SHAW FOOTBALL 2005 

Since the return of football in 2002, the Shaw University campus has been buzzing with the traditional fall excitement.  Including the 2002 club season, the Bears have posted back-to-back 7-3 season and sent a buzz around the country last season with a 10-2 mark including the CIAA and the Pioneer Bowl Championships.  With 20 starters returning, it is easy to understand the reason for excitement.  Adding to that fact, the Bears are entering the 2005 season with a seven game win streak.

 Going into his third season, Bears head coach Deondri Clark who is sporting an impressive (17-5/.772%/2yrs) record, is keeping his promise to the young men. “Those who stay, you will be champions”, is the statement he gave the players when they arrived three years ago.  “I am really proud of the young men, but now I have made them aware, that success is past and this year the target is on us.  Not only in the CIAA, but nationally,” stated Clark. 

The Bears are preparing to embark on a major schedule that has them opening the season on August 27^th hosting perennial power Carson-Newman who won the 2003 South Atlantic Conference Championship.  The following weekend, they will match-up with cross town rival St. Augustine’s College.  After a trip to Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Fl, the Bears will face CIAA Western Division contender N.C. Central in the Willie E. Gary Triangle Classic.    Back-to-back road trips to CIAA Eastern Division rivals Bowie State and Virginia Union will follow and then they will host Elizabeth City State and Virginia State.  They will close out the regular season at St. Paul’s who is rejoining the CIAA football competition for the first time since 1980.

 The stage is set for an exciting year, so let’s take a look at the Bears. 

OFFENSE 

Junior quarterback Jermonty Kimbrough (5’11, 185/JR-Mobile, AL) will be the catalyst once again for the Bears offense.  After a stellar first year that saw him capture the 2003 CIAA Rookie of the Year honors, with 2,596 total offensive yards and 19 touchdowns.  Last season was an up and down campaign in a new offensive system.  Last year, he completed 97 of 237 passes for 1,465 yards and 10 touchdowns.  His career totals are 242 completions of 547 passes (.442%) for 3, 544 yards and 26 touchdowns.  He has also rushed for 732 yards on 197 carries, with five touchdowns.

 Adding another punch to the Bears offense is a veteran backfield with the return of All-CIAA running backs Byron Cary (5’10, 199/SO-Havelock, NC) and Dion McIver (6’0, 201/SR-Lillington, NC).  Cary returns this season after missing all of last season with an ankle injury.  His freshman season was outstanding with 914 yards and 11 touchdowns on 177 carries, which landed him on the All CIAA first team.  He had two 200 yard games.  McIver became Shaw’s first 1,000 yard rusher, carrying the ball 287 times for 1, 168 yards and eight touchdowns.  He recorded four games of 100 yards rushing or more, and was named first team All CIAA and second team All Daktronics. 

The fullback position will be held down by Terrance Ford (5’11, 201/JR-Clewiston, FL) who had an outstanding sophomore campaign showing his versatility not only as a blocker but also as an offensive weapon.  He was the Bears second leading rusher with 264 yards on 45 carries and five touchdowns. 

Talented and deep is a great way to describe the wide receiver position.  With a combined 117 receptions for 1, 742 yards and 12 touchdowns from the top five returnees from last season, the receivers are definitely another strong part of the Bears offense.  Damon Harrison (6’3, 185/SR-Newark, NJ) was the team’s deep threat and leading receiver.  Last year he caught 31 passes for 708 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 22.8 yards per catch.  His three biggest games of the season were the last three against Kentucky State, the CIAA Championship game and the Pioneer Bowl.  In those three, he caught 14 passes for 376 yards and three touchdowns.  Mark Bransom (6’1, 190/JR-Fayetteville, NC) was the Bears possession receiver with 26 receptions for 431 yards and three touchdowns, 16.6 yards per reception average.  Kenneth Robinson (5’7, 174/JR-Tallahassee, FL) and Robbie Henson (6’2, 182/JR-Tracy, CA) are capable receivers as .is speedster Anthony Frost (5’9, 176/JR-Pahokee, FL). 

After sitting out last season, Calvin Grimes (6’2, 218/JR-) returns to hold down the tight end position.  In 2003, he had nine receptions for 121 yards, but an injury kept him out of all but four games. 

