Winston-Salem State University Rams Football Coaching Staff

WSSU Football Coaching Staff The Kermit Blount File: Born May 16, 1958 in Richmond, VA

Kermit Blount

Family Wife – Eva Son – Bryan Daughter – April

➤ WSSU Head Football Coach ➤ 15th Season (81-64-3) ➤ Winston-Salem State University ‘80

Education Winston-Salem State University 1980 – B.S. in Physical Education Playing History Winston-Salem State University, 1975-1978 Quarterback (1975-78), four-year starter All-CIAA Selection (1977 and 1978) All-America selection (1978) CIAA Champion (1977 and 1978) 5th all-time in WSSU passing yards As A Head Coach Year School 1993 WSSU 1994 WSSU 1995 WSSU 1996 WSSU 1997 WSSU 1998 WSSU 1999 WSSU 2000 WSSU 2001 WSSU 2002 WSSU 2003 WSSU 2004 WSSU 2005 WSSU 2006 WSSU Totals

Record Bowl 6-4-1 6-5 4-4-2 4-7 6-4 5-5 8-3 * Pioneer (W) 9-3 * Pioneer (L) 8-3 4-6 7-3 4-6 6-4 4-7 81-64-3

* - Denotes CIAA conference champions As An Assistant Coach Year School 1983 East Carolina 1984 Howard 1985 Howard 1986 Howard 1987 Howard 1988 Howard 1989 S.C. State 1990 S.C. State 1991 S.C. State 1992 S.C. State Totals 81-64-3

Record 8-3 2-8 4-7 8-3 9-1 * 7-4 5-6 4-6 7-4 7-4

Bowl

* - Denotes MEAC conference champions Coaching Honors 1999 CIAA Coach of the Year 1999 D.C. Pigskin Coach of the Year 2000 CIAA Coach of the Year 2000 D.C. Pigskin Coach of the Year 2000 100% Wrong Club Coach of the Year

There is little question that Winston-Salem State University head football coach Kermit Blount has established himself as one of the premiere collegiate coaches not only in Division I-Championship Subdivision play, but in all of college football. Blount, who is entering his 15th season as the head coach of the WSSU football program is a proven winner. His teams utilize hard work, attention to detail, and game preparation as their tools for success. One needs to look no further than the Rams’ back-to-back CIAA Championships in 1999 and 2000 to realize that this formula is one that produces results. Coach Blount has long been associated with football programs that have experienced phenomenal success and he has been a key ingredient in building the success of those programs over the more than 20 seasons on the bench during his coaching tenure. In all he has been in a leadership role with teams that have won a total of six conference titles at both the NCAA Division I and Division II levels. Blount began his coaching career in his home state of Virginia at Armstrong Kennedy High School in Richmond as a quarterbacks coach and assistant offensive coordinator. Following two seasons at the high school level Blount moved on to the collegiate ranks in 1983. In 1983 he became a graduate assistant and assistant quarterbacks coach at East Carolina University where he would begin his collegiate coaching career. Following his stint with the Pirates, Blount moved on to Washington D.C. and Howard University where he assumed the responsibilities of offensive coordinator from 1984-89 under Bison head coach Willie Jeffries. Soon after his arrival in the nation’s capital, Coach Blount’s presence was felt as he directed a potent Bison offense to the 1987 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship. Following his time in Washington he spent four more years as part of Jeffries’ staff at South Carolina State University (MEAC) before returning to his alma mater, Winston-Salem State University, as the head football coach in 1993. A man accustomed to success, one who has experienced only four losing seasons in his 15 years as a head football coach at the collegiate level, has been the driving force in preparing the Rams for play at the Division I level. Blount’s eye for talent has shone brightly over his career as he and his coaching staff have been responsible for recruiting and coaching student-athletes that have earned a total of 106 All-Conference selections. As well Blount has coached a pair

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of conference player of the year recipients, one All-America selection and a two-time Academic All-America selection. Since his arrival back in Winston-Salem, Blount has amassed a fourteen-year mark of 8164-3 (.547), including three CIAA Championship appearances, a pair of CIAA titles, and two Pioneer Bowl appearances. In addition, he was honored as the 1999 and 2000 CIAA Coach of the Year, the 1999 and 2000 D.C. Pigskin Coach of the Year and 2000 100% Wrong Club Coach of the Year during a two-year span in which he led Winston-Salem State University to back-toback conference titles. Coach Blount is a member of several professional organizations, including but not limited to: The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Football Coaches Association, and the Black College Football Coaches Association. Blount has developed and shaped the careers of hundreds of Winston-Salem State University student-athletes and has seen five former Rams move on to the professional ranks in the National Football League. Not only has Blount helped to shape the futures of former student-athletes at WSSU, he has also helped to guide the careers of countless assistant coaches and coordinators who have been fortunate enough to work under the tutelage of the awardwinning head coach. A talent developer both on the field and off, Blount has seen four of his former assistant coaches move on to successful head coaching careers at the collegiate level. A 1980 alumnus of Winston-Salem State University, Blount enjoyed a long and fruitful playing career as a Ram. As a four-year starter at quarterback at WSSU, Blount guided the Rams to back-to-back CIAA titles in 1977 and 1978 earning all-conference and All-America honors along the way. The 1978 All-American sat atop the WSSU record books for more than 25 years before his 3,330 career passing yards were surpassed by quarterback protégé Joshua McGee in 2004. Coach Blount is married to the former Ava Harris of Richmond, Virginia and they are the proud parents of a daughter April, and a son Bryan. Blount will lead the Rams into their first season of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football action in 2007.

WSSU Football Coaching Staff Blount’s All-Time Record Versus

First-Team All-CIAA Players In The Coach Blount Era

OPPONENT . . . . . . RECORD

PLAYER-POSITION

Bethune-Cookman . . . . . . . 0-1

Shawn Colvin-DB . . . . . . . . . . 1993,1996 Kelly Goodman-OL . . . . . . . . . . . . 1993 Niam Moore-DB . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1993 Rodney Witherspoon-DE . . . . . . . . . 1993 William Barringer-OL . . . . . . . . . . . 1994 Oronde Gadsden-WR . . . . . . . . . . . 1994 Richard Huntley-RB . . . . . . . . 1994,1995 LaTori Workman-DL . . . . . . . . . 1995,1996 Eric Hendley-RB . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1996 Eric McDavid-OL . . . . . . . . . . 1996,1997 Taiwan Everette-LB . . . . . . . . . . . . 1997 Brian Hurlocker-OL . . . . . . . . . . . . 1997 Shawn Thomas-K . . . . . . . . . . 1997,1999 Thomas Washington-DL . . . 1997,1998,1999 Brian Andrews-OL . . . . . . . . . 1999,2000 Carnell Brown-LB . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1999 Terrie Newkirk-RB . . . . . . . . . 1999,2000 Calvin Bryant-LB . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2000 Errick Hargrove-DB . . . . . . . . . . . . 2000 Stephon Kelly-S . . . . . . . . . . . 2000,2001 Robert Mackey-DE . . . . . . . . . 2000,2001 Ronald Pegues-OL . . . . . . . . . . . . 2000 Cory Williams-DL . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2000 Tory Woodbury-QB . . . . . . . . . . . . 2000 Marcus McNair-OL . . . . . . . . . 2001,2002 Ashton Oakley-K . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2001 Willie Byrd-RB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2002 Arnell Wooten-TE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2002 Brandon Free-WR . . . . . . . . . . . . 2002 Martin Hicks-KR . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2002 Brandon Hussey-KR . . . . . . . . . . . 2003 Martin Hicks-WR . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2003 Jed Bines-RB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2004 Emmanuel Akah-OL . . . . . . . . . . . 2004 Brian Scott-OL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2004 Phillip Betts-OL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2004 Martin Hicks-RB . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2005 Jason Holman-DL . . . . . . . . . . . . 2005 Jerome Dunbar-OL . . . . . . . . . . . . 2005

Bowie State . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3 Carson-Newman . . . . . . . . 1-3 Catawba . . . . . . . . . . . .

0-4

Coastal Carolina . . . . . . . .

0-1

Elizabeth City State . . . . . . . 7-3 Fayetteville State . . . . . . . 8-5-1 Florida A&M . . . . . . . . . .

0-1

Fort Valley State . . . . . . . .

2-0

Grambling State . . . . . . . .

0-2

Hampton . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-2 Howard . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 Johnson C. Smith . . . . . . . 12-1 Livingstone . . . . . . . . . . 9-3-1 North Carolina A&T . . . . . . . 1-7 North Carolina Central . . . . .

8-5

Norfolk State . . . . . . . . . 1-2-1 Virginia State . . . . . . . . . . 5-6 Virginia Union . . . . . . . . . 11-4 Savannah State . . . . . . . . . 2-0 South Carolina State . . . . . .

1-3

Southern Ill.-Carbondale . . . .

0-1

St. Augustine’s . . . . . . . . . 4-0 Tuskegee . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 West Virginia Tech. . . . . . . . 1-0 Wofford . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-0 TOTAL . . . . . . . . . . . 81-64-3

WINNING % . . . . . . .

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(.547)

YEAR(S)

WSSU Football Coaching Staff The Mike Ketchum File:

Born Jan. 9, 1956 in Huntington, West Va. Family Wife – Belinda Son – Matt Daughter – Lilly Education Guilford College, 1979 1979 – B.A. in Business University of Florida, 1984 1984 – M.A. in Education Administration Playing History Guilford College, 1974-78 Defensive Lineman Defensive MVP in 1978 Sat out 1977 season due to injury Coaching Honors 1991 ODAC Coach of the Year 1997 ODAC Coach of the Year Coach Blount on Ketchum: “Mike is the 3-5 guru. He is one of the best in the business and has a way of instilling confidence in our players on the defensive side of the football. I always expect us to be solid on defense with him in charge.”

Mike Ketchum ➤ WSSU Defensive Coordinator ➤ 3rd Season ➤ Guilford ‘78 Mike Ketchum, a man who spent 17 years coaching football at nearby Guilford College in Greensboro, NC, the last 14 of those years as the head coach, is entering into his third season as the Rams’ defensive coordinator. Ketchum resigned as football coach at Guilford in December of 2004 and became an Assistant Director of Athletics there before accepting the coordinator position at WinstonSalem State where he has completely transformed the WSSU defensive corps into one of the most feared offensestoppers in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Ketchum has been responsible for turning around a Ram defensive unit that ranked near the bottom of the conference in five statistical categories in the final year before his arrival in Winston-Salem, NC. Ketchum’s first season as the Rams’ Defensive Coordinator in 2005 was one in which Ketchum made sweeping changes, improving the Rams from dead last in pass defense to fifth in the conference in the same category by season’s-end. The changes continue as Ketchum has signed a stellar recruiting class and has seen success in the switch from a traditional 4-3 defense to a 3-5 formation. Since Ketchum’s arrival on the campus of Winston-Salem State University the Rams have made vast improvements in every defensive statistical category and have seen a pair of WSSU defensive alumnus’ earn tryouts with National Football League clubs.

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This season Ketchum will return a talented corps of defensive personnel as the Rams enter into their first official year as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). No stranger to collegiate coaching, Ketchum, a 1978 graduate of Guilford College, turned in a 53-85 record as the Quakers’ head coach. He is second in Guilford history in wins and was the ODAC Coach of the Year recipient in 1991 and 1997 when the Quakers won league titles. In 1994 Ketchum led Guilford College to an 8-2 record one which helped them to crack into the NCAA Division III South Region rankings for the first time in the program’s history. Ketchum got his start in football as a standout defensive lineman at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC. During a stellar playing career at Guilford College Ketchum was named the team’s Defensive MVP during his senior season (1978). Following his impressive playing career Ketchum moved on to his first collegiate coaching job as a graduate assistant at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. While at UF Ketchum completed coursework to earn a M.A. in Education Administration in 1984 while serving a pair of seasons on the nationally-ranked Gator’s football staff. The 51 year-old Ketchum is married to his wife of 30 years, the former Belinda Rowan. The couple have two children, a son Matt (20), and a daughter Lilly (16). They reside in Greensboro, NC.

WSSU Football Coaching Staff The Nick Calcutta File: Born July 6, 1958 in Ashland, PA Family Wife – Judy Daughter – Nicole Education Millersville State University, 1982 1982 – B.S. in Secondary Education Playing History Millersville University, 1979 Offensive Line, one-year starter Mansfield University 1977-78 Offensive Line, two-year starter Coach Blount on Calcutta: “Nick is a great addition to what we are doing here at Winston-Salem State. With him joining the staff it will take a lot of the burden off of what I had to do last year [serving as Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator]. He is definitely going to make our offense more efficient.” “I have worked with Nick several times throughout the course of my career. We helped to revive the program at Howard in the early 80’s and then moved to South Carolina State and had some good years there before we split and ventured on our separate ways. I am very excited about having him back and getting to work with him again.”

The Keith Gaither File: Born Sept. 4, 1974 in Baltimore, MD Family Wife – Mona Savonne Daughter – Jonesha Son - Akeem Education Elon University, 1997 1997 – B.A. in Sociology Playing History Elon University, 1993-96 Free Safety, four-year starter All-South Region 1994 and 1995 All-American 1995 Elon Defensive MVP 1994 and 1995 Coach Blount on Gaither: “Keith is a very valuable member of our staff. He is now our recruiting coordinator and he brings a lot of energy and charisma to our secondary. We are happy to have him with us on a full time, permanent basis. We are looking for our secondary to come together under his guidance.”

Nicholas Calcutta ➤ WSSU Offensive Coordinator ➤ 1st Season ➤ Millersville ‘82 Calcutta joins the WSSU football coaching staff for his first season in 2007 where he will serve as the Rams’ Offensive Coordinator. Calcutta comes to WSSU from Howard University where he served as offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for the Bison. Prior to his coaching tenure at Howard University he served as the Offensive Coordinator at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. A native of Ashland, PA, Nick graduated from North Schuylkill High School before matriculating to Mansfield University. From there he went to Millersville University where he earned a B.S. degree in Secondary Education in 1982. In 1983 Nick was outside linebackers coach at Southern Illinois (Carbondale) which won the NCAA Division I-AA National Championship. In 1984 he served as Offensive and Recruiting Coordinators at St. Joseph’s College (Rensselaer, IN) and was outside linebackers coach at Memphis State in 1985.

Calcutta joined the Howard University coaching staff for three seasons (1986-88) as Offensive Line Coach and Administrative Assistant and then spent the next four years as the Offensive Line Coach at South Carolina State University (1989-92). Named the Offensive Coordinator at the University at Buffalo in 1993 and 1994, he moved on to Offensive Line and Tight Ends coach at Tennessee State in 1995 and then moved on to Recruiting Coordinator and Defensive Line coach at Delaware State before spending three years (1997-99) as Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Line Coach at Austin Peay State University. He then moved on to Savannah State University where he was the Offensive Line Coach, Pro Liason, and Director of Football Operations for two seasons (2000-01). Nick is married to the former Judy Crews of Carbondale, Illinois and the couple has a two year old daughter Nicole.

