First Look: 2019 NCCU Football Preview

Durham, NC – Excitement around North Carolina Central University is soaring as former NCCU football standout Trei Oliver enters his first season as head coach at his alma mater. The 20-year coaching veteran has been part of five conference championships and three black college football national titles as an assistant coach, and he is looking to reignite a proud gridiron championship culture in Durham.

Oliver and his newly appointed coaching staff will face the challenge of rebounding from the program’s first losing record (5-6) since 2013. Although the Eagles benefit from 14 returning starters and a group of experienced letter winners, they will have to learn new offensive and defensive systems, and develop chemistry with a wealth of newcomers who are expected to contribute to the success of this year’s team.

“We have a lot of question marks,” Oliver said heading into the 2019 campaign. “We bring in 105 players to fall camp, and 40 of them are first-year players at NCCU. So we are going to have to hurry up and figure things out.”

Oliver’s approach to spring practice was to get deeper and evaluate the grit and determination of the student-athletes.

“We tried to develop some depth at all positions,” he said. “I watched the guys compete and saw their work ethic improve throughout the spring. That was the biggest takeaway.”

Oliver also witnessed his team come together.

“Our team chemistry is a lot better now,” he said. “When we first arrived, very few guys were in the building. But now the guys are spending a lot more time with the coaches talking about life, more than just football.”

In terms of goals for the upcoming season, Oliver did not talk about wins and losses but instead shared what fans can expect to see on game days.

“I would like to see us put a disciplined, physical, competitive team on the field,” said the former all-conference and all-region defensive back and punter at NCCU. “There are so many unknowns coming into the season, I’d just like to see us improve week in and week out.”

FULL PREVIEW:  2019 NCCU Football Season Preview_web (1)

OFFENSE:
Returning Starters: 9 (RB Isaiah Totten, TE Sherman McLeod, WR Xavier McKoy, OL Andrew Dale, WR Daeshawn Stephens, QB Chauncey Caldwell, WR Nique Martin, OL Somadina Okezie-Okeke, OL Ricky Lee)
Coaches: Moses Ware (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks), Brian Jenkins (running backs/special teams coordinator), Lonnie Teasley (offensive Line), Payton McCollum (wide receivers), Darius Dobson (offensive assistant), Donald Manley (offensive line assistant)
2018 NCAA Division I-FCS Rankings: 
#2 – Passes Had Intercepted (2) – #1 in MEAC
#6 – Turnovers Lost (10) – #1 in MEAC
#17 – Fourth-Down Conversion Percentage (61.1%) – #1 in MEAC
#21 – Turnover Margin (.55) – #1 in MEAC
#28 – Red Zone Offense (86.1%) – #2 in MEAC

Offensive Line
Top Returners:
Andrew Dale (R-Jr., 6-2, 280, Morehead City, N.C.): Started seven games before being sidelined with an injury. Voted to 2018 Preseason All-MEAC Second Team.
Somadina Okezie-Okeke (R-So., 6-2, 315, Woodstock, Ga.): Started all 11 games in first college season. Graded out at 85 percent of his blocking assignments with 5 pancake blocks.
Ricky Lee (So., 6-5, 280, Jacksonville, Fla.): Started all 11 games at right tackle as a true freshman. Graded out at 83 percent of his blocking assignments with 3 pancake blocks.
Malik Riddick-Reynolds (Jr., 6-5, 360, Sanford, N.C.): Played in 10 games, including 2 as a starter.

