In today's paper, we heard from head coach Joe Moglia, offensive coordinator Dave Patenaude and defensive coordinator Clayton Carlin reflecting on Coastal Carolina's football season and looking ahead to next fall.
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2012/12/10/3215821/reflections-on-moglias-first-season.html
Here's a further breakdown of the players the Chanticleers will return and the ones they must replace:
Offense
Key Losses
-QB Aramis Hillary: Runner-up for Big South Offensive Player of the Year honors, the veteran passed for 2,665 yards, 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions and rushed for 567 yards and four scores.
-C Pat Williams: Leader of an offensive line that helped CCU average 4.9 yards per carry and string off seven-straight 200-yard rushing games.
-RB Jeremy Height: Logged second-best rushing total in program history with 921 yards this season to go with 10 touchdowns.
-RB Marcus Whitener: Finished strong to tally 424 rushing yards and seven scores while averaging 6.8 yards per carry.
-TE David Duran: Couldn’t stay healthy enough to make a sustained impact in the passing game, but nonetheless goes down as one of the top tight ends in Big South history.
Key Returners
-QB Alex Ross: Made only one start as a redshirt-freshman, but in that start he passed for 342 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 62 yards. Will take over for Hillary.
-WR Matt Hazel: Already the second-leading receiver in program history, turned in a career year as a junior with 61 catches for 799 yards and eight touchdowns.
-WR DeMario Bennett: Further established himself as a junior with 43 catches for 599 yards and seven scores.
-WR Niccolo Mastromatteo: Had 47 catches for 571 yards and three scores out of the slot in a breakout junior season.
-OL: Left tackle Chad Hamilton, left guard Jamey Cheatwood, right guard Mo Ashley, right tackle Drew Herring and top reserve Kevin Hart all return from a unit that produced consistently all season.
-RB Travis Small: Coastal’s leading rusher in 2011, he had just 37 attempts for 152 yards in 2012 but should get a chance to reestablish himself next fall as a senior.
-RB Lorenzo Taliaferro: Junior newcomer was solid while rushing for 357 yards and five touchdowns in 80 carries.
Defense
Key Losses
-DE Quinton Davis: Had team-high 4.5 sacks and finished with 7.5 tackles for loss.
-CB Dontavais Johnson: Led CCU with four interceptions and six pass break-ups.
-DT Johnny Hartsfield: First-team All-Big South force up front, helped pave the way for play-making linebackers.
-LB Andrae Jacobs: 2010 Big South Defensive Player of the Year had a reduced role, but he was nonetheless a presence in many ways for Chants -- including on special teams.
Key Returners
-LB Quinn Backus: Big South Defensive Player of the Year broke program record with 139 tackles while finishing with eight tackles for loss, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and two recovered as a sophomore.
-LB Mike McClure: Led team with 8.5 tackles for loss and ranked second with 92 tackles.
-S Johnnie Houston: Two-year starter made his mark in FCS playoff win over Bethune-Cookman and finished season with 53 stops, 5.5 tackles for loss, two picks and three forced fumbles.
-CB LaDarius Hawthorne: Emerged over second half of the season to log 65 tackles, three interceptions and six pass break-ups.
-S Pernell Williams: Had 59 stops and a pick while starting all 13 games.
-S Richie Sampson: Made three starts as a true freshman before season-ending injury.
-DT Jeffery Salley: Started all 13 games up front while notching three tackles for loss.
-S Tyler McCarthy: Made five starts replacing Sampson in the lineup and notched 51 tackles and four pass break-ups.
Special teams
Key Losses
-KR Tre Henderson: Averaged 27.1 yards per return and came close a couple times to breaking one for a score.
Key Returners
-PR Niccolo Mastromatteo: Big South’s all-time punt return leader averaged 11.4 yards per return with an 87-yarder for a touchdown.
-PK Alex Catron: Finished 9-of-12 on field goals and 46-of-48 on extra points.
-P Austin Cain: Two-year starter improved to 36.5 yards per punt this season.
| Ryan Young, ryoung@thesunnews.com
Recent Comments