Keith Gaither ➤ WSSU Defensive Backs Coach/ Recruiting Coordinator ➤ 3rd Season ➤ Elon University ‘97 The 2007 season will mark Gaither’s third year as a member of the Winston-Salem State University football coaching staff. A 1997 graduate of Elon University he will be primarily concerned with coaching the WSSU defensive backs as well as serving as the Rams’ recruiting coordinator. A standout collegiate football player, Gaither was a four-year starter at free safety at Elon University in Elon, NC. An All-South Region selection in both his junior and senior seasons at Elon he was named a Division II All-American in 1995. Following his graduation from Elon in 1997, Gaither began his coaching career as an assistant football coach at Greensboro College in Greensboro, NC. After a pair of seasons at Greensboro College he accepted a position as the defensive line and defensive backs coach at Tusculum College in Greenville, TN. In 2000 Gaither started a five-year career as a teacher and football coach at Thomasville City Schools in Thomasville, NC before accepting his current position at WSSU in the summer of 2005.

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This season he returns a very talented WSSU defensive depth chart and he will look to help a WSSU pass defense that saw marked improvement last season. Gaither is married to his wife of seven years, the former Mona Savonne Davis of Thomasville, NC and the couple reside in Kernersville, NC.

WSSU Football Coaching Staff The Aaron Federspiel File: Born Mar. 2, 1973 in Houghton, MI Family Wife – Angela Son – Austin Education Winston-Salem State University, 2003 2003 – B.S. in Sport Management Playing History Central Michigan University, 1991-1992 Offensive Line, starter in 1992 Winston-Salem State University 2000-02 Offensive Line, three-year starter 2000 CIAA Commissioner’s All-Academic Team 2001 All-CIAA First-Team 2001 CIAA Commissioner’s All-Academic Team 2001 Verizon Academic All-District 2002 CIAA Commissioner’s All-Academic Team 2002 All-CIAA First-Team 2002 Verizon Academic All-District 2002 Black College All-American Coach Blount on Federspiel: “Aaron is very dedicated to Ram football. He is an extremely hard worker and has a great rapport with our players. He is one of most diverse coaches on our staff and lends his expertise in a variety of areas. We are fortunate to have him as a part of our staff.”

The Cody Crill File:

Born Sept. 25, 1978 in San Angelo, TX Family Wife – Kendra Daughter – Cathryn Education Angelo State University, 2002 2002 – B.S. in Kinesiology Angelo State University, 2004 2004 – M.S. in Kinesiology Playing History Angelo State University, 1999-2002 Offensive Line, three-year starter Cisco Junior College, 1997 Offensive Line, starter Coach Blount on Crill: “With Cody’s coaching we are looking for our offensive line to really step out and become a major part of what we are doing here at WSSU. I have no doubt that Cody is definitely going to help us accomplish that.”

Aaron Federspiel ➤ WSSU Running Backs Coach/ Academic Advisor/Pro Liason ➤ 5th Season ➤ WSSU ‘03 Aaron Federspiel returns for his fifth season as a member of the Winston-Salem State University coaching staff. His primary responsibility is working with the running backs as well as concentrating his off-season duties on recruiting. In addition to his coaching responsibilities Federspiel is the technology advisor for the WSSU football program and is the direct contact between Ram football and the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations. Federspiel has overseen the academic progress of the WSSU football team for the better part of the last two seasons and has been instrumental in raising the team’s overall grade point average. In addition to his academic advisor responsibilities Federspiel serves as the Rams’ pro liason. Federspiel is no stranger to Winston-Salem State University or the Ram football program as he was a member of the Ram football team for three seasons and won a CIAA Championship in 2000 under Head Coach Kermit Blount. An offensive lineman, Federspiel was a standout not only on the field but in the classroom. He was a member of the CIAA Commissioner’s AllAcademic team for three consecutive years and was named to two consecutive Verizon Academic All-District Teams as well as being named a CocaCola Black College All-American in his senior season (2002).

Before transferring to Winston-Salem State University, Federspiel attended Central Michigan University (Division I-Bowl Subdivision) where he was a member of the Chippewa’s football team. Federspiel, one of the best offensive lineman to ever play at Winston-Salem State University, resides in Winston-Salem with his wife of ten years, Angela. The couple had their first child, a son Austin (seven months old) in December of 2006.

Cody Crill ➤ WSSU Offensive Line Coach/ Academic Liason ➤ 3rd Season ➤ Angelo State ‘02 The 2007 season will mark Crill’s third year as a member of the Winston-Salem State University football coaching staff. A graduate of Angelo State University where he received both his baccalaureate (2002) and M.A. degree (2004) in Kinesiology, Crill comes to WSSU by way of Trinity Valley Community College where he served double-duty as the coach of both the offensive and defensive lines as well as the running backs and fullbacks. Prior to his lone season at TVCC he spent two years as the defensive line coach at his Alma Mater in San Angelo, TX. At WSSU his primary responsibilities will center around the instruction of the Rams’ offensive line. In addition to his on-field coaching responsibilities he will also serve as the academic liason between WSSU academic advisors and WSSU football academic advisor Aaron Federspiel.

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Originally from San Angelo, TX, he is married to his wife of one year, the former Kendra Thomas of High Point, NC. The couple reside in WinstonSalem, NC and recently had their first child, a daughter, Cathryn in October of 2006.

WSSU Football Coaching Staff The Sherman Simmons File: Born Mar. 5, 1954 in Charlotte, NC Family Wife – Pamela Education Winston-Salem State University, 1982 1982 – B.S. in English Northwestern State University (La.), 1994 1994 – M.A. in Student Personnel Services Playing History Livingstone College 1971-72 Defensive Back, two-year starter 1972 All-CIAA First-Team Coach Blount on Simmons: “Sherman brings a wealth of experience to our staff here at Winston-Salem State. As a former head coach he is extremely diverse and can shed his expertise on many different areas of our program.”

Sherman Simmons ➤ WSSU Defensive Line Coach/ Community Service Liason ➤ 2nd Season ➤ WSSU ‘82 The 2007 football season will mark Simmons’ second year as a member of the current WinstonSalem State University football coaching staff. He is no stranger to the Rams’ program as he has served as a member of the WSSU coaching staff two times prior to his current tenure. Simmons was a member of the coaching staff in 1976-77 as a student assistant, and then resumed a full-time coaching career for the Rams in 1989 under then-head-coach Pete Richardson. Simmons will focus primarily upon the Rams’ defensive line and he will inherit a talented defensive front with several big, strong athletes who have the very real possibility of earning postseason honors. In addition to his on-field coaching responsibilities, he will serve as the Rams’ community service liason and will continue to direct WSSU football’s efforts in the community. Simmons comes to WSSU by way of Allen University (Columbia, SC) where he served as the head football coach for four seasons.

Prior to his duties at Allen University, Simmons served as the Defensive Coordinator at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA for four seasons (1999-2002). He was instrumental in the improvement of Morehouse’s program from a last place finish in 1998 to a runner-up finish in 2000. Before his four seasons at Morehouse, Simmons was a member of the coaching staff at North Carolina A&T State University (1998-99). In the last 15 years, he has been a member of the coaching staff at Johnson C. Smith University (1995-1998), Southern University (1993-95) and Northwestern State University (1990-93) as he has a total of 28 seasons of collegiate coaching experience. A member of the United States Army Special Forces for three years (1973-76), Simmons will help to reinforce the discipline associated with the WSSU football program. He and his wife of 21 years Pamela, a PhD in English and a a native of Albany, GA, reside in Winston-Salem, NC. She is currently employed as an Assistant Professor of English at WSSU.

Kevin Downing The Kevin Downing File: Born Oct. 5, 1982 in Edenton, NC Family Wife – Nia Patterson Education North Carolina Central University, 2002 2004 – B.S. in Health and Physical Education Winston-Salem State University, In Progress TBA – M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling Playing History North Carolina Central University, 2001-2002 Defensive End, two-year starter Defense ranked 1st in the Nation Coach Blount on Downing: “Kevin has recently been converted to our wide receivers coach [in the Spring of 2007]. He is very loyal and dedicated and we are very, very happy to have that young man on our staff here at WSSU.”

➤ WSSU Wide Receivers Coach ➤ 3rd Season ➤ North Carolina Central ‘04 The 2007 season marks Downing’s third year as a member of the coaching staff at Winston-Salem State University. His primary responsibility will be working with the WSSU safeties and defensive backs. Coach Kevin Downing was born on October 5, 1982 in Edenton, NC and is the son of Andy and Jonathan Downing. He attended high school at John A. Holmes High School in Edenton, NC. In his senior year he was a two sport all-conference selection in both football and basketball en route to All-Region honors during his senior season. Following his high school graduation, Downing attended college at North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC where he received his B.S in Health and Physical Education. He was a member of the Eagle football team in 2001 and 2002 playing defensive end for the 2001 NCCU team whose defense finished ranked first in the nation. In 2002 Coach Downing’s career was cut short due to multiple knee surgeries making him unable to continue a highly competitive football career.

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Coach Downing is married to his wife of seven months, the former Nia N. Patterson of Durham, NC and is currently pursuing his M.A. degree in Rehabilitation Counseling at WSSU. The couple resides in Greensboro, NC.

WSSU Football Coaching Staff

Jay Robinson ➤ Football Equipment Manager ➤ 6th Season ➤ WSSU ‘04 The 2007 football season will mark Robinson’s sixth year as the head equipment manager for the Winston-Salem State University football team. A native of Asheville, NC, he is a 2004 graduate of WSSU where he received a B.A. in Sport Management with a concentration in communications. He will work closely with Head Athletic Trainer Darrell Turner in the WSSU Office of Sports Medicine, a capacity he has occupied since transferring to WSSU from Western

Carolina University following his freshman year. Robinson is charged with the responsibility of ordering, maintaining, and servicing all the equipment needs of the WSSU football team and its nearly 110 team members as well as coaching staff. He has been married for two years to his wife April (formerly April Allison) who is also a 2005 alumnus of WSSU. The couple reside in Winston-Salem, NC and have a 14month old daughter Aniyah.

DeValdean Penn ➤ Special Assistant to WSSU Football ➤ 19th Season ➤ WSSU ‘69 The 2007 season marks Penn’s 19th year as a volunteer assistant to the WinstonSalem State University football program. As a volunteer assistant, he has not missed a Ram football game in over a decade. A “jack of all trades,” Penn is involved in nearly every aspect of game-day operations and helps to serve as a liason between the WSSU football coaching staff and the WSSU Athletic Department’s Offices of Media Relations and Game Day Operations.

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Penn, who retired from the Department of Social Services in January of 2005, also serves as a special assistant to the WSSU Men’s Basketball program and has served as the official scorer for the Rams for the better part of a quarter-century. An alumnus of WSSU (1969), he is an integral part of the success of the WSSU Athletic Department.

Winston-Salem State University Rams Football Player Profiles

Player Profiles #61 Anthony Adams

2005: Appeared in all 10 games for the Rams, starting eight… Recorded 46 total tackles with 30 solo tackles and 16 assisted tackles…Recorded a team-high three interceptions, returning them for a total 46 yards…Tallied six total pass break ups…His 46 total tackles placed him second in total tackles on the WSSU roster.

So. ➤ Offensive Line 6’4”/320 ➤ Jacksonville, NC Northside H.S. 2006: Played in two games as a true freshman while making one start on the WSSU offensive line…Got his first taste of action in the team’s season opener at Catawba…Earned his first start as a Ram two weeks later when he lined up against a tough South Carolina State team.

2004: Appeared in nine games for the Rams, starting seven… Recorded 36 total tackles with 12 solo tackles and 24 assisted tackles…Recorded two interceptions which tied him for the team lead, returning them 17 yards…Tallied five total pass break ups.

Personal: Adams returns to the Rams football program for his second season in 2007…Will compete for playing time at the left tackle position…A native of Jacksonville, NC, he is a 2006 graduate of Northside High School where he was an All-Area Team selection his senior season…The son of Anthony and Deidra Adams…A Computer Science major at WSSU…Born in Jacksonville, NC on May 14, 1988…Nicknamed “Bo.”

#82 Bryant Bayne

#82 Bryant Bayne

So. (rs) ➤ Wide Receiver 6’1”/195 ➤ Rocky Mount, NC Rocky Mount H.S. 2006: Made appearances in two games in his first season of play in 2006…Saw time at Catawba and at Savannah State…Recorded no statistics.

Personal: A two-year letterman for the Rams following his transfer from Appalachian State University…A native of Durham, NC he is a 2003 graduate of Riverside High School where he was an AllConference, All-Area, and All-State honoree as both a junior and a senior…A Shrine Bowl participant as a senior at Riverside H.S…The son of Norwood and Gwendolyn Biggs…A Communications major at WSSU…Born on September 29, 1985 in Durham, NC…Nicknamed “Nate.” Biggs’ Statistics: Year G/GS UT 2006 11/10 35 2005 10/8 30 2004 9/7 12

AT 41 16 24

Total TFL Int. PBU FF/FR 76 2.5/7 0 2 1/1 46 0/0 3 6 0/0 36 0/0 2 7 0/0

Total 30/25 77

81

158 2.5/7

5

15

1/1

#1 Jed Bines

2005: Spent the 2005 season as a redshirt, and did not appear in any games for the Rams.

#67 Bennie Barbour

Personal: A native of Rocky Mount, NC, Bayne is a 2004 graduate of Rocky Mount Senior High School where he was an All-State selection in both his junior and senior seasons…A 2003 Shrine Bowl participant, he was named to the Rocky Mount Telegram’s First Team for two consecutive seasons while in high school…The son of Hamilton Bayne and Anntionette Cox…A Computer Science major at WSSU…Born in Philadelphia, PA on October 18, 1985…Nicknamed “Bang-Bang”.

#67 Bennie Barbour Jr. ➤ Offensive Line 6’5”/300 ➤ Smithfield, NC Smithfield-Selma H.S.

2006: Saw significant playing time as a sophomore last season… Recorded playing time in nine games while making eight starts on a talented WSSU offensive line…The Rams totaled 1,744 yards rushing and 15 rushing touchdowns when Barbour was in the lineup last season.

#1 Jerrick “Jed” Bines

Sr. ➤ Running Back 5’10”/190 ➤ Winston-Salem, NC Parkland H.S.

2005: Did not appear in any games during the 2005 season as he spent last year as a redshirt. Personal: A native of Smithfield, NC he is a 2005 graduate of Smithfield-Selma High School where he was a four-year varsity letterman and an All-Conference selection in both 2003 and 2004… Named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 as he played both offensive and defensive lines as well appearing at tight end…The son of Bennie Barbour, Sr., and Linda Barbour, both of who are alumnus’ of Winston-Salem State University…Father Bennie Barbour, Sr., is a member of the Clarence “Big House” Gaines WSSU Athletic Hall of Fame following an induction ceremony in the fall of 2005…A Sport Management major at WSSU…Born in Rocky Mount, NC on August 9, 1985…Nicknamed “BJ”.

2006: Sat out the entire season to focus on academics.

#23 Nathaniel Biggs

#23 Nathaniel Biggs #83 Lorenzo Barr

Fr. (rs) ➤ Wide Receiver 6’1”/185 ➤ Kingstree, SC Kingstree H.S. 2006: Did not appear in any games during the 2006 season as he spent last season as redshirt freshman. Personal: The 2007 season will mark Barr’s first year as a member of the Rams’ active roster…A native of Kingstree, South Carolina, he is a graduate of Kingstree High School where he was an all-conference selection his senior season…Will look to compete for playing time at the wide receiver position for the Rams.