 The veteran anchor of the offensive line will be tackle Courtney Safford (6’5, 310/JR-Augusta, GA).  Safford, who has outstanding size and foot work, has the potential to be one of the best linemen in the country.  He was an All-CIAA second team last year and he has started every game for the Bears since his freshman year. 

The battle for left tackle will be between Chase Dixon (6’4, 291/JR-Lenoir, NC) and Marcus McClendon (6’2, 321/JR-Winter Garden, FL).  Dixon started for most of last season at left tackle.  McClendon saw a lot of playing time towards the end of last season at right guard and is a versatile offensive lineman.  Christopher Hill (6’4, 310/JR-Rocky Mount, NC) who is one of the most athletic and strongest linemen on the team will start at left guard.  Anthon Spates (5’9, 298/SO-Valdosta, GA) had an immediate impact as a freshman last season, stepping in at center.

DEFENSE 

The Bears defense was extremely talented and aggressive last season and the same will be in place this year.  However, gone is All-American linebacker Chris Peavy, who was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, which is the best player in Division II football.  That void must be filled, along with tackle A.J. McDonald, one of the keys to the Bears stopping the run.

The Bears were ranked number one in the country in total defense and for the second straight season were second in the country in rushing defense.  Returning from that success is nine starters.

At the end positions David Coleman (6’2, 250/SR-Miami, FL) is the top returnee and will be counted on for his leadership. Coleman was injured at the beginning of the season, but still managed 20 tackles, 11 for loss and five sacks, including three in the Pioneer Bowl.

Christopher Tate (5’9, 272/JR-Raleigh, NC) was the other key at the tackle position, recording 25 tackles last season.  Filling the void left by McDonald will be Jerry Shaw (6’3, 270/JR-Rocky Mount, NC) who started at defensive end for the majority of last season and will move back to his natural tackle position.  He recorded 17 tackles, four for loss and one sack on his way to being named to the All CIAA second team.

Even with the loss of Peavy, the linebacker position is arguably the most talented, but the least experience position on the team.  Walter Wells (6’2, 190/SO-Nashville, NC) was the team’s third leading tackler with 62, 13 for losses and three sacks.  He is slated to start at the “Willie” linebacker position.  Aaron Woodard (6’0, 211/SO-Lake Charles, LA) was the Bears most consistent linebacker in 2003 and will compete for the “Willie” position, but can also play the Sam position.  He missed all of last season due to injury.  In 2003, he recorded 33 tackles, 10 for loss, four sacks and two interceptions and was named to the CIAA All Rookie team.

Ralph Davis (6’1, 245/SO-Monroe, NC) is the vocal leader amongst the linebackers and will be the main stay in the middle.  Hermel Johnson (6’2, 214/SO-Atlanta, GA) had a solid rookie campaign and will see plenty of action.  Galen Houston (6’0, 220/SO) also had a great rookie campaign, as All American Peavy took the youngster under his wing.  Houston recorded 36 tackles, four for loss and is slated to start at the “Sam” linebacker position.

All four starters return in the secondary led by All American candidate Torrance “T” Nunnally (5’11, 163/JR-Danville, VA) at free safety.  Nunnally has started every game for the Bears since the return of football (32-straight).  He was the team’s leading tackler with 64 and interceptor with six and was second in pass break-ups (seven). All American and All CIAA corner back Shawn Woodard (6’0, 180/SR-Rock Hill, SC) is returning for his final campaign.   The two time first team All CIAA performer played with an injured hamstring most of last season and still had four interceptions and led the team in pass break-ups (10).  Woodard led the nation in interceptions (13) in 2003.  Red shirt sophomore Bryan Cumberlander (5’7, 150/SO-Detroit, MI) had a solid campaign last year and will see plenty of action. Devin Chatman (5’10, 168/JR-Greensboro, NC) will also be in the rotation in the secondary. 

SPECIAL TEAMS

Damon Harrison (6’3, 185/SR-Neward, NJ) will enter preseason camp as the top returning punter, with the graduation of last year’s starter William Sanders.

Chester Charles (5’9, 150/JR-Baton Rouge, LA) will return as the Bears top place kicker.  He connected on four of six field goals last season with two game winners.  Charles career marks include 48 of 58 extra points and 5-8 field goals.