With almost one full week until spring football practice, ODUSports.com takes a look at each position group for the Monarchs, starting today with the quarterbacks and running backs.
Quarterback
With the graduation of 2016 starting quarterback David Washington, ODU returns one quarterback that saw game action in sophomore Blake LaRussa. LaRussa completed 14-of-24 passes for 140 yards with one interception, and also rushed for a touchdown. He saw most of his action in the fourth quarter, however, he was 6-of-8 for 68 yards at the end of the first half in the regular-season finale against FIU. A former walk-on, LaRussa earned a scholarship following the season.
Also competing for the starting position will be redshirt freshmen Drayton Arnold and Kevin Sheckells. A native of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Arnold enrolled at ODU early, joining the program in the winter of 2016. He dressed for every game in 2016. At Myrtle Beach High School, Arnold led the squad to a state championship as a sophomore, and for his career passed for 8,514 yards and 104 touchdown passes. Sheckells passed for 1,558 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior at St. Mary’s High School in Maryland, and also rushed for 434 yards and three touchdowns.
Quarterbacks
Drayton Arnold
Blake LaRussa
Kevin Sheckells
2017 QB Signees
Jordan Hoy – 6-1, 195 – Rockwall, Texas/Rockwall-Heath/Fullerton CC
Steven Williams Jr. – 6-4, 196 – Washington, D.C./Woodrow Wilson
Running Back
Old Dominion returns every running back that carried the ball in 2016, and adds a back for the spring, as Kesean Strong will return to his original position after moving to wide receiver in 2015.
Ray Lawry and Jeremy Cox return as the top two backs after rushing for a combined 1,987 yards and 24 touchdowns a year ago. Lawry broke his own ODU record with 1,255 yards, while Cox rushed for 732 yards and led the team in total touchdowns with 14.
Gemonta Jackson, Josh Marriner, Brandon Simmons, and Justin Cooper all received carries last season. Jackson finished third among running backs with 22 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown before suffering a season-ending injury, while Marriner carried 23 times for 84 yards.
Running Backs
Justin Cooper
Jeremy Cox
Malik Fuller
Gemonta Jackson
Ray Lawry
Josh Marriner
Brandon Simmons
Brandon Sinclair
Kesean Strong
2017 RB Signees
Casey Perkins – 6-0, 215 – Smyrna, Tenn./Smyrna