Sr. ➤ Defensive Back 6’0”/190 ➤ Durham, NC Riverside H.S.

2006: One of the team’s key contributors making appearances in all 11 games while making 10 starts…Finished second on the team in total tackles with 76 total tackles (35 solo)…Had a pair of pass break-ups and recovered one fumble…Added one forced fumble…Recorded double-digit tackles four times last season, including a season-high 14 tackles at Hampton…Totaled 10 tackles each in games against South Carolina State, Coastal Carolina, and at Norfolk State…Added a season-high seven solo tackles at Norfolk State…Added a pass breakup and a fumble recovery against Coastal Carolina.

 70 

2005: Appeared in nine games for the Rams, starting three contests… Placed second on the team in rushing with 864 net yards on a teamhigh 166 carries for an average of 5.8 yards per carry…Recorded nine rushing touchdowns…Recorded a long run of 51 yards (vs. Livingstone College)…Averaged a team-high 107.1 yards per game rushing…Tallied three receptions for 26 yards for an average of 8.7 yards per catch…Pulled in a long reception of 16 yards…Average 2.9 yards per game receiving…Earned Second-Team All-CIAA honors… Placed second on the team in all-purpose yards per game with 110.0 yards per contest. 2004: Appeared in 10 games for the Rams, starting a pair of contests…Was one of two WSSU running backs to eclipse the 1,000yard plateau as he and teammate Martin Hicks each recorded at least 1,000 yards rushing as a pair of running backs from the same team tallied at least 1,000 yards for the first time in school and conference (CIAA) history…Recorded 1,137 net yards on 176 carries en route to placing second on the team in rushing yardage…Averaged 6.5 yards per carry and scored a team-high 12 rushing touchdowns…Recorded a long run of 58 yards and averaged 113.7 yards per contest…Caught four passes for 17 yards for an average of 4.2 yards per catch with a long reception of 10 yards for an average of 1.7 yards receiving per contest…Led the team in scoring with 74 points and placed second on the team in total offense per game with 113.7 yards per contest… Earned First-Team All-CIAA honors at running back.

Player Profiles 2003: Appeared in nine games for the Rams...Set a single-season rushing record for a “true freshman” as he averaged a team-high 7.5 yards per carry...Gained 574 yards on 74 carries and scored seven touchdowns en route to averaging 62.0 yards per game, good enough for fifth on the team in total offense per contest...Broke the 100-yard mark in three of the Rams’ last four games (versus Livingstone, Johnson C. Smith, and St. Augustine’s)...Recorded three games in which he scored multiple touchdowns as he turned in a pair of touchdowns versus Livingstone, North Carolina Central and St. Augustine’s en route to scoring all seven of his touchdowns in the last four games of the season...Caught four passes for 42 yards on the season...Placed fourth on the team in all-purpose yards per game with 66.7 yards per game...Placed third on the team in scoring with seven touchdowns...Named CIAA Rookie of the Week twice...Named to the CIAA All-Rookie Team.

Personal: Blakely will rejoin the Rams for his second season in 2006 following a successful 2005 and 2006 seasons and after sitting out the 2004 season as a redshirt…Will likely compete for time at the cornerback slot…A native of Winston-Salem, NC he is a 2003 graduate of Parkland High School where he was a teammate of Rams’ quarterback Monte Purvis…Named All-Conference his senior season in high school…The son of Ernest and Elizabeth Blakely…A Sport Management major at WSSU…Nicknamed “E-Blake”…Born August 10, 1985. Blakley’s Statistics: Year G/GS UT 2006 10/0 19 2005 4/0 4

AT 5 1

Total 14/0

6

23

Total TFL 24 0 5 0 29

0

Int. PBU FF/FR 1 0 0/0 1 0 0/0 2

0

Avg TD Long Rec. Yds Long TD 5.8 9 51 3 26 16 0 6.5 12 58 4 17 10 0 7.5 7 45 4 42 19 0

Total 28/5 416 2675 6.43 28 154

11

85

45

Blount’s Career Statistics Year GP/GS Car Yds Avg TDs Long Rec 2006 1/0 2 4 2.0 1 2 0 Total 1/0

2

4

2.0

1

2

0

Yds Long TDs 0 0 0 0

0

0

0/0

Personal: Bines returns to the Ram lineup for his fourth and final season in 2007 after sitting out last season to focus on academics... Bines’ selection of the #1 jersey marks the first time that number has been worn since current head coach Kermit Blount wore the number in 1978...Enters the 2007 season sitting in eighth place in all-time rushing attempts with 416 carries…Enters 2007 sitting in sixth place in all-time rushing yards at WSSU with 2,675 yards…Enters 2007 sitting in sixth place in all-time rushing touchdowns at WSSU with 28…A native of Winston-Salem, NC, Bines is a 2003 graduate of Parkland High School where he completed a stellar four-year career and was tabbed one of the best, if not the best, player to ever play at Parkland...Was named All Conference and All-County in 2000... Named All Conference, All-County, team MVP, MVP of the State Championship game, 3-A Player of the Year, All-Region, and AllAmerican en route to leading the Mustangs to a 15-1 record and a 3-A State Championship in 2001...Named All-Conference, All-county, All-Region and Conference Player of the Year in 2002 after injuring his knee and playing in only half of his teams’ games...Son of Irene Williams...A Math Education major at WSSU...Born September 26, 1984...Nicknamed “Jed”. Bines’ Statistics: Year G/GS Car Yds 2005 9/3 166 964 2004 10/2 176 1137 2003 9/0 74 574

graduation from high school he attended WSSU for one semester before enlisting in the United States Army…Upon his enlistment into the US Army he was deployed to Iraq where he provided security and humanitarian services to Iraqi nationals…Returned to the United States in January of 2005 and this past summer her served on the border patrol for the US Army...Born in Roanoke Rapids, NC on January 22, 1983.

Clyde Burroughs

Fr. (rs) ➤ Defensive Back 5’11”/195 ➤ Kingstree, SC Kingstree H.S. 2006: Did not play in 2006…Sat out the season as a redshirt. Personal: Burroughs returns to the Rams football program after sitting out last season as a redshirt …A native of Kingstree, SC, he is a 2006 graduate of Kingstree High School where he was an All-Region, AllArea, and All-State Selection…Burroughs was voted the MVP of his high school team in his senior season and was named the Jaguars’ Defensive MVP as well…Lettered in track and field for two years…The son of Clyde and Brenda Burroughs…A Sport Management major at WSSU…Born in Florence, SC on March 29, 1988…Nicknamed “Hitman”.

#78 Joseph Blanks

0

#78 Joseph Blanks Jr. ➤ Offensive Line 6’5”/320 ➤ Erie, PA Cathedral Preparatory

2006: Appeared in and started all but one game last season…Was a major part of the Rams’ offense which amassed 1,785 yards rushing and 15 rushing touchdowns in games in which he played…Was a part of an offensive line that allowed just 21 sacks last season as well. 2005: Appeared in and started nine games for the Rams, missing only the game versus Howard University…Was part of a WSSU offensive line that saw two running backs record 900-plus yard seasons… Named to the CIAA All-Rookie Team. Personal: Blanks returns to the Rams’ roster in 2007 as a projected starter after a very successful year in 2006 …A native of Erie, PA, he is a 2005 graduate of Cathedral Preparatory in Erie, PA where he was an All-Conference, All-Area and All-State selection…Chose WSSU over several Division I-Bowl Subdivision programs including, but not limited to, the University of Nebraska and Notre Dame…The son of Joe and Mary Blanks…Uncle Billy Blanks is the creator of the worldfamous Tae-Bo workout…A Business major at WSSU…Born in Erie, PA on October 24, 1986…Nicknamed “Animal.”

#21 Ernest Blakely #36 Herman Blount #21 Ernest Blakley

Jr. (rs) ➤ Defensive Back 5’11’/170 ➤ Winston-Salem, NC Parkland H.S. 2006: Played in 10 games last season…Was primarily a reserve, but posted solid numbers with 24 total tackles (19 solo)…Added one interception for the Rams. 2005: Appeared in four games for the Rams, starting none…Tallied five total tackles with four solo tackles and one assisted tackle… Recorded one interception that he returned 29 yards.

So. ➤ Running Back 5’7”/183 ➤ Garysburg, NC Northampton County H.S. 2006: Played in just one game as a true freshman in 2006…Had a pair of carries for four yards and a touchdown in a dominating win over rival North Carolina A&T on September 2, 2006. Personal: Blount will return the Rams football program for his second season in 2007… Although he is a senior in the classroom, Blount is a sophomore on the field…A 2002 graduate of Northampton County High School West in Gaston, NC where he was an All-Conference and Academic All-Conference selection in his senior season…Named the Hurricanes’ team MVP in his final year at NCHS…The son of Mary Smith…A Rehabilitation Studies major at WSSU…Following his

 71 

#33 Darrian Bynum

#33 Darrian Bynum Sr. (rs) ➤ Linebacker 6’0”/200 ➤ Weldon, NC Weldon H.S.

2006: Appeared in 10 games last season…Played in every game except for the season opener at Catawba…Finished the season with 33 total tackles (13 solo) and ranked ninth on the team in that category…Was a big contributor on defense with 4.0 tackles for a loss (-11 yards)…Added one sack for a loss of six yards … Added one pass break-up and a quarterback hurry…Also added a fumble recovery and a fumble forced. 2005: Appeared in nine games for the Rams, starting six…Placed third on the team in tackles with 43 as he recorded 29 solo tackles and 14 assists…Recorded nine tackles for a loss of 17 total yards… Tallied a lone sack for a loss of one yard…Intercepted a pass and forced two fumbles. 2004: Appeared in eight games for the Rams, starting six…Placed 11th on the team in tackles with 20, recording 14 solo tackles and six assists…Recorded a pair of tackles for loss…Broke up a single pass on the season.

Player Profiles #55 Juan Corders

Personal: The 2007 season will mark Bynum’s fourth and final season with the Rams…A native of Weldon, NC Bynum is a 2003 graduate of Weldon High School where he was the recipient of the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award, and was named the MVP of the TarRoanoke Conference…Selected First-Team All Conference, Offensive MVP, and Defensive MVP of his team…The son of Levern and Wanda Bynum…Is a Psychology major at WSSU…Older brother Levern was a linebacker for the Rams who graduated in May of 2006…Born in Frankfurt, Germany. Bynum’s Statistics: Year G/GS UT 2006 10/0 13 2005 9/6 29 2004 8/6 14

AT 20 14 6

Total TFL 33 4/11 43 9/17 20 2/4

Total 27/12 56

40

96 15/32

Int. PBU FF/FR 0 1 2/0 1 1 2/0 0 1 0/0 1

3

4/0

#27 Marcus Coates

#51 Mario Dawson

#27 Marcus Coates

So. ➤ Linebacker 5’11”/230 ➤ Durham, NC Southern Durham H.S.

So. (rs) ➤ Strong Safety 6’2”/210 ➤ Washington, D.C. Howard D. Woodson H.S. 2006: Appeared in nine games last season…Only missed games against Bethune-Cookman and Hampton…Totaled 11 tackles (six solo)…Had his best game against North Carolina A&T when he notched four tackles (one solo)…Had a pair of tackles at Savannah State and at Norfolk State. 2005: Did not play…Sat out the season as a redshirt.

2006: Did not appear in any games during the 2006 season as he spent last season as redshirt freshman. Personal: The 2007 season will mark Dawson’s first year as a member of the Rams’ active roster…A native of Durham, North Carolina, he is a graduate of Southern Durham High School where he was an all-conference selection his senior season…Will look to compete for playing time at the linebacker position for the Rams.

Personal: Coates joins the Rams in 2007 for his second season of active competition after spending the entire 2005 season as a redshirt…A native of Washington, D.C. he is a 2005 graduate of Howard D. Woodson High School where he was named the DCIAA’s Defensive Player of the Year…An honor roll student in high school… The son of Cornelius and Yvonne Coates…A Business Marketing major at WSSU…Born in Washington, D.C. on January 12, 1987… Nicknamed “Marco.”

#19 Alex Chandler

Coates’ Statistics: Year G/GS UT 2006 9/0 6

AT 5

Total 9/0

5

6

Total TFL 11 0/0 11

0/0

Int. PBU FF/FR 0 0 0/0 0

0

0/0

#50 Juan Corders

Soph. ➤ Linebacker 6’2”/250 ➤ Durham, NC Hillside H.S.

#19 Alex Chandler

So. (rs) ➤ Defensive Back 6’1”/190 ➤ Kingstree, SC Kingstree H.S. 2006: Appeared in nine games with just one start…Recorded 27 total tackles (17 solo)…Added an assisted tackle for a loss (-5 yards)… Finished second on the team in interceptions with a pair which he returned for five yards…He also added three pass breakups and recovered a fumble…Had a career-high seven tackles against Coastal Carolina…Had interceptions against Howard and Norfolk State. Personal: Chandler joins the Rams football program for his second season in 2007 after a successful 2006 season and a redshirt season in 2005…A native of Kingstree, SC, he is a 2005 graduate of Kingstree High School where he was a four-year letterman on the Jaguars football team…An All-State selection in both football and basketball at Kingstree H.S., Chandler is expected to again make an impact in the Rams’ secondary in 2007…The son of Samuel, Sr., and Rutheen Chandler…An Accounting major at WSSU…Born in Kingstree, SC on August 29, 1987…Nicknamed “Alex.” Chandler’s Statistics: Year G/GS UT 2006 9/1 17

AT 10

Total 9/1

10

17

Total TFL Int. PBU FF/FR 27 0.5/5 2 3 1/1 27

0.5/5

2

3

1/1

2006: Appeared in all 11 games, which is remarkable for a true freshman…Also made eight starts in his first season as a Ram… Finished fourth on the team in total tackles with 45 last season (21 solo)…Was also second on the team in tackles for a loss with 7.0 (-23 yards)…Added 2.0 sacks and a pair of quarterback hurries…Tied for the team lead in fumbles forced with two…Had his best game against Bethune-Cookman when he led the team with 12 total tackles (eight solo)…Had three tackles for a loss (-7 yards) in that game …Also had nine total tackles (three solo) against St. Augustine’s…Added a sack for a loss of 14 yards. Personal: Corders joins the Rams football program for his second season in 2007…A native of Durham, NC, he is a 2006 graduate of Hillside High School where he was a North Carolina Scholar as well as an All-Conference and All-Area selection for three consecutive seasons…Named the Hornets’ Defensive MVP in both his junior and senior seasons…An East vs. West All-Star Game participant… Recorded 10 tackles and forced a fumble in the East vs. West All-Star Game…Was named Homecoming King at Hillside High School in his senior year…The son of Maurice and Connie Corders…A Business Management major at WSSU…Born in Durham, NC on December 22, 1987…Nicknamed “Big Juan.” Corders’ Statistics: Year G/GS UT 2006 11/8 21

AT 24

Total 11/8

24

21

Total TFL 45 7/36 45

7/36

 72 

Int. PBU FF/FR 0 0 2/0 0

0

2/0

#63 Kevin Dorsey Jr.

#63 Kevin Dorsey, Jr.