Quarterbacks
Top Returners

Chauncey Caldwell (Jr., 6-3, 230, Durham, N.C.): Played in 7 games, including 4 as the starting quarterback, before suffering season-ending injury on Oct. 27 at Delaware State. Two-time honoree as MEAC Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 6, Oct. 20). Threw for a team-best 916 yards and 8 touchdowns. Averaged 130.9 passing yards per game. Completed 73 of 138 pass attempts (52.9%) with a pass efficiency rating of 126.3. Second on the team with 324 rushing yards, averaging 46.3 ground yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry. Ran for 3 touchdowns. Accounted for 1,240 yards of total offense, an average of 177.1 total yards per outing. Amassed 464 yards of total offense in a win over Howard (Oct. 6) with 311 yards and 3 touchdowns passing, along with 153 yards and a touchdown rushing, including the game-winning score with 24 seconds remaining. Completed the second-longest pass play in school history by connecting with tight end Sherman McLeod for a 93-yard touchdown at Norfolk State (Oct. 20).
Micah Zanders (R-Jr., 6-2, 200, Jacksonville, Fla.): Did not play in 2018. In 2017, started first 3 games of first campaign at NCCU before suffering a season-ending injury versus South Carolina State (Oct. 21). Completed 25 of 46 passes for 257 yards. Rushed for 49 yards on 18 carries. Best outing versus Shaw (Sept. 9), completing 14 of 25 passes for 161 yards, while adding 27 yards on the ground. Recorded 91 yards through the air on 10-for-17 passing in season-opener at Duke (Sept. 2).

Running Backs

Top Returners

Isaiah Totten (R-Jr., 5-9, 195, Apex, N.C.): In two All-MEAC seasons (First Team in 2018; Second Team in 2017), has amassed 1,486 rushing yards to rank 15th on NCCU’s career rushing list. Averaging 5.63 yards per carry with 12 career rushing touchdowns. In 2018, played in all 11 games, including 8 as a starter. Voted All-MEAC First Team. Earned Honorable Mention recognition on HERO Sports FCS Sophomore All-America Team. Ranked third in the conference in rushing with 768 yards and 7 touchdowns, while averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Caught 19 passes for 105 yards. Amassed 190 rushing yards with 2 touchdowns at Bethune-Cookman (Nov. 8). Rushed for 133 yards and 2 scores versus Edward Waters (Nov. 3).
Jamal Currie-Elliott (R-Fr., 5-10, 185, Durham, N.C.): Played in 2018 season-opener versus Prairie View A&M (Sept. 2), but suffered an injury and did not return the play for the remainder of the season. Against Prairie View A&M in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, amassed 62 all-purpose yards with 38 rushing yards and a touchdown, along with 2 receptions for 24 yards.

Wide Receivers
Top Returners

Nique Martin (Jr., 6-1, 195, Winston-Salem, N.C.): Played in 10 games with 5 starts at wide receiver. Topped team with 32 receptions and 365 yards. Caught 2 touchdown passes with a long reception of 40 yards. Averaged 11.4 yards per catch. Collected season-high 7 receptions for 85 yards versus Howard (Oct. 6). Recorded season-best 87 receiving yards on 6 grabs at Delaware State (Oct. 27).
Xavier McKoy (Sr., 6-3, 195, Charlotte, N.C.): Played in all 11 games, including 8 as a starter. Collected 16 receptions for 209 yards and a touchdown. Averaged 13.1 yards per catch with a long reception of 38 yards. Achieved season-best 4 receptions for 67 yards vs. Saint Augustine’s (Sept. 8).
Daeshawn Stephens (R-Jr., 6-2, 215, Durham, N.C.): Appeared in 10 games, including 9 as a starter. Team Captain. Recorded 15 receptions for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns. Averaged 11.1 yards per catch, with a long reception of 35 yards. Collected a season-best 5 receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown versus Prairie View A&M (Sept. 2) at the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Atlanta. Caught 4 passes for season-high 77 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown, versus Howard (Oct. 6).
E.J. Hicks (Jr., 5-11, 160, Rolesville, N.C.): Played in 10 games, including 5 as a starter. Ranked second on the team with 27 receptions, 229 receiving yards and 2 touchdown catches. Led team with 128 punt return yards on 16 attempts, averaging 8.0 yards per punt return to ranked third in the conference and 29th in the nation (FCS). Best outing of the season versus Howard (Oct. 6) with 4 receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown.
Tyler Barnes (So., 6-4, 210, Charlotte, N.C.): Played in all 11 games, including 4 as a starter. Ranked fourth on the team with 18 receptions for 203 yards and a touchdown. Averaged 11.3 yards per catch with a long grab of 48 yards. Collected season-high 4 receptions three times, including 4 catches for 64 yards and a 48-yard touchdown versus Saint Augustine’s (Sept. 8).
Ryan McDaniel (Jr., 6-2, 215, Sugar Land, Texas): Played in all 11 games, including 1 as a starter. Collected 9 receptions for 160 yards and a touchdown. Averaged 17.8 yards per catch with a long grab of 55 yards, a touchdown against Edward Waters (Nov. 3).

