Spring Is Here - Football Monarchs Hit The Field

March 25, 2011

There have been a number of firsts for Old Dominion football over the years. First announcing a team in 2005, then announcing head coach Bobby Wilder in 2007. The first tryouts, the first recruiting class, the first practice, and the first season of Monarch Football....All those firsts together have resulted in what Monarch fans have been waiting for...ODU's first season in conference action joining the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) for 2011.

This spring is all about getting ready to play in the nation's toughest FCS conference. Among those teams the Monarchs will be taking on in the fall include four play-off teams from this past season, among them national runner-up Delaware, as well as 2009 champion Villanova, nationally ranked William & Mary, New Hampshire, and 2004 national champion James Madison.

"Our number one focus for spring practice is for our players to have a mindset where they think fast and play fast," said Wilder of the 15 spring practices. "What we mean by that is the caliber of competition we are going to face in 2011 is much different than the competition we faced in either of the last two seasons. So for our players to understand our scheme in all three phases - offense, defense, & special teams - and be able to play at a much faster pace that will define the success we will have as a football team - `Can we think fast?' and `Can we play fast?'."

The Monarchs sights on CAA play does not merely begin with the first practice on March 25th though. The preparation for the 2011 fall slate began immediately after ODU's 8-3 season and the finale at N.C. Central back in November.

"This was clearly in our three years of off-season conditioning the best off-season program we've had through our winter workouts," said Wilder. "It was an eight-week program and the results were outstanding. Strength and conditioning coaches Ryan (Martin) and Joe (Makovec) came up with a point system that was based on competition. We had 14 teams of five players and they competed every step of the way."

"Every day there was a workout, whether it was lifting or running, that improved our football team dramatically from a standpoint not only in strength and conditioning," noted Wilder, "but also in learning the concept of how to compete. We had players like Craig Wilkins, Ronnie Cameron, and Thomas DeMarco, our three captains, that were clearly the leaders."

There are also a few new faces added to the mix for the spring - several key returnees from injury and a trio of newcomers.

Running back Angus Harper and cornerback Markell Wilkins missed last fall with knee injuries suffered in the summer. Harper is listed at full go, while Wilkins is still in the rehab phase from his torn ACL. ODU will also welcome back offensive linemen Jeremy Hensley who fractured his ankle against #14/16 Cal Poly and missed the final five games of 2010, and Ryan Jensen, who sat out last season with a shoulder injury. Colby Goodwyn, who starred on the return unit for special teams, is also back after suffering an elbow injury at Hampton. The Monarchs will also welcome back linebacker Darryl Brown who had been sidelined with an ankle injury.

"All those guys are very close to full strength," added Wilder. "Hensley is at full go and had an excellent off-season program. Markell is still rehabbing, but he's still competing and doing well in all the drills. Colby and Angus are a full go."

The Monarchs also add depth at the offensive line with 6-8, 335 lbs David Born from Bakersfield College, 6-6, 285 lbs D.J. Morrell from Dean Junior College along with a 6-2, 210 lbs quarterback Nate Ong out of Palomar College.

SPECIAL TEAMS:

Last spring's focus was special teams and the emphasis was on making improvements on the return units. And improve they did.

"Our return units after the 2009 season were both ranked below 100 nationally," said Wilder. "In the fall of 2010, at different points of the season, we were ranked among the top. It was very important that our players worked on that last spring and over the summer and they executed that successfully in the fall."

After ranking 109th in 2009, the kick return unit ranked fourth nationally averaging 24.86 yards per return. Additionally, Colby Goodwyn, a true freshman, shined finishing the year third in the category and set a few records as well. Goodwyn set the Division I record (FBS or FCS) for kickoff return yardage in a game with 333 yards in his nine returns against #14/16 Cal Poly in week six. The old mark was 326 by Eastern Washington's Bashir Livingston on Oct. 31, 1998, while the FBS record is 319 by Iowa State's Leonard Johnson on Nov. 1, 2008.

In that game against the Mustangs, as a unit, Old Dominion also set the record for most kickoff return yardage by a team (365 yards on 11 returns).