So. ➤ Offensive Line 6’3”/271 ➤ Jacksonville, NC Northside H.S. 2006: Appeared in five games with no starts…Saw time in games against Catawba, Florida A&M, Coastal Carolina, Hampton, and Norfolk State…Was a part of 1,035 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in those five games. Personal: Dorsey, Jr. joins the Rams football program for his second season in 2007…A native of Jacksonville, NC, he is a 2006 graduate of Northside High School where he was a three-year letterwinner for the Monarchs…A 2005 First-Team All-Conference selection in his senior season…An All-Area selection in 2005 en route to North Carolina Scholar Athlete honors…The son of Kevin and Kim Dorsey… A Computer Science major at WSSU…Born in Silver Springs, MD on May 18, 1988.

Player Profiles #17 Brandon Dow

2005: Appeared in three games for the Rams, starting two…Placed 20th on the team with seven total tackles…Recorded six solo tackles and one assisted tackle…Recorded four tackles for a loss of five total yards.

So. (rs) ➤ Defensive Back 6’2”/190 ➤ Washington, D.C. H.D. Woodson H.S.

2004: Appeared in five games for the Rams, starting two…Placed 23rd on the team with eight total tackles…Tallied three solo tackles and five assisted tackles…Recorded one tackle for a loss of one yard…Broke up one pass.

2006: Sat out the season as a medical redshirt following a preseason injury to his right wrist…Broke his wrist with a right distal radius fracture forcing him to miss the majority of the season…Was medically cleared to return on September 13, 2006, but did not appear in any games.

Personal: Hayes returns to the Rams’ lineup for his senior season in 2007 after successful seasons in 2004, 2005 and 2006…A native of High Point, NC he is a 2003 graduate of High Point Andrews High School where he was a member of the Raiders’ Mid State 2A Conference Championship team in 2003…Redshirted in his first season at WSSU (2003)…The son of Robert and Vivian Hayes…A Sport Management major at WSSU…Born in High Point, NC on May 2, 1985…Nicknamed “Sea Breeze.”

2005: Sat out the season as a redshirt. Personal: Sat out the 2005 season as a redshirt and missed the 2006 season as a medical redshirt…The 2007 season will mark Dow’s first as a member of the Rams’ active roster…A native of Washington, D.C. he is a 2003 graduate of H.D. Wilson High School where he was a Second-Team All-Region selection and a First-Team All-DCIAA honoree…Named the Most Valuable Player of the DCIAA Championship (Turkey Bowl)…Led the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia in interceptions in both 2003 (16 interceptions) and 2002 (12 interceptions)…A Dean’s List student at WSSU in 2004, 2005, and 2006…The son of Joe Bowens and Sherrie Dow…A Business Finance major at WSSU…Born in Washington, D.C. on July 2, 1984… Nicknamed “BD.”

#45 Thadeus Griffin

Hayes’ Statistics: Year G/GS UT 2006 11/9 25 2005 3/2 6 2004 5/2 3

AT 32 1 5

Total 19/13 34

38

Total TFL Int. PBU FF/FR 57 13/56 1 4 1/2 7 4/5 0 0 0/0 8 1/1 0 1 0/0 72 18/62

1

5

1/2

#52 William Hayes

#45 Thadeus Griffin Sr. ➤ Linebacker 6’2”/255 ➤ Sumpter, SC Crestwood H.S.

2006: One of the team’s defensive leaders for the past three seasons… Has led the team in tackles for the last two seasons…Finished last season with 80 total tackles (33 solo)…Added 5.5 tackles for a loss (18 yards)…Added a sack … Also tied for the team lead in interceptions with three…Led the team in quarterback hurries…Recovered one fumble…Had his best individual game against Bethune-Cookman where he totaled 11 tackles (three solo)…Recorded a sack against St. Augustine’s as well as a 30-yard interception return…Added interceptions against South Carolina State and Howard respectively… Recorded three quarterback hurries against North Carolina A&T. 2005: Appeared in, and started every game for the Rams in 2006… Led the team in tackles with 49 total tackles…Recorded 26 solo tackles and 23 assisted tackles…Recorded five tackles for a total loss of 18 yards…Tallied a pair of sacks for a loss of 12 yards…Recovered one fumble. 2004: Appeared in four games for the Rams, starting two…Placed 30th on the team with five total tackles…Recorded three solo tackles and two assisted tackles. Personal: The 2007 season will mark Griffin’s fourth as a member of the Rams’ football team…Is a projected game-day starter as a linebacker…A native of Kannapolis, NC he is a 2004 graduate of Crestwood High School in Sumter, SC where he was an All-Region selection in 2003 and 2004 en route to Best Linebacker Award honors in 2004…The son of Jerome Griffin and Lorita Davis…Born in Kannapolis, NC on June 19, 1986…Nicknamed “Kashif.”

#28 Roderick Fluellen

#28 Roderick Fluellen Jr. ➤ Running Back 5’8”/213 ➤ Columbia, SC Richland Northeast H.S.

2006: Appeared in nine games as a reserve in a talented WSSU backfield… Only missed games against Catawba and South Carolina State…Finished the season as the team’s third leading rusher with 82 carries for 359 yards and three touchdowns…Averaged 39.9 yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry…Had his best game against Savannah State when he tied a season-high with 13 carries for 65 yards and two touchdowns…His longest carry of the season was a 25-yard effort against Howard. Personal: Fluellen joins the Rams football program for his second season in 2007 after a successful 2006 season and after sitting out the 2005 season…A native of Columbia, SC, he is a 2005 graduate of Richland Northeast High School where he was an All-Area and All-Region selection in his senior season on his way to Conference Player of the Year honors…A Shrine Bowl Participant in his senior season…The son of Susie McCray…A Physical Education major at WSSU…Born in Columbia, SC on April 28, 1986…Nicknamed “Flu.” Fluellen’s Stats Year GP/GS Car Yds Avg TDs Long Rec 2006 9/0 82 359 4.4 3 25 0 Total 9/0

82 359 4.4

3

25

0

Yds Long TDs 0 0 0 0

0

0

Griffin’s Statistics: Year G/GS UT 2006 11/10 33 2005 10/10 26 2004 4/2 3

AT 47 23 2

Total 14/12 29

25

Total TFL 80 5.5 49 5 5 0 54

5

Int. PBU FF/FR 3 3 0/1 0 0 1/0 0 0 0/0 0

0

1/0

#59 Michael Helton Jr. (rs) ➤ Offensive Line 6’3”/290 ➤ Dalzell, SC Crestwood H.S.

2006: Appeared in nine of the team’s 11 games, starting all nine… Missed games against Florida A&M and Hampton…Was an integral part of the team’s offensive front playing the crucial center position. 2005: Appeared in all ten games for the Rams, starting eight…Was part of a Rams’ offensive line that helped to see two running backs break the 900-yard rushing mark…Named to the CIAA All-Rookie Team. Personal: Helton returns to the Rams’ lineup in 2007 as a projected starter following very successful 2005 and 2006 campaigns…Earned CIAA All-Rookie Team honors in 2005…A native of Dalzell, SC he is a 2004 graduate of Crestwood High School where he was named to the North vs. South All-Star Game…The son of Claude and Debby Helton…Born in Sumter, SC on December 5, 1985…Nicknamed “Bud.”

#52 William Hayes

Sr. (rs) ➤ Defensive Line 6’3”/260 ➤ High Point, NC High Point Andrews H.S. 2006: Became one of the team’s top defensive players last season, playing in all 11 games with nine starts…Should be a leader on the WSSU defensive line…Appeared in all 11 games last season… Finished the season ranked fourth on the team in total tackles with 57 (25 solo)…Led the team in sacks with 6.5 for a loss of 33 yards and total tackles for a loss with 13 for a loss of 56 yards…Even added an interception...Also added four pass breakups…Had two quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries...Had his best individual game at Catawba when he recorded seven total tackles (two solo)…Had a pair of sacks against South Carolina State…Recorded his interception against Norfolk State in last season’s finale.

 73 

#59 Michael Helton

Player Profiles #89 Javon Hubbard

#75 Quentin Jones

Sr. ➤ Tight End 6’4”/260 ➤ Wingate, NC Forest Hills H.S.

Jr. (rs) ➤ Defensive Line 6’3”/275 ➤ Charlotte, NC West Mecklenberg H.S.

2006: Appeared in three games with no starts last season…Saw time in games against Catawba, South Carolina State and BethuneCookman.

2006: Appeared in three games with a pair of starts, but missed the rest of the season with a knee injury that he suffered against South Carolina State…Made starts against North Carolina A&T and South Carolina State…Had seven total tackles (one solo)…Added one quarterback hurry…Also had 0.5 tackles for a loss.

2005: Changed positions, moving from right guard to the center position where he appeared in, and started all 10 games for the Rams…Was part of a Ram offensive front that saw two running backs eclipse the 900-yard mark.

2005: Appeared in nine games for the Rams, starting six…Placed 15th on the team with 17 total tackles…Tallied seven solo tackles and 10 assisted tackles…Recorded one tackle for a loss of one yard…Broke up one pass.

2004: Appeared in all nine games for the Rams, starting the final three contests of the season…Made the switch from the defensive line to the offensive line prior to the 2004 season…Made an immediate impact on the offensive line for the Rams, occupying the right guard slot… Was an integral part of an offensive front that saw two Ram running backs eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in CIAA history. Personal: Hubbard joins the Rams for his fourth season of competition in 2007 after successful seasons in 2006, 2005 and 2004 following a redshirt year in 2003…Will likely make the move to tight end for the Rams in 2007…A native of Wingate, NC he is a 2003 graduate of Forest Hills High School in Marshville, NC where he was an AllConference selection his senior season…The son of Lana Stevenson… His uncle, Randy Smith played basketball for the Buffalo Braves and Los Angeles Clippers…Nicknamed “Joe Hubb”…Born July 17, 1983 in Wingate, NC.

#89 Javon Hubbard

#24 David Irizarry

#44 Thomas Johnson So. ➤ Defensive Back 6’0”/190 ➤ Greensboro, NC Ragsdale H.S.

Personal: Jones returns to the Rams’ lineup for his third season of competition in 2007…A native of Charlotte, NC, he is a 2004 graduate of West Mecklenberg High School…The son of Robin Jones…A Sport Management major at WSSU….Born in Charlotte, NC on August 11, 1986. Jones’ Statistics: Year G/GS UT 2006 3/2 1 2005 9/6 7

AT 6 10

Total 12/8

16

8

Total TFL Int. PBU FF/FR 7 0.5/0 0 0 0/0 17 1/1 0 1 0/0 24

1.5/1

0

1

0/0

2006: Saw time in nine games last season…Totaled four tackles (one solo)…Had a pair of tackles in the season opener against Catawba…Added one tackle each against North Carolina A&T and South Carolina State. Personal: Johnson joins the Rams for his second season as a member of the WSSU football team in 2007…A native of Greensboro, NC, he is a 2006 graduate of Ragsdale High School where he earned a berth in the East vs. West All-Star Game and was an All-Conference selection in both football and track and field…The son of Marcus and Rickie Taylor…A Physical Therapy major at WSSU…Born in Memphis, TN on June 18, 1988. Johnson’s Statistics: Year G/GS UT 2006 9/0 1

AT 3

Total 9/0

3

1

Total TFL 4 0/0 4

0/0

Int. PBU FF/FR 0 0 0/0 0

0

0/0

#32 Desmond Jordan

#44 Thomas Johnson

#32 Desmond Jordan Jr. ➤ Defensive Back 6’0”/195 ➤ Rocky Point, NC Heide Trask H.S.

#24 David Irizarry Jr. ➤ Defensive Back 5’10”/175 ➤ Miami, FL Miramar H.S.

2006: Played in 10 games with no starts last season…Was a solid reserve last season totaling three tackles…Missed just one game for the Rams last season, the home opener against South Carolina State…Returned 12 punts for a total of 36 yards for an average of three yards per return with a long of 13 yards…Returned five kickoffs for a total of 108 yards en route to leading the team in kickoff yards per return with a 21.6 yards per return average. Personal: Irizarry joins the Rams for his second season as a member of the WSSU football team in 2007…A native of Miami, FL, he is a 2004 graduate of Miramar High School where he led the defense, a defense that was the best (points against) in the State of Florida…An All-Conference and All-State selection as a defensive back…Comes to WSSU following one year at Allen University where he was named the Defensive MVP and was selected as an All-NAIA performer as a defensive back…The son of Frank and Alice Irizarry…A Mass Communications major at WSSU…Born in Miami, FL on August 26, 1987. Irizarry’s Stats Year G/GS UT 2006 10/0 3

AT 0

Total 10/0

0

3

Total TFL 3 0 3

0

Int. PBU FF/FR 0 0 0/0 0

0

0/0

2006: Appeared in all 11 games with nine starts…Finished the season with 28 total tackles (19 solo)…Added 1.5 tackles for a loss (-8 yards)…Had one pass breakup and recovered a fumble…Had his best game at Florida A&M with five tackles (four solo) and a fumble recovery that he returned for 19 yards…Had four tackles in three other games last season.

#94 Brian Jones

So. (rs) ➤ Defensive Line 6’2”/245 ➤ Rocky Mount, NC Rocky Mount H.S. 2006: Made one appearance last season taking the field against Savannah State…Did not record any statistics. 2005: Did not play…Sat out the season as a redshirt. Personal: Jones rejoins the Rams for his third season in 2007 as a member of the WSSU football team after spending the 2005 season as a redshirt and taking the field once last season…A native of Rocky Mount, NC, he is a 2005 graduate of Rocky Mount Senior High School where he was a member of the Gryphons’ league and district championship team in 2004…The son of Paula Jones…A Business major at WSSU…Born in Rocky Mount, NC on November 9, 1986.

 74 

2005: Appeared in, and started, six games for the Rams in 2005… Placed 24th on the team with six total tackles…Recorded six solo tackles…Tallied one tackle for a loss of one yard. Personal: The 2007 season will mark Jordan’s third year as a member of the WSSU football team…A native of Rocky Point, NC, he is a 2004 graduate of Heide Trask High School where he was named the Titan’s Athlete of the Year twice…Earned Pizza Hut Player of the Week honors for his 348 yards rushing in one game during his senior season…An All-Conference selection all four years that he was a member of the Titan’s football team…The son of Edward and Judy Jordan…Brother Edward, Jr. is a Defensive Lineman for the Rams…A Physical Education major at WSSU…Born in New Hanover, NC on December 6, 1985…Nicknamed “D-Man.” Jordan’s Statistics: Year G/GS UT 2006 11/9 19 2005 6/6 6

AT 9 0

Total 17/15 25

9

Total TFL Int. PBU FF/FR 28 1.5/8 0 0 0/1 6 1/1 0 0 0/0 34

2.5/9

0

0

0/0

Player Profiles #97 Edward Jordan, Jr. So. (rs) ➤ Defensive Line 6’0”/330 ➤ Rocky Point, NC Heide Trask H.S. 2006: Did not appear in any games. 2005: Sat out the season as a redshirt. Personal: The 2007 season will mark Jordan’s third year as a member of the WSSU football team following redshirt seasons in 2005 and 2006…A native of Rocky Point, NC, he is a 2005 graduate of Hiede Trask High School where he was named the Titan’s Athlete of the Year in 2005…An All-Conference selection all four years that he was a member of the Titan’s football team…Also an All-Conference wrestler in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005…The son of Edward and Judy Jordan…Brother Desmond is a defensive back for the Rams…A Computer Science major at WSSU…Born in Rocky Point, NC on May 28, 1985…Nicknamed “EJ.”

