Cotton making his mark as a backup tailback

NORFOLK

Donovan Cotton didn't exactly come out of nowhere, but he came from outside the Norfolk State locker room.

"I didn't even have a locker my first two years," the junior tailback said. "I dressed in the P.E. locker room."

Cotton has one now, as well as a place in the NSU offense. As a backup to starter DeAngelo Branche, Cotton has rushed for 254 yards, including 79 in NSU's 41-6 win over Howard last week and 57 in the Oct. 17 defeat of Hampton.

"He's been a nice change of pace to DeAngelo," coach Pete Adrian said.

Cotton played at perennial power Hampton High, but was overshadowed by other players, including All-American quarterback Tyrod Taylor, and received no recruiting interest.

No coaches invited him to visit. Even Division II coaches took a pass. A coach at Division II Virginia State told him to try Division III Christopher Newport.

Cotton had higher aspirations. He enrolled at NSU in the fall of 2006 and showed up for football practice.

"They were like, 'Who are you?' " Cotton said. "So I introduced myself and walked on."

He spent two seasons on the scout team, though he was so obscure he wasn't even listed in the media guide. He played special teams and got 11 carries last season.

Cotton had a good spring and really emerged in preseason training camp. His improvement allowed the Spartans to redshirt Takeem Hedgeman, who played last year as a true freshman, and first-year player Antonio "Boogie" McCray, who transferred from Louisville.

"He's a kid that just kept getting better and matured," Adrian said.

Cotton, who hits holes with a burst at 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds, didn't lack for motivation. He said it took a while for coaches to notice him.

"When you're a recruited player, the coaches are kind of in your corner," he said. "I would do good, but it was like, 'Oh, he's just a walk-on.' I had to do twice as much stuff as the other guys just to be even.

"I thought from day one I could play at this level. I just had to make them believers."

NSU has toughest schedule in MEAC

The Spartans' schedule this season is rated the toughest in the MEAC, based on the cumulative record of their opponents. NSU ranks No. 19 in the nation. South Carolina State is No. 23 and Florida A&M No. 29. No other MEAC team is in the top 50.

Based on past opposition - the teams the Spartans have played so far - NSU ranks even higher, at

No. 6 nationally. The Spartans' opponents are 29-19, led by South Carolina State and William and Mary at 7-1 and Florida A&M at 6-2.

Quick kicks

NSU's defense has climbed back to No. 1 in the MEAC. The Spartans are allowing 259.9 yards per game, half-a-yard better than South Carolina State. The defense ranks No. 7 in the nation.... Receiver Chris Bell now leads the conference in touchdowns, with nine. His 54 points are the most by any non-kicker.... The Spartans will be seeking their first road win in almost a year Saturday at Morgan State. They've played just twice on the road this season and haven't won away from home since last Nov. 22, at Winston-Salem State.

Ed Miller, (757) 446-2372 ed.miller@pilotonline.com