On top of Goodwyn's new NCAA marks, he managed to also put his name into the Monarch record book as well. His 89-yard kickoff return that led to a Reid Evans' touchdown reception in the second quarter against nationally-ranked Cal Poly was the second longest kick return by a Monarch to-date. Goodwyn would later have a 79-yard kick return in the same game that placed his name again in the record books, this time with the third-longest kick return in the brief history of ODU football.

Aaron Evans, who stepped in for the injured Goodwyn at kick returner in the latter part of the fall, also put in several notable performances as a true freshman, including racing downfield 92-yards against the Savannah State for the Monarchs' first ever kick return for a touchdown.

The punt return meanwhile will be looking to replace Monty Smalley, who departed the program after the season.

Blocks have also been prevalent for the Monarchs on special teams with ODU having 12 in just two years of football. Edmon McClam blocked his sixth career PAT against Savannah State and already holds the FCS record for blocked PATs in a season (2009 - 5) and blocked PATs in a Game (3 - Chowan, 2009). Alex Arain also blocked a punt, ODU's first blocked punt in history, at Monmouth during week four.

The Monarchs have plenty of experience in the punt and kick departments with Jonathan Plisco and Jarod Brown respectively.

Plisco, an All-American his freshman year after leading the FCS in punting, ranked second at the conclusion of last season averaging 44.3 yards per punt. Of his 43 punts, 17 went the distance of 50 yards or more, 13 were inside the 20, and none were blocked. The first Monarch All-American led the punting rankings for the most part of the season.

Brown led the Monarchs in scoring last season responsible for 75 of ODU's 369 points scored. Brown went 12-of-16 on field goals and 39-of-41 on PAT's. He tied the school record for longest field goal made in ODU's season finale. Brown's 48-yard attempt at N.C. Central tied the record, replacing his previous high of 44 against Georgia State during week eight. Brown's longest attempt was a 50-yarder in ODU's home finale vs. VMI.

QUARTERBACKS:The Monarchs will look to veteran Thomas DeMarco, who will be playing in his final season this coming fall.

"No question we already have an established starter there. Over the last two years, his numbers have been as good as anybody in the country in FCS football statistically," said Wilder of his signal caller.

DeMarco completed 58.1 percent of his attempts averaging 250.5 yards per game and throwing for 23 touchdowns. The rising senior also ranked seventh nationally in total offense averaging 289 yards per contest.

Last fall, DeMarco surpassed the previous year's numbers by week nine. With 122 passing yards against Hampton, he surpassed his 2009 total of 1,921 yard and ended the 2010 season having collected 2,756 yards in the air.

Equally as effective on the ground, DeMarco was the first Monarch to reach the 1,000 career yard milestone in rushing and currently has 1,320 rushing yards under his belt. Carrying the ball 291 times in the last two seasons, he has been averaging 59.8 yards per game and 4.5 yards per carry in the category.

Behind DeMarco will be a pair of quarterbacks fighting for the number two position on the depth chart. Rashad Manley, who played in two games as a true freshman against Savannah State and North Carolina Central, and transfer Nate Ong, who registered 3,966 yards and 33 touchdowns for Palomar College, will each be using the spring to find their way onto the depth chart.

"We need to see Ong compete and play in our system," said Wilder of his back-up quarterback situation. "He's had a very good eight-week conditioning program and look for him to compete for that number two position. Manley has made tremendous strides since he's arrived on campus last summer. We are looking for him to compete for the number two spot as well."

OFFENSIVE LINE:Depth at the offensive line was certainly a question mark going into the fall with several Monarchs having to re-adjust positions due to injuries to Ryan Jensen, Jack Lowney, and Jeremy Hensley, plus finding the needed experience at that position. The coaching staff had to move tight end Matt Carrillo to tackle and right when they welcomed back Jack Lowney from a foot injury, lost Hensley to injury almost immediately.

"We feel like the number one thing we need to establish in the spring is continuity," said Wilder. "With the injuries we suffered in the fall, we needed to move people and players had to learn multiple positions."

The Monarchs lost a number of experienced lineman to graduation including starter Tobin Cameron, as well as reserve Justin Klingerman and Carrillo, who made the position transition last fall.

"We are hopeful that in the spring we can establish a consistent staring five and get some continuity in that group," said Wilder.

