SEASON PREVIEW
Junior defensive lineman John Drew “has the potential to be one of the best defensive players in the conference,” according to NCCU head coach Henry Frazier III. (Photo by Red Rocket Photography)
Smith (Fr., 6-0, 170, Upper Marlboro, Md.) competing for the job, stating, “I am not afraid to put a freshman at cornerback.” As the last line of defense, Frazier ideally sees the safeties as the vocal leaders of the defense because they have PRESEASON HONORS the whole field in front Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference of them. “I like having Preseason All-Conference Team smart safeties that are Roger Stewart - DL - 2nd Team able to think and make Arthur Goforth - RS - 2nd Team adjustments,” he said. College Football Performance “They need to do a better Awards - 2011 FCS Watch List job of communicating, but Roger Stewart - Linebacker they are still learning.” Arthur Goforth - Kickoff Returner Marc Lewis (Jr., 6-1, Phil Steele’s 2011 College Football 185, New Bern, N.C.) and Preview Magazine James Reese (Sr., 5-11, Preseason All-MEAC Team 200, Durham, N.C.) both Arthur Goforth - KOR - 1st Team have starting experience at Geovonie Irvine - WR - 2nd Team safety. Lewis, who led the James Frye - OL - 2nd Team Roger Stewart - LB - 2nd Team position with 37 takedowns
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The Eagles have three returning starters and a wealth of veterans on the defensive line. According to Frazier, up front it starts with John Drew (Jr., 6-2, 334, Columbus, Ga.). “He is a special football player,” Frazier said. “He has the potential to be one of the best defensive players in the conference.” Xavier Proctor (R-Jr., 6-6, 272, Ellicott City, Md.) gathered 34 tackles, including 4.0 hits for a loss, last year from his defensive end position. “I am expecting good things from Xavier Proctor,” said Frazier. “He is a big, physical guy who uses his hands well and works extremely hard.” The Eagles’ top returning tackler, Roger Stewart (Sr., 6-1, 226, Charlotte, N.C.), who amassed 50 stops (32 solo) with a team-high 11.0 tackles for a loss, will move from linebacker to the defensive line as part of the switch to a 4-2-5 base defense. “Roger Stewart has a motor,” Frazier said. “He is constantly going.” Expecting to make an immediate impact as a transfer from Independence Community College in Kansas is Aaron Wallace (Jr., 6-2, 300, Washington, D.C.). “He is a wide body that can command a double-team,” said Frazier. “We have good depth up front,” said Frazier, rattling off the names of returners Chase Tripp (Jr., 6-2, 259, Chocowinity, N.C.), Charles Goodwin (R-So., 6-6, 260, High Point, N.C.), Tyrone Jackson (Jr., 5-9, 294, Fayetteville, N.C.), Mark Blakeney (R-Sr., 6-0, 270, Charlotte, N.C.), Sam Battle (R-Sr., 5-11, 238, Rocky Mount, N.C.), Chris Drew (R-Jr., 6-2, 246, Columbus, Ga.), Darian Pearson (Jr., 6-2, 241, Morganton, N.C.), and Willie Warren (Jr., 6-1, 235, Faison, N.C.); and newcomers Stephen Young (Jr., 6-2, 265, Woodbridge, Va./Winston-Salem State University), Joshua Wade (Fr., 6-1, 245, Washington, D.C.), Avery Johnson (Fr., 6-5, 300, Columbus, Ohio), Ledell Pleasure (Fr., 6-1, 250, Miami, Fla.), and Neil Williams (Fr., 6-2, 215, Chester, S.C.). “Whoever the four are that are out there, they will be good.” Frazier admits that the linebacker position is difficult to evaluate, since three of the top returners missed most, if not all, of spring practice due to injuries. Eliezer Sandifer (Sr., 5-11, 244, Miami, Fla.) is the position’s top returning defender with 28 takedowns in 11 games, including five as a starter. Brandon Outlaw (Sr., 5-11, 222, Atlanta, Ga.), Allonte Tuppins (R-So., 6-0, 234, Matthews, N.C.) and Elroy Powell III (R-Jr., 5-11, 230, Atlanta, Ga.) each appeared in 10 contests last season, but did not start. Frazier likes what he saw of Demontray Ryland (R-Fr., 6-1, 235, Portsmouth, Va.), Ty Brown (R-Fr., 6-4, 210, Charlotte, N.C.) and Kimani Jones (So., 5-11, 195, Fayetteville, N.C.) during spring practice, “but we are going to have to count on our older guys to step up for us,” he said. Frazier is also looking forward to the speed and strength rookie Prince DeJesus (Fr., 5-11, 210, Miami, Fla.) brings to the position, calling him “a tackling machine.” Entering fall camp, the new NCCU coach said, “The linebacker position is wide open.” The top returning cornerback is David Ingram (R-Sr., 5-8, 176, Waldorf, Md.), who tallied 27 tackles and six passes defended (3 interceptions, 3 pass break-ups) last season to break into the top 10 of NCCU’s career leaders in passes defended with 33. Malik Cromartie (R-Jr., 5-9, 160, Elizabethtown, N.C.), who had 15 stops and four passes defended last year, captivated coach’s attention with a strong spring camp, including two interceptions in the “Maroon vs. Gray” game. Frazier said he is interested in seeing what Brian Frierson (Sr., 5-8, 174, Hertford, N.C.) and Fred Ominde (Sr., 6-0, 183, Bloomington, Minn.) are going to do in the fall, calling them “big and physical.” The new coach is also open to the idea of rookies such as Theo Livington (Fr., 5-11, 185, Fayetteville, N.C.) and Ryan