On the heels of back-to-back Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championships and I-AA playoff appearances, the Hampton University Pirates enter the 2006 campaign looking to take their program to another level. While the Pirates have enjoyed an enormous amount of success the past few years, they are still fighting to join the ranks of the elite programs in the country. Coach Joe Taylor’s squad returns a stellar senior class and a host of four-year starters who are hoping to become the first team to win three straight MEAC championships since South Carolina State accomplished the feat with four titles from 1980-83.
QUARTERBACKS
The Pirates have a complimentary mix of veterans and youth at the quarterback position, but it all begins with senior Princeton Shepherd who is back for third year as the starter. Shepherd will be the first HU quarterback to start three consecutive seasons since Roy Johnson (1996-99), and he’s poised to have a breakout year with the Pirates switching to a more wide open offense. A proven winner with a record of 21-5 as a starter, Shepherd is fifth all-time at Hampton in passing yards (3,366) and fourth in touchdown passes (31).
Several times last season Shepherd and the HU offense found themselves needing a change of pace and backup Antwan Smith provided just that. With Hampton trailing 10-0 against 19 th ranked South Carolina State , he came in and tossed two touchdowns to lift the Pirates to a 14-0 victory. The senior Smith bettered that effort in the season finale against Richmond in the I-AA playoffs when he completed a school playoff record 15 passes (27 attempts) for 221 yards and a score.
The future of the program could lie in the hands of West Virginia transfer TJ Micthell or incoming freshman Herbert Bynes. Mitchell has the advantage of having played under new offensive coordinator Chris Beatty when the pair led Landstown High School in Virginia Beach to the 2003 state championship game. That year Mitchell set a state record with an incredible 46 touchdown passes. He left Landstown ranking in the Top 10 in the state’s record books for career, single season and single game passing yards and touchdowns. Bynes drew interest from I-A programs such as Wisconsin , Louisville and Bowling Green , but he chose Hampton for a chance at taking over a celebrated program. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, he possesses a very strong arm and can make any throw on the field and at the same time, he can also make plays with his feet.
RUNNING BACKS
If it’s one phase of the game that the Pirates do not have to worry about, it would have to be the ground attack. When you return a three-year starter who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards each year since arriving on campus, it tends to put you at ease. Walter Payton Award candidate and all-american Alonzo Coleman is back and he has his eyes set on a record breaking year. Coleman needs just 242 yards to become Hampton ’s all-time leading rusher and 546 yards to break the MEAC career rushing record. In addition, he’s also looking to become just the eighth Division I player to rush for 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons. Last season he split time with Ardell Daniels as the duo became just the third pair of backs to each rush for more than 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons. After sharing carries during his first three years, Coleman should surpass the 1,326 yards he amassed in 2005 now that he is the sole feature back. If there is any downside to the reigning MEAC Offensive Player of the Year it’s that he only has 24 career receptions. However, look for Coleman to see a lot more touches via the passing game in 2006.
Juniors Kevin Beverly and Van Morgan will split time as the No. 2 running back. Another Kent State transfer who departed as the Flashes’ starting running back, Beverly showed a lot of promise during spring drills. He’s a physical north-south runner who can also catch the ball coming out of the backfield. Morgan has seen limited time during his first two years, but when called upon he has answered the bell, evident by his 6.9 yards per carry average.
Fullback Curtis Lewis has been the other half of the Pirates’ bruising ground game the past three seasons. An excellent blocker at the point of attack, his willingness to take on linebackers and defensive linemen of any stature has made things easy for Coleman and the rest of the Hampton running backs over the years. Junior Qutrell Payton saw plenty of action last season as well and he will remain in the rotation at fullback. The better of the two fullbacks when it comes to carrying the ball, Payton averaged nearly seven yards per carry on nine attempts last season and he also caught three passes for 22 yards and a score.
WIDE RECEIVERS
This may very well be the Pirates’ best corps of receivers to take the field in quite some time. In the past Hampton , has had one game-breaker complimented by a group of role playing receivers. However, this year the Pirates have numerous individuals at the position who can take it the distance at any given time and the new offensive scheme is designed to capitalize on that. A trio of veterans return in seniors Marquay McDaniel, Onrea Jones and Dereck Faulkner.