Among the returnees are Jack Lowney, who returned for the final seven games of the season after playing all of 2009, and Jeremey Hensley, who started at center the first six games of the year, as well as experienced linemen Bryan Morrison, Robbie Duncan, Brandon Carr, and true freshman Mike Justice, who in his first year as a Monarch found his way onto the depth chart.

Also bolstering the line-up will be transfers David Born and D.J. Morell. Born, who originally committed to Sacramento State, helped the Bakersfield Renegades to an 8-3 record, a National Northern Conference co-championship, and an appearance in the Southern California playoffs. In high school, Born blocked for San Diego Charger running back Ryan Mathews his sophomore season and earned Division I All-State First Team, First Team All-Area from the Bakersfield Californian and First Team All-Southwest Yosemite League accolades. Morrell meanwhile joins the Monarchs after earning First Team All-Northeastern honors for Dean Junior College.

The Monarchs will also look for depth from redshirts Ellett McGeorge and Wes Moulton as well as returners Patrick McNichols and Perry Owens who also have experience in the ODU system.

"There's no more important position on your football team that you need to have continuity with your starting five," mentioned Wilder, "and that's the goal this spring."

WIDE RECEIVERS:"We feel like going into the spring, we are going to have eight players that are going to be competing for starting positions," said Wilder of the receiving corps. "This is clearly the deepest position on the team in terms of depth, ability and the competition at this position is what we would like to have at every position on this football team."

Reid Evans and Nick Mayers continued to rank among the top ODU receivers in 2010 and were joined by Prentice Gill in leading the category. Evans led the Monarchs for the second straight season with 55 catches averaging 56.0 yards per game along with a team-leading six touchdowns. He ended the year on a high note with a career-high 111 yards receiving on eight catches in the season finale at N.C. Central. Gill, a transfer from Los Angeles Harbor College, was second on the squad in receiving having posted 62.4 yards per game on 41 catches with five touchdowns. Gill was also the first Monarch to crack the 100-yard receiving mark and had three 100+ yard games in 2010 including a career-high 154 yards at Monmouth. Mayers, meanwhile, added in 28.9 yards per game totaling 289 yards on 25 receptions.

Marquel Thomas, who many will remember scoring ODU's very first touchdown in the historic 2009 opener against Chowan, played his first full season. Only seeing action in two games before injury last season, Thomas returned in 2010 to start the final six games of the year and collected five touchdowns averaging 29.5 yards per game on his 24 catches.

The depth at wide receiver continues with Chris Lovitt and Dorian Jackson. Lovitt gave ODU five touchdowns in 2010 as he gained 14.3 yards per catch, among the top of the Monarch receivers. Jackson added 9.8 yards per contest last season along with a touchdown and was on the receiving end of a two-point conversion against Pioneer League Champion Jacksonville.

The Monarchs also add redshirts Larry Pinkard and Antonio Vaughan into the equation.

"The area we want to improve upon however are route running ability and we need to do a better job on limiting the drops we have at that position," noted Wilder. "We felt like we dropped too many balls last year."

RUNNING BACKS:

"I'm really looking forward to some outstanding competition with Mario Crawford, Colby Goodwyn, and Angus Harper," said Wilder of his running backs. "Those three players will be competing for playing time at that position. We play multiple running backs and like to have multiple running backs."

Crawford once again stood out on the ground attack leading ODU with 45.9 yards per contest and six touchdowns. Accumulating 505 rushing yards, Crawford had pair of touchdown runs against VMI and registered a season-high 91 yards against future CAA rival Georgia State. Crawford was also the second Monarch to accumulate 1,000 or more rushing yards in a career in the blue & white. With 1,150 career rushing yards in his two years as a Monarch, Crawford has been averaging 52.6 yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry in his career.

In addition to his kick return duties, Goodywn in nine games averaged 20.7 yards per game and accounted for three touchdowns, including one against #12/13 William & Mary.

Harper is ready to show Monarch nation his stuff after missing his first season with an injury. Impressing the coaches as a greyshirt last spring, Harper was ready to factor into the two deep following a senior season at Edison High School in Northern Virginia that saw him run for nearly 1,400 yards and score 19 touchdowns. Despite the injury, a year in the Monarch system will only add to his potential.

"I've always felt based on my experience in the CAA that you need to have at least three running backs that can play," added Wilder.

