Spencer Perry will be looking to compete for a larger role this spring
Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Football Opens Spring Practice Thursday
3/12/2013 8:12:00 AM | Football
DAVIDSON, N.C. – With a new coaching staff in place and all positions open for competition, the Davidson football team will open their 15-session spring practice schedule Thursday in Richardson Stadium with “Just One Agenda.”
First-year head coach Paul Nichols and his new staff will begin with 65 players on the active roster for the spring, returning 42 of 65 letterwinners from last season. The first session is Thursday at 4:45 p.m., and the Wildcats will practice every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (with the exception of Apr. 2) until the Spring Game. The weekday practices will begin at 4:45 and the Saturday sessions will begin at 11 a.m. The Spring Game will kickoff at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 20.
Nichols has introduced a program mantra of “Just One Agenda” to make sure everyone is working together on a common goal. Simply put, the agenda is to win. However, Nichols, a 2003 graduate of Davidson, understands as well as anyone that winning at Davidson is not simply defined by the score on the scoreboard. Davidson College's mission is to prepare students for lives of leadership and service, thus Nichols wants the Wildcat football team to win academically, socially and in the community as much as he wants them to win on the gridiron.
“Our football program will develop the complete person first and the player will take care of itself,” said Nichols.
In his first few months at the helm, Nichols has worked on the foundation for the off-the-field goals. To ensure everyone is performing in the classroom, he has worked to expand the availability of on-campus academic resources for the football team. To impact the community abroad and at home, he has arranged for the 'Cats to work with charity Hands and Feet to assist children in Haiti and Davidson College Presbyterian Church to mentor children locally. Socially, the team has recently been involved on campus supporting other teams, from women's lacrosse to basketball.
Now the time has come to focus on winning on the field. Building the foundation for success has already been in progress, as the 'Cats have been holding 5:30 a.m. workouts. The next step is to put it all together with a new staff and new playbooks. Read on to learn about what to expect this spring.
Offense
Among the eight returning starters on offense, the Wildcats return first-team all-conference tight end Reese Williams and school all-time passing leader Jonathan Carkhuff, but will be looking to fill the void left by former All-American and all-time school receptions leader, Lanny Funsten. The competition to replace Funsten's touches is wide open, and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur is expected to implement a more balanced attack, so the battle at running back will be amongst the most intriguing this spring.
Quarterback
Rising-senior Jonathan Carkhuff has been starting since his freshman season and became Davidson's all-time passing leader in 2012. A team captain last season, it will take quite the performance to unseat him from the starting role. Of the three other quarterbacks on the roster, Connor Hall, a rookie last season, is the only one that has seen in-game action, going 3-for-8 for 53 yards and a touchdown in two appearances.
Running Backs
While Davidson's passing attack ranked 15th in the nation, the Wildcats struggled in the red zone. Rising-junior Spencer Perry and rising-sophomore David Rogers are expected to battle for the starting nod for the 2013 season as there will be a renewed emphasis on the running game. Perry was Davidson's top-rusher last year, averaging 45.67 yards per game on 106 attempts, while Rogers averaged 30.38 yards and received 72 carries. Fullback Colby Everett also saw action late last season in his first year, and demonstrated that he could be a bruising, effective option as well.
Tight Ends
The familiar duo of rising-senior Reese Williams and rising-junior Trey Huelskamp are expected to lead Davidson once again. Williams enjoyed a breakout season in 2012 after missing much of 2011 due to injury, earning first-team all-conference honors after catching 51 passes for 522 yards and four touchdowns. He was second on the team to Funsten in all three categories, making him the top returning pass catcher. Huelskamp saw a lesser role as a sophomore than he did as a freshman when Williams' injury placed him in the starting lineup, but he will look to continue to improve as a solid receiving threat.
Wide Receivers
Of the nine receivers on Davidson's roster, rising-juniors Tim Hines and Garrett Diehl, and rising-sophomore William Morris are the only ones with starts under their belt. Hines will be looking to bounce back from a sophomore season that began with high expectations but was cut short by injury. As a freshman, Hines led the team with 16.5 yards per catch and was second with five receiving touchdowns. Diehl was emerging as a top target and starter for Carkhuff as injuries riddled the Wildcat receiving corps last season, but an injury cut short his season with two games remaining. Of the wide receivers, he's the top returner after catching 31 passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns last season. Morris started the last two games of the 2012 season and caught 10 passes for 112 yards in seven appearances. Classmates Desi Dockery and Se'Vaughn Carter also saw limited action as rookies and will be looking to make an impact this spring.
Offensive Line
Often starting four underclassmen (three freshman), Davidson's young offensive line gained valuable experience last season and will look to improve with a renewed emphasis on the running game this spring. Right guard Adam Kurtz, an all-conference honorable mention, has been the unit's anchor and is its rising-senior leader. Rising-junior Nelson White started all 11 games last season, as well. Only a late injury prevented Josh Daryoush from starting all 11 contests in his rookie year last season, and Caleb Krause (eight) and Brian Johnson (five) also served as starters. Rising-senior Mark Brannan received starts in the beginning and end of the season, and will look to compete for a spot this season. Alec Bartz and Bobby Freeman also saw limited action last season and will be competing for larger roles this season.
