To gain favor with the coaching staff, some South Carolina State football players stage a little competition. They talk the talk, pointing out what they do well and what the others at their position don't. It's all in fun, and some of the players, like the linebackers, are always chirping.
"They all run 4.6's and some change, so they can all fly," head coach Buddy Pough said. "And to hear them talk how slow he is ..."
In truth, some of the players have to look hard to find chinks in others' armor. South Carolina State is quite talented. In fact, there might not be an FCS team favored more heavily than the Bulldogs are to win their conference title this season.
SCSU has won 19 straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference games, and last season won all eight games by double-digits. They also return a veteran roster from a 10-2 team which nearly beat FCS power Appalachian State in the playoffs, losing 20-13 in the first round.
"Any time you have some success, you do draw attention of those you play - they want to make a name for themself," Pough said. "Just like the gun fight theory, you want to go get the guy who's the fastest draw. And at that point, you feel like you've established yourself. We are that guy right now and we hope that we can continue to be that guy."
South Carolina State is led by senior quarterback Malcolm Long, the MEAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and a nominee for the Walter Payton Award, sponsored by Fathead.com, which honors the FCS outstanding player.
The Bulldogs' strong linebackers unit features David Erby, Julius Wilkerson and Donovan Richards, who finished 1-2-3 on the team in tackles last season.
Florida A&M was picked second in the MEAC's preseason poll. Rattlers coach Joe Taylor believes South Carolina State has separated itself from the pack by building stronger offensive and defensive lines than other conference teams. He seems to have a point - five of the nine linemen on the conference's preseason team are Bulldogs, including four on the offense.
|
Preseason MEAC
All-Conference Team
|
|
First-Team Offense
QB- Malcolm Long, South Carolina State
RB- DeAngelo Branche, Norfolk State
RB- Philip Sylvester, Florida A&M
TE- Lamont Bryant, Morgan State
WR- Willie Carter, Howard
WR- Isaac West, Howard
OL- Johnny Culbreath, South Carolina State
OL- Juavahr Nathan, South Carolina State
OL- Josh Harrison, South Carolina State
OL- Kendall Noble, Norfolk State
OL- Sam Timothy, South Carolina State
First-Team Defense
DL- Andre Carroll, Delaware State
DL- Kenrick Ellis, Hampton
DL- Josh Turner, Norfolk State
DL- Jayson Ayers, South Carolina State
LB- Alvis Graham, Florida A&M
LB- David Erby, South Carolina State
LB- Julio Sanchez, Hampton
DB- Qier Hall, Florida A&M
DB- Justin Ferrell, North Carolina A&T
DB- Quay Long, North Carolina A&T
DB- Darren McKahn, Morgan State
First-Team Specialists<i>
PK- Trevor Scott, Florida A&M
P- Nicholas Adams, Morgan State
Return- Dwight Fluker-Berry, Norfolk State
|
Florida A&M won't back down, however. The Rattlers' big shot at changing the MEAC race comes Oct. 2, when they host South Carolina State in Tallahassee.
North Carolina Central and Savannah State will compete as FCS independents this season and move into the MEAC next year.
Following is a team-by-team breakdown of the 2010 MEAC race.
The Sports Network's predicted order of finish:
1. South Carolina State
2. Florida A&M
3. Norfolk State
4. Hampton
5. North Carolina A&T
6. Morgan State
7. Delaware State
8. Bethune-Cookman
9. Howard
Offensive Player of the Year: Malcolm Long, QB, South Carolina State
Defensive Player of the Year: Kendrick Ellis, DT, Hampton
1. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE BULLDOGS (10-2 overall; 8-0 MEAC)
COACH: Buddy Pough (67-26 in eight seasons at South Carolina State)
STARTERS RETURNING: 14 (8 offense/6 defense)
OFFENSIVE STAR: QB Malcolm Long, Sr. (209 of 324, 2,502 yards, 20 TDs, 10 INTs; 5 rushing TDs)
DEFENSIVE STAR: LB David Erby, Sr. (82 TT, 4 sacks, 1 FR, 3 FF)
OTHER KEY PLAYERS:
RB Asheton Jordan, So. (The Citadel transfer)
RB Chris Massey, Sr. FB/H-back Devin Wherry, So.
WR Richard Christie, Sr. (24 receptions, 241 yards, 1 TD)
WR/RS Lennel Elmore, So. (13 receptions, 87 yards)
WR Thomas Williams, Sr.
TE DeWain Clark, Sr. (8 receptions, 83 yards, 1 TD)
LT Johnny Culbreath, Sr.
LG Jake Johnson, Jr.
C Sam Timothy, Sr.
RG Juavahr Nathan, Jr.
RT Josh Harrison, Sr.
DE Pat Washington, Jr. (15 TT, 7 TFL, 4 sacks)
NG Ronell Ferguson, Jr. (23 TT, 4.5 TFL, 2 FR)
DE Jason Ayers, Sr. (25 TT, 5.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 2 FF)
LB Julius Wilkerson, Sr. (82 TT, 8.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 2 FF)
LB Donovan Richards, Jr. (55 TT, 5 TFL, 2 INTs, 3 FF)
LB Marshall McFadden, Sr. (injured last season)
LB Lataris Douglas, Jr. (37 TT, 6 sacks, 1 FR, 2 FF)
CB Devonne Quattlebaum, Sr. (48 TT, 5 TFL, 3 INTs, 3 PBU, 2 FR)
SS Christian Thompson, Jr. (11 TT)
FS Dominique Ellis, Jr. (23 TT, 3.5 TFL, 4 PBU)
PK/P Blake Erickson, Jr. (14 of 17 FG, 44 long; 34.4-yard punt average)
OUTLOOK: OK, there must be some faults with the Bulldogs, right? Well, they have lost Will Ford, the MEAC's all-time leading rusher, their top receivers and three-quarters of their starting secondary. But the disheartening meltdown against Appalachian State has made the Bulldogs determined to get the MEAC's first playoff win since 1999. Long and the new running backs get to work behind four linemen who earned all-conference preseason honors - Culbreath, Harrison, Nathan and Timothy. On defense, the linebackers rule with Erby and Wilkerson inside and former standout McFadden back after missing last season. The defense held opponents to 10 points or less in six wins. They open the season Sept. 4 at Georgia Tech.
