This is the first installment of a two-part preview of the Norfolk State football team heading into the 2011 season. Today's focus is on the offense.
A four-game winning streak to end the 2010 season catapulted the Spartans to the MEAC's No. 3 ranking in total offense last year. NSU averaged 343.6 yards per game and also ranked third in the league in rushing, at 174.6 yards per game. That was thanks in part to a revamped offense, which moved to a more up-tempo style of spread offense in the final four games. Under the direction of interim offensive coordinator Joe Blackwell, the Spartans averaged 30 points and 436.3 yards per game en route to a perfect record over the season's final four games.
Here is a position-by-position breakdown of the Spartans on the offensive side of the ball.
QUARTERBACK
The Spartans should have excellent depth under center this season with the return of a pair of redshirt seniors, a Division I FBS transfer, and two promising freshmen in the fold. Senior Chris Walley headlines the returnees after starting all 11 games in 2010. Walley passed for 1,859 yards and 10 touchdowns last season while completing a single-season school record 61.4 percent of his passes. Walley finished the season ranked second in the conference in completion percentage and third in passing yards.
“We look for Chris to pick up where he left off,” head coach Pete Adrian said. “He's got a good game presence in that he never changes his demeanor.”
Walley will be pushed for time, however, by Central Florida transfer Nico Flores. The redshirt sophomore from Miami, Fla., is an athletic signal-caller who complements Walley well. Flores was rated one of the nation's top 35 quarterback prospects coming out of North Miami Beach High, but was eventually moved to receiver at UCF.
“Nico is extremely athletic and has a very strong arm,” Adrian said. “He and Chris have gotten along great. They are competing with each other, but both know they will have the chance to play.”
Redshirt senior Dexter Merritt also returns for NSU after serving as Walley's backup last season. Injuries have hampered Merritt over the course of his career, but he provides a smart, poised presence off the NSU bench.
Adrian also brings in two athletic high school quarterback recruits in Brendon Riddick and Wilonte' Roscoe. Riddick accounted for more than 2,500 yards of total offense and 36 touchdowns en route to All-Metro Player of the Year honors at Hermitage High School in Richmond. Roscoe is a dual-threat player from Churchland High School who could play a variety of positions in college thanks to his athleticism.
RUNNING BACK
NSU must replace its all-time leading rusher in DeAngelo Branche, the conference's leading rusher with 1,330 yards last season. The Spartans may not have one player who will replace all of Branche's production, but NSU has several options with different styles and abilities. The most experienced options are redshirt juniors Takeem Hedgeman and Markeith Brisco. Hedgeman was Branche's backup for the majority of 2010. He finished second on the team with 220 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns. Brisco had 141 rushing yards and one score in limited touches. Both will have the chance to carry a heavier load this season.
“Hedgeman had a great spring,” Adrian said. “I think he'll show a big improvement because his playing time will increase. He can expect to get 12-18 touches per game, sometimes more, whereas before he may have gotten 4-8.”
Joining Hedgeman and Brisco in the backfield will be junior college transfer Randy Maynes. Maynes (5-9, 170) is a quick runner with good speed who played prep football with Flores and NSU safety Ricardo Volcin at North Miami Beach High School. He ran for 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns in his two years at West Hills.
“Maynes fits our offense very well,” Adrian said. “He has quick feet and can catch the ball out of the backfield.”
Also in the mix are three walk-ons: junior Calvin Roberts and freshmen Dre'Quez Lambert and Dallas Simmons.
The Spartans also have the services of redshirt senior Josh Alford at their disposal. Alford has been a valuable blocker, short-yardage runner and receiver out of the NSU backfield over the last three years and will be counted upon for more of the same in 2011.
RECEIVER/TIGHT END
Heading into the 2010 season, NSU was relatively inexperienced at the receiver positions. The opposite is true this year, as the Spartans return their top two pass-catchers from last year and have several other players who gained the first significant playing time of their careers in 2010.
Leading the way are redshirt senior Victor Hairston and redshirt junior Reggie Garrett. Both have switched positions since coming to NSU, and both are now thriving in their new roles. Hairston, a former running back, led the Spartans and ranked second in the conference with 52 receptions last year. He also led the team with 580 receiving yards, and he hauled in two touchdown catches.
Garrett began his career at NSU as a walk-on quarterback, only to make the move to wideout last year. He worked his way up the depth chart last year before bursting onto the scene with 30 catches, 436 yards and a team-high three TDs – all coming in the final five games of the year. Despite not catching a pass until the seventh game of 2010, Garrett finished the season ranked 10th in the conference in receiving yards.
“We look for more of the same from Victor and Reggie,” Adrian said. “They both were very consistent last season and we'll need that from them again this year.”
NSU often starts three or more wide receivers in its spread offense, so the Spartans will be searching to build depth at those positions. Sophomore speedster Kelvin Lewis returns after catching four passes for 78 yards (19.5 average) as a freshman last season. Sophomore Derrick Demps and junior Tyrece Shepherd both caught one pass each last season, but saw increased playing time as the year progressed.
Seniors Seth Travers and Josh Reamon will also be given the chance to earn more prominent roles.
Adrian also brings in four new wideouts to add depth. Junior Virginia Tech transfer Xavier Boyce and freshmen DeAndre Sangster, Holden Bass and Keith Johnson all possess good speed and will have the chance to see the field immediately.
“At this point, we aren't looking to redshirt any of the freshman receivers,” Adrian said. “All of them will be given the chance to earn playing time right away.”
The Spartans only got 11 total receptions from their tight end position last year, but coaches expect that number to increase in 2011. Three-year starter Sherron Childress has graduated, but NSU returns fifth-year senior Joseph Holbrook, who had two receptions last year in limited action. The Spartans also moved Joe Hawkins, who played receiver most of last season, to tight end. Hawkins had nine catches last year at wideout, and coaches think his combination of size and speed will translate to the game better at tight end. The Spartans also welcome in signee James Lynch to that position and think he could also factor in down the line once he recovers from an offseason injury.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The Spartans must replace four players who accounted for 41 starts last year along their offensive line in guards Calton Ford and Markeece Preston, center William Falakiseni and tackle Ryan Hathaway. They helped NSU lead the MEAC in fewest sacks allowed last season (12) and rank third in the conference in total offense the last two years.
“Offensive line is probably the biggest question mark we have going into preseason camp,” Adrian said. “But we had several players step up this spring, and with (offensive line coach Rod) Holder, I know we'll have a solid group.”
The Spartans do return two key holdovers from last year's line, led by two-time All-MEAC left tackle Kendall Noble. Now a redshirt senior, Noble has started 32 consecutive games and was a second-team all-conference pick last year. Junior Michael Kay is NSU's most experienced returning lineman outside of Noble. Kay started the final three games of the year at left guard, but has earned the starting center spot heading into the 2011 season.
Redshirt juniors Blake Matthews and Theo Duncan have served as reserves throughout their careers at NSU, but all will be given the chance to earn starting spots this season at the guard positions. All three worked with the first-team line during spring practice and drew praise from the coaching staff for their improvement.
Julius Wormley, Edwin Rogers, Jairus Spain and Justin Myler all sat out the 2010 season but will be given the chance to crack the two-deep along the line this fall. Adrian also moved defensive lineman Nico Washington over to the offensive line and think his athleticism and skill will enable him to see the field early. Coaches are also excited about the potential of freshman recruits George Riddick and Ramsey Henderson.