Personal: The 2007 season will mark Kinzer’s second year as a member of the WSSU football team’s active roster after spending the 2005 season as a redshirt…A native of Winston-Salem, NC he is a 2005 graduate of Parkland High School where he was an All-Conference selection for three seasons…Part of Parkland High School’s backto-back-to-back conference championship teams…The son of Mary Fries…An Exercise Science major at WSSU…Born in Winston-Salem, NC on September 23, 1986…Nicknamed “Kinzer.” Kinzer’s Statistics: Year G/GS Rec 2006 8/0 8

Yds 89

Avg/Rec 11.1

TD 0

Total

89

11.1

0

8/0

8

#22 Jamaine Mack

Long Avg/Gm 19 11.1 19

11.1

#47 Shawn Kearney

So. ➤ Linebacker 6’2”/200 ➤ Henderson, NC Southern Vance H.S. 2006: Appeared in just one game as a true freshman last season… Saw time against Bethune-Cookman. Personal: Kearney returns to the Rams in 2007 for his second season as a member of the WSSU football team…A native of Henderson, NC, he is a 2006 graduate of Southern Vance High School where he was an All-Conference and All-State selection for four consecutive seasons…Was named the MVP of the Raiders’ basketball team for three years as well as garnering the honor for football twice…An AllConference selection in basketball for three seasons while capturing All-Area honors in basketball four times…The son of Maurice Taylor and Tina Kearney…A Computer Information Sciences major at WSSU…Born in Henderson, NC on December 20, 1987.

#88 Johnathan Kinzer

Mack’s Statistics: Year G/GS UT 2006 9/0 9 2005 7/0 1

AT 10 5

Total 16/0

15

10

Total TFL 19 1/12 6 0 25

1/12

Int. PBU FF/FR 0 0 0/0 1 3 0/0 1

3

0/0

#3 Omar Kizzie #15 Richard Marcellus #3 Omar Kizzie

Fr. (rs) ➤ Quarterback 5’11”/195 ➤ Richmond, VA Huguenot H.S. 2006: Did not play…Sat out the season as a redshirt. Personal: Kizzie returns the Rams in 2007 for his second season as a member of the WSSU football team after sitting out as a redshirt last season…A native of Richmond, VA, he is a 2006 graduate of Huguenot High School where he was a First-Team Dominion District selection as a quarterback in both his junior and senior seasons…Was a FirstTeam All-Metro punter and a Second-Team All-Metro quarterback as a junior…Was an All-State punter and quarterback in his senior season en route to being named the Old Spice Player of the Year for the State of Virginia…The son of Lamont Kizzie…A Biology major at WSSU…Born in Richmond, VA on March 4, 1988…Nicknamed “O.”

So. (rs) ➤ Defensive Back 5’10”/210 ➤ Washington, D.C. Howard D. Woodson H.S. 2006: Appeared in two games last season…Recorded just one tackle…Saw time in games against North Carolina A&T and Coastal Carolina. Personal: The 2007 season will mark Marcellus’ second year as a member of the Rams’ football team following a redshirt year in 2005… A native of Washington, D.C. he is a 2005 graduate of Howard D. Woodson High School where he was a First-Team All-DCIAA selection for two consecutive seasons…In addition to football he was a two-time All-Metro selection in track and field in the 55-meter dash…The son of Jeffrey Marcellus and Pamela Gamble…A Mass Communications major at WSSU…Born in Washington, D.C. on September 7, 1987… Nicknamed “Halfman.” Marcellus’ Statistics: Year G/GS UT 2006 2/0 0

AT 1

Total 2/0

1

0

Total TFL 1 0/0 1

0

Int. PBU FF/FR 0 0 0/0 0

0

0/0

#22 Jamaine Mack Jr. ➤ Defensive Back 6’1”/200 ➤ Sumpter, SC Lower Richland H.S.

#88 Johnathan Kinzer

So. (rs) ➤ Wide Receiver 6’3”/215 ➤ Winston-Salem, NC Parkland H.S. 2006: Appeared in eight games last season…Saw time in the season opener as well as taking the field in the last seven games of the season…Totaled eight catches for 89 yards…Had the fifth highest average per catch total last season … Added an 11.1 yard per game average as well…Had his best game against Howard with four catches for 37 yards…His longest catch of the season came against Coastal Carolina where he reeled in a 16-yard reception. 2005: Did not play as a true freshman…Sat out the season as a redshirt.

2006: Appeared in nine games with no starts…Missed just two games for the Rams (Savannah State and Hampton)…Totaled 19 tackles (nine solo)…Added one tackle for a loss of 12 yards…Had his best individual performance against Coastal Carolina when he totaled five tackles (three solo)…Recorded a tackle for a loss when the Rams faced St. Augustine’s. 2005: Appeared in seven games for the Rams, starting none…Placed 23rd on the team with six total tackles…Recorded one solo tackle and five assisted tackles…Intercepted one pass, returning it 23 yards… Broke up three total passes. Personal: The 2007 season will mark Mack’s third year as a member of the Rams’ football team…A native of Columbia, SC he is a 2005 graduate of Lower Richland High School where he won the Diamond Hornet’s Athlete of the Year Award in 2005 as well as being named Lower Richland’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year…The son of Dudley Mack and Elonda Johnson…A Rehabilitation Studies major at WSSU…Born in Columbia, SC on December 20, 1986…Nicknamed “J-Mack.”

 75 

#56 Chedrick Marshall So. (rs) ➤ Linebacker 6’2”/235 ➤ Greensboro, NC Dudley H.S.

2006: Played in eight games with a pair of starts for the Rams last season…Missed the final three games of the season...Totaled 14 tackles (six solo)…Had one pass breakup…Added one forced fumble. 2005: Did not play…Sat out the season as a redshirt. Personal: The 2007 season will mark Marshall’s second year as a member of the Rams’ football team following a redshirt year in 2005…A native of Greensboro, NC, he is a 2005 graduate of Dudley High School where he was an All-Area, All-County, and All-Conference selection as both a tight end and linebacker…The son of Wallace and Christine Marshall…Marshall’s Uncle Lloyd plays baseball for the Cleveland Indians (MLB)…A Sport Management and Business double-major at WSSU…Born in Greensboro, NC on July 23, 1987… Nicknamed “Ced.”

Player Profiles #56 Chedrick Marshall

Marshall’s Stats Year G/GS UT AT Total TFL 2006 8/2 6 8 14 0 2005 Did Not Participate - Redshirt Total 8/2

6

8

14

0

Personal: The 2007 season will mark McRae’s second as an active member of the WSSU football team after spending 2005 redshirting… A native of Washington, D.C. he is a 2005 graduate of Charles Herbert Flowers High School where he led the Jaguars in rushing in 2003, 2004, and 2005…Rushed for 846 yards in his junior season and 1,500 yards his senior year…Placed first in touchdowns and second in rushing in the District of Columbia his senior season…Was named First-Team All-County in football and track and field…Named SecondTeam All-State as a running back and named Second-Team All-State in the 55 meters in 2005…Turned in the fifth fastest time in the 55-meters in the nation with a 6.32…The son of Patrick and Sheryl McRae…The cousin of Julius Brown who plays defensive back at Eastern Michigan University…The cousin of Karim Henry who plays defensive back at Bowie State University…A Mass Communications major at WSSU…Born in Washington, D.C. on November 4, 1987… Nicknamed “B-Mac.” McRae’s Statistics: Year GP/GS Car Yds Avg TDs Long Rec 2006 10/6 118 623 63.2 6 52 2

Yds Long TDs 16 9 0

Total 10/6 118 623 63.2 6

16

52

2

9

#10 DeRon Middleton

0

Int. PBU FF/FR Blk. 0 1 1/0 0

#62 Michael Merritt 0

1

1/0

0

#74 Thurman McDonald So. ➤ Offensive Line 6’5”/335 ➤ Fayetteville, NC E.E. Smith H.S.

2006: Played in the team’s season opener against Catawba…Was his only action of the season…Recorded no statistics. Personal: McDonald joins the Rams in 2007 for his second season as a member of the WSSU football team…Will compete for playing time as an offensive tackle…A native of Fayetteville, NC, he is a 2006 graduate of E.E. Smith High School where he was a two-year letterman for the Golden Bulls…The son of Thurman McDonald, Sr., and Charlotte Hood…A Physical Education major at WSSU…Born in Fayetteville, NC on May 30, 1988…Nicknamed “Big Thurm.”

#26 Brandon McRae

Sr. ➤ Defensive Line 6’0”/350 ➤ Pender, NC Pender H.S.

2006: Appeared in seven games with one start…Totaled eight tackles (three solo)…Had 1.5 sacks for a loss of five yards against Savannah State as well as earning half a sack at Bethune-Cookman…Recorded a pair of tackles at Norfolk State and against South Carolina State… Forced a fumble at Norfolk State and recovered a fumble at BethuneCookman. 2005: Appeared in six games for the Rams, starting one…Placed 22nd on the Rams’ roster with six total tackles, recording two solo tackles and four assisted tackles…Tallied three tackles for a total loss of two yards. 2004: Appeared in two games for the Rams, starting none…Recorded one tackle on the season, a solo tackle, versus Livingstone College. Personal: The 2007 season will mark Merritt’s fourth and final year as an active member of the Rams…A native of Pender, NC, he is a 2003 graduate of Pender High School playing on both the offensive and defensive lines where he was an All-Conference and All-County selection his senior season…Earned a starting spot in the East vs. West All-Star Game…The son of Larry and Eva Merritt…Born on November 11, 1984. Merritt’s Statistics: Year G/GS UT 2006 7/1 3 2005 6/0 2 2004 2/0 1

AT 5 4 0

Total 15/1

9

6

Total TFL 8 1.5 6 3 1 0 15

4.5

Int. PBU FF/FR Blk. 0 0 1/0 0 0 0 0/0 0 0 0 0/0 0 0

0

1/0

0

#10 DeRon Middleton

Jr. ➤ Defensive Back 5’10”/175 ➤ Winston-Salem, NC Parkland H.S.

#26 Brandon McRae

So. (rs) ➤ Running Back 5’10”/225 ➤ Washington, D.C. Charles Herbert Flowers H.S. 2006: Had a great season in his first year as an active member of the Rams offense…Played in 10 games with six starts last season…Only missed the Bethune-Cookman game…Finished the season as the team’s leading rusher with 623 yards and six touchdowns…Averaged 62.3 yards per game and 5.3 yards per carry last season…Also led the team in rushing attempts with 118…Only lost 59 yards…Had his longest run of the season, a 52-yard carry against Florida A&M…Had his best individual game at Savannah State when he rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown…Scored a pair of touchdowns against North Carolina A&T…Also caught a pair of passes for 16 yards.

2006: Appeared in all 11 games last season, starting all but one game at the left cornerback position…Finished seventh on the team with 36 total tackles (25)…Tied with senior linebacker Thadeus Griffin for the team lead in interceptions with three last season…Returned the interceptions for a combined total of 106 yards…Led the team with four pass breakups…Also recovered a fumble in the season opener at Catawba on August 26th. 2005: Appeared in, and started four games for the Rams…Placed 19th on the WSSU roster with eight total tackles…Tallied five solo tackles and three assisted tackles…Recorded a pair of interceptions that he returned for a total of 108 yards and a touchdown…Broke up two other passes. Personal: The 2007 season will mark Middleton’s third as a member of the WSSU football team…A native of Winston-Salem, NC he is a 2005 graduate of Parkland High School where he was an All-Conference selection in both 2003 and 2004…Earned the Gatorade Rookie of the Year award in 2002…Was a member of the Mustang’s back-to-backto-back conference championship teams…The son of Jeff Middleton and Rachel Robinson…A Sport Management major at WSSU…Born in Columbia, SC on February 7, 1987…Nicknamed “D-Black.”

 76 

Middleton’s Statistics: Year G/GS UT AT 2006 11/10 25 11 2005 4/4 5 3 Total 15/14 30

14

Total TFL Int. PBU FF/FR 36 0 3/106 4 0/1 8 0 2/108 4 0/0 44

0

5/214

8

0/1

#25 Jared Mitchell So. ➤ Defensive Back 6’3”/185 ➤ Durham, NC Hillside H.S.

2006: Appeared in nine games with one start as a true freshman last season…Started the first game of his career when he lined up at Catawba on August 26, 2006…Totaled five tackles (two solo)… Recovered a fumble in his first start at Catawba…Had a pair of tackles at North Carolina A&T en route to a career high…Recorded his solo tackles against Hampton and Norfolk State. Personal: Mitchell joined the Rams in 2006 for his first season as a member of the WSSU football team and heads into the 2007 season after a season of production as a true freshman…Will compete for playing time as a free safety…A native of Durham, NC, he is a 2006 graduate of Hillside High School where he was the recipient of North Carolina Scholar honors…Earned the Reeves Award as the Hornets’ Most Valuable Player following his senior season…The son of Glenn Mitchell and Michelle Wilson…Brother Jason Mitchell is the quarterback at Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC…Cousin Kevin Atkins is the quarterback at Alabama A&M in Normal, AL… An accounting major at WSSU…Born in Durham, NC on August 7, 1988…Nicknamed “Mitch.” Mitchell’s Stats Year G/GS UT 2006 9/1 2

AT 3

Total 9/1

3

2

Total TFL 5 0 5

0

Int. PBU FF/FR Blk. 0 0 0/1 0 0

0

0/1

0

#54 Michael Moore

Sr. (rs) ➤ Defensive Line 6’4”/255 ➤ Charlotte, NC E.E. Waddell H.S. 2006: Appeared in 10 games with a pair of starts…Saw time in every game except the season finale at Norfolk State…Started the season opener at Catawba…Totaled 21 tackles (12 solo)…Finished second on the team in tackles for a loss with 6.5 TFL’s for a total of 29 yards… Also finished second on the team in sacks with 3.5…Added a pair of pass breakups…Tied a career-high with four tackles each in games against Coastal Carolina and at Hampton…Had a solo sack in three games last season as well…Added pass breakups against BethuneCookman and at Savannah State. 2005: Appeared in five games for the Rams, starting one…Placed 18th on the Rams’ roster with nine total tackles…Recorded five solo tackles and four assisted tackles…Tallied four tackles for a total loss of 17 yards…Recorded three sacks for a loss of 16 total yards…Recovered one fumble.

Player Profiles #92 Keith Newton

#54 Michael Moore

#20 Tionti Powell

Jr. (rs) ➤ Defensive Line 6’3”/275 ➤ Raleigh, NC Southeast Raleigh H.S. 2006: Did not appear in any games during the 2006 season as he spent the season focusing on academics. 2005: Did not appear in any games during the 2005 season as he spent last season as redshirt freshman. Personal: The 2007 season will mark Newton’s first as a member of the active Rams’ roster after a pair of non-active seasons...A native of Raleigh, NC he is a 2003 graduate of Southeast Raleigh High School where he was a Second-Team All-TAAC selection his senior season... The son of Amas Newton and Anita Lewis...Born in New York City, NY on April 4, 1985...Will look to compete for playing time on a very talented WSSU defensive line.

#31 Wayne Noble, Jr.

