ADA - After claiming a Lone Star Conference North Division Football Championship in 2010, East Central University’s Tigers are primed to take an even bigger step while joining the new Great American Conference in 2011.
ECU, sparked by some big-play capabilities from its defensive unit and a steadily improving offense, posted a 5-6 overall record last season, including an impressive 5-1 mark against LSC North competition.
The season played out in a customary fashion for head coach Tim McCarty, whose first Tiger team in 2009 finished winless at 0-11. McCarty, a former head coach at Tabor College in Kansas, had a 0-10 start in his first season there in 2000, but raveled off a 5-5 season in 2001, 6-4 finish in 2002 and a sparkling 9-2 campaign in 2003 in earning conference and national coaching awards.
This is his second stint at ECU as he coached the Tigers to a 6-4 record in 2004 and a 3-7 finish in 2005 before serving on the staff at the Big 12’s Kansas State for three seasons.
DEFENSE
“It’s basically all starters back for us. These guys either started the whole season or started about half or more of our games,” said McCarty. “We have a lot of players in our system, who are young, but we feel like they have gotten a lot experience.”
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Back for the Tigers is junior defensive end Armonty Bryant, who was named a D2Football.com First Team All-American and a Daktronics Second Team All-American in 2010. He was also selected to Lindy’s Magazine Preseason All-American list for 2011 as well as D2Football.com and Consensus Draft Services.
Bryant was third in the nation in quarterback sacks in 2010 at 13.5, but topped all defensive linemen in the country in that category. He was also among the leaders in NCAA Division II in tackles for loss with 19. The athletic 6-foot, 6-inch, 260-pounder also returned one interception and one fumble for touchdowns last year and blocked four kicks while being named Lone Star Conference North Player of the Week twice and Special Teams Player of the Week once.
He was also voted LSC North Defensive Lineman of the Year as only a sophomore.
“He has added about 15 to 20 pounds, kept his speed and had a great spring for us,” McCarty said.
Expected to occupy the other defensive end spot is Lonnell Rice (6-6, 265), who appeared in 10 of the team’s games and received several starts after registering 5.5 tackles for loss, including a pair of pass breakups in 2010
“He had a very good spring. He is both tall and long and can run,” said McCarty.
Also returning as an end is T.J. Peek, who sat out last season after seeing quite a bit of action as a true freshman, along with transfers Alex King (6-4, 250), Jason Catchings (6-3, 225), Otis Brooks (6-5, 240) and J.J. Hugine (6-4, 244).
“We will be deep and talented at defensive end,” McCarty said.
The nose guard position will have depth as Erik Howell (6-2, 270) returns for his junior season while sophomore Lamares Shields (6-3, 270) and redshirt freshman Dalton Hunter (6-2, 290) could figure into the mix.
“Erik is a converted linebacker and Lamares played significantly last year,” McCarty said. “Dalton was a running back and linebacker in high school.”
Howell notched 20 tackles (14 solo), one for a loss, two pass breakups and a forced fumble last year. Shields totaled eight tackles (four solo) with 1.5 stops for lost yards.
Others who could figure into playing time at nose guard are freshmen newcomers Randy Armstrong (6-5, 230) and Garrett Martin (6-3, 230).
LINEBACKERS
Depth should be a rule of thumb for the Tigers, particularly at outside linebacker with the return of a pair of LSC North Second Team honorees in junior Tyler McGrew (5-11, 185) and sophomore Jameel Whitney (6-1, 215).
“Both have really taken off with our system and really performed well last season,” said McCarty.
McGrew totaled 30 tackles (16 unassisted) with six stops for lost yardage, including three quarterback sacks, to go with a pass breakup and a 67-yard fumble return for a touchdown against West Texas A&M. Whitney, as a true freshman in 2010, made an immediate impact with 34 tackles (23 solo) with 5.5 stops for lost yards and two QB sacks. He also broke up a pass and forced a fumble.
Also anticipating playing time at outside linebacker are junior Dustin Lasell (5-7, 160), along with true freshmen Jamaal Whitney (Jameel’s younger brother) and Nathan Locke.
“Dustin played quite a bit for us last year and made a lot of plays. Nathan started at running back in high school too and has good speed,” McCarty said.
Tarkpor Willie and Stephen Mapp, who have been in the program for a year, could also see some action this season.
At inside linebacker, ECU will be bolstered with the return of senior Kerel James (6-0, 230) and junior Amos Cherry (6-0, 220).
James was fourth on the team in total tackles with 55 last year, including 33 solos. He also had four tackles for lost yardage with one sack and two broken up passes. Cherry was sixth on the squad in stops with 48, including five tackles for lost yards and 1.5 QB sacks.
“Both are very good, hard-nosed type of players,” said McCarty.
Also expected to make an impact and see playing time at inside linebacker are returnee Ken Berry and University of Oklahoma transfer Jerico Rogers.
“Those two really came on in the spring,” McCarty said.
Also possibly figuring into the mix are freshmen Carter Grigg and Dillon Pulliam.
“Overall, we feel like we have depth and talent at linebacker,” said McCarty.
SECONDARY
Bryant wasn’t the only Tiger defensive player to receive high accolades in 2010 as cornerback Dontae Smith (6-1, 180) was chosen as ECU’s other First Team All-LSC North performer after leading the league with six pass interceptions, two of which he returned for scores. Smith, a 6-1, 180-pound senior-to-be, was named to the Daktronics All-Region First Team as was Bryant.
Smith was third on the team in total tackles with 57 (42 solo) to go with six pass breakups and a recovered fumble.
Senior Austin Daniels (5-9, 160) is expected to occupy the other corner after compiling 48 tackles (33 unassisted) with a tackle for loss, three pass interceptions (second on the squad) and a team-leading 10 pass breakups.
“I feel very good about Dontae’s and Austin’s abilities and talent. Both can run,” McCarty said.
Sophomore Reuben Tiller had a breakout year as true freshman and should see playing time as safety after registering 31 tackles (17 solo) with two stops for lost yards and a pair of recovered fumbles from his cornerback spot last year.
“We did a lot of substituting with him in nickel and dime packages last year and he performed well,” said McCarty.
Three redshirts – Qumain Black, Deon Criss and Carlos Nazario – could make an impact while a trio of freshmen of Bacarri Jackson, Deshon Wartley and LeQwaun Heath – may figure into near-future playing time plans.
At safety, the ringleader of the Tiger defense is 6-0, 175-pound safety Norris Wrenn, who has started every game since his freshman year, and was voted a team captain as only a sophomore last year. Wrenn, who was an All-LSC North Second Team pick, finished second on the team in total tackles with 64, including 47 solos to go with three interceptions, three pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles.
Sophomore Markell Walker (6-1, 185) received two honorable mention awards as a safety and return specialist. Perhaps the highlight of his season was a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown during a 20-19 victory at arch-rival Southeastern Oklahoma State. Walker ended up with two picks on the season and topped the team in tackles with 69, including 45 solos, to go with two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a recovered fumble.
One other returning player who could see action at safety is sophomore Brenden Brown (5-10, 190). He saw some significant time in 2010.
Redshirt freshman Chance Carey could figure into playing time as well while freshmen newcomers Marcus Caddell and Shawn Hoagland could make a future impact if not sooner.
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACKS
The Tigers return nine starters on offense, led by senior quarterback Tyler Vanderzee (6-6, 230).
It was a slow start for the Tiger offense in 2010, but headway was made through the course of the season behind the play of Vanderzee.
Vanderzee, in his initial season with ECU last year after transferring from Mt. San Antonio Junior College (Calif.), threw for 2,461 yards and 15 touchdowns while completing 51.5 percent of his passes (189-of-367) with 15 interceptions. However, he threw only five picks in the final five games (one each in a 4-1 finish). Vanderzee was an honorable mention all-conference awardee.
“It feels good to have Tyler back. We expect good things out of him,” McCarty said.
The Tigers will have three other quarterbacks in camp, including Cody Miller (6-5, 225) and Spencer Bond (6-3, 215).
“We have enough competition and talent that all are very capable of seeing the field this season,” said McCarty.
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Protecting Vanderzee and the backfield up front is LSC North Offensive Lineman of the Year Carlos Savala (6-6, 315) at left tackle, along with three other returning starters in left guard Desmund Farris (6-2, 295), center Chad Roark (6-2, 300) and right tackle Rodney Picou (6-5, 300).
Savala was voted Daktronics Second Team All-Region to go with his conference lineman of the year award while Farris and Roark nabbed honorable mention all-conference accolades in 2010.
Junior Tobyn Large (6-3, 305) is a candidate to start at right guard after seeing a lot of action last year. Also vying for starts along the offensive line will be junior Nathan Vogel (6-2, 270), transfer Colton Cline (6-4, 300) and redshirt freshman Burgess Shaw (6-1, 295).
The Tigers also have three true freshmen waiting in the wings in Anthony Mayberry (6-5, 250), Eli Cook (6-3, 255), Tylor Whitfield (6-1, 290) and Travis Hening (6-8, 290).
TIGHT ENDS
ECU returns only two experienced tight ends in sophomore Cody Nall (6-6, 250) and junior Colter Huff (6-6, 214).
As a true freshman, Nall picked up honorable mention all-conference honors for his blocking abilities to go with six receptions for 62 yards while Huff caught seven passes for 68.
Also expected to figure into possible playing time are redshirt junior Aury Barrett (6-1, 210) and true freshman William Kirkpatrick.
WIDE RECEIVERS
The Tigers’ top two returnees will be a pair of seniors in Zack Patteson (6-1, 200) and Chris Espinoza (6-1, 195).
Patteson, an LSC North Second Team pick in 2010, caught a team-leading 50 passes for 809 yards and three touchdowns after earning All-LSC North First Team honors as a sophomore in 2009.
Another capable target for Vanderzee is Espinoza, who led the team with five TD receptions, three of which came in a 22-19 home victory over Eastern New Mexico. His other two touchdown grabs came in a 36-33 win at Texas A&M-Commerce, which clinched the LSC North crown.
“This is really an unknown position other than Zack and Chris,” McCarty said.
The only other two Tigers to see the field for ECU are sophomore LaQuan Harper (5-11, 185) and junior Phillip Pawelek (6-2, 175). Harper was a medical redshirt last season after battling injuries while Pawelek latched on to nine passes for 68 yards.
McCarty is looking to get playing time or a start out of junior college transfers George Robbins (6-4, 190).
Five freshmen newcomers could also provide depth in Adrian Woodard (6-1, 180), Mariano Dillard (6-0, 180), Eric Granado (6-2, 205), Devonte McCully (6-5, 210) and Jordan Robinson (6-2, 185).
“This is an unproven area. We’ve got speed and talent. We’ve just got to find guys who will make plays in the games at that position,” said McCarty.
RUNNING BACKS
Depth in the backfield should give the Tigers a major boost in 2010 after they managed just 2.4 yards per carry. But it was still slightly better than the two previous seasons (1.8 in 2009 and 2.2 in 2008).
Charles Opeseyitan (5-11, 220), a transfer from the University of Tulsa, led ECU rushers by netting 427 yards on 109 carries for a 3.9 yards per carry average and three rushing scores as he earned second team all-conference honors. Opeseyitan had back-to-back 100-plus yard rushing games, including 21 carries for 102 yards in a win over Eastern New Mexico and 121 yards on 28 attempts in a big road victory at Southeastern Oklahoma State.
The Tigers have two other capable returnees in sophomores Domonique Massengill (5-11, 205) and Justin Todd (5-7, 175). Massengill had a season-best 104 yards rushing on 21 attempts in a home loss to Incarnate Word as he finished the season, netting 238 yards on 78 tries for a 3.1 yards per carry average.
Two newcomers and junior college transfers in Chad Winbush (6-1, 205) and Titus Mobley (5-11, 205) should also make an impact in the backfield.
Winbush was a Second Team All-American at the junior college level last season.
“We feel like our running back position has real good talent and depth,” McCarty said. “We have good depth and talent on offense in general. We just have a couple of positions where we need to produce better. Consistency will be the key to success. We’re just looking this season to see if anyone takes that step forward.”
SPECIAL TEAMS
Freshman deep snapper Dalton Wortham is back after picking up an LSC North honorable mention award in 2010 as a true freshman.
The Tigers may have to rely on a junior college transfer – Brian Gonzalez – to handle the kicking and punting chores.
Walker and Smith are ECU’s return specialists. Walker ran back 18 punts for 169 yards for a 9.4 average and one touchdown of 39 yards for the Tigers’ first score in a 23-0 home victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State. Smith ran back 14 kickoffs for 321 yards, a 22.9 average. His longest return went for 46 yards.
