Scouting: ECSU
Elizabeth City State University
Record: 1-0 (1-0)
2009 Record: 7-4 (5-2)
Mascot: Vikings
Conference: Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
Head Coach: Waverly Tillar, 8th season
Located: Elizabeth City, NC
Enrollment: 3,025
Last Week: The Vikings took on conference foe Johnson C. Smith last week. Even though they only totaled fewer offensive yards (372) that Smith, ECSU won easily at home, 27-45. Smith was able to move the ball up and down the field, especially by air (308 yds), but two intereceptions and two fumbles cost them. One INT was returned for a td after Smith had cut a 24-7 lead down to 24-21, and the Vikings pulled away after that.
Players to Watch
- Creven Powell (QB, #12, 6-2/180) – Returns as the starter after only completing 47.5% of his passes last season and finishing with more INTs than TDs.Was 19-for-27 last week for 240 yards, 1 td and 1 int.
- Daronte McNeill (RB, #8, 6-2/215) – Last year’s leading rusher – as a freshman – returns to lead the ground attack again. He had 83 yards in week one and averaged 4.3 ypc which was exactly his average last season.
- Cedric Blacknall (RB, #28, 6-0/190) – Returns as the backup running back. Last year it was almost a two-back system. Blacknall actually had more touchdown carries than McNeill.
- Dexter Manley (WR, #5, 6-3/190) – Manley is a senior who led the team in receiving and picked up where he left off. He had five receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown last week. Two of the top receivers from last year were held in check last week (Jermain Lindsay and Karvin Gwaltney) while Manley continued to lead the team. They didn’t complete a lot of passes last year, but the bulk of the receivers are back.
- Offensive Line (Avg 6-2/308) – They are big, some very big. And they are all upperclassmen. And fyi, the reason the average is just 308 is due to the 260 lbs. center. The right side of the line are 350 and 330.
- Defense – Returns the top six tacklers from a year ago. Had seven players with 6 tackles or more last week.
- Malcolm Jenkins (DE, #92, 6-5/235) – With a body type that should be very familiar to UCA fans, Jenkins dominated opposing offensive lines last season. He wracked up 22.5 tfl, 11.5 sacks, and 55 total tackles. He had 2.5 tfl last week, including one sack. He also was credited with eight qb hurries. The offensive line will have their hands full.
- Tolber Matthews (LB, #11, 6-2/225) – The leading tackler returns. And if Jenkins isn’t in the backfield, Matthews might be.
Football Entrance
If you want to be surprised by the football team’s new tunnel entrance, don’t “read more.” If you want to see what showed up for the student pep-rally thing from last week, you can check it out.