CI AA Preview
Continued From Page 12
trio of earth moving offensive linemen
(Jamie Rivers, Elry McKnight and
Edwynn Bryant), Winston led the
league in scoring (37.6 ppg), rushing
(3,017 yards) and total offense (4,927
yards).
Look for more of the same
because Pete's team is stocked with
|ust about every style of tunning back
you could ask lor. Matter of fact,
there's four of them and together,
they rushed for almost 1 ,900 yards.
' Everette Norwood is the bruiser who
drags tacklers and Ronald Beverly is
a classic slasher. Want speed? Just
inant in defending against the run Hke
they have been in recent years. But
they stilt don't allow very many trips
to their end zone. WSSU was second
in the league in scoring defense,
allowing 17.5 ppg.
Linebackers Petey Whitfield and
Reggie Richardson are solid perform
ers who collectively made 113 tackles
last year.
The secondary is the best in the
conference, giving up onty144:1-ypfir
and 10 TD passes. In the process,
they recorded a league-high 22 inter
ceptions. Anthony Jones (six inter
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Virginia Union's Kurt Greene puts pressure on defenses as a runner and
pass receiver coming out of the backfiekt.
cad on Willie Latta who can break a
game open at anytime ? coming out
of the backfield or a$ a kick return
specialist. The fourth back, Bobby
Brown has his own distinct qualities
as a slasher with quick feet who also
has speed.
Mitch Nicholson is the quarter
back who befuddles and bedazzle^.
Last year, Nicholson was No. 2 in the
nation in passing efficiency. He threw
for 1,651 yards and 22TDswhilegiv
ing up only five interceptions. And
besides that, he scored eight times
himself.
The receiving department could
be the weak link in the offense now
that Yancey Thigpen (900-plus yards)
has gone to the pros. However,
Jamie Dudley has the tools to step in
and pick up where Thigpen left off.
The defense maintains its usual
pound you down to the ground per
sona. Frederick Bowman, Winston's
roving down lineman, terrorized
enemy QBs last year, registering 13
sacks. Bowman's line mate, Alphon
zo Bellamy will cause just as many
problems for offensive linemen.
The Rams werent as totally dom
ceptions) leads the Rams' air patrol.
Jones peaked as a defender last
Noverftber when he was named
defensive MVP in the CIAA title
game. 1
North Carolina Central
Pre-season camp at Central will
be a learning experience for the
Eagles and new coach Bishop Harris.
Harris was hired late in the year
and wasn't able to conduct spring
practice. As a result, he won! know
much of anything until he's had a few
days to watch his team practice. For
that reason, this will be a true year of
transition for NCCU.
However, Harris does have some
skilled people returning. QB Fulton
Meachem fared well under pressure
and responded by throwing for 1,658
yards and 13 TDs. Isiah Hill should
be one of his primary targets, while
Tony Harris and Preston Jones will be
busy as the prime running backs.
Up front, Frank Wooten leads the
way as one of the league's lop-of-the
line trench types. Marcus Smith and
Ronnie Johnson are also expected to
contribute on the line.
Defensively, tackle Willie Holmes
(56 tackles, 9 sacks) returns as the
Eagles' main roadblock. George
Harden (53 tackles) win develop into
a quality linebacker and Jarrod Chap
man is a solid performer at defensive
back.
Fayettevllle State
The rebuilding job continues at
FSU and coach Ray McDougal has
positive thoughts about the progress
of his team.
The Broncos didn't exactly set
ihe league on tire, butttieycfldget
three wins which is a lot when you
consider that victories have been
very hard to come by.
Offensively, FSU's major factor is
do-it-all running back Ken Frazier
who totaled 1,014 all-purpose yards
as runner, receiver, and kick return
specialist. Frazier will get some much
needed help now that Guy Williams
has established himself as the start
ing quarterback.
The-only thing that's missing from
the offense is a big, beefy line.
McDougal is working on that, but he's
not likely to have that piece of the
puzzle solved this year.
Defensively, the Broncs must
replace linebacker Terrance Smith, a
two-time, league defensive MVP. Der
rick Williams, Ulric Hill and Young
Blue are solid LBs in their own right
who will step in to fill that void.
Along the front line, FSU is
searching for bigger people on the
inside. Having bigger people would
be a blessing for Foster Wilkins and
Michael Broadhurst who delight to
pressuring quarterbacks.
The secondary is lean since
strong safety Michael Edwards is the
only returnee. McDougal spent a con
siderable amount of time recruiting
defensive backs who have speed.
He's hoping that three or four of
those rookies wilt emerge as major
contributors.
Livingstone College
The Bears made it known that
they will no longer serve as every
body else's whipping post. And con
sidering how far the program had
dipped in recent seasons, LC's 3-6
record is ample reason for Bears fol
towers to be optimistic about *9t .
Second-year coach Delano Tuck
er has restored pride and poise at
L'stone. And the good news is that
this team is still young and has more
room to develop.
Offensively, LC is led by a pair of
sophomores ? quarterback Darryl
Ardley and running back Rob Clodfel
ter. Ardley made people sit up and
take notice when he finished the year
as the league's No. 5 passer ? - 1 ,406
yards, 17 TDs in nine games. Chip
West and Martin Jones will be Ard
ley's prime targets.
Clodfelter provided the Bears
with a ground game that demands
respect. His 97.4 ypg average (682
yards) was tops in the CIAA last sea
son.
Ardley and Clodfetter were able
to do what they did because the
Bears have a massive tackle who
makes things happen when he takes
his stance at the line of scrimmage.
John Terry (6-6, 298) has the size,
but his quick feet are what set him
apart from other huge linemen.
The defense is expected to
improve even though graduation all
but decimated that unit. Chris Long is _
viewed as a star on the rise who will
join seasoned vet Willie Smiley at
Hinebackerr
The secondary is the most expe
rienced part of the defense. Strong
safety Fred Johnson and cornerback
Cedric Burgess will team up to form a
solid foundation on that side of the
ball for the Bears.
. If LC can avoid being crushed by
injuries and some of their new people
make an impact right away, look for
the Bears to pull off a few more sur
prises this time aroundU
Johnson C. Smith
Coach John Wright has given the
Golden Bulls a facelift before the first
kick-off of the season. The newly
hired mentor's philosophy focuses on
establishing the run to set up the
pass. That's quite a turnaround for
Smith, which had been noted for fill
ing the air with footballs week in and
week out. V
With so much transition taking
place, it's no secret that Wright has
recruited rookies who he feels can
step in and play right away. If the new
kids on the block can deliver, JC will
improve dramatically. But just ho#
much is anyone's guess.
The top guy for the Smith offense
is wide-out Ron Meadows, who
ranked among league leaders in five
categories a year ago As "a receiver,
he had 43 catches for 502 yards. As
kick-off return man, he gained 773
yards, ending up with an all-purpose
sum of 1,278 yards. And while^e're
on the subject of returns, let's not
overlook Greg Clifton (24.4 yards per
kickoff return led the CIAA).
Wesley Tate returns as the start
ing quarterback. He'll team up with
Wtlttarrr Btttups amrrunntng back
Tyrone Corlew.
The defensive unit is led by
linebacker Craig Jamison, the
league's top hit man last year (145
tackles). But for all of Jamison's stats,
he wasn't voted to the all-conference 4
team. Jamison will get ample assis
tance from the secondary thanks to
free safety Anthony Holloman (62
tackles) and cornerback Marlon
Jones (78 hits).
It's going to be rough road for the
Golden Bulls. But when you've been
down as long as they have, you real
ize you have to start somewhere. It
might as well be this year.
Steve Zimmerman