TIGHT ENDS:

ODU returns Kai Blanco to tight end. Blanco played in all 11 games last years making a pair of starts in the late part of the season. One of his six receptions last season was one of the most memorable in young Monarch history, as he was on the receiving end of the opening touchdown against #12/13 William & Mary, a future annual opponent in the CAA. His catch gave the ODU the early 6-0 lead over its first nationally ranked opponent.

Moving to tight end this spring is Tommy Reamon, moving to the position from quarterback. The last two seasons Reamon saw time as a member of the special teams unit and as a reserve receiver.

DEFENSIVE LINE:Perhaps one of the biggest questions heading into spring has been "How do you replace Deron Mayo?" In Mayo, the Monarchs lose one of its toughest defenders that totaled 70 tackles, 12 tackles of loss, 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, two blocked kicks, and eight quarterback hurries.

"Mayo is not a player you replace," said Wilder. "What you hope to do is build some competition through the position and improve yourself in all areas.""The defensive line is clearly the area on the team that made the most progress in our eight-week strength and condition program," continued Wilder. "So I'm looking for that unit to be the strength of our defense going into the 2011 season."

The Monarchs already have a CAA battled tested tackle in Ronnie Cameron. Named All-State by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID), Cameron made an immediate impact upon his transfer from Hofstra, ending the fall second on the team in tackles (28 solo, 44 assisted), while registering a team-leading 19 tackles for loss along with 5.5 sacks, eight hurries, and a pair of forced fumbles.

"The first thing I always think about when I think about Ronnie Cameron is that he fits ours `Aim High' philosophy of great person, great student, and the fact he's our best overall defensive player," said Wilder of the rising senior. "The way he finished at North Carolina Central, it was the best game I've seen in my 22 years of coaching from a defensive lineman. He'll clearly need to be the leader of our defense if we are going to be successful in the CAA in 2011."

Joining Cameron at tackle are several Monarchs with experience over the last two seasons. Chris Burnette saw action in all 11 games with six starts, having racked up 38 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss. Erik Saylor has also seen the field for nearly every game the last two years and in 2010 made five starts and recorded 19 stops. Nate Barnes, who made a dramatic change between with 2009 and 2010 with his work ethic in the weight room and gaining 50 pounds of mass, will also add to the experience on the line.

Also looking to prove themselves this spring will be redshirts Jagger Blehm and Dominique Guinn-Bailey, each who have a chance to compete for playing time.

While at defensive end, ODU will have to replace Mayo, the coaching staff does have several Monarchs with experience at the position. Andrew Turner, Chad King, and Edmon McClam all have starting experience on the d-line. The fiery Turner, who made nine starts at defensive end and appeared in all 11 games last season, was responsible for 32 tackles including a season-high seven stops against nationally-ranked Cal Poly. McClam, who is known for his blocking prowess on special teams, was used in a reserve capacity last season, contributing 23 tackles for the defense. King, who balances his playing time with his academics and ROTC duties, battled injury during the latter part of the 2010 season, but managed quite a bit of playing time resulting in eight stops.

There are also a trio of Monarchs that took the field last season, gaining needed experience at the position and adding to the competition for the position this spring in Tyler Damato, Alex Johnson, and B.J. McLaughlin.

Like at tackle, there are more redshirts trying to climb their way onto the two-deep at defensive end. Shawn Butts and Preston Smith each will have time to make a case for playing time.

LINEBACKERS:Prior to last season, the coaching staff moved Craig Wilkins from safety to linebacker, a position where Wilkins thrived. Wilkins went on to amass a team-leading 74 tackles (35 solo, 39 assisted) and five recovered fumbles along with 10.5 tackles for loss and a pair of forced fumbles.

"Craig is clearly the leader of that group not only as someone who has been a captain as a freshman and a sophomore, but the fact that his off-season conditioning strength and speed numbers have been just incredible," said Wilder of Wilkins heading into the spring season. "He's 230 lbs., he ran a 4.49 40-yard dash, and pound-for-pound, he's the strongest, fastest person on our team. We're expecting him to have an outstanding 2011 season."

