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By MAT SCHLISSEL
TowsonTigers.com
Last spring, there were a lot uncertainties on the Tiger football team. At quarterback, Peter Athens was coming back off a
redshirt season and was the only player who had seen
significant time. At wide receiver, Tom Ryan, Erron Banks and Alex Blake were the most experienced players but somebody needed to step up and an improved quarterback
situation could help their situation. The running game was waiting on the offensive line to
gell, but there was some major talent and depth that was just waiting to be unleashed.
On defense, Towson had to replace all-CAA defensive tackle
Yaky
Ibia and there were concerns about the depth and quality of the
cornerback position.
Most of those questions were answered during
preseason practice in August when Grant Enders arrived from Lackawanna Junior College to take over at quarterback. They also added
UConn transfers Gerrard Sheppard and Leon
Kinnard to supply more speed
and size to the receiving corps.
The offensive line, with four
sophomores and a senior, gelled into a more aggressive, run-blocking
unit. When that happened, along with the emergence of
tight end James Oboh and
fullback Tyler Wharton as additions to the passing game, Towson was able
to display their talented array of running backs led by Terrance West
and Dominique Booker.
At cornerback, the
Tigers started senior Justin Harris, who played wide receiver and moved
to to the defensive backfield in 2010. True sophomore Corey Ford was
back for his second year and they had to play Tye
Smith, a first-year freshman.
This year, the Tigers probably won't have to play a first-year freshman at
cornerback. That's because they added junior Jordan Love from Georgia and
redshirt freshman Ben Harvey from South Carolina.
Love was recruited by head coach Rob Ambrose coming of high school. He played at
Gilman H.S. in Baltimore and then moved.
Coach Ambrose says, "I recruited Jordan (Love) in high school. He played at famed
Gilman HS and then moved on to Virginia's Deep Run H.S. where he was named number one
cornerback in the state. Harvey walked on at South Carolina after playing at Montgomery County powerhouse Good Counsel H.S."
"Jordan ended up finishing as the nickel," said Ambrose. "He wanted to
be an every down corner. Ben walked on at South Carolina and they loved
him. He didn't
play much in high school. He was going to play eventually but he didn't' want to wait (at South Carolina)."
play much in high school. He was going to play eventually but he didn't' want to wait (at South Carolina)."
Love will likely start at one corner spot while the other spot has Smith, Ford and Harvey all pushing for the starting job.
"We have some guys that are beat up but we definitely raised the
talent pool all around at corner," said Ambrose. "If we had to go to
(play) today, we'd have a lot
of guys that can play. It's better than only having a couple that can play."
of guys that can play. It's better than only having a couple that can play."
At strong safety, the Tigers must replace senior Nick Oates and are
looking to find somebody to play next to All-CAA senior-to-be
Jordan
Dangerfield. Towson brought in junior transfer Darrell Givens (6-1, 195) from Rutgers, but
redshirt sophomore Thomas Bradley (6-2, 200) isn't ready to give up his spot.
"Givens was so good in high school," said Ambrose. "When he was a
true sophomore, he would go to the combines with the juniors and kick
their (rear end). He could have
gone anywhere in the country and went to Rutgers. He did ok. He wasn't focused on the true important goals. He has talent and needed a second chance. We had a very good closed door meeting. I told him if you (throw) it away, I'm going to boot you out the door. He's been fantastic in the last two months."
gone anywhere in the country and went to Rutgers. He did ok. He wasn't focused on the true important goals. He has talent and needed a second chance. We had a very good closed door meeting. I told him if you (throw) it away, I'm going to boot you out the door. He's been fantastic in the last two months."
At defensive tackle, Towson has to replace Marcus Valentine, who
graduated. Matt Morgan (6-3, 280) returns for his senior season, while
Towson brought in sophomore Western Michigan transfer Brendan Gannon
(6-2, 260) to compete for playing time.
He earned
All-MIAA honors twice at
Cardinal Gibbons High School in Baltimore and led the team with 98
tackles as a senior. He moved on to Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) for one year
and made 64 tackles with eight sacks in one year.
Junior Arnold Farmer (6-1, 325) is one of the strongest players on the
team and might be ready to play full-time.
Redshirt freshman Jon
Desir (6-5, 310) will also be in the mix.
"The interior is going to be a dogfight," said Ambrose before
spring practice began. "Matt Morgan is already 280 and he'll do both
(end and tackle). I expect us to be
better. He likes the idea of his versatilitiy. He's more excited. It's not easy. It's a different mentalilty inside than outside."
better. He likes the idea of his versatilitiy. He's more excited. It's not easy. It's a different mentalilty inside than outside."
On offense, Towson needs to replace All-American right tackle Hank
Glackin. Junior college transfer Jake McDowell (6-5, 290) arrives from Golden West Junior College and played his high school back at
Los
Alamitos (Ca.). He's batting redshirt freshman Jake.
Schunke (6-5, 300) and Cory Kirby (6-6, 285) for the right tackle spot.
.
.
"McDowell has great feet and is big enough," said Ambrose. "He's a 300-pounder that moves likes a 260-pounder."
With two-time All-CAA fullback Tyler Wharton trying to make at the next level, the Tigers have big shoes to fill. True freshman
Dreon Johnson (6-0, 235) is getting a shot along with sophomore Josh
Joannides (5-11, 235), who played on the defensive side of the ball. Fullback is one of Ambrose's biggest concern this spring.
"We're not nearly as far long as long as I'd like to it to be,"
said Ambrose after last Saturday's scrimmage. "We're competitive. But at
right tackle, we're probably a little more competitive. I feel a little
stronger about the result.".