Defense
There will be intense position battles throughout the defense for defensive coordinator Chad Creamer to evaluate. Just five starters return on defense, with the notable departure of all-conference linebacker Patrick Moynahan, who recently set the single-season school record for tackles with 122, and all-conference cornerback Adam Dulberger. The line, linebackers and secondary each lost two starters, but underclassmen are poised to show the new staff that they are ready to step in.
Defensive Line
Defensive end Weston Hawkins, a rising junior, is the lone returning starter, but coach Brett Hayford is excited about the young talent at the position. Rookies Jake Hall, Andrew Hart, Jackson Gomez and Brad Goldsmith all saw action in 2012, especially late in the season. Hall led the group with 18 tackles and could be among the front-runners for a starting nod.
Linebackers
Rising-senior Ben Prater and rising-junior AJ Pignone are the lone returning starters, but not the only 'Cats with experience. Matt Casey was a key contributor last season as a sophomore, appearing in all 11 games, and he finished sixth on the team in tackles with 54, just behind Prater's 57. Classmate Mike D'Andrea will look to compete for more playing time, as well, after appearing in seven games in 2012. Chris Woods saw limited action as a rookie last season on special teams and on defense, but is a potential breakout player. Classmate Theo Jones also saw limited time and earned an increasing role late in the season as injuries accumulated.
Defensive Backs
Rising-junior Bryant Bednarek is the team's top returning tackler after he posted a career-best 77 last season. The bruising free safety took the position over as a freshman after a 14-tackle performance at San Diego and hasn't looked back. With openings at strong safety and cornerback, younger players will have their opportunities to step up. Dan Casey will be returning from a season-ending injury after accumulating 17 tackles in his only three games, while Zach Clark was particularly impressive in last season's win at Valpo. Rising-senior Michael Corbett returns and will look to remain as a starting corner, while rising-junior Colin Merrill will look to take on a bigger role after primarily serving as Dulberger's understudy last season. Matt Williams and Myles Atkins were strong options in the secondary in limited action, and will look to bounce back as injuries abbreviated both of their freshmen seasons in 2012.
Special Teams
Andrew Boehm is the lone punter and kicker on the roster, so he will have ample opportunity to impress the new staff. Toms Bernhards-Callahan will graduate, leaving Diehl and Dockery as the most experienced of potential return men.
First-year head coach Paul Nichols and his new staff will begin with 65 players on the active roster for the spring, returning 42 of 65 letterwinners from last season. The first session is Thursday at 4:45 p.m., and the Wildcats will practice every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (with the exception of Apr. 2) until the Spring Game. The weekday practices will begin at 4:45 and the Saturday sessions will begin at 11 a.m. The Spring Game will kickoff at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 20.
Nichols has introduced a program mantra of “Just One Agenda” to make sure everyone is working together on a common goal. Simply put, the agenda is to win. However, Nichols, a 2003 graduate of Davidson, understands as well as anyone that winning at Davidson is not simply defined by the score on the scoreboard. Davidson College's mission is to prepare students for lives of leadership and service, thus Nichols wants the Wildcat football team to win academically, socially and in the community as much as he wants them to win on the gridiron.
“Our football program will develop the complete person first and the player will take care of itself,” said Nichols.
In his first few months at the helm, Nichols has worked on the foundation for the off-the-field goals. To ensure everyone is performing in the classroom, he has worked to expand the availability of on-campus academic resources for the football team. To impact the community abroad and at home, he has arranged for the 'Cats to work with charity Hands and Feet to assist children in Haiti and Davidson College Presbyterian Church to mentor children locally. Socially, the team has recently been involved on campus supporting other teams, from women's lacrosse to basketball.
Now the time has come to focus on winning on the field. Building the foundation for success has already been in progress, as the 'Cats have been holding 5:30 a.m. workouts. The next step is to put it all together with a new staff and new playbooks. Read on to learn about what to expect this spring.
Offense
Among the eight returning starters on offense, the Wildcats return first-team all-conference tight end Reese Williams and school all-time passing leader Jonathan Carkhuff, but will be looking to fill the void left by former All-American and all-time school receptions leader, Lanny Funsten. The competition to replace Funsten's touches is wide open, and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur is expected to implement a more balanced attack, so the battle at running back will be amongst the most intriguing this spring.
Quarterback
Rising-senior Jonathan Carkhuff has been starting since his freshman season and became Davidson's all-time passing leader in 2012. A team captain last season, it will take quite the performance to unseat him from the starting role. Of the three other quarterbacks on the roster, Connor Hall, a rookie last season, is the only one that has seen in-game action, going 3-for-8 for 53 yards and a touchdown in two appearances.
