March 14, 2006
Cullowhee, N.C. -
The Western Carolina football team will begin preparations for the 2006 season, which kicks off Aug. 31 in Cullowhee versus Chowan, on Wednesday (Mar. 15) when the Catamounts have the first of their 15 NCAA allotted spring practice sessions. The Catamount faithful will get a preview of the 2006 squad on April 7 (Friday) at the annual Spring Game.
"The spring is designed to build a foundation," said WCU head coach Kent Briggs, who enters his fifth season at the Catamount helm. "That foundation starts with fundamentals, learning the offensive and defensive schemes and building team chemistry."
Western Carolina returns first team All-Southern Conference picks Mike Malone (kick return) and Felipe Foster (defensive tackle) and Tim Mayse (punter), as well as second team All-SoCon tailback Darius Fudge. Also back will be Western's starting quarterback from 2005, Justin Clark; its starting quarterback from 2004, Bennett Swygert, who returns after taking a year off after several surgeries; and its top two receivers, J.C. Brown and Michael Hines, from 2005. Western will also return its top receiver from 2004, Calvin Guinyard, who missed last season due to NCAA regulations. However, Western will have to replace four starting offensive lineman, including All-SoCon picks Linden Ryan and Kevin McAlmont.
"First, I would like to announce that Marty Lowe has been elevated from passing game coordinator to overall offensive coordinator," Briggs said. "I have a lot of confidence in Coach Lowe as he has proven himself by his experience and knowledge."
"On offense, we are excited about having a strong quarterback situation," Briggs said. "Not only with having two starters (Justin Clark and Bennett Swygert) returning for their senior seasons, but with the return of Michael McQueeney and other newcomers.
"We feel we are very athletic at wide receiver. More importantly, we feel we are developing `play-makers.' We also have a solid group returning at tight end and running back.
"A real point of emphasis this spring will be replacing four senior offensive linemen, who saw a majority of the snaps over the past three years. I feel we have a good group of young offensive linemen that will get the job done in time. The question is, `How long will it be before they become that solid unit?' We will work this spring to make sure that time will be early next fall."
On defense, Western lost five of its top six tacklers from last season, including linebacker James Conklin, All-SoCon linebacker Lamar Barnes, All-SoCon end Rico Reese, All-SoCon safety Primus Glover and All-SoCon corner back Franics Brown. However, safety Mitchell Dukes, who led the team with 6.5 sacks and five pass breakups, returns as well as the aforementioned Foster. While Western did lose its fair share on defense, there are still a number of veteran players and part-time starters from the past - like Shelton Gaffney, Travis Hill, Carlton Bailey, Bruce Lee, Randy Birch, Corey Ellison and John Martin - as well as a veteran coach in Don Powers, left in the cupboard to keep the Catamounts among the nation's best.
"It will be very difficult to replace those five all-conference performers on defense," Briggs said. "However, I do believe that the quality of players returning as well as the unit's attitude will keep us moving in the right direction. I am real excited to have Coach Don Powers back in the program as defensive coordinator. He will help blend the best talents of the returning players and the abilities of the newcomers in adapting to the Catamount style of defense."
The Catamount special teams should be as strong as ever, returning all of its key performers. Western finished first as a team in the nation in kick returns, while Malone was second in the nation individually. Also, Mayse was 11th nationally in punting.
Spring Practice Schedule (Subject to Change):
Practice 1: Mar. 15
Practice 2: Mar. 17
Practice 3: Mar. 18
Practice 4: Mar. 20
Practice 5: Mar. 22
Practice 6: Mar. 24
Practice 7: Mar. 25 (scrimmage)
Practice 8: Mar. 27
Practice 9: Mar. 29
Practice 10: Mar. 31
Practice 11: Apr. 1 (scrimmage)
Practice 12: Apr. 3
Practice 13: Apr. 5
Practice 14: Apr. 7 (Spring Game)
Practice 15: Apr. 10
2006 SPRING PRACTICE OFFENSE
Wide Receivers - J.C. Brown, Marcus Brown, Morrio Clark, Eddie Cohen, Justin Evans, Kyle Garland, Calvin Guinyard, Cedric Hamilton, Michael Hines, Chris Jefferson, Nick Miller
Tackles - Mark Burgess, Bobby Furmage, Sam Jackson, Dan Lawrence, Marcus Thomas
Guards - John Cooper, Ben Davies, Josh Deaver, Sam Howard, William Sullivan
Centers - Justin Johnson, Kevin Wiggins
Tight Ends - Shamar Allen, L.J. Davis, Antonio Richardson, James Singletary (injured)
Quarterbacks - Justin Clark, Adam Hearns, Andy Horn, Michael McQueeney, Elliott Pritchard, Brad Robbins, Todd Spitzer, Bennett Swygert
Fullbacks - Fred Boateng, Joe Clark, J.R. Redmon, Russell Richter
