The Virginian-Pilot
©
“We’d like to have back-to-back winning seasons and that hasn’t happened yet. That’s the key for any program. You’re always going to try to have back-to-back-to-back-to-back seasons. Every string starts with one. Now we’re going to try for two.” – Coach Pete Adrian
NSU | The new mindset: 'Expect to win.’
IMPACT PLAYERS
RB DeAngelo Branche
“Explosive” is the word Pete Adrian uses to describe this redshirt sophomore, who returns after sitting out last fall because of grades. The Maury grad averaged 5.7 yards a carry two years ago; his shifty, deceptively quick running style should put him among the top rushers in the MEAC.
WR Jamar Johnson
The Lake Taylor grad never caught a pass before last season. But, 42 catches later, he’s coming off a year when he led NSU in every major receiving category and started all 11 games. He returns for his senior year and should become Brown’s favorite target.
LB Mike Alphonse
The transfer from Akron takes over the starting inside linebacker position. With Marcellus Jackson sidelined by a knee injury, the 6-foot, 230-pound Alphonse could make an immediate presence.
RISING STAR
LB Shawn Childress He was in the background last year, but with the graduation of leading tacklers Maguell Davis and Marquez Davis and a season-ending injury to Marcellus Jackson, Shawn Childress will be called on to play big at inside linebacker. The 6-2, 240-pound Hampton grad will be called upon to be the Spartans’ stopper.
WANT TO GO?
NSU SCHEDULE
NORFOLK
Pete Adrian sums up the new mentality at Norfolk State in three words: “Expect to win.”
“Until you win, it’s like that chicken and egg thing; until you win, there’s nothing behind it,” the coach said.
Norfolk State took care of that last season, compiling its best mark in 23 years. Finishing 8-3 overall and 6 -2 in the MEAC, NSU nearly made the Division I-AA playoffs. Instead, the Spartans fell in overtime to conference champion Delaware State.
PREDICTION
8-4 That should include a win against defending MEAC champion Delaware State. Problem is, NSU could be better this year but win no more games than last year because they’ll be making tough road trips to South Carolina State and Hampton. And the MEAC looks to be more balanced overall .
“Del State, you hear the guys say it all the time,” quarterback Dennis Brown said. “We were a couple of plays from winning the MEAC.”
Sixteen starters are back from that team, hungry for a title and determined to prove that nothing that happened last fall was a fluke.
“We’re still young, but we’ve got experience,” Adrian said. “We’ve got kids now that have been in our system for three years. We have depth and athleticism we’ve never had before.”
Those are words Adrian said last year, but they’re worth repeating. NSU has grown deeper and more athletic every year since he became the coach four years ago.
Two of the team’s best athletes didn’t play last year: Brown and running back DeAngelo Branche. Brown, a transfer from Connecticut, has worked out with the Spartans since the spring, showing a strong arm and a penchant for finding receiver Jamar Johnson. His scrambling ability gives the Spartans a running dimension it lacked with departed quarterback Casey Hansen.
Branche, out last year because of grades, returns with speed and power . A year ago, NSU had a crop of unproven receivers, none of whom had caught a pass . Now Johnson, Darryl Dickerson, Dario Walker and Jeremy Wicker are threats. F reshman P.J. Hayden, also a return specialist, gives NSU depth.
On defense, Akron transfer Mike Alphonse (linebacker) and Marshall transfer Shane Moore (defensive line) will make an immediate impact. The loss of linebacker Marcellus Jackson to a knee injury in the spring was a blow, but Shawn Childress has looked strong.
Another huge boost is the return of playmaking safeties Terrell Whitehead and Don Carey, who combined for nine interceptions in 2007.
Vicki L. Friedman, (757) 477-6874, VickiL120@cox.net
MIDSHIPMEN READY TO ROLL • TOUGH SCHEDULE FOR CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT •
EAST CAROLINA EYES TITLE • A NEW COACH AT HAMPTON • A LOOK AT THE ACC •
A LOOK AT THE CAA • A LOOK AT THE MEAC
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo