North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary Hahn's Scouting Report
8/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 28, 2002
#25 (AP) NC STATE (1-0) vs. EAST TENNESSEE STATE (0-0)
DATE: Saturday, August 31, 2002
TIME: Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. (EDT) at Carter Finley Stadium (51,500)
RADIO: Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network. AIRTIME: 6:00 p.m. (EDT)
TELEVISION: None
OPPONENT--There is a quiet optimism about the 2002 season for the Buccaneers. Coming off its third straight winning campaign (6-5, 4-4), ETSU could have the ammunition to take a shot at the top teams in the Southern Conference and challenge for a spot in the NCAA 1-AA playoffs. The Street & Smith preseason poll ranked the Bucs eighth nationally. However, Head Coach Paul Hamilton and his staff, now in their sixth year, have some work to do.
Only two starters return on offense, but every starter returns on the other side of the football giving the Bucs potentially one of the best defensive units in school history. They're hoping the defense is good enough to carry the team until the offense jells.
Offensively, Hamilton believes the talent is there to improve on last season when the Bucs averaged less than 20 points and 254 yards a game, but he'll have to develop an offensive line with five new starters. Two junior college transfers, a guard and tackle, were brought in to help. The Bucs also need stability and consistency at quarterback. For the second straight season, they'll have a new signal caller.
Sophomore Dashannon Gamble (5-11, 190) is listed as the starter at quarterback with sophomore Jason Davis (6-0, 200) and senior Jatavis Sanders (5-11, 190) a transfer from NC State, are the back-ups. Sanders is the only one of the three with any game experience. He passed for 194 yards and one score in his backup role in 2001 and showed an improved grasp of the offense. Gamble had an impressive spring a year ago, but was forced to miss the 2001 season with academic problems. He again had a strong showing in spring, proving he can make things happen with his athleticism. Davis is in his first year with ETSU after transferring from Virginia Tech.
ETSU is also looking for a tailback after losing its top two rushers from a year ago. The Bucs are going with speed over size at that position. Sophomore Marcus Barnes (5-8, 190), a track standout, caught the eye of the coaching staff in the spring and moved to the top of the depth chart. Providing the leadership in the backfield will be a pair of solid fullbacks in senior Scott Carter (5-9, 225) and junior Nick Spearman (6-0, 225). The pair combined to rush for 352 yards and six touchdowns in 2001.
Led by All-America candidate Cecil Moore, the receiving corps is also strong. An All-American and consensus all-conference selection last season, Moore led the SoCon in catches (57) and yardage (908). Rated among the top five receivers in I-AA, he is a versatile player that proved a valuable asset for the Bucs returning punts, leading the SoCon in that category (13.0 ypr.). Junior Andrew Nuckolls (5-9, 175) was second to Moore in receptions (14) and figures to have a prominent role as a receiver again this season from a slot position. Adding depth are seniors Mike Rader (6-2, 190) and Kareem Coffin (5-8, 165). However, ETSU must replace its all-conference tight end in Nick Hendrickson. Junior Randy Grubb (6-4, 235) is listed as the starter.
Defensively, ETSU has an experienced, confident group that ranked in Division 1-AA's top 30 last season, allowing 334 ypg.). It's also a defense that runs well, but allowed opponents 183 yards rushing a year ago. Led by all-SoCon tackle Brandon Calton (6-3, 290), the defensive front appears solid and goes seven deep. For a second straight year, Calton led the line with 46 stops and four sacks, second on the team. Add Academic all-Region performer Kai Schreckenberg (6-2, 285, Sr.) and Travis Williams (6-2, 285, Jr.), and ETSU has one of the top defensive lines in the SoCon. It accounted for more than 100 tackles and 12 sacks a year ago.
Hamilton believes the linebacker corps in his 3-4 scheme could prove to be one of the best in the conference and possibly the nation. Of the eight players who saw action at linebacker last season, seven return for the 2002 campaign, including the team's leading tackler, Mike Cornegay (5-10, 210, Jr.). "I am really excited about this group," said Hamilton. "Marco Bryant (6-2, 240, Sr.), Scott Brumett (6-4, 250, So.) and Lamar Beam (6-2, 230, So.) at outside linebacker all have size and can run and are going to be a solid group. At inside linebacker Justin Reiner (6-0, 240, Sr.) along with Mike Cornegay and Andrew Foerster (6-2, 215, Jr.) give us a lot of guys that have played a lot of football for us." Forester piled up 44 tackles in just six games and is an aggressive presence inside. Bryant made 48 stops in just six games.
While the secondary is young (two sophomores and two juniors) it played well enough last season to be ranked 12th in the nation. Tony Tiller (6-0, 175, Jr.)and Allen Davis (5-11, 175, So.) are solid at corner. Tiller became one of the top defensive backs in the league, leading the SoCon in interceptions with seven and finishing fifth in the nation in that category. He also proved to be a sure tackler, with 51 of his 55 stops solo hits. His efforts earned him All-America recognition by Don Hansen's Football Gazette. Davis was the team's number-two tackler with 59 stops.
Montreal Harkley (6-1, 190, Jr.) and Gerald Sensabaugh (6-0, 200 So.)were outstanding as the Bucs' safeties in 2001, combining for over 100 tackles and four sacks. Sensabaugh earned national Player of the Week honors as a true freshman when he made the interception that sealed the upset of No. 1 Georgia Southern.
On special teams, punting duties are in good hands. Junior Aaron Bass (6-0, 195) ranked 14th in the nation a year ago (41.0 ypp.). Sanpper, Adam Howell (6-3, 230, Sr.), returns for his third straight season while ETSU's kick returners are an experienced group. Moore led the SoCon in punt returns. Andrew Nuckolls and Mondo Miller ( 5-6, 165, Sr.) are experienced and dangerous kickoff returners. The only question mark is place-kicker. Scott Salmons (6-3, 205, Jr.). Salmons saw limited action last year converting on 2-4 field goal attempts with a long of 42 yards. His back up is true freshman Braye Walters who will handle kickoffs.
INJURIES--NC State: PK Adam Kiker- Probable; back spasms; CB A.J Davis-Out; fractured fibula; WR Dovonte Edwards-Probable; knee sprain; DT Dwayne Herndon-Probable; ankle sprain; TE T.J. Williams-Questionable; shoulder sprain; TB Josh Brown- Questionable; knee sprain. East Tennessee: None reported.
