Head coach: Jimmy Fletcher, West Brunswick (N.C.)
On key position battles entering fall practice:
>>``The biggest thing for us is replacing the quarterback (graduated Ryan Hill). We have a lot of kids back. We are pretty excited to be honest with you.''
''I have got three kids working at the quarterback position -- Quan Bates, a junior; Cameron Smith, a sophomore; and Markel Jones, a freshman. Right now, Quan probably is the leader because he is a junior. He just has a little more experience. Markel is probably the most like Ryan, but we will see how it goes.''
On any new schemes this season:
``We are going to be doing pretty much the same thing.''
On the adjustment to a new conference:
>>``It is just a different type league. The teams we are going to face now are more power teams. Against Wilmington teams (in the old conference), we may see a spread offense one week, or I-back, play-action -- a lot more multiple sets in that league. So this is going to be a little different for us. Just about everyone we play now is going to be a three-back set.''
A LITTLE EXTRA:
>>Just like South Columbus, the Trojans will have a midnight practice on the first day North Carolina teams can go in full pads (next Friday night/Saturday morning at 12:01 a.m.).
``We did it last year, except we did it on the very first day when you couldn't hit,'' Fletcher said. ``And we started thinking, `that is not very smart.' ''
Fletcher said the team will have a full day Friday leading up to the midnight practice. Friday's schedule will include team pictures, practice, a barbecue and a movie before the midnight practice, which will last about an hour and a half.
>>Graduated quarterback Ryan Hill accepted an offer to attend the Naval Academy last year.
``He left Sunday actually,'' Fletcher said. ``He is going to prep school to start out.''
RECRUITING NEWS:
>>Senior defensive end Alfy Hill (6-4, 245, 4.55 40 speed) is rated the 69th best overall prospect and the 10th best strongside defensive end in his class by Rivals.com.
``I tell you Alabama is probably the front-runner,'' Fletcher said. ``After that North Carolina and N.C. State, then you have Virginia Tech and Clemson.
``[Hill] says maybe after the first few ballgames (he may commit),'' Fletcher said. ``We have been everywhere on unofficial visits. We have talked about official visits for this fall, but we haven't sit down and talked about where yet. But Alabama would definitely be one of them. He can take an official visit once his senior season starts.
``When he makes a decision, we will have some sort of press conference.'''
The one thing it sounds like Hill will not do during his announcement is the standard multiple team hats on a table and picking one to reveal his college destination
``I told him he is not doing that,'' Fletcher said.
>>Senior defensive end Dylan Bowman (6-4, 240) has gotten several offers. His list of suitors include Liberty, North Carolina A&T, Wofford and Furman.
``Of course with all kids, he wants to go [FBS],'' Fletcher said. ``He is a smart kid.''
>>Senior defensive back Tquan Ash (5-10, 175, 4.6 40) has drawn interest from several Division II schools.
>>Senior tailback Maverick Pate (5-10, 190, 4.65 40) ``has got a chance,'' Fletcher said. ``He has some academic work to do, but he has had Division II schools talking to him.''
Those schools include Lenoir-Rhyne, Catawba and North Greenville.
