NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk State football team heads into the 2014 season determined to make big strides over last season. The 3-9 record last year wasn't always an indicator of the team's ability. NSU was the only MEAC team to defeat nationally ranked and eventual MEAC co-champion Bethune-Cookman. The Spartans lost five games by 10 points or less and faced four non-conference teams that won a combined 34 games.

Little of that is any consolation to the Spartans and head coach Pete Adrian, who is entering his 10th year in charge of the program. 

"We have to focus on finishing this year," Adrian said. "We had a chance to win a lot of the games we lost last year, so our message to the team this year has been let's finish better. We need to finish strong in whatever we do: practices, drives, quarters…"

There is plenty of returning experience and talented youth to help NSU meet that goal in 2014. Following is a preseason outlook for NSU's offense, defense and special teams.

DEFENSE
Nine regular starters return to a defense that ranked 13th in the nation in fewest yards allowed last year (321.8). Senior outside linebacker Lynden Trail gets much of the attention from that group, and deservedly so. Trail was a first-team Division I FCS All-America and All-MEAC selection last year after recording 94 tackles and 8.5 sacks. He also scored four touchdowns – three on receptions and one on defense – to tie for the most on the team. 

Trail has already been named to a slew of preseason All-America teams and is on the preseason watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award, presented annually to the top defensive player in all of the Division I FCS. He is also one of three NSU players – most in the country – who dot the preseason College Football Performance Awards FCS Linebacker Watch List. Junior Deon King is back following a sensational sophomore year at outside linebacker. In his first year as a starter, King was second in the MEAC and top 20 nationally in both tackles for loss (18.5) and sacks (9.5). His 84 tackles ranked him third on the team behind Trail (second) and senior Marcell Coke, last year's leading tackler and the third Spartan on the CFPA watch list. Coke, one of NSU's two inside backers, had an All-MEAC caliber season in his own right in 2013, notching 108 total tackles, 11 for loss, with two sacks and three forced fumbles.

Coke will likely be joined in the starting lineup by fellow inside linebacker Lamar Neal. Neal, a junior, made 23 tackles in reserve duty a year ago and has been a steady two-year contributor. 

Junior Justin Gant, sophomore Jay Anderson, redshirt freshman Jonathan Okafor and sophomore Louisiana-Lafayette transfer Rodney Smith should battle for time at the reserve outside linebacker spots behind Trail and King. Redshirt freshman T.C. Livingston and true freshman Kyle Archie will do likewise at the inside linebacker positions.
Trail and King comprise half of NSU's four returning All-MEAC defensive players. Senior cornerback Darrin Marrow was also an All-MEAC selection last year, his first as a starting cornerback. The former NSU free safety tied for the MEAC-lead with five interceptions, and ranked in the top 20 nationally in both interceptions and passes defended. Marrow was named to The Sports Network's preseason FCS All-America second team.

Marrow and senior strong safety Keenan Lambert headline what should be a deep secondary. Lambert is entering his third year as a starter. He was fifth on the team and first among NSU defensive backs with 62 tackles last season. He contributed four tackles for loss, one interception, six pass deflections and three forced fumbles. The physical 6-1, 215-pounder has proven to be a playmaker both against the run and against the pass.

The Spartans return three players who split the starting duties at free safety last year. The most experienced is junior Troi Hughes, who had nine starts in 2013. Hughes made 35 tackles and tied for second on the team with three interceptions a year ago before being slowed by injuries down the stretch. When he was unable to play or limited by injury, true freshmen Brandon Walker and Leroy Parker proved more than capable of filling in. Parker made two starts and was in on 19 tackles with one interception last season. Walker picked off one pass and made 25 tackles. Now sophomores, coaches look for bigger and better things from the athletic Parker and rangy Walker, who also plays strong safety.

The other cornerback position opposite of Marrow will likely be manned by sophomore Donte' Haynesworth, who saw time off the bench and on special teams last year. He broke up two passes and made 18 tackles as a true freshman.

Redshirt freshman Harry Freeman, sophomore Kimdrick Feaster, true freshman Ebenezer Agyemang-Kusi and University of Massachusetts transfer D'Metrius Williams will add depth at the corner positions.

The Spartans should also be very deep and experienced along the defensive front. That unit will be led by senior George Riddick. A third-team All-MEAC pick last year, Riddick led the Spartan linemen with 46 total tackles in addition to 2.5 tackles for loss. He is entering his third year as a starter. 

The other two regular starters on the defensive front are also back in the form of senior Noel Clarke Jr. and junior Shawn Fauntleroy Jr. Clarke made 25 tackles, 2.5 for loss in 2013. Fauntleroy, the team's nose guard, chipped in 30 tackles, three for loss and one sack.

Even with three experienced starters returning, redshirt sophomore Lamonte Clark could end up challenging for a starting spot. He showed flashes of playmaking ability as a freshman, notching 17 stops a year ago, and was very impressive in the spring. Junior Kevin Williams, who started three times in the season's first six games last year before suffering an injury, is back and could also break into the lineup.