McDaniel and Jones both set career-highs in receptions and receiving yards with McDaniel hauling in a team-high 42 passes and six touchdowns. His combination of speed and his excellent route running will again make him the primary target for the HU quarterbacks. Jones came into his own a year ago, particularly in the playoffs when he broke the Pirates’ playoff records with 11 catches for 192 yards and touchdown. He packs 205 pounds on a 6-foot-2 frame, making him a big target underneath and over the middle. However, he also has the speed to vertically stretch the field, something he showed last season when he averaged a team-high 19.7 yards per catch.
Dereck Faulkner is back from a nagging leg injury that sidelined him for the final five games of last season and if he can stay healthy he should have a solid year as well. At 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, he has the body of a prototypical NFL receiver and he put every inch on display against Morgan State in the New York Urban League Classic. Against the Bears he was virtually unstoppable, tearing the secondary apart to the tune of five catches for 113 yards and a 38-yard touchdown.
Several others will also see plenty of action in the Pirates’ new spread offense. Virginia Tech transfer Jeremy Gilchrist joined the team in January and had a great spring campaign. However, it came as no surprise to offensive coordinator Chris Beatty who also coached Gilchrist at Landstown High School . As a senior Gilchrist caught 87 passes for 1,399 yards and 18 touchdowns, departing as the Virginia High School league’s second all-time leading receiver in receptions (198) and yards (3,230). He redshirted the 2004 season at Tech and caught one pass for nine yards last year.
Darius Mullen and Kevin Teel round out the top six receivers for the Pirates. Teel turned in the Pirates’ fastest 40-yard dash this spring and he should see several touches via the pass or on reverses to take advantage of his speed. A local product out of Bethel High School in Hampton, Mullen was signed as an athlete, but will make his mark at wide receiver. He was an all-district performer as a senior and also his team’s most valuable player.
TIGHT ENDS
The Pirates have the luxury of returning both players who saw a majority of the time at tight end last season. Starter Ernie Lomax brings athleticism to the position that the Pirates haven’t had in recent memory. He can play inside and make the tough catch across the middle, or he can spread out wide and matchup against defensive backs. He averaged 12.5 yards per catch in 2005 after hauling in 11 receptions for 137 yards and a touchdown.
The more physical of the two tight ends, senior Weston Hill will back up Lomax. While he didn’t catch a pass last season, he was a great run blocker who could seal the edge, allowing Pirate backs and quarterbacks to get outside.
OFFENSIVE LINE
For the second consecutive year the Pirates have taken a huge hit along the offensive line where they lost three starters, including MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year Gerell Golightly. Success this season could hinge on how quickly some viable replacements are found.
Nevin McCaskill and Brandon Walker are the two returning starters and they will be called upon early to anchor the offensive line. McCaskill has been a mainstay at left tackle for the past two seasons, starting 24 straight games since his sophomore season. His superior footwork and agility have been assets for the HU quarterbacks who have the utmost confidence in McCaskill protecting their blindside. A Second Team All-MEAC performer in 2005, he is looking to become the fifth Hampton lineman in as many years to capture Offensive Lineman of the Year honors in the league.
Senior Brandon Walker will make the transition to right guard from right tackle where he started all 12 games last season. Walker played a large part in helping the Pirates rush for nearly 240 yards per game a year ago and his move inside should be beneficial to Hampton ’s ground game and pass protection.
The other three positions along the offensive front will all be manned by first-year starters. Terrance Smith takes over at center for the departed Charles Huff and junior college signee Adam Herald will begin the season at right tackle. After a good showing this spring, Dennis Conley is ready to show the coaching staff that he can handle the starting duties at left guard.
DEFENSIVE LINE
A pair of bookends who have been tabbed the ? Twin Towers ? by the Pirates’ coaching staff lead an experienced group along the defensive front. The first half of the talented duo is 6-foot-6, 290 pound Kendall Langford who was an all-conference selection in 2005. Langford was second on the team in tackles from his defensive end position, registering 65 total stops and a league-high 15.5 tackles for loss. He has the speed to go around and the power to fight through offensive tackles, which led to his 4.5 sacks. Not to be outdone, Marcus Dixon displayed talent that should have him battling for a spot on the all-conference team as well. At 6-foot-4, 280 pounds, Dixon has seen time at defensive tackle and end, excelling at both. He added 33 tackles and seven tackles while playing opposite of Langford, making it extremely hard for offensive line coaches to focus on shutting either down.
