The Wingate University football team enters the 2011 season hoping to continue the success achieved during the 2010 campaign. For the first time in school history, Wingate (9-3 overall) won the South Atlantic Conference regular season championship and qualified for the NCAA Division II play-offs last year. The Bulldogs defeated number 23 Morehouse College 63-41 before falling to number five Albany State University 30-28 in the second round.
The Bulldogs posted big numbers on offense last season. “We have a great foundation returning on offense,” Wingate head coach Joe Reich says. “We will have new players stepping into different spots…this is very exciting. I am looking forward to the competition for the two inside receiver positions.”
Wingate redshirt senior quarterback Cody Haffly is a pre-season honorable mention All-American, as named by Consensus Draft Services (CDS). Haffly was one of 24 candidates in the running for the 2010 Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II college football Player of the Year. For the 2010 season, Haffly completed 274-of-448 passes for 3952 yards and 42 touchdowns.
Bulldog junior wide receiver Chris Bowden posted 51 receptions for 935 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2010. Redshirt junior running back Vince Jordan was an All-SAC pick in 2009, when he compiled 967 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Offensive linemen Mike Arndt and Austin Lowe helped Wingate place second in the SAC in passing offense (332.7 yards per game) and total offense (443.3 yards per game) last year. Arndt is a three-year starter.
Wingate will miss inside receivers
Delric Ellington (82 catches, 1077 yards, 10 touchdowns) and Perry Floyd (71 catches, 1236 yards, 15 TDs). “We are solid at the outside receiver positions with the return of Bowden and
Marquise Allen,” Reich says. The competition for the inside receiver position includes junior
Josh Clawson, redshirt freshman
Ben Caffrey and redshirt senior
Ivan Raymond. Junior college transfer
Ben Pinkard will be in the mix as well.
On the offensive line, the Bulldogs must replace three starters. Redshirt senior
Karston Grant was a spot starter during Wingate’s 2010 stretch run. Redshirt junior
Joseph So will replace long-time starter Andrew Garner at center.
Academic All-America® right guard Ralph Curiel graduated, leaving a battle for his spot. Reich believes redshirt sophomore
Mike Miller, redshirt senior
Casey Cogdill and redshirt freshman
Will Poteat are the front-runners to replace Curiel.
“We are looking to develop depth on the offensive line,” Reich says. “Last year, we had eight guys who made huge contributions to our O-Line. We believe we have 10-12 candidates to fill our needs on the line.”
Sophomores Kyle Bradshaw and Landon Jordan will give Wingate depth at running back, as all-time leading rusher Nelson Woods graduated in May. Reich believes the offense will be fine, if they remember how they got to this place. “We must remember the fundamentals,” Reich says. “We can’t try to do too much…or try too hard. If we execute the basics, we will be fine.”
On defense, graduate student
Justin Squirewell and redshirt junior
Robert Fletcher will lead the Bulldogs from the secondary. Fletcher led the Wingate defense with three interceptions in 2010. He was third on the defense with a total of 87 tackles, including 43 solo tackles. “Justin enters his second year of graduate school this year,” Reich says. “His return is a big bonus for us.”
Sophomore Timmy Rogers saw significant time at safety during his true freshman season. Transfer Jarvis Smith will see time in the secondary, along with a host of returning players. Redshirt junior Warren Brown, senior Owo Mobio and redshirt freshman Jay Wrisper will battle for time at cornerback. Redshirt senior Travis Baker and redshirt freshmen Anthony McGill and Jon Jimenez will see time at the safety spots and on special teams.
At linebacker, senior Clayton Hazeltine and redshirt juniors Jared Seate and Richie Kazazian lead the way. Hazeltine is one of the top Bulldogs during the team’s off-season workouts. “Richie Kazazian had a great spring and a great off-season,” Reich says. “We are moving (redshirt senior) Morris Gatewood to mike linebacker. He is going to share time with Jared Seate.”
Redshirt senior Tony Davis and transfer Trace Williams will play key roles for Wingate’s linebacker corps. Junior college transfer Malcolm Ricks (Erie Community College) will see time as well.
“Our defensive line is the deepest we have had in several years,” Reich says. Seniors Jack Taylor, Josh Yon, Josh Patch and Jonathan Simmons will fill starting roles entering pre-season practice. Redshirt seniors Buster Smith and Lamont Floyd and redshirt freshman Cedric Ellison are in the mix as well. “We have 10 defensive linemen who we believe will make key contributions,” Reich says. Redshirt freshman Steven Jacobs and junior Shane Outen will also push for time.
On special teams, Seate returns as the team’s long snapper. Reich and his staff must replace everyone else, including All-SAC return specialist Perry Floyd and All-SAC placekicker R.P. Lopez. Redshirt freshman Austin Anthony is the front-runner to fulfill the punting duties in 2011.
Redshirt junior Matthew Sierk served as the team’s kick-off specialist in 2010. Sierk will see much competition in pre-season camp, as redshirt freshman Patrick Smith and senior Paul Grammaticopoulos. “We have three guys who can do the job,” Reich says. “I believe this will be a nice battle.” Reich sees the competition for return specialist as wide-open. Erie Community College transfer Ben Pinkard brings college experience to the table. “We believe we always have someone who steps up (and gets the job done),” Reich says.
Wingate opens the 2011 campaign Saturday, Sept. 3, hosting Valdosta State (Ga.) University at 1:30 p.m. The Bulldogs begin SAC play Saturday, Sept. 24, entertaining Brevard College at 1:30 p.m. Wingate’s non-conference slate includes Valdosta State, Albany State (Ga.), UNC Pembroke and North Greenville University. The Bulldogs were picked by the league’s coaches as the pre-season favorite to win the 2011 SAC football regular season title.
2010 Season Outlook