So. (rs) ➤ Defensive Back 5’11”/175 ➤ Rocky Mount, NC Rocky Mount H.S. 2004: Appeared in only one game for the Rams, starting none… Recorded his lone tackle of the season versus Saint Augustine’s College in the Rams’ final game of the 2004 season…His only tackle of the season was an assist with teammate Levern Bynum. Personal: The 2007 season will mark Moore’s fourth year as a member of the active WSSU roster after a successful 2006 season in which he made two starts…Saw limited playing time in 2004 and redshirted in 2003…A native of Charlotte, NC he is a 2003 graduate of E.E. Waddell High School in Charlotte, NC where he served as team captain his junior and senior years and was a Southwest 4A AllConference selection his senior season…The son of Lloyd and Sharon Moore…A Graphic Arts major at WSSU with a minor in History…Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado on May 7, 1985…Nicknamed “The Best Kept Secret”. Moore’s Statistics: Year G/GS UT 2006 10/2 12 2005 5/0 5 2004 1/0 0

AT 9 4 1

Total 16/2

14

17

Total TFL 21 6.5 9 4 1 0 31

10.5

Int. PBU FF/FR Blk 0 2 0/0 0 0 0 0/1 0 0 0 0/0 0 0

2

0/1

0

2006: Played three games with no starts last season…Saw time against Savannah State, St. Augustine’s, and at Norfolk State… Recorded no statistics. 2005: Did not play for the Rams in 2005…Sat out the season as a redshirt. Personal: Noble, Jr. rejoins the Rams in 2007 for his second season as a member of the WSSU football team after spending 2005 as a redshirt…He will compete for playing time at the cornerback position…A native of Rocky Mount, NC, he is a 2005 graduate of Rocky Mount Senior High School where he was an All-Conference, All-Area, and Honorable Mention All-State selection in his senior season for the Gryphons…The son of Wayne, Sr. and Kendra Noble… A Therapeutic Recreation major at WSSU…Born in Rocky Mount, NC on July 13, 1987.

#80 Keith Parker

Fr. (rs) ➤ Quarterback/Wide Receiver 6’4”/205 ➤ Spring Lake, NC Pine Forest H.S. 2006: Did not play last season…Sat out as a redshirt.

#30 Nathan Munford, IV Fr. (rs) ➤ Defensive Back 5’9”/185 ➤ Richmond, VA Meadowbrook H.S.

2006: Did not play in 2006…Sat out the season as a redshirt. Personal: Munford, IV joins the Rams in 2007 for his first season as an active member of the WSSU football team…Will compete for playing time as a cornerback…A native of Richmond, VA, he is a 2006 graduate of Meadowbrook High School where he was an All-District and Academic-All District selection as a senior…The son of Nathan E. Munford, III and Valerie Apperson…An Economics major at WSSU… Born in Richmond, VA on December 20, 1987…Nicknamed “Rock.”

Personal: Parker joins the Rams in 2007 for his first season as a member of the WSSU football team after spending the 2006 season as a redshirt…He will look to compete for playing time at the quarterback and wide receiver positions…A native of Spring Lake, NC, he is a 2006 graduate of Pine Forest High School where he was a First-Team All-Conference selection in 2004 and 2005…Named the Trojans’ Most Outstanding Junior Athlete in his junior year at Pine Forest H.S…A member of the North Carolina Scholars and the National Honor Society…The son of Jackie Sr., and Betty Parker…A Computer Science major at WSSU…Born in Germany on May 16, 1988…Nicknamed “Tee-Tee.”

#20 Tionti Powell #66 Jonathan Myers

Fr. (rs) ➤ Offensive Line 6’1”/330 ➤ Jacksonville, NC Northside H.S. 2006: Did not play for the Rams in 2006…Sat out the season as a redshirt. Personal: Myers joins the Rams in 2007 for his first season as an active member of the WSSU football team…He will compete for playing time at the offensive guard and/or center position…A native of Jacksonville, NC, he is a 2006 graduate of Northside High School where he was an All-Conference, All-Area, and All-State selection in his senior season…Was voted the Monarchs’ Most Valuable Lineman in his final season of high school competition…The son of Patsy Myers… A Physical Education major at WSSU…Born in East Peoria, IL on July 20, 1988…Nicknamed “Jon.”

Sr. ➤ Running Back 5’8”/165 ➤ Beulaville, NC East Duplin H.S. 2006: One of the Rams’ top returnees from last season…Played in all 11 games with four starts…Finished second on the team in rushing with 432 yards and a pair of touchdowns…Averaged 39.3 yards per game and 4.6 yards per carry…Was also the team’s fourth leading receiver with 76 yards receiving…Totaled 13 carries in four different games last season…Had his best game against Florida A&M when he totaled 114 yards rushing on 13 carries…Had a 99-yard rushing effort at Savannah State as well as a 92-yard rushing effort against North Carolina A&T…Recorded rushing touchdowns in the first two games of the season versus Catawba and North Carolina A&T…Had his best receiving game against South Carolina State with four receptions for 30 yards…Was also a key player on the return team with four returns four 51 yards…His longest kick return was a 22-yard effort against North Carolina A&T.

 77 

2005: Appeared in six games for the Rams, starting none…Placed fifth on the Rams’ roster in rushing with 66 yards on 16 carries for an average of 4.1 yards per carry and 11.0 yards rushing per game… Had a season-high carry of 13 yards…Led the Rams in kick returns with 11 returns for 326 total yards for an average of 29.6 yards per return with a season-long return of 59 yards…Returned only one punt, turning in a return of one yard. 2004: Appeared in five games for the Rams, starting none…Placed ninth on the Rams’ roster in rushing as he tallied 11 yards on two carries for an average of 5.5 yards per carry…Had a long rush of eight yards on the season…Averaged 2.2 yards per game rushing...Saw most of his action on the kick return team where he returned eight kicks for 145 yards for an average of 18.1 yards per return…Recorded a long return of 32 yards versus Tusculum on September 11, 2005 where he recorded a season-high 92 all-purpose yards. Personal: The 2007 season will mark Powell’s fourth and final season with the Rams…A native of Beulaville, NC he is a 2003 graduate of East Duplin High School where he was named All-Conference (2A) his senior year and was named the 2A Player of the Year…The son of Ronnie and Valerie Davis…A Sport Management major at WSSU… Born in Winston-Salem, NC on November 14, 1984…Nicknamed “T.I.”. Powells’ Statistics (Rushing): Year G/GS Car Yds Avg TD Long Rec. Yds Long TD 2006 11/4 93 432 4.6 2 31 10 76 19 0 2005 6/0 16 66 4.1 0 13 0 0 0 0 2004 5/0 2 11 5.5 0 8 0 0 0 0 Total 22/4 111 509 4.6

2

Powell’s Statistics: (Kick Returns) Year KR Yds Avg/Ret TD 2006 4 51 12.8 0 2005 11 326 29.6 0 2004 8 145 18.1 0 Total 23

522

22.6

0

31 PR 0 1 0 1

10

76

Yds Avg/Ret 0 0.0 1 1.0 0 0.0 1

1.0

19 TD 0 0 0 0

0

Player Profiles #4 Monte Purvis

#53 Jeremy Reaves

#4 Monte Purvis

Sr. (rs) ➤ Quarterback 5’11”/190 ➤ Winston-Salem, NC Parkland H.S. 2006: Returns this season as the team’s starting quarterback… Played in all 11 games with 10 starts…Started every game except the game against Hampton…Finished the 2006 season as the team leader in total offense with 1,033 yards for an average of 93.9 yards per game…Was the team’s top passer with 865 yards through the air...Completed 60-of-144 passes with nine interceptions…Had an efficiency rating of 91.08 with five touchdown passes…Averaged 78.6 yards per game passing…Was also a solid rusher for the Rams with 92 carries for 168 yards and a pair of touchdowns…Gained 392 yards rushing…Had his best individual game at Savannah State where he completed six passes for 119 yards and a touchdown…Was also great against South Carolina State where he completed 10 passes for 116 yards…Rushed for a season-high 25 yards in the team’s season finale at Norfolk State. 2005: The questions about who would fill the WSSU quarterback position after the departure of all-time passing leader Joshua McGee following the 2004 season were numerous, but following a stellar spring campaign, Monte Purvis emerged as the Rams’ openingday starter for 2005…Purvis appeared in ten games for the Rams, starting eight…Missed two starts due to injury, but appeared in both games in a reserve capacity…Led the team in passing with 821 yards, completing 66 of his 116 pass attempts for a CIAA-best 56.9% completion percentage…Turned in an efficiency rating of 114.54… Recorded three touchdown passes and threw six interceptions… Averaged 82.1 yards per game passing…Placed third on the Rams’ roster in rushing with a net gain of 113 yards (419 gross yards) on 102 carries for an average of 1.1 yards per carry…Scored a pair of rushing touchdowns...Placed fourth on the Rams’ roster in scoring with 12 points, tying him with receiver Bradford Herring. 2004: Appeared in five games for the Rams, starting all five, in relief of the injured Joshua McGee…Completed 12 of 28 passes on the season for 102 yards and one touchdown accumulating an average of 20.4 yards passing per game…Turned in a passer rating of 78.10… Threw his lone touchdown pass of the season, a 17-yard strike to Brandon Free versus Tusculum on September 11, 2004…Recorded 70 yards rushing on 18 carries versus Tusculum on September 11, 2004…Threw for a season-high 55 yards on September 18, 2004 versus Virginia Union...Gained valuable experience in 2004 where he appeared at not only the quarterback position but lined up as a wide receiver as well, pulling in his lone catch of the season versus the Pioneers of Tusculum (six yards). Personal: Purvis returns to the Rams’ lineup in 2007 for his senior season on the field after successful 2004, 2005, and 2006 campaigns and a redshirt year in 2003…He came to WSSU as one of the most highly touted recruits in history…He and running back Jerrick “Jed” Bines were the one-two punch that led Parkland High School to a North Carolina state championship in 2003…A native of WinstonSalem, NC he is a 2003 graduate of Parkland High School where he was a Piedmont Triad 3A All-Conference selection for four consecutive years…He led the Mustangs to a 15-1 record and a North Carolina state title in 2003…The son of Randolph and Darlene Purvis…A Physical Education major at WSSU…Born in Winston-Salem, NC on December 1, 1984. Purvis’ Statistics: Year G/GS Com Att 2006 11/10 60 144 2005 10/8 66 166 2004 5/5 12 28

Yds TD 865 5 821 3 102 1

Total 26/23 138 338 1,788 9

Int 9 6 1 16

Long R/Att Yds TD 48 92 168 2 37 102 113 2 21 39 167 0 48

233

448

4

#53 Jeremy Reaves

So. (rs) ➤ Linebacker 6’2”/240 ➤ Washington, D.C. H.D. Woodson H.S. 2006: Appeared in six games last season…Saw time against North Carolina A&T, South Carolina State, Coastal Carolina, Howard, Bethune-Cookman, and at Savannah State…Totaled four tackles last season. 2005: Did not play in 2005…Sat out the season as a redshirt. Personal: The 2007 season will mark Reaves’ second year as a member of the WSSU football team following a redshirt season in 2005…A native of Washington, D.C. he is a 2005 graduate of H.D. Woodson High School where he was named the National Board of

 78 

Officials Defensive Player of the Year in 2005…Part of the Warriors’ 2002 City Championship team in 2002 and Eastern Conference Championship teams in 2004 and 2005…Named the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Athlete of the Year in 2005…A three-time DCIAA indoor and outdoor track and field shot put champion (2002-05)… The son of Jerry and Betty Reaves…A Rehabilitation Studies major at WSSU…Born in Washington, D.C. on December 31, 1986… Nicknamed “Cougar.”

#12 Demetrius Rivers

#12 Demetrius Rivers Sr. ➤ Defensive Back 5’10”/190 ➤ Durham, NC Southern Durham H.S.

2006: Had a great 2006 season starting all but one game at the free safety position…Finished third on the team with 66 total tackles (33 solo)…Finished second on the team in tackles for a loss (7.0)…Added three pass breakups…Had his best individual game against South Carolina State where he totaled 10 tackles (five solo)…Recorded his lone sack of the season against North Carolina A&T…Had an interception against Catawba…Recorded a pair of tackles for a loss against Bethune-Cookman and Hampton…Had four games with tackles for a loss. 2005: Appeared in, and started all ten games for the Rams…Placed fourth on the team with 41 total tackles…Recorded 25 solo tackles and 16 assisted tackles…Tallied two tackles for a loss of four total yards…Picked off a pair of passes which he returned six yards… Broke up six additional passes. 2004: Appeared in five games for the Rams, starting one…Placed 25th on the team with six total tackles…Tallied four solo tackles and two assisted tackles. Personal: The 2007 season will mark Rivers’ fourth and final year as a member of the Rams’ football team…A native of Durham, NC, he is a 2003 graduate of Southern Durham High School where he was an All-Conference and All-Area selection as well as being named the Spartans’ team MVP in his senior season…The son of Gill and Julia Rivers…A Business Management major at WSSU…Born in Frankfurt, Germany on May 27, 1985…Nicknamed “Meat.” Rivers’ Statistics: Year G/GS UT 2006 11/10 33 2005 10/10 25 2004 5/1 4

AT 33 16 2

Total TFL 66 7/23 41 2/4 0 0

Total 26/21 62

51

107 9/27 3/10

Int. PBU FF/FR Blk. 1/4 3 0/0 0 2/6 6 0/0 0 0 0 0/0 0 9

0/0

0

Player Profiles #13 Michael Scarbrough

#34 Jaquin Sessoms

#57 Devease Simpson

Fr. (rs) ➤ Defensive Back 5’10”/195 ➤ Ahoskie, NC Hertford County H.S.

Fr. (rs) ➤ Linebacker 5’10”/230 ➤ Greensboro, NC Western Guilford H.S.

2006: Did not play last season…Sat out the season as a redshirt.

2006: Did not play in 2006…Sat out the season as a redshirt.

Personal: Sessoms joins the Rams in 2007 for his first season as a member of the WSSU football team…He will look to compete for playing time in a very deep WSSU defensive backfield…A native of Ahoskie, NC, he is a 2006 graduate of Hertford County High School where he was an All-Area and All-Conference selection in 2005 en route to the Bears’ Offensive Player of the Year award…An All-Area selection in 2004, he was also the Bears’ Offensive Player of the Year in his junior season…The son of Jamie and Marcia Winston…A Sport Management major at WSSU…Born in Ahoskie, NC on December 21, 1987.

Personal: Simpson joins the Rams in 2007 for his first season as an active member of the WSSU football team…He will look to compete for playing time as an outside linebacker…A native of Greensboro, NC, he is a 2006 graduate of Western Guilford High School where he was an All-Conference selection in 2005…Was also an All-State selection in track and field in both 2005 and 2006…A member of the North Carolina Scholars…The son of Gary and Valerie Jones…Major at WSSU is undecided…Born in Queens, NY on February 19, 1988… Nicknamed “VC.”

#98 Murrell Streeter, Jr.

#87 Cory Shepard

Fr. (rs) ➤ Linebacker 5’10”/220 ➤ Goldsboro, NC Goldsboro H.S.

Fr. (rs) ➤ Wide Receiver 6’0”/200 ➤ Greensboro, NC Western Guilford H.S.

