By: FVSU Office of Sports Information
As the 2010 college football season approaches, patience is the one word that least describes the Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU). After last year’s 7-4 finish under then first-year head coach Donald Pittman, the Wildcats are about as eager as a cat in a fish market to start this year’s gridiron campaign.
The impatience of the Wildcats stems largely from the belief that by the end of last year’s season the players had finally gotten a firm grasp on the new offensive and defensive schemes introduced by the new coaching staff. In reflecting on last season, the coaches and players know that the only difference between their finishing mark of 7-4 and an even better record was the growing pains associated with learning and implementing the new systems.
With those pains now out of the way, confidence is abound in the FVSU Football Program that 2010 will be a year of destiny for the Wildcats. In fact, that belief in destiny is so strong that it has formed the theme for this year’s campaign. The 2010 destination for Wildcats Football is Florence, Alabama!
Florence is home to the 2010 NCAA Division II Football National Championship and the Wildcats have pinpointed the city as their final destination in this year’s journey. As evidenced by spring practice t-shirts and placards adorning the FVSU campus, coaches and players have embraced the theme, “FVSU Football; Florence, Sold Out!”
With the players and coaches selling out to the theme, perhaps the most important question remaining is who will be the key players to help navigate the championship journey? Fortunately for the Wildcats, there are several players who will help with the steering.
OFFENSE
Offensively, FVSU was the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) leader in total offense last year. Averaging 349 yards per game and 29.6 points per outing, the Wildcats proved extremely entertaining to watch last season. Ranked number one in the SIAC in pass efficiency (229 yards per game), passing will be an integral part of the offense in 2010.
With last year’s quarterback Nathaniel Samas now among the ranks of the FVSU alumni, Eugene Smith has emerged as the prime candidate for the starting spot in 2010. Smith (6’2, 225lbs), who enters FVSU after sitting out last year, was extremely impressive during spring practice. In 2008 he was first-team all-conference in the Kansas Community College Conference with a 59% pass completion rate and over 2,000 passing yards.
While Smith will have a variety of targets to choose from when passing this season, one of his primaries will be senior wide receiver An’thon Harris. As one of three Wildcats to earn first-team all-conference honors last year, Harris was honored as a receiver and punt return specialist. He finished fifth in the SIAC last year in receptions per game (3.4) with a total of 37 catches for 566 yards. He averaged 15 yards per catch with seven touchdowns and he led the SIAC in punt returns averaging 13.2 yards per return.
Receiver Demario Barber will also offer a down-field target for FVSU. Last season Barber had 20 receptions for 417 yards with two touchdowns. He averaged over 20 yards per catch.
When FVSU runs the ball they will be looking for a replacement for last year’s workhorse Richard Willis; now an assistant coach at FVSU. With the return of Denzel Wesley and Brandon Anderson, this duo is expected to shoulder most of the carries this season. While Wesley sat out last season, Anderson finished with 263 yards on 64 carries.
DEFENSE
The Wildcats finished third in total defense in the SIAC last year yielding 274 yard per game. With most of the defensive unit returning this season, expect the yards per game average to significantly decrease this year.
Jason Thompson will anchor a burly defensive line while defensive end Narada Williams is expected to apply collapsing pressure from the corner. Thompson had 38 tackles, 8.5 tackles for losses, four sacks, and one interception last year. Williams finished with 22 tackles (6.5 tackles for losses) and four quarterback sacks. .
At the second level of the Wildcats defense, linebacker Ricky Johnson will provide the intensity which characterized FVSU last season. Johnson finished 11th in the SIAC in tackles last year with 71. He averaged 6.5 tackles per game and had 1.5 sacks.
If there is one area of the Wildcat defense that should cause considerable concern for the opposition it’s the secondary. With the entire secondary returning, all-conference defender Dajuan Williams highlights a very talented unit. Williams, a sophomore, won dual SIAC honors as a freshman. He was named second-team all-conference and freshman of the year. Williams led the SIAC in interceptions with six including an individual, single game career high of three in the Fountain City Classic.
In addition to Williams, Darnell Burks will contribute to the prowess of the FVSU defense. Burks had 59 tackles last season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
In addition to Harris’ ability as a punt return specialist, the FVSU special teams’ effort will be buffeted by the return of first-team all-conference punter Marquette King. King ranked third in the conference last season in punting with a 39 yards per punt average. Of his 61 punts, 22 landed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line; six were for 50 yards or more, and none were blocked. King was named SIAC Special Teams Player of the Week five times in 2009.
Sophomore place kicker Justin Rosenbaum is also expected to build on his freshman performance. Last season he converted 10 field goals and made 32 of 35 extra point attempts.
As the Wildcats prepare for the 2010 football journey, these are some of the players who will help ensure that the destination of Florence, Alabama is reached.
-Wildcats Athletics-
