by WarEagle13 » Mon Jul 29, 2024 4:33 pm
Meet the Team – Roster for the upcoming 2000 UAB Blazers season:
(projected starters listed first) Name, class, hometown, OVR/Skill ratings
Quarterbacks –
Schooler, Paul (JR) Oxford, MS 76/78
Arland, Daniel (SO*) Louisville, KY 75/64
Ferguson, Brock (FR*) Mobile, AL 74/32
Ferrell, Mark (SO) Citronelle, AL 70/85
QB – This is a position we will need to recruit and bolster to match our style we want to go with. In a run first spread, ideally, we would like to have a dual threat type player, not necessarily a run first one though. Needs to be intelligent and quick mentally and on their feet. Currently Paul Schooler (jr) and Daniel Arland (so) are the front runners and in competition for the starting role while we are expecting both to play an integral part at the position throughout of first season.
Running Backs –
Bedford, Keaton (JR*) Eufaula, AL 88/100
Williams, Jestin (SR*) Carrollton, GA 87/100
Heath, Michael (SR*) Alamo, TN 86/95
Kemp, Cameron (SO*) Montgomery, AL 77/100
Dudley, Jewaren (SO*) Marianna, AR 76/67
Dykes, Bernard (SO*) Louisville, KY 76-60
RB – This is most likely one of if not the strongest position groups that we are stepping into. It matches and fits our style perfectly but will also need to be recruited heavily as we have two of the six players graduating after this year and both of these seniors look to be key in our plans offensively this year. Jestin Williams (sr) is our speedster with Michael Heath (sr) or inside power back. Keaton Bedford (jr) is a hybrid that will be beneficial in fitting into both roles. With Bedford’s abilities he quite possibly could beat out both seniors for the bulk of playing time at the position.
Fullbacks –
Ware, Lemanski (SO) Lanett, AL 72/85
Mead, Tony (FR) Bessemer, AL 72/78
FB – We have two underclassmen at this position, but this position is not a heavily used position in our offense and will not be in the future. Lemanski Ware (so) and Tony Mead (fr) will both have opportunities to try and work into TE roles for the future.
Wide Receivers –
McCants, Sylvester (SR*) Rolling Fork, MS 86/97
Berrian, Tyrell (SR) Lexington, AL 83/91
Stafford, Preston (SR*) Childersburg, AL 83/100
Brantley, Chandler (JR*) Fort Payne, AL 83/76
Bates, Antonio (SR) Cherokee, AL 82/95
Hollifield, Keon (JR) McCalla, AL 77/96
Barkley, Kelvin (SO) San Antonio, TX 77/93
Carter, Rodell (SO) Northport, AL 77/66
Slaughter, Derek (FR) Clinton, LA 76/99
Dailey, Chase (SO) Trussville, AL 76/65
WR – This is another position of strength but also one that will be depleted heavily at end of the year and have to recruit strongly for. We have four of the ten in the group graduating after this year. As a group, it is one that possesses good hands overall. The overall size of the receivers stands out as there is only one of the ten under 6’0”. All four seniors, Antonio Bates (sr) / Tyrell Berrian (sr) / Sylvester McCants (sr) / Preston Stafford (sr), look to be impactful with Chandler Brantley (jr) being optimized in the slot position.
Tight Ends –
Havens, Andy (SR*) Hueytown, AL 84/100
Mencer, Austin (JR*) Birmingham, AL 83/72
Accardo, Steve (SO*) Homestead, FL 74/62
Crawley, Sean (SO) Hoover, AL 74/47
TE – As a group, this position needs to be upgraded for better run blocking type players. While the two upper classmen, Andy Havens (sr) and Austin Mencer (jr) have good hands, as a group this area is relatively deficient overall.
Centers –
Olson, Marcus (SO*) Ashville, AL 77/75
Seahorn, Kerry (JR) Pensacola, FL 78/68
Swanson, Eric (FR*) Tupelo, MS 73/63
Guards –
Wright, Mario (SR) Huntsville, AL 83/84
Blair, Mike (SR) Simpsonville, SC 82/83
Bayhem, Montrez (SO) Hokes Bluff, AL 71/80
Wolcotts, Caleb (SO) Hoover, AL 71/72
McDaniel, Trenton (SO) Birmingham, AL 71/40
Decordova, David (FR) Oceanside, CA 66/62
Tackles –
Luker, Drew (JR*) Springville, AL 80/68
Newton, Daymond (SO) Midfield, AL 77/48
Davison, Nick (FR*) Calhoun, GA 75/48
Jensen, Mike (FR*) Nashville, TN 72/55
Ackinger, Stephen (FR) Dora, AL 68/79
Bourne, Joseph (FR) Homewood, AL 63/36
OL – In what appears to be the least experienced group on offense, it has eleven of the fifteen as underclassmen with the only two seniors graduating as the two starting offensive guards. They are a balanced group when it comes to pass or run blocking with the edge leaning in our favor for the run blocking result. Currently the starters look to be Center Marcus Olson (so), Guards Mike Blair(sr) and Mario Wright (sr), and Tackles Drew Luker (jr) and Daymond Newton (so).