Joining Wilkins at linebacker include Michael Williams and J.J. Williams. Michael Williams doubled his takedowns from 2009 to 2010, ending the year with 45 tackles, including a season-high 10 stops coming against a #12/13 William & Mary squad along with an interception. After redshirting his first year with the program, J.J. Williams, made eight starts at linebacker totaling 41 tackles.

"We need for Mike and J.J. to establish themselves as CAA linebackers through this spring practice and our summer program," said Wilder.

Also looking to step-up their games this spring season are John Darr, Xavier Duckett, and Rodney Hunter.

Darr appeared in eight games with 21 tackles, including a season-high seven stops against VMI and six tackles versus Savannah State. Duckett served as a reserve with five appearances last season, while Rodney Hunter made 21 tackles, including 10 stops against Savannah State, as a true freshman.

Adding to list of available linebackers are Nick Lanciault and Darryl Brown. Brown returns from ankle injury, while Lanciault joined the Monarchs last fall after walking on at Mississippi.

"We are also going to need to establish depth at that position," Wilder notes. "That's the one position on our team that we do not have established, proven depth."

DEFENSIVE BACKS:

Cornerback TJ Cowart certainly stood out for the Monarchs last season. Fourth on the Monarch defense in tackles with 58, including a team-leading 40 solo stops, Cowart had a season-high 13 tackles against VMI, 11 stops at Monmouth and 10 tackles against Georgia State. Additionally, he led the team with 11 pass-breakups, including a trio of break-ups in games against #12/13 William & Mary, Gardner-Webb, and Georgia State, and led ODU with three forced fumbles.

"TJ Cowart had a tremendous off season and he will clearly have to be our best defensive back going into the CAA," said Wilder.

"He'll have to cover the best receivers and do another great job of run support, which he did last year," added Wilder.

Donald Smith returns to the lineup after starting all 11 games last season and was ranked among the top Monarch defenders. Racking up 40 tackles (15 solo, 25 assisted), he was also second on the squad in pass break-ups with five.

The Monarchs will also be welcoming back Markell Wilkins into drills. In 2009, Wilkins saw action in all 11 games with 28 tackles, including 21 solo stops and was figuring to be a key figure in ODU's defense last season before a knee injury sidelined him for 2010.

"We will also be looking for our freshmen - Aaron Evans and Eriq Lewis - to have big spring practices, because they are going to need to be good for us in the backfield in 2011," added Wilder.

Evans got his feet wet as a true freshman at corner and with specials teams. He finished the year with 13 tackles and should see his numbers rise heading into 2011. Lewis meanwhile redshirted. Also J.C. Wiggins will also be another Monarch to add to the depth at corner.

ODU also returns a number of athletes from the safety position.

"We're looking for improvement from Devon Simmons and Carvin Powell," said Wilder.

Simmons made eight starts at strong safety and logged 38 tackles (15 solo, 23 assisted), including a career-high 10 stops against #14/16 Cal Poly. Last season, Simmons also had a 37-yard interception at Hampton, while in 2009 he grabbed a team-leading four interceptions.

Powell appeared in all 11 games at free safety and saw a huge improvement. He ended the fall among ODU's top defenders with 45 tackles (23 solo, 22 assisted) with a season-high seven stops against the nationally-ranked Mustangs.

Alex Arain made a successful transition from playing on the offense his freshman year to safety last year. Arain had 21 tackles including a season-high five against #12/13 William & Mary.

Paul Morant cracked the two-deep and made starts against Hampton and VMI at strong safety. Totaling 35 tackles (12 solo, 23 assisted) in his first season with ODU, he had a season-high and game-high 10 stops (5 solo, 3 assisted) against Gardner-Webb. And also made eight stops at Hampton.

Also providing depth at safety will be Fred Credle and Patrick Young. Credle saw time in seven games last fall before missing the final four with an injury. He registered nine tackles on the year.

THE FALL SCHEDULE:After getting through the spring drills, the Monarchs will be looking forward to the 2011 slate. The 2011 Monarch schedule kicks off with Campbell on September 3rd. The Monarchs also have non-conference dates with Georgia State and Hampton before its inaugural CAA contest. Home CAA dates include UMass, Towson, James Madison, and Richmond. On the road, the Monarchs will tackle Delaware, Rhode Island, Villanova, and William & Mary.