Tight Ends
Top Returners:
Sherman McLeod (R-So., 6-2, 225, Raleigh, N.C.): Played in 9 games, including 8 as a starting tight end, before suffering a season-ending injury. Voted to All-MEAC Second Team. Collected 9 receptions for 213 yards and 3 touchdowns, averaging 23.7 yards per catch. On the receiving end of the second-longest pass play in school history with a 93-yard race to the end zone at Norfolk State (Oct. 20).
Zach Kellum (R-So., 6-3, 245, Winston-Salem, N.C.): Did not register a reception as a redshirt freshman, but played in 10 games with a start at Bethune-Cookman (Nov. 8).

DEFENSE:
Returning Starters: 5 (DL Darius Royster, DL, Kawuan Cox, LB Branden Bailey, DB Marcus Martin, DL Carl Isaac)
Coaches: Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay (defensive coordinator/linebackers), Juan Navarro (defensive line/recruiting coordinator), Dovonte Edwards (defensive backs), Ty Greenwood (cornerbacks), 
Jalen Reedus (defensive assistant)
2018 NCAA Division I-FCS Rankings:
#6 – Third Down Conversion Percentage Defense (28.2%) – #2 in MEAC
#14 – Team Tackles for Loss (7.7 per game) – #1 in MEAC
#21 – Turnover Margin (.55) – #1 in MEAC
#27 – Fumbles Recovered (10) – #2 in MEAC

Defensive Line
Top Returners

Darius Royster (R-Sr., 6-2, 215, Chesapeake, Va.): Played in all 11 games, including 9 as a starting defensive end. Voted All-MEAC Third Team. Led the MEAC and ranked ninth in the nation (FCS) with 4 forced fumbles. Tied for second in the conference and ranked 15th in the nation with a team-high 17.0 tackles for a loss, and tied for fifth in the league with a team-best 5.0 sacks. Finished third on the squad with 58 total takedowns, 39 of which were unassisted. Broke the school record for most tackles for loss in a game with 6.0 TFL among his season-best 10 total tackles versus Prairie View A&M (Sept. 2) in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. Registered 5.0 stops for a loss at S.C. State (Nov. 24).
Kawuan Cox (Sr., 6-2, 245, Summerville, S.C.): Appeared in 9 games with 9 starts. Voted All-MEAC Third Team. Tied for sixth in the conference with 4.5 sacks, to go along with 6.5 stops for a loss, 26 total tackles, and a forced fumble. Registered season-high 5 tackles twice – at Delaware State (Oct. 27) and versus Edward Waters (Nov. 3). Selected First Team All-MEAC as a sophomore in 2017.
Carl Isaac (R-So., 6-3, 250, Rockingham, N.C.): Played in all 11 games, including 7 as a starter on the defensive line. Finished with 30 tackles (16 solo), with 5.5 stops for a loss and a pass break-up. Amassed a season-high 7 tackles at Delaware State (Oct. 27), and collected 5 takedowns versus North Carolina A&T (Nov. 17).
Miles Turmon (Jr., 6-0, 280, Easley, S.C.): Played in all 11 games, including 2 as a starter. Collected 17 tackles with 3.5 hits for a loss, a solo sack, and a fumble recovery. Registered a season-high 4 tackles versus North Carolina A&T (Nov. 17).
Khalid Blount (R-Jr., 6-1, 270, Washington, Pa.): Played in all 11 games, including 5 as a starter as a defensive tackle. Recorded 14 tackles on the year. Posted a season-best 3 tackles twice – versus Prairie View A&M (Sept. 2) and at Duke (Sept. 22).
Chuck Manning (So., 6-2, 255, Durham, N.C.): Played in all 11 games, including 2 as a starter. Recorded 11 tackles, including 5.0 stops for a loss with 1.5 sacks, along with a forced fumble and a pass break-up. Tallied 2.0 tackles for loss versus Florida A&M (Sept. 29).