Defensive Ends –
Edge, Terence (SR) East Point, GA 82/87
Forrest, Frantrell (JR) Irondale, AL 81/88
Marrero, Steven (SR*) Sugar Land, TX 79/100
Manley, Michael (JR) Miami, FL 79/100
Mitchell, Antoine (JR*) Saluda, SC 79/98
Boggs, Ramario (SO*) Bay Minette, AL 78/84
Pearson, Jamar (FR) Hamilton, AL 69/69
Jankins, Pierre (FR) Atlanta, GA 70/50
Defensive Tackles –
Turner, Mathias (SR) Daphne, AL 78/84
Pikes, Franklin (JR*) Sherwood, AR 78/80
Willings, Devin (JR) Panama City, FL 78/74
Calhoun, Gervin (SO) Alexander City, AL 67/62
Creel, Logan (SO) Danville, AR 65/98
Poole, Zackery (FR) Edison, NJ 65/77
Sharper, Bryan (FR) Parrish, AL 65/69
Gomer, Mike (SO) Milledgeville, GA 54/81
DL – In this group of sixteen, there are nine underclassmen and three seniors. The defensive ends are the overall older group and have decent speed and strength. The defensive tackles are deficient in strength as we would like to recruit to build up the size and strength in the middle. The projected starters are Terence Edge (sr) and Fantrell Forrest (jr) on the ends and Mathias Turner (sr) in the middle line. When a fourth down lineman is needed Franklin Pikes (jr), Devin Willings (jr), or Michael Manley (jr) could be utilized.
Linebackers –
Lankford, D.J. (SO*) Dacula, GA 82/74
Neal, Maxwell (SR) New Orleans, LA 82/78
Webster, Brian (SR) Jacksonville, NC 81/90
Hanniford, Elliiott (JR*) Philadelphia, MS 81/84
Sadler, Alfredo (JR*) Birmingham, AL 80/81
Reese, Dauntre (JR) Batesville, AR 78/88
Hennigan, David (JR*) Gadsden, AL 80/68
Hearse, Marcellius (SO*) Gordo, AL 78/75
Amarikawa, Ugande (SO) Missouri City, TX 70/78
Isabelle, David (FR) Montevallo, AL 71/43
LB – Likely the group that is the strength and backbone of the defense going into our first season. This is the more mature group with six of the ten being upper classmen but only two seniors graduating at seasons end. The heart of this group is D.J. Lankford (so) with Elliott Hanniford (jr), Maxwell Neal (sr), and Brian Webster (sr) playing larger roles for playing time. This is a speedy, good tackling group but undersized and not as strong as we’d like to see in the future.
Cornerbacks –
Phillips, Fernando (SR) Adamsville, AL 84/80
Guliford, Darrell (SR) Auburn, AL 82/98
Barnes, Jordan (JR) Hattiesburg, MS 81/74
Kenworth, Reshaud (FR*) Adamsville, AL 72/91
Trotter, Rogerick (SO) Prosperity, SC 71/70
Kimball, Darrion (SO) Dadeville, AL 72/42
Strong Safeties –
Watters, Jarell (SO*) Englewood, FL 81/68
McRae, Katrell (FR*) Sarasota, FL 77/69
Mayes, Eric (SO) Harrisonburg, VA 70/94
Curtis, Marquez (FR) Rogersville, AL 70/80
Free Safeties –
Crosby, Javon (SO*) Selma, AL 80/92
Brooks, Justin (JR*) Dothan, AL 78/95
Watters, Latrell (SO*) Englewood, FL 74/78
Farrior, R.J. (FR*) Pleasant Grove, AL 74/51
DB – Both projected starting corners are graduating so this CB position will be a highly recruited group going into the season. Both Darrell Guliford (sr) and Fernando Phillips (sr) should man the corners and have good size, speed, and agility to cover most of the receivers they will face this year. Jordan Barnes (jr) and Reshaud Kenworth (fr) will compete for competition as backups and the dime back in the dime package. The safety position is one of the youngest groups on the team only having one upper classmen in Jordan Brooks (jr). Brooks and Jarell Watters (so) are projected to start while Javon Crosby (so) and Katrell McRae (fr) are expected to compete for the nickel back slot.
Kickers –
Autheridge, Adam (SR*) San Antonio, TX 83/99
Ragland, Trey (FR*) Guin, AL 79/82
Punters –
Seitz, Jake (SR*) Vestavia Hills, AL 84/73
Wachtel, Jared (SO*) Bedford, KY 78/99
ST – Having a couple of seasoned players at both kicker and punter will lend well for the upcoming season but will need to be recruited for both as the backups are questionable fill-ins going past this season. Kicker Adam Autheridge (sr) and punter Jake Seitz (sr) will fill these roles. For the return men on kickoffs and punts, WR Sylvester McCants (sr) will fill both roles, with WR Tyrell Berrian (sr) and CB Darrell Guliford (sr) backing him up. McCants has great skill with great speed and superior agility and should be one of the leading return men in Conference USA this season.