#13 Michael Scarbrough

2006: Did not play in 2006...Sat out the season as a redshirt.

2006: Did not participate in the 2006 season…Sat out the season as a redshirt.

So. (rs) ➤ Wide Receiver 5’10”/180 ➤ Jacksonville, NC White Oak H.S.

2006: Missed the 2006 season with an injury (broken leg), but should return as one of the top receivers in 2007. 2005: Appeared in nine games for the Rams, starting four…Recorded four catches for 34 yards, turning in an average of 8.5 yards per catch…Recorded a long reception of 16 yards and averaged 8.5 yards receiving per game.

Personal: Shepard joins the Rams in 2007 for his first season as a member of the WSSU football team…He will look to compete for playing time at the wide receiver position…A native of Greensboro, NC, he is a graduate of Western Guilford High School were he was an All-Guilford County, All-Area, and All-Conference Second Team selection for two consecutive years (2004 and 2005)…The son of Paul and Laura Shepard…Major at WSSU is yet to be decided…Born on November 29, 1987…Nicknamed “Shep.”

Personal: The 2007 season marks Streeter’s first year as an active member of the WSSU football team following a 2005 season in which he did not appear in any games…Spent the 2004 season as a redshirt…A native of Goldsboro, NC he is a 2000 graduate of Goldsboro High School where he was a member of the National Honor Society…Played baseball, basketball and football in high school…The son of Murrell and Mary Streeter…Born in Miami, FL on July 8, 1981…Nicknamed “Skeeter.”

#43 Demetrius Swindell

2004: Did not play in 2004…Sat out the season as a redshirt.

Jr. (rs) ➤ Linebacker 6’4”/240 ➤ Greenville, NC J.H. Rose H.S.

Personal: The 2007 season marks Scarbrough’s second year as an active member of the Rams’ football team following a 2006 season lost to injury, a successful season in 2005, and a redshirt year in 2004…A native of Jacksonville, NC he is a 2003 graduate of White Oak High School where he was an All-Area honorable mention selection at wide receiver in his junior and senior seasons as well as being named a First-Team All-Area defensive back…The son of Michael and Kathryn Scarbrough…A Physical Education major at WSSU…Born in McComb, Mississippi on September 13, 1985.

2006: Played in three games last season…Saw time against South Carolina State, Coastal Carolina, and Bethune-Cookman…Recorded a pair of tackles (two solo)…Had both tackles in time against Coastal Carolina.

Scarbrough’s Statistics: Year G/GS Rec Yds Avg/Rec 2006 DNP-Medical Redshirt 2005 9/4 4 34 8.5

2004: Did not play in 2004 … Sat out the season as a redshirt.

Total

9/4

4

34

TD

Long Avg/Gm

0

16

8.5

0

16

8.5

8.5

#11 Justin Sherrod

#16 Edgar “Ty” Scott

#11 Justin Sherrod

So. (rs) ➤ Defensive Back 5’10”/185 ➤ Winston-Salem, NC West Forsyth H.S.

So. (rs) ➤ Quarterback 6’1”/190 ➤ Fayetteville, NC Westover H.S.

2006: Did not participate in the 2006 season. 2005: Appeared in four games for the Rams, starting none…Placed 36th on the team with two total tackles…Recorded one solo tackle and one assisted tackle…Broke up one pass. Personal: The 2007 season will mark Scott’s second season with the Rams following a successful rookie campaign in 2005…A native of Winston-Salem, NC he is a 2005 graduate of West Forsyth High School where he was an All-Conference selection in his senior season…A part of the Titan’s 2005 Conference Championship team…The son of Tyrone Scott and Alice Lindsey…A Business Administration major at WSSU…Born in Winston-Salem, NC on October 14, 1987… Nicknamed “Champ.” Scott’s Statistics: Year G/GS UT AT Total TFL 2006 DNP-Coach’s Decision 2005 4/0 1 1 2 0/0 Total 4/0

1

1

2

0/0

2005: Appeared in three games for the Rams, starting none…Placed 30th on the Rams’ roster with four total tackles…Recorded one solo tackle and three assisted tackles.

Int. PBU FF/FR Blk. 0

0

0/0

0

0

0

0/0

0

2006: Played in five games last season with one start…Saw time against North Carolina A&T, South Carolina State, Howard, BethuneCookman, and Savannah State…Completed four of eight passes with just one interception…Passed for 63 yards and a touchdown… Averaged 12.6 yards per game…Had his best individual game at Savannah State where he completed three of four passes for 38 yards…Recorded his first collegiate touchdown against South Carolina State completing a 25-yard TD pass to Brad Herring with 1:08 left in the game. Personal: The 2007 season will mark Sherrod’s third active season with the Rams following a 2005 season in which he did not appear in any games…Redshirted the 2004 season…A native of Fayetteville, NC he is a 2004 graduate of Westover High School where he was a Mid-Southeastern Conference Honorable-Mention selection at quarterback in 2002, 2003, and 2004…The son of John and Jackie Sherrod…Major at WSSU in undeclared…Born in Fayetteville, NC on January 22, 1986…Nicknamed “Jus.” Sherrod’s Statistics: Year G/GS Com Att Yds TD 2006 5/1 8 1 63 1

Int 1

Total 5/1

1

8

1

63

1

 79 

Long R/Att Yds TD 25 4 -13 0 25

4

-13

0

Personal: Swindell joins the Rams roster for his third season of active competition in 2007…Redshirted in 2003 and sat out the 2004 season…A native of Greenville, NC he is a 2003 graduate of J.H. Rose High School where he helped to lead his team to the second round of the North Carolina State playoffs…The son of Robert Pettus Jr., and Vivian Swindell…A Business Administration major at WSSU with a focus in Management…Born in Greenville, NC on March 11, 1985. Swindell’s Statistics: Year G/GS UT 2006 3/0 2 2005 3/0 1

AT 0 3

Total 6/0

3

3

Total TFL 2 0 4 0 6

0

Int. PBU FF/FR Blk 0 0 0/0 0 0 0 0/0 0 0

0

0/0

0

#58 Corey Swinnie Sr. ➤ Linebacker 6’2”/235 ➤ Hoffman, NC Richmond Senior H.S.

2006: Appeared in all 11 games for the Rams last season with nine starts…Was the team’s primary starter at the right linebacker position last season…Was the team’s sixth leading tackler with 41 total tackles (15 solo)…Added five tackles for a loss (-32 yards)…Added a pass breakup and one quarterback hurry…Had a nose for the ball last season recovering a pair of fumbles…Had his best individual game at Florida A&M where he recorded a season-high nine tackles (two solo)…Assisted on a sack against St. Augustine’s for a loss of 10 yards…Recovered a fumble against Howard and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown.

Player Profiles #2 Brian Wynn

2005: Appeared in all ten games for the Rams, starting none…Placed 12th on the Rams’ roster with 26 total tackles…Recorded 17 solo tackles and nine assisted tackles…Tallied a pair of tackles for a loss of three total yards.

Fr. (rs) ➤ Quarterback/Wide Receiver 6’6”/200 ➤ Greensboro, NC Ben L. Smith H.S.

2004: Had a very successful freshman campaign as he placed third on the Ram roster in tackles…Appeared in, and started, eight games for the Rams where he recorded 41 total tackles as he tallied 18 solo tackles and collected 23 assists…Recorded four tackles for a loss of eight yards including two sacks for a loss of three yards…Broke up three passes on the season.

2006: Did not play in 2006…Sat out the season as a redshirt. Personal: Wynn joins the Rams in 2007 for his first season as a member of the WSSU football team after spending the 2006 season as a redshirt…A native of Greensboro, NC, he is a 2006 graduate of Ben L. Smith High School where he was a four-year varsity letterman in football and basketball…A two-time All-Conference and All-County selection in both basketball and football…A member of the National Honor Society, the National Beta Club, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)…The son of John and Kerstin Wynn…A Physical Therapy major at WSSU…Born in Worms, Germany on February 20, 1988…Nicknamed “Bwynn.”

Personal: Swinnie joins the Rams roster for his fourth and final season of active competition in 2007 after successful seasons in 2004, 2005 and 2006 as well as a redshirt season in 2003…A native of Hoffman, NC he is a 2003 graduate of Richmond Senior High School in Rockingham, NC where he was the Raiders’ MVP as well as leading the team in tackles and serving as team captain his senior season… The son of Milton and Beverly Swinnie…A Business Management major at WSSU…Born on May 16, 1985…Nicknamed “Rambull”. Swinnie’s Statistics: Year G/GS UT 2006 11/9 15 2005 10/0 17 2004 8/8 18

AT 26 9 23

Total TFL 41 5 26 2 41 4

Total 29/17 50

58

108

11

#2 Brian Wynn

Int. PBU FF/FR Blk. 0 1 0/2 0 0 0 0/0 0 0 3 0/0 0 0

3

0/2

0

#58 Corey Swinnie

#14 Brent Thomas

Newcomers: #14 Brent Thomas Sr. ➤ Wide Receiver 6’1”/200 ➤ Durham, NC Riverside H.S.

#72 Lonnie Teasley

Sr. ➤ Offensive Line 6’2”/310 ➤ Winston-Salem, NC Hofstra University 2006: Sat out the season as a medical redshirt. 2005: Sat out the entire season to concentrate on academics. 2004: Appeared in, and started all ten games for the Rams on the offensive line…Was part of a WSSU offensive line that saw two running backs surpass the 900-yard mark. 2003: Appeared in, and started all ten games for the Rams on the offensive line…Was part of a WSSU offensive front that saw two running backs eclipse the 1,000-yard mark and lead the CIAA in rushing…WSSU Rookie of the Year. 2002: Sat out the entire season after transferring to WSSU from Hofstra University in New York. Personal: A native of Willingboro, NJ he is a 2002 graduate of Willingboro High School where he was an All-State, All-County, and All-South NJ selection…A Governor’s Bowl participant…The son of Lonnie and Judith Teasley…A Special Education major at WSSU… Born in Willingboro, NJ on April 6, 1984…Nicknamed “L.T.”

#5 Jarrett Dunston

2006: Appeared in nine games for the Rams…Was the primary backup to starter Brad Herring…Had a solid season finishing the season with three receptions for 45 yards…Added one touchdown as well…Averaged 15.0 yards per catch and 5.0 yards per game…Had his best individual game at Norfolk State with a pair of receptions for 33 yards and a touchdown…Also had a 54-yard rush against South Carolina State…Added a pair of tackles. 2005: Appeared in one game for the Rams, starting none…Recorded one catch for six yards for an average of 6.0 yards per catch and 6.0 yards receiving per game. Personal: The 2007 season marks Thomas’ second year as an active member of the WSSU football team after a 2005 season in which he played one game…Redshirted in 2005…A native of Durham, NC he is a 2004 graduate of Riverside High School…The son of Larry and Bettie Thomas…A Political Science major at WSSU…Born in Durham, NC on March 31, 1986…Nicknamed “BT.” Thomas’ Statistics: Year G/GS Rec 2006 9/0 3 2005 1/0 1

Yds 45 6

Avg/Rec 15.0 6.0

TD 1 0

Total

51

5.1

0

10/0

4

 80 

Long Avg/Gm 21 6.0 6 6.0 21

6.0

So. ➤ Quarterback 6’3”/ 220 ➤ Raleigh, NC Southeast Raleigh H.S./Temple University 2006: True freshman quarterback that enrolled at Temple University in January 2006 and participated in spring drills...Transferred to Winston-Salem State last spring. Personal: Was the top rated prep school QB and 36th rated prep school prospect overall by Rivals…Completed 101 of 198 passes for 1,437 yards and 17 TDs (five INTs) starting all 11 games at QB under head coach Robert Prunty at Hargrave Military Academy (Va.) in 2005…Also rushed for 374 yards and three scores…Helped lead the team to an 8-3 record and the postgraduate national title…A 2005 graduate of Southeast Raleigh (N.C.) High School…Was a three-year varsity letterwinner at QB under head coach Chad O’Shea…Completed 200 of 474 career passes for a school record 3,061 yards and 19 TDs…Completed 81 of 158 passes for 1,211 yards and seven TDs as a junior and 62 of 154 passes for 975 yards and seven scores as a senior…Was the TAAC Offensive Player of the Year and a preseason all-state choice…Was also a three-year varsity basketball letterwinner, earning all conference honors as a junior and senior…Born December 22, 1986 in Philadelphia, PA…Son of Kenneth Dunston and Brenda Shelton-Dunston…Is the second cousin of former all-star and 18 season Major League veteran (19852002) shortstop Shawon Dunston.

Player Profiles Nic Cooper

Lamarcius Jenkins

Personal: A 6’0”, 220 pound running back from Clinton High School in Clinton, NC…Cooper led his team to back-to-back state championship games including a state title in his junior season…Recognized as one of the best running backs in the state of North Carolina he possesses the rare combination of both speed and power in a 6 foot, 220 pound frame…Named his Conference’s Player of the Year in both his junior and senior seasons he rushed for over 270 yards versus Bunn High School in one of the many highlights of his senior season…The cousin of current Ram defensive lineman Jason Holman he rushed for over 2,000 yards and 26 touchdowns as a junior…Runs the 40 yard dash in 4.5 seconds and was ranked by Rivals.com…The son of Glenwood and Queen Cooper.

Personal: A 6’4”, 235 pound tight end from Ahoskie, NC (Hertford County H.S.)…A four-year varsity starter for the football team and a three-year varsity starter on the basketball team, Jenkins was a very highly recruited student-athlete who turned down offers from Norfolk State, Tennessee State, and North Carolina A&T…A tremendous athlete who runs a 4.8 second 40-yard dash he was an All-NEAC Conference First-Team and All-Region selection as a senior…Jenkins helped lead Hertford County H.S. to a 10-2 record and a conference championship last season where he was also an All-Conference and All-Region selection as a basketball player…Born on November 22, 1988 he is the son of Curtis Jenkins and Carolyn Lee…Played for head coach Greg Watford and is a high school teammate of current Ram strong safety Jaquin Sessoms…Nicknamed “Buck”.

Fr. ➤ Running Back 6’0”/220 ➤ Clinton, NC Clinton H.S.

Anthony Doberson Fr. ➤ Offensive Line 6’5”/320 ➤ Durham, NC Southern Durham H.S.

Personal: A 6’5” 320 pound offensive lineman from Durham, NC (Southern Durham High School)…An All-Conference selection, Doberson is an athlete who runs a 5.6 second, 40-yard dash and will immediately add athleticism and depth to a stellar WSSU offensive front.

Jamaule Glover

Fr. ➤ Defensive Line 6’4”/300 ➤ St. Matthews, SC Calhoun County H.S. Personal: A 6’4”, 300 pound defensive lineman from St. Matthews, SC (Calhoun County High School)…Glover fielded scholarship offers from North Carolina A&T, Alabama A&M, Wofford, South Carolina State, South Carolina, and Troy State before signing with the Rams…An AllConference selection on both sides of the ball on both the offensive and defensive lines…He led his team to the state championship game as a senior and also played basketball for a nationally-ranked program while at Calhoun County H.S…The son of Linda Glover.

Julian Gray

Fr. ➤ Offensive Line 6’4”/275 ➤ College Port, GA Westlake H.S.