While the ? Twin Towers ? are bringing the pressure from the edge, senior Vernon Bryant controls the middle of the defensive line. Bryant has the responsibility of taking on double teams and allowing the Pirate linebackers to roam free and make plays. He worked his way into the rotation as the season progressed and had possibly his best game against Richmond in the first round of the playoffs. If he can pick up where he left off, the Pirates should have a stout first unit.
Another key performer along the defensive line is senior Alden Blizzard who tied for the team lead among defensive linemen last year with 4.5 quarterback sacks. The North Carolina transfer is in the similar mold of Langford and Dixon and likewise, he can take a game over at any given time. Last year against South Carolina State he dominated up front to the tune of nine tackles (5 solo) and two tackles for loss.
LINEBACKERS
All-American Justin Durant spearheads the Pirates’ defensive unit from his inside linebacker position. The two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, Durant possesses the instincts and range that helped him register a team-high 124 tackles last season, including 15 behind the line of scrimmage. His performance was recognized nationally when he finished third in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top defensive player in Division I-AA. Another solid season and Durant will definitely put himself in the position to play at the next level.
Kensley Dougan and Rudolph Foye are gone, along with their 110 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and five sacks. Playing behind them last year, Jimari Jones and Charles Robinson will man the outside linebacker positions for the HU defense. Jones showed that he is more than capable of making the big hit with his 13 solo stops, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, while Robinson brings added athleticism and range. Former safeties Ray Lewis and Henti Baird have made the switch to linebacker where they will provide added depth along with Demarius Sapp.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Three of four starters return in the secondary, led by two shutdown corners in Travarous Bain and Calvin Bannister. Both members of Hampton ’s 4x100 meter relay team, they have exceptional closing speed that will allow the Pirates to take more chances in bringing pressure defensively. Filling in for Bannister who was injured in week four, Bain not only held his own, but developed into one of the top cover corners around. He earned all-conference honors after leading the MEAC and ranking fourth in the country with 14 breakups for an average of 1.56 per game.
Despite missing four games with an ankle injury, Bannister still managed to finish second on the team with nine breakups and an interception. He led the league in passes defended as a sophomore with 19 and has 42 for his career. If he can remain healthy he should garner the all-conference honors that have been mysteriously avoiding him for the past three years.
The hard-hitting Marlon Fair is the only returning starter at safety. A member of what has been a dominant senior class, Fair came into his own a year ago. He finished fifth on team with 50 tackles (27 solo) and his interception at Bethune-Cookman played a large part in helping the Pirates repeat as conference champions. Supporting the run has always been his strength, but he has improved dramatically in his pass coverage.
While Fair secures the free safety spot, former walk-on Jermaine Mallory comes into camp as the No. 1 strong safety. Mallory’s experience thus far was mainly on special teams, but he showed during spring drills that he deserved a chance to be in the lineup. A devoted student of the game, he always seems to be in the right place at the right time and gives the Pirates another coach on the field.
Derius Swinton and Vaughn Mansfield should also see plenty of time at both safety positions. A part-time starter in 2005, Swinton has been a major contributor since arriving at HU and this year should be no different.
SPECIAL TEAMS
All-American placekicker Andrew Paterini is back for his final go around and he’s looking to add to his school records for field goals made and points by a kicker. Last season he made a Division I-AA best 20 field goals, including a school record 55-yard kick against Norfolk State . His leg strength and accuracy give the Pirates another added dimension to their offense.
Hampton did lose several key elements of their special teams unit with the loss of punter Cameron Muro and long snapper Kensley Dougan. Freshman Jahmal Blanchard will take over for Muro and if he can maintain is 42-yard average from high school, then the Pirates should be in good shape. If not, Paterini may be called upon to handle both.
The return game is sound once again with Marquay McDaniel handling the punt returns and Calvin Bannister and Travarous Bain the kickoffs. McDaniel averaged a career-high 14.6 yards per return as a junior, ranking 12 th in the country in that category. Bannister and Bain combined to average better than 26 yards per opportunity, but look for speedster Kevin Teel to also see some touches from back deep.