Sophomores Trey Mills and Michael Witcher and junior walk-on Anthony Zamora are among the others who could work their way into the rotation.

OFFENSE
After ranking last in the MEAC in scoring (14 points per game) and ninth in total offense (271.7 yards per game) last year, the Spartans' offense will look to pick up the pace this year. To help achieve that goal, the Spartans added three new coaches this year to the offensive side of the ball: former Morgan State head coach Donald Hill-Eley (offensive coordinator), long-time FBS and FCS coaching veteran Greg Gregory (quarterbacks coach) and former N.C. Central assistant Lamar Manigo (tight ends). Only three regular starters return from last year's offense in the former of linemen Justin Myler and Mike Phillips and Tyler Clark, who was one of four quarterbacks to start a game in 2013. But plenty of returnees have returning experience – 14 started at least once – giving the Spartans plenty of options.

Clark started six games last year, most among the quartet who saw time behind center. He led NSU with 937 yards and six touchdowns through the air and was named the starter coming out of spring practice. The redshirt junior will continue to be pushed, however, by a pair of his classmates who also gave NSU a spark last year: Malik Stokes and Omar-Ali Timmons. Stokes started three times last year but had his best efforts off the NSU bench. He accounted for over 100 yards of total offense and two TDs to aid in NSU's near-upset of Old Dominion, and passed for 114 yards in one quarter of play in the Spartans' comeback attempt at N.C. Central.

Timmons started a pair of games last year (Charleston Southern, ODU). He scored on two rushing touchdowns against Hampton and also threw a TD pass against CSU.
NSU's lone quarterback recruit could also factor into the mix. True freshman Terrance Ervin had a memorable career at L.C. Bird High School in Richmond, Va., winning a pair of state championships and amassing a 29-0 record as a starter. The 6-3 rookie will also be given the chance to compete for time during preseason camp.

Whoever mans the quarterback position shouldn't lack for weapons around him with the return of several key running backs and receivers. Junior Brendon Riddick leads the returners in the NSU backfield. Riddick has played mostly in a backup role the past two years, to Takeem Hedgeman in 2012 and All-MEAC performer Rolandan Finch last year. But Riddick does have 158 carries for 641 yards and eight touchdowns in his first two years at NSU and gives the Spartans a versatile weapon in the backfield.
Riddick, too, will have plenty of competition for playing time this fall. Sophomore Aaron Daniels also returns. He carried just seven times last year but has a nice mix of size and speed that coaches like. Redshirt freshman Shakeem Copeland will also factor into the mix, as could speedy sophomore special teams standout Marquis Brown. The Spartans also signed Tampa, Fla. prep standout Terry Polk, who could be one of the Spartans' faster backs this year.

Sophomore Ryan Wade returns to man the fullback position. The bruising 6-0, 280-pound Wade picked up the slack nicely as a freshman last season following Conley Smith's injury, and will need to do so again. Wade caught a TD pass and was also an effective short-yardage runner and pass-catcher in addition to his blocking assignments a year ago.

At receiver, the Spartans lost dependable seniors Derick Demps and Je'Ron Stokes from last year, but return senior Keith Johnson, junior Isaac White and sophomore James Church Jr. Johnson made 10 catches last year and 34 in his career. White made four receptions last year and Church 11, but coaches think they are ready for bigger roles in 2014.

Behind that trio of returners, the Spartans are a little less experienced. Senior Tanner Fiano will get a chance to contribute after spending most of his time on special teams in previous seasons. Another former walk-on, William Penn, will also get the chance at playing time. Redshirt freshman Antonio Perryman and true freshmen Bryce Hankins, Markice Street and Darius Wilson will also be in the mix.

The Spartans lost three-time All-MEAC tight end Joseph Hawkins to graduation. His position will be filled one or a combination of junior James Lynch, transfer Mike Pierson, redshirt freshman Demetreus Ferebee and true freshman Chris Lee. 

The front line will be led by Myler and Phillips, who have nearly 30 career starts between them. But the rest of the line will be made up of less experienced players, including sophomores Darcell Whitaker (tackle), Gabe Hollins and Daniel Oladimeji (guard), Louis Humphrey (center) and freshman Jake Mazgajewski (tackle). JC transfer and Virginia native Thornton Collier could also contribute at multiple positions on the line.

SCHEDULE
The Spartans again face a challenging schedule in 2014 with road games at Maine, Buffalo and William & Mary in addition to the always challenging MEAC slate. The five-game home schedule begins with a non-conference game with Liberty, the Big South Conference co-champion, on Sept. 6. MEAC foes Morgan State (Sept. 27), Delaware State (Homecoming on Oct. 11), Bethune-Cookman (Nov. 8) and North Carolina Central (Nov. 15) also visit Dick Price Stadium in 2014.

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