#40 William Wall

#40 William Wall

So. ➤ Defensive End 6’3”/ 243 ➤ Washington, DC H.D. Woodson H.S./Virginia Tech 2006: Transferred to Winston-Salem State in the spring of 2007…Did not participate in spring drills...Appeared in five games for the Hokies registering nine tackles (five solo)...Recorded three sacks and forced a fumble (versus Duke)...Defended three passes and tallied five quarterback hurries.   2005: (At Virginia Tech) Was redshirted during the fall, but did not practice…Participated in off-season strength and conditioning program…Posted a 450-pound back squat during max testing… Had six tackles and a sack in each of the Hokies’ first two spring scrimmages…Registered a sack and a tackle for loss in the spring Maroon-White game. Personal: Committed to the Hokies out of high school and recommitted while at Hargrave Military Academy (Va.)…Ranked the No. 17 prep school player in the nation by rivals100.com…Collected over 20 tackles and six sacks for Coach Robert Prunty at Hargrave…Was ranked the No. 18 player in the Maryland/Washington D.C. area by rivals100.com following his senior season at Woodson, where he played for Coach Greg Fuller…Finished the season with 63 tackles and 11 sacks…Ranked the No. 26 defensive end in the nation by scout. com…Named an All-American by SuperPrep…Named an All-East Region selection as a defensive lineman by that publication…Ranked No. 34 on the All Mid-Atlantic Team by Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report…Ranked No. 31 in the Mid-Atlantic by SuperPrep…William Anthony Wall…Born December 31, 1984 in Washington, DC…Son of Kristy Wall and William Wall.

Personal: A 6’4”, 275 pound offensive lineman from Westlake High School in College Port, GA…A three-year starter in basketball and two-year starter as an offensive tackle on the football team, Gray is a highly recruited prospect who turned down offers from Delaware State, Alabama A&M, Bethune-Cookman, and South Carolina State…A member of the Future Business Leaders of America and a member of the National Society of Black Engineers and Men of West Lake…The son of Jacquelyne Brown and Lawrence Gray…Gray was born on June 19, 1989.

Montez Ham

Fr. ➤ Wide Receiver/Defensive Back 5’11”/180 ➤ Pikeville, NC C.B. Aycock H.S. Personal: A 5’11” 180 pound multi-faceted player from C.B Aycock High School in Pikeville, NC…A fast receiver/defensive back who has been clocked at several camps with sub-4.4 second speed in the 40 yard dash…Started on both sides of the ball in high school…Ham led his team deep into the playoffs and was an All-Conference selection his senior season…A three-sport athlete who ran track and played basketball as well as being a member of the football team…The son of Beverly and Jerry Ham.

John Haynes

Fr. ➤ Linebacker 6’0”/210 ➤ St. Matthews, SC Calhoun County H.S. Personal: A 6’0”, 210 pound linebacker from St. Matthews, SC (Calhoun County High School)…A fast and aggressive outside linebacker/strong safety that helped to lead his team to a state championship he is the teammate of fellow WSSU-signee Jamaule Glover…As a high school student-athlete he was coached by Walt Wilson who played for Coach Blount during Blount’s coaching tenure at South Carolina State University and who also coached three of WSSU current players (Alex Chandler, Clyde Burroughs and Willie Wilson)…A First-Team All-Conference, and First Team All-Region selection, he was his conference’s player of the year…The son of John and Debra Haynes.

 81 

Fr. ➤ Tight End 6’4”/235 ➤ Ahoskie, NC Hertford County H.S.

Nazir LeVine

Fr. ➤ Offensive Line 6’4”/290 ➤ Rocky Mount, NC Rocky Mount H.S. Personal: A 6’4” 290 pound offensive lineman from Rocky Mount, NC (Rocky Mount High School)…A Shrine Bowl participant, LeVine was a First-Team All Conference, First Team All-Region and First Team AllState selection…He turned down offers from North Carolina Central, Western Carolina, Norfolk State and Catawba.

Tramain Melvin

Fr. ➤ Defensive Line 6’2”/280 ➤ Conway, SC Conway H.S. Personal: A 6’2”, 280-pound defensive lineman from Conway High School in Conway, SC…Melvin tallied 60 tackles and six sacks his senior season and was a member of the North-South All-Star team… He helped lead his team to a State Championship…An All-Conference selection as a junior, Melvin was born on November 1, 1988…The son of Woody Spain and Linda Melvin…Plans to be a Business major at WSSU…A highly recruited student-athlete he turned down several Division I scholarship offers.

Matt Mitchell

Fr. ➤ Kicker 6’0”/190 ➤ Belmont, NC South Point H.S. Personal: A 6’0”, 190 pound kicker from Belmont, NC (South Point High School)…An All-Big South 3A/4A Conference selection and a First-Team place kicker on the All-Big South team, Mitchell will step in and immediately fill the Rams’ vacancy as a place-kicker…An AllGaston County first team selection he is a member of the Charlotte Observer All-Gaston/Lincoln County team as a placekicker…Mitchell broke the Gaston County record for the longest field goal when he connected on a 53-yarder on September 1, 2006…As a junior (2005) he was an All-Gaston County selection as a placekicker…The son of Brian and Lucy Mitchell, he plans on majoring in Graphic Arts and Animation at WSSU…Born on April 11, 1989.

Lavelle Tucker

Fr. ➤ Free Safety 6’1”/190 ➤ South Boston, VA Halifax County H.S. Personal: A 6’1”, 190 pound free safety from Halifax County High School in South Boston, Virginia…Tucker turned down offers from Norfolk State and the University of Richmond before signing with the Rams…He has the ability to play both the free safety and cornerback positions which is rare from an athlete with a size of only 6’1” and 190 pounds…Clocked in at less than 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash he was coached by Stan Hodgin who played for WSSU defensive coordinator Mike Ketchum at Carson-Newman College…The son of Rene Tucker.

Chris West

Fr. ➤ Punter 6’1”/185 ➤ Chapel Hill, NC Chapel Hill H.S. Personal: A 6’1”, 185 pound punter from Chapel Hill High School in Chapel Hill, NC…A First-Team All-Conference and First Team All-Area selection, West averaged 46 yards and 4.1 seconds of hang time per punt…The son of Sharon and James West.

WSSU Rams Geographical Roster

1 6 4 59 12 2

1

Florida (1)

Miami . . . . . . . . . . . David Irizarry

Georgia (2)

Atlanta . . . . . . . . . . Jonathan Battle College Port . . . . . . . . . Julian Gray

North Carolina (59)

Ahoskie . . . . . . . Lamarcius Jenkins Jaquin Sessoms Belmont . . . . . . . . . . Matt Mitchell Beulaville . . . . . . . . . Tionti Powell Burlington . . . . . . . . Marcus Harris Chapel Hill . . . . . . . . . . Chris West Charlotte . . . . . . . . . Quentin Jones Michael Moore Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . Nic Cooper Durham . . . . . . . . . Nathaniel Biggs Juan Corders Mario Dawson Anthony Doberson Jared Mitchell Demetrius Rivers Brent Thomas Fayetteville . . . . . Thurman McDonald Justin Sherrod Garysburg . . . . . . . . Herman Blount Goldsboro . . . . . . . Murell Streeter, Jr. Greensboro . . . . . . . Thomas Johnson Chedrick Marshall Cory Shephard Devease Simpson Brian Wynn Greenville . . . . . . Demetrius Swindell Henderson . . . . . . . . Shawn Kearney Henrico . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Huff High Point . . . . . . . . William Hayes Hoffman . . . . . . . . . Corey Swinnie Jacksonville . . . . . . . Anthony Adams Kevin Dorsey, Jr. Jonathan Myers Michael Scarborough

North Carolina (con’t)

Lenoir . . . . . . . . . Johnathan Setzer Middlebury . . . . . . . . Corei Plummer Pender . . . . . . . . . . Michael Merritt Pikeville . . . . . . . . . . Montez Ham Raleigh . . . . . . . . . . Jarrett Dunston Keith Newton Rocky Mount . . . . . . . . Bryant Bayne Brian Jones Nazir LeVine Wayne Noble, Jr. Rocky Point . . . . . . Desmond Jordan Edward Jordan, Jr. Smithfield . . . . . . . Bennie Barbour Spring Lake . . . . . . . . . Keith Parker Waxhaw . . . . . . . . . . Davril Massey Weldon . . . . . . . . . . Darrian Bynum Wingate . . . . . . . . . Javon Hubbard Winston-Salem . . . . . . . . Jed Bines Ernest Blakley Johnathan Kinzer DeRon Middleton Monte Purvis Edgar “Ty” Scott Lonnie Teasley Greg Wilson

Pennsylvania (1)

Erie . . . . . . . . . . . Joseph Blanks

South Carolina (12)

Chester . . . . . . . . . . . . Corey Land Columbia . . . . . . . . Roderick Fluellen Conway . . . . . . . . . . Tramain Melvin Dalzell . . . . . . . . . . Michael Helton Kingstree . . . . . . . . . . Lorenzo Barr Clyde Burroughs Alex Chandler Willie Wilson St. Matthews . . . . . . . Jamaule Glover John Haynes Sumpter . . . . . . . . . Thadeus Griffin Jamaine Mack

 82 

Virginia (4)

Sandston . . . . . . . . . . Donte Perry South Boston . . . . . . . Lavelle Tucker Richmond . . . . . . . . . . Omar Kizzie Nathan Munford, IV

Washington, D.C. (6)

Washington, DC . . . . . Marcus Coates Brandon Dow Richard Marcellus Brandon McRae Jeremy Reaves William Wall

Miscellaneous Superlatives

Tallest Brian Wynn Bennie Barbour Anthony Doberson Thurman McDonald

Ht. 6’6” 6’5” 6’5” 6’5”

Pos. QB OL OL OL

Shortest Herman Blount Marcus Harris

Ht. 5’7” 5’7”

Pos. RB RB

Heaviest Corey Land Michael Merritt

Wt. 350 350

Pos. OL DL

Lightest Tionti Powell

Wt. 165

Pos. RB

Rams in the Community Student-Athletes at Winston-Salem State University have full calendars: classes, labs and study groups, plus practices, workouts, and team meetings. Nonetheless, most WSSU student-athletes find time in their schedules to reach out to their community and prepare for life after their athletic careers at WSSU are over. The Rams and Lady Rams are extremely active in the community. From youth reading programs to after school activities, the student-athletes at WSSU are constantly giving back to their communities. CHAMPS/Life Skills CHAMPS (CHallenging Athletes’ Minds for Personal Success) was implemented in NCAA institutions beginning in 1994. The CHAMPS/Life Skills program was created to improve and enhance the student-athlete experience within their selected communities. The program was founded at Winston-Salem State University in 1998 and is under the guidance of Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator Tonia Walker. “The purpose of CHAMPS/Life Skills is to prepare student-athletes for their life after athletics,” says Tonia Walker, WSSU’s CHAMPS/Life Skills Director. “The student-athletes help to mentor youth in the community, thereby strengthening not only their bond with the community but the community’s bond with the students and athletes of WSSU.” The CHAMPS/Life Skills program has five commitments for the establishment of a well-rounded student-athlete. Those commitments include academics, athletics, career development, personal development, and community service. It is through those five areas that the program works to develop not only quality student-athletes, but also exceptional individuals. Student-Athlete Advisory Council CHAMPS/Life Skills offers student-athletes the opportunity to enhance their experience as Rams through leadership opportunities. In addition to community activities, the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program has a StudentAthlete Advisory Council (SAAC) that meets once a month to discuss issues dealing with the welfare of the student-athletes. The SAAC consists of one representative of every varsity sport at WSSU, with the exception of football which is represented by two studentathletes. Each team is guaranteed one seat on the Council. The council is governed by a constitution and is student-athlete led. Involvement in the CHAMPS/Life Skills program is voluntary, yet each year over 150 WSSU student-athletes participate. In 2005-06, CHAMPS/Life Skills members volunteered more than 800 hours, reaching thousands of local children. If you would like to get your school or youth group involved in the CHAMPS/Life Skills program, please call WSSU Associate Director of Athletics, Tonia Walker at (336) 750-2147 for additional information.

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2007 WSSU Football Uniform Choices The 2007 season marks the second year for the Rams at the NCAA Division IChampionship Subdivision level and will usher in a new age of football history for Winston-Salem State University. The transition from Division II to the nation’s highest level of intercollegiate athletic competition at the NCAA Division I level will require changes and improvements to nearly every facet of the football program, with the uniforms that the players wear being no exception. The Rams, as part of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (starting in 2007-08), have partnered with world-renowned corporate entities Russell Athletic and Nike to help outfit their teams. As part of the partnership between Nike and Russell Athletic, the MEAC, and the 12 conference member schools, each institution receives complimentary uniforms from Russell Athletic and an allotment of footwear from Nike, the world’s most esteemed footwear brand. From its beginnings in 1902, Russell Corporation has prided itself on the quality and value of its products -and on its commitment to its employees and the communities where it operates. Russell has long been a company that is able to take advantage of changes in the marketplace, changes in technology, and changes in its products. Building on its heritage as an athletic company, Russell has become a global leader in the sporting goods industry with apparel and equipment for all levels of activity - from the playing fields of major colleges to the backyards of homes across the country. With its well-known brands such as Russell Athletic, JERZEES, Spalding, Moving Comfort and a variety of technically designed running shoes from Brooks Sports, Russell Corporation has the products to meet the needs of the serious athlete to the weekend warrior - and everything in between. That is why the Rams and all 12 members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, as well as over 500 other NCAA member institutions choose Russell Athletic for all of their uniform and apparel needs. The Rams, like all other college football programs in the NCAA, will wear dark colored jerseys at home and light colored jerseys on the road. The Rams will wear a scarlet red (PMS 199) home jersey with white taping for all home games. The dri-power jerseys will feature tackle-twill numbers on the front and back with television numbers emblazoning the sleeves. The Rams athletic mark will be embroidered on the placket, and the MEAC logo will emblazon the left chest (starting with the 2007-08 season). WSSU’s road jersey will be a white Russell Athletic dri-power top with red taping. The road jersey is nearly the mirror opposite of the home jersey with tackle-twill numbers on the front and back and television numbers adorning each sleeve. The Rams athletic mark will again be embroidered on the placket and the MEAC logo will emblazon the left chest (starting with the 2007-08 season). The footwear of choice for the Rams will be emblazoned with the world-famous Nike Swoosh. Nike, Inc. operates on six continents with suppliers, shippers, retailers and service providers employing close to one million people. The diversity inherent in such size is helping Nike evolve its role as a global company. Nike, Inc. is committed to an attitude whereby they see a bigger picture today than when they started, one that includes building sustainable business with sound labor practices. Nike, Inc. retains the zeal of youth yet acts on their responsibilities as a global corporate citizen. As a direct result of these future-minded business practices, Nike, Inc. has become the world’s largest supplier of footwear to the NCAA and currently holds a market share near 65%. The Rams will wear up to eleven different models of footwear including, but not limited to, the Air Zoom Super Bad, Air Zoom Blade II Turf, Vapor Jet TD, Super Speed D ¾, Super Speed D, Land Shark Mid, Land Shark Mid Plus, and the Nike Free Trainer 7.0. As long as the Rams continue to stay on the cutting edge of athletic performance, they will wear Nike’s cutting-edge footwear and Russell Athletic uniforms.

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