Tailbacks - Albert Ashcraft, Garrett Baker (injured), Darius Fudge, Mike Malone, Nicholas Wishart (injured)
2006 SPRING PRACTICE DEFENSE
Ends - Jeff Bradley, Darren Curtis, Andy Kinder, Travis Osborne, Jacob Wilson
Tackles - Randy Birch, Corey Ellison (injured), Felipe Foster (and DE), John Martin, Keanon Orr
Linebackers - Shelton Gaffney, Jonathan Hayes, Travis Hill, Chaz Jackson, Marcus Nelums, Josh Smith, Jason Stanley, Tim Temple, Drew Walker
Cornerbacks - Carlton Bailey, Darrell Gray, Donald James, Bruce Lee, Meko Watson
Safeties - Brandon Breeden, Mitchell Dukes, Isaac Green, Omar Haynes, Jeremy Louis, Mordy Ornguze
2006 SPRING PRACTICE SPECIAL TEAMS
Stephen Brown (PK/P); Bubba Hamrick (LS); Tim Mayse (P/PK); Jonathan Parsons (PK); Mark Sides (K), Alan Stayton (P)
Coaching Staff
Kent Briggs - WCU Head Football Coach
Marty Lowe - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks and Running Backs
Don Powers - Defensive Coordinator
Clayton White - Recruiting Coordinator/Defensive Backs
Myron Jackson - Assistant Coach/Defensive Line
David Napert - Assistant Coach/Linebackers
Dick O'Brien - Specialist
Drew O'Daniel - Assistant Coach/Offensive Line
Marcus Satterfield - Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers
Brian Rucker - Offensive Graduate Assistant
Patrick Stewart - Defensive Graduate Assistant
Daniel Gibson - Student Assistant
Highlights of the 2006 Football Off-Season
• Ben Davies set the All-Time Offensive Line Record in the Clean with a lift of 375lbs (4th All-Time)
• Justin Johnson set the All-Time Offensive Line Record in the L-Drill with a time of 7.78 seconds
• Felipe Foster set the All-Time Defensive Tackles Record in the Bench Press with a lift of 465lbs (2nd All-Time), Clean with a lift of 385lbs (2nd All-Time), L-Drill with a time of 7.53 seconds and the Vertical Jump with a jump of 31.5"
• J.R. Redmon set the All-Time Fullback / Tight End Record in the Bench Press with a lift of 440lbs (5th All-Time)
• Russell Richter set the All-Time Fullback / Tight End record in the Clean with a lift of 370lbs (5th All-Time)
• Jeff Bradley set the Defensive End Record in the Pro Shuttle with a time of 4.31 seconds
• Chaz Jackson set the Linebackers Record in the Pro Shuttle with a time of 4.03 (6th All-Time)
• Marcus Nelums set the Linebacker Record in the L-Drill with a time of 7.22 seconds
• Carlton Bailey set the Defensive Backs Records in the Back Squat with a lift of 545lbs, Strength Index with an index of 6.23 (2nd All-Time), and the L-Drill with a time of 6.73 seconds.
• Mitchell Dukes set the Defensive Backs Records in the Vertical Jump with a jump of 38.5" (Tied for 2nd All-Time) and Broad Jump with a jump of 126" (2nd All-Time)
• Eddie Cohen set the Wide Receivers Record in the Clean with a lift of 315lbs
• Michael Hines set the Wide Receivers Record in the Broad Jump with a jump of 122.5" (Tied for 5th All-Time)
• Chris Jefferson set the Wide Receivers Record in the L-Drill with a time of 6.87
• Justin Clark set the Quarterbacks Record in the Clean with a lift of 275lbs
• Todd Spitzer set the Quarterbacks Record in the L-Drill with a time of 7.11 seconds (7th All-Time)
• Stephen Brown set the Kickers, Punters, & Snappers Record in the Bench Press with a lift of 285lbs and L-Drill with a time of 7.26 seconds
• J.C. Brown broke into the All-Time Top 10 in the L-Drill with a time of 6.92 which is tied for 3rd
• Meko Watson broke into the All-Time Top 10 in the L-Drill with a time of 6.92 which is tied for 3rd
• Kyle Garland broke into the All-Time Top 10 in the L-Drill with a time of 7.02 which is 5th
• Donald James broke into the All-Time Top 10 in the L-Drill with a time of 7.09 which is 6th
• Mitchell Dukes broke into the All-Time Top 10 in the L-Drill with a time of 7.12 which is 7th
• Michael Hines broke into the All-Time Top 10 in the L-Drill with a time of 7.16 which is 8th
• Darrell Gray broke into the All-Time Top 10 in the L-Drill with a time of 7.17 which is 9th
• Morrio Clark broke into the All-Time Top 10 in the Strength Index with a index of 5.88 which is 7th
• Meko Watson broke into the All-Time Top 10 in the Pro Shuttle with a time of 3.98 which is 2nd
• Mitchell Dukes broke into the All-Time Top 10 in the Pro Shuttle with a time of 4.00 which is 3rd
• Morrio Clark broke into the All-Time Top 10 in the Pro Shuttle with a time of 4.07 which is 7th
• Marcus Nelums broke into the All-Time Top 10 in the Pro Shuttle with a time of 4.10 which is Tied for 9th
• Marcus Thomas broke into the All-Time Top 10 in the Clean with a lift of 325lbs which is Tied for 10th
• Russell Richter broke into the All-Time Top 10 in the Bench Press with a lift of 435lbs which is 6th
• Keanon Orr broke into the All-Time Top 10 in the Bench Press with a lift of 425lbs which is Tied for 8th
• Jeff Bradley broke into the All-Time Top 10 in the Bench Press with a lift of 415lbs which is Tied for 9th
