2010

~(ll.ll 11:1 bad, J>OSJIJon We arc excited about both those guys," said Anderson. Anderson said he is also impressed with several freshman linemen expected to battle for starting roles, in– cluding Cottrell Miller, a 6-7, 295-pound right tackle and TateRogers, a 6-1, 280-pound offensive lineman, both from Louisville; McKenzie Lee, a 6-4, 325-pound left tackle from Nanih Waiya; and Andre Lucious, a 6', 310-pound of– fensive guard from Tuscaloosa (Ala.) County. Defensively, Ander– son said the Warriors will be " f a s l e r . . . m' o r e aggressive ...and wi ll apply more pressure" during each play this fall. "We're going to fly around, move around and swarm the football," said Anderson, who has turned the defense over to Blake Frazier, a former defensive coordinator at Northwest Mississippi Community Col– lege in Senatobia. "Our players did a great job learning our new de– fensive philosophy and work– ing with Coach Frazier," he satd. " I'm really excited about our defense." l"op defensive re– turnees include cornerback Gabe Loper (6-3, L 95), a prod– uct of Newton County High School, defensive lineman Khalid Wilson (6- l , 315) of Wilson Academy in New Or– leans and linebacker DeMarcus Lewis (5-1 1, 185) of Quitman.

said Andersnn commented ~ -"llc

The 2009 campaign was somewhat of a "whirl– wind" for then "interim" East Central Community College head coach Bnan Anderson, who was tapped to guide the Warrior football programjust a few weeks prior to the sea– son opener. Anderson, who had joined the ECCC staffin 2008 as offensive coordinator, said being named head coach was "a blessing," despite the un– usual circumstances. "When things hap– pen like they did last year, you just do the best you can." said the former Mississippi State University football standout and Prattville, Ala., native. "Last year we really did not have time to put things in place and do the things we wanted to do. We felt we were behind in recruiting and were always trying to catch up." Anderson, whose Warriors went 2-7 in 2009 with three of the losses by a total five points, said he feels "much better" about the up– coming season, even though the team includes j ust 15 re– turnees. "We had a very good spring and feel like we have a nucleus to huild around," he satd. "I'm very pleased with our recruiting class and what these guys bring to the program. We look forward to beginning practice Aug. 1 0 and have great expec– tations for the upcoming sea- son." Although Anderson has high praise for the return-

tng Wanw1s, hc·s nul '>UIC how many will actually start. "There are very few guys on our team that know exactly where they stand and where their position is ...and that's a good thing. You've got to have competition.:. players don't need to think that they've got the team made or their posi– tion made... they will obvi– ously not work as hard other– wise," Anderson said. Some of the top of– fensive returnees include wide receivers Radarius Owens(5-IO, 180)ofQuitman ilnd Walter Grayson (6 6, 200) of Tuscaloosa (Ala.) County High School; center Lester Jackson (5-10, 260) of Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Central; left guard Fred Smith (6-1, 280), a product of Newton County High School; and right guard Alaric Keams (6-3, 280) of Choc~w Central. Owens, whom Anderson refers to as "Mr. Consistent," was among the league's top receivers in 2009 with 37 receptions for 494 yards and two touchdowns. Anderson, who also serves as offensive coordina– tor, said the W;lrriOl oncnsc will once ara111 fcatu1e ,1 "spread" attack with multtple sets. "We're going to be aggressive...wide open...and will have more playrnakers on offense which means we shou ld be able to execute more big plays this year," said Anderson. But the key to a sue-

Anderson

t:cssful ullcnsc obvwusly falls with the quarterback, which EC must find prior to the season opener with North– east Mississippi Community College Thursday, Sept. 2 in Decatur. Emmanuel Taylor, the Warrior signal caller the past two seasons, is continuing his career at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Taylor(5-10, 180),a two-timeMACJCAII-State se– lection and former standout at Early County High School in Blakely, Ga., was ranked third nationally in total yards per game. completing I 54 of ?77 pass attempts f(lr 2.24 I yards and 15 touchdowns, and rushing for 627 yards on 98 carries, a 6.4-yard average per carry. Taylor and the EC offensewas ranked third over– all in the state and ninth in the nation by amassing 3,813 yards, a 423-yard average per contest. Anderson knows re– placing Taylor w ill not be easy, but he has confidence in several incoming players who are vying for the quar– terback position. "Riake Matherne (5- 9, I HO). who was l uuiswtM's ' Mr l·nnthall ' two years agu. accounted fo r 50 touch– downs as a high school se– nior and is a tremendous ath– lete, as is Dustin Land (6', 2 15) of Milton (Fla.) High School, who originally signed with Iowa State. They both have tremendous speed and possess great skills, which is what you have to have in the

c.:onnntnl 1111 IW11 ,_,f three field goals Jrom SO yards out in 30-degree weather ag:1inst a stiffwind. He ts also a very consistent kicker. Anderson said re– turnee Fabian Johnson (5-I 0, 180) ofCoahoma County I Iigh School may also he called on to punt along with freshman Zach Pendelton (6 3. 185) of Forest! !ill. Johnson can also play several skill positions and Pendelton j<; expected to see action at wtdc receiver. In addition to Blake Frazier, other members of Anderson's staffinclude Kyle "Watson, Fredrick Lyons, Derek Pouncey. Keith H<1'US· ton and Randy Brunson. Kickoff for East Central's season op~ICJ with Northeast Mississippi is set for 6 ~0 p.m. at Bailey Stn· ditml

Loper and Wilson are recetv ing a lot of attention on the Division I level. "Gabe will be one of our defensive leaders this fall and we expect g reat things from him. He will probably sign with a Southeastern Con– fe rence team," Anderson said. "Wilson will be one of the better interior linemen this year and was a top 12 tackler in the league last year as a freshman (42 tackles and 12 assists). Demarcus is a third– year player...and is referred to as the 'old man ' on the team. He is a lso a quality player." Anderson said the kicking and punting responsibilittcs will probably be handled by freshman Jason Loris (5-1 I. 165) ofMoss Point. " Jason had a tremendous try– out earlier this year during in– clement weather conditions,"

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