickoff.

"Personally, I've been ready to get back out here for a few months now," Holtz said. "I'm excited about the season because of the level of commitment and leadership I've seen during the spring and summer workouts. I was pleased with what I saw today in a setting that was high-tempo with everyone flying around. I thought we got a lot accomplished.

"One of the first things that jumped out at me was that everyone was communicating very well," Holtz added. "It appears we were able to carry over a lot of the mental aspects of what we're trying to do from the spring, and that's encouraging."

The Pirates return seven offensive starters and six off the defensive side of the ball while welcoming back a total of 45 lettermen, including senior quarterback James Pinkney, senior wide receiver Aundrae Allison and a pair of senior defensive backs in safety Pierre Parker and cornerback Kasey Ross.

Pinkney, who will operate East Carolina's offense out of the same scheme in back-to-back years for the first time since assuming the starting job in 2003, completed 222-of-366 passes for 2,773 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2005 and will enter his final campaign as the program's third-leading all-time passer with 5,390 yards. Allison will look to surpass a record-setting debut last year when he became the first ECU pass-catcher in history to eclipse the 1,000-yard milestone (83-1,024).

The Pirates also return leading rusher Chris Johnson, who as a sophomore ran for 684 yards on 176 carries, and junior wide receiver Phillip Henry after a 28-catch, 428-yard performance a year ago. In addition to the return of several other key skill performers, ECU also welcomed back two of five starters on the offensive line - senior tackle Eric Graham and junior guard Matt Butler.

Defensively, sophomore All-Conference USA selection Marcus Hands (DE) and a deep secondary are expected to key a Pirate unit which finished among the top 20 nationally in pass defense last season. In addition to Hunt, East Carolina returns Parker, Ross, tackle Brandon Setzer and nose guard Mark Robinson. ECU also brings back battle-tested seniors Kyle Chase (SS), Jamar Flournoy (FS), Markeith McQueen (CB) and junior Travis Williams (CB) in a secondary that picked off 15 passes a year ago - the team's best since 1999.

Holtz was also encouraged by the return of five members of the program's projected depth chart who missed the spring practice period because of injury. Allison (knee), Johnson (neck), Hands (shoulder), linebacker Pierre Bell (foot) and center Drew Sutton (ankle) were all cleared to play during the late summer and actively participated during Friday's practice.

On the other hand, the Pirates opened camp without starting defensive end Shauntae Hunt and center Fred Hicks. Hunt is expected to return to the ECU lineup in October after suffering a freak knee injury during a non-football related event during the summer while Hicks is also nursing a knee injury.

Buckeyes pegged as team to beat; WVU #7

For Ohio State, it has been four years and a series of public embarrassments since their last national football title. The Buckeyes are projected to return to the top of the college football world this fall, according to a USA Today report.

The Buckeyes, behind the electrifying offensive talents of quarterback Troy Smith and wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., are No. 1 in the USA TODAY Coaches' preseason poll released Friday, their first time in the top spot since the end of the 2002 season.

No Conference USA teams are ranked. Among East Carolina opponents, West Virginia is No. 7. ACC teams include Florida State at No. 10, Miami at No. 11, Virginia tech at No. 16 and Clemson at No. 18.

Groh reinstates senior safety Tony Franklin

Virginia football coach Al Groh said that senior safety Tony Franklin has returned to the team and will participate in all team activities, according to the university's athletic website. Senior offensive guard D.J. Bell, who was not in school last season, has also returned this season and will participate in all team activities. Neither player participated in spring drills.

The Cavaliers play at East Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 6 p.m.

Virginia has added a transfer from Tulane, Cary Koch, who played as a true freshman for the Green Wave last year. He appeared in all 11 of Tulane's games and was fourth in receiving with 23 catches for 308 yards and two scores.

Junior safety Nate Lyles, who was injured against Georgia Tech in the ninth game last year and missed the remainder of the season, has been cleared by the medical staff to practice. He underwent surgery following his injury and missed the spring minicamp.

Sophomore linebacker Jon Copper and fullback Josh Zidenberg were put on scholarship during the summer. Virginia safety Ryan Best and safety Byron Glaspy have recently been put on scholarship as well.

Running backs Jason Snelling, Michael Johnson, Cedric Peerman and Mikell Simpson will alternate on a day-by-day basis throughout training camp so a determination can be made about the playing rotation according to Groh.

Groh indicated that freshman Darnell Carter would begin training camp at inside linebacker, while fellow freshman John-Kevin Dolce would begin at outside linebacker.
Freshman John Bivens will open at safety according to Groh, who said "nature" would determine where he will eventually play. "He could be a big safety or grow into a linebacker," said Groh.

First-year walkon players include Isaac Cain, a lineman from Hampton, Va.; Job Staton, a wide receiver/cornerback from Austin, Texas; Nathan Rathjen, a punter from Lovettsville, Va.; Patch Duda, a quarterback from Winnetka, IL and Zach Mendez-Zfass a wide receiver from Richmond.

Additional transfers include junior tight end Arthur Singleton who previously played at Marist, and Pete Bladel, a defensive lineman who played at Christopher Newport. Davon Robb also returns to the roster after not playing last season.

Four from C-USA on Thorpe Award watch list

Conference USA has four players that have been named as preliminary candidates for the 2006 Jim Thorpe Award, which is presented to the top defensive back in college football each season. Memphis senior Wesley Smith, UCF sophomore Joe Burnett and Tulsa teammates Bobby Blackshire and Nick Graham represent C-USA on the 33-man list, according to an announcement on the league website.

The 2006 watch list was derived through a point system based on 10 pre-season All-America teams. The only player to be named a first team All-American on all 10 lists was Miami (Fla.) strong safety Brandon Meriweather. Other top point getters were LaRon Landry, LSU free safety; Michael Griffin, Texas strong safety; Michigan cornerback Leon Hall; and California cornerback Dameion Hughes.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from other sources. Copyright 2006 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:50 PM