2007 Stephen F. Austin Football Preview
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - There is a ton of excitement surrounding the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack football program, and expectations are high entering the 2007 season. But to the untrained eye of the casual observer, the numbers may not add up ... well that’s because the casual observer is looking at the wrong numbers.
The skeptics may say that SFA is coming off a 4-7 (.363) year, faced an offseason where it had to replace head coach Robert McFarland, as well as replacing four starters in the secondary, including two-time All-American safety Keldrick Holman, and has seen back-to-back sub-.500 records.
To the skeptic, I say, “Take a closer look at the numbers.” The Lumberjacks went 4-2 (.667) in Southland Conference play finishing tied for second in the league in 2006. The ’Jacks’ two league losses were by a total of only seven points. Coach McFarland did leave, but in his place stepped defensive coordinator J.C. Harper who kept the heart of the coaching staff in place ? team continuity intact. And yes, SFA must go about the business of replacing its secondary and tight ends, but SFA returns the heart of its athletes at every other position, including first-team All-SLC quarterback Danny Southall and first-team all-league running back Louie Runnels. One other thing, of the ’Jacks seven setbacks in ’06, five were by eight points or less, and four were by four points or less. As for the stat about back-to-back losing records, just take a look at the ’Jacks’ depth chart during the past two seasons and you will see an alarming number of redshirt freshmen, true freshmen and sophomores. Oh, by the way, those freshmen and sophomores are now savvy veterans.
The Offense
The Lumberjack offense will be led by 6-3, 214-pound quarterback Danny Southall who is coming off a breakout season. After patiently waiting for three seasons for his turn as the starter, Southall lived up to expectations earning first-team All-SLC honors and receiving All-America consideration as a junior. Southall led the conference averaging 170.6 yards passing and 208.6 yards of total offense per game last season. He was also a threat to run with the ball, recording 109 carries for 418 yards and six touchdowns.
Southall should be set up to have an even better 2007 campaign as most of his weapons, including the whole offensive line, return from last year. SFA returns a stable of talented receivers led by 2006 honorable mention all-conference wide out Dominique Edison. The San Augustine native returns from a sophomore season that saw him finish among the league leaders in receptions and receiving yards per game. Edison also hauled in five touchdown receptions last year and is on pace to graduate as one of the school’s all-time best receivers.
While Edison provides the SFA offense with a deep threat, senior Nick Rhodes is a sure-handed receiver who really came on during the latter stages of the ’06 season. Rhodes, a 6-1, 195 athlete from Brownswood, Texas, caught 26 passes for 296 yards and averaged 11.4 yards per reception.
Along with Edison and Rhodes, Southall also hopes to see sophomores Aaron Rhea and Contrevious Parks running open in opposing secondaries. Rhea is a strong receiver who showed a lot of potential during his rookie season, while Parks is a lightning quick receiver who can also be utilized as a kick returner. If Parks steps up in 2007, he could provide SFA with a scary one-two punch alongside Edison.
Southall will be joined in the backfield with co-first-team All-SLC running back Louie Runnels and second-team All-SLC fullback Leonard Lynce. Runnels is coming off a junior campaign that saw him finish fifth in the league, averaging 64.5 yards per carry, and rush for six touchdowns.
Lynce paid huge dividends for SFA filling in for first-team all-conference fullback, Michael Motte who was lost for the season due to an offseason injury. Lynce didn’t miss a beat filling in for the injured veteran, earning second-team all-league honors. Let’s not forget that the position will be even stronger with the return of Motte this season.
Although Runnels is a punishing runner with the ability to turn a tiny gap into a gaping whole, he will be aided by the return of every starter on the offensive line, including all-conference selections Brock Pasteur and Taylor Cobb. Along with the dynamic duo up front, SFA also welcomes back seniors Scott Dover and Mike Davis to the offensive line. Dover was an offensive starter two seasons ago before being switched to the defensive line last season. After starting all 11 games at defensive tackle, Dover is slated as a starter at right tackle. Davis earned a starting role last year after transferring from the junior college ranks, but his season was cut short by an injury in the fifth game of the year.
The Defense
A similar story can be said of the Lumberjack defense, with the lone exception being in the secondary. Attrition took its toll on the Lumberjack secondary losing four of five starters, including two-time All-American Keldrick Holman, but the ’Jacks’ return to the heart and soul of its defense at every other position.
The defense will be led by junior linebacker Damian Perkins, who led the SLC with 92 tackles and was among the league leaders with 11.5 tackles for losses. The scary thing about Perkins, or more correctly put, the scary thing facing opposing offensive coordinators, is that Perkins accomplished all that in his first season on defense. Perkins spent his rookie season as one of the team’s top running backs.
Perkins will be joined at linebacker by 2007 honorable mention All-SLC selection Bug Aymond on the strong side and junior Brian Ford in the middle. Aymond made the switch from the ’Jacks secondary to linebacker last year and it was a move that paid off for then-defensive coordinator J.C. Harper. Aymond recorded 67 tackles, including 4.5 for losses, and 1.5 sacks. Aymond is the team’s second-leading returning tackler.
Ford has been penciled in as the starter at middle linebacker coming out of spring drills. Ford recorded 25 tackles in a reserve role last season, but has the potential to be a defensive playmaker. A former six-man football standout at Calvert High School, Ford brings intimidating size and a ton of speed to the position. That to go along with another offseason of working with SFA Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Dan Eason, and Ford should be ready for a big junior season.
Expected to be heavily involved in the mix at linebacker are junior Jonathan Patke and redshirt freshman Terrance Nurse. Patke has the potential to be a starter and entered the 2006 season as a first teamer, but his first two seasons have been plagued with injury. If Patke can stay healthy, he will be a huge asset for SFA. Nurse has been surrounded by high expectations since his signing, and after a highly effective spring camp, he appears to be on his way to meeting those expectations.
Despite the defection of 2006 starter Scott Dover back to the offense, the SFA defensive line returns four starters. The returning starters include sophomores Daimyeon Hoskin, Tim Knicky and Robert Mayes, along with senior Ryan Mengo whose 2006 season was cut short when he was lost to an injury in the third game of the season.
Although Mengo’s loss last season hurt the defense, it forced some younger players to be thrown in the fire early, and they came out refined as better players. Hoskin and Knicky were both named SLC honorable mention selections. Mayes stepped into the spot left open by Mengo’s loss and filled the role admirably, recording 29 stops.
The return of Mengo will provide the ’Jacks’ defensive front with some experience, which it desperately lacked last season, along with a huge presence in the middle. But Mengo will be in a dogfight to earn back his starting role after a strong spring from 6-2, 270-pound sophomore Kendall Jernigan. A Seagoville, Texas native, Jernigan was another one of the SFA rookies forced into early action during their rookie season.
Junior Stormy Wingo is listed as a starter at defensive end after a strong spring workout. With the return of Wingo, that provides SFA with two juniors on its defensive line, but even with all the returning talent, SFA will still be a very young squad.