Running Backs
While Davidson's passing attack ranked 15th in the nation, the Wildcats struggled in the red zone. Rising-junior Spencer Perry and rising-sophomore David Rogers are expected to battle for the starting nod for the 2013 season as there will be a renewed emphasis on the running game. Perry was Davidson's top-rusher last year, averaging 45.67 yards per game on 106 attempts, while Rogers averaged 30.38 yards and received 72 carries. Fullback Colby Everett also saw action late last season in his first year, and demonstrated that he could be a bruising, effective option as well.
Tight Ends
The familiar duo of rising-senior Reese Williams and rising-junior Trey Huelskamp are expected to lead Davidson once again. Williams enjoyed a breakout season in 2012 after missing much of 2011 due to injury, earning first-team all-conference honors after catching 51 passes for 522 yards and four touchdowns. He was second on the team to Funsten in all three categories, making him the top returning pass catcher. Huelskamp saw a lesser role as a sophomore than he did as a freshman when Williams' injury placed him in the starting lineup, but he will look to continue to improve as a solid receiving threat.
Wide Receivers
Of the nine receivers on Davidson's roster, rising-juniors Tim Hines and Garrett Diehl, and rising-sophomore William Morris are the only ones with starts under their belt. Hines will be looking to bounce back from a sophomore season that began with high expectations but was cut short by injury. As a freshman, Hines led the team with 16.5 yards per catch and was second with five receiving touchdowns. Diehl was emerging as a top target and starter for Carkhuff as injuries riddled the Wildcat receiving corps last season, but an injury cut short his season with two games remaining. Of the wide receivers, he's the top returner after catching 31 passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns last season. Morris started the last two games of the 2012 season and caught 10 passes for 112 yards in seven appearances. Classmates Desi Dockery and Se'Vaughn Carter also saw limited action as rookies and will be looking to make an impact this spring.
Offensive Line
Often starting four underclassmen (three freshman), Davidson's young offensive line gained valuable experience last season and will look to improve with a renewed emphasis on the running game this spring. Right guard Adam Kurtz, an all-conference honorable mention, has been the unit's anchor and is its rising-senior leader. Rising-junior Nelson White started all 11 games last season, as well. Only a late injury prevented Josh Daryoush from starting all 11 contests in his rookie year last season, and Caleb Krause (eight) and Brian Johnson (five) also served as starters. Rising-senior Mark Brannan received starts in the beginning and end of the season, and will look to compete for a spot this season. Alec Bartz and Bobby Freeman also saw limited action last season and will be competing for larger roles this season.
Defense
There will be intense position battles throughout the defense for defensive coordinator Chad Creamer to evaluate. Just five starters return on defense, with the notable departure of all-conference linebacker Patrick Moynahan, who recently set the single-season school record for tackles with 122, and all-conference cornerback Adam Dulberger. The line, linebackers and secondary each lost two starters, but underclassmen are poised to show the new staff that they are ready to step in.
Defensive Line
Defensive end Weston Hawkins, a rising junior, is the lone returning starter, but coach Brett Hayford is excited about the young talent at the position. Rookies Jake Hall, Andrew Hart, Jackson Gomez and Brad Goldsmith all saw action in 2012, especially late in the season. Hall led the group with 18 tackles and could be among the front-runners for a starting nod.
Linebackers
Rising-senior Ben Prater and rising-junior AJ Pignone are the lone returning starters, but not the only 'Cats with experience. Matt Casey was a key contributor last season as a sophomore, appearing in all 11 games, and he finished sixth on the team in tackles with 54, just behind Prater's 57. Classmate Mike D'Andrea will look to compete for more playing time, as well, after appearing in seven games in 2012. Chris Woods saw limited action as a rookie last season on special teams and on defense, but is a potential breakout player. Classmate Theo Jones also saw limited time and earned an increasing role late in the season as injuries accumulated.
Defensive Backs
Rising-junior Bryant Bednarek is the team's top returning tackler after he posted a career-best 77 last season. The bruising free safety took the position over as a freshman after a 14-tackle performance at San Diego and hasn't looked back. With openings at strong safety and cornerback, younger players will have their opportunities to step up. Dan Casey will be returning from a season-ending injury after accumulating 17 tackles in his only three games, while Zach Clark was particularly impressive in last season's win at Valpo. Rising-senior Michael Corbett returns and will look to remain as a starting corner, while rising-junior Colin Merrill will look to take on a bigger role after primarily serving as Dulberger's understudy last season. Matt Williams and Myles Atkins were strong options in the secondary in limited action, and will look to bounce back as injuries abbreviated both of their freshmen seasons in 2012.
Special Teams
Andrew Boehm is the lone punter and kicker on the roster, so he will have ample opportunity to impress the new staff. Toms Bernhards-Callahan will graduate, leaving Diehl and Dockery as the most experienced of potential return men.
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