Linebackers
Top Returners:
Branden Bailey (Jr., 6-0, 235, Deerfield Beach, Fla.): Played in 9 games, all as a starter at linebacker, missing the last two games of the season. Ranked fourth on the team with 51 tackles. Registered 6.5 hits for a loss with a solo sack, along with 2 pass break-ups and 2 forced fumbles. Amassed a season-high 11 tackles (8 solo) at Norfolk State (Oct. 20). Recorded 10 tackles in season-opener versus Prairie View A&M (Sept. 2), including 2.0 stops for a loss with a sack. Tallied 2.5 hits for a loss against Edward Waters (Nov. 3).
Jerome Foster (R-So., 6-0, 220, Greenville, S.C.): Played in 10 games with a start at linebacker. Finished seventh on the team with 33 tackles. Added an assisted sack and a quarterback hurry. Amassed a season-high 9 tackles (7 solo) at South Carolina State (Nov. 24).
Matt Stevens (R-Jr., 6-0, 225, Charlotte, N.C.): Played in 9 games during first season at NCCU. Collected 24 tackles, including 1.5 stops for a loss with a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry. Recorded a season-high 5 tackles twice – at Duke (Sept. 22) and versus Howard (Oct. 6).
Patrick Connor (R-So., 6-0, 240, Greensboro, N.C.): Played in all 11 games. Recorded 14 tackles (9 solo), including 3.0 stops for a loss with an unassisted sack. Intercepted a pass for a 17-yard return and recovered a fumble for a 12-yard return at Norfolk State (Oct. 20). 
Jordan McRae (R-Jr., 6-2, 210, Fayetteville, N.C.): Played in 7 games during first season at NCCU as defensive back. Recorded 15 tackles with a solo stop for a loss and a pass break-up. Returned a fumble 55 yards for a touchdown at Duke (Sept. 22), to go along with 4 takedowns. Tallied season-high 6 tackles at Norfolk State (Oct. 20).

Defensive Backs
Top Returners:
Marcus Martin (Jr., 5-11, 185, Miami, Fla.): Played in all 11 games, including 7 as a starter. Recorded 31 tackles (22 solo), 5 pass break-ups, 1 interception, and 1 forced fumble. Intercepted a pass in the end zone in the closing seconds of a five-point win over Howard (Oct. 6), while also contributing 4 tackles. Amassed a season-high 6 tackles (4 solo) vs. Saint Augustine’s (Sept. 8). Tallied 4 tackles with 2 pass break-ups in season-opening MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Atlanta against Prairie View A&M (Sept. 2).
Deonta Fair (R-Sr., 6-1, 205, Miami, Fla.): Played in 9 games, including 1 as a starter. Recorded 30 tackles (18 solo), including a solo stop for a loss. Achieved a season-high 9 tackles (6 solo) versus North Carolina A&T (Nov. 17).

SPECIAL TEAMS:
Coach: Brian Jenkins (special teams coordinator/running backs)
2018 NCAA Division I-FCS Rankings:
#24 – Blocked Kicks (4)
Top Returners:
E.J. Hicks (Jr., 5-11, 160, Rolesville, N.C.): Led team with 128 punt return yards on 16 attempts, averaging 8.0 yards per punt return to ranked third in the conference and 29th in the nation (FCS). 
John Pecaro (Sr., 5-11, 175, Boyton Beach, Fla.): Averaged 33.3 yards per punt with 1,833 yards on 55 punts. Registered 2 punts of 50 yards or more, including a long punt of 55 yards. Placed 8 punts inside the 20-yard line and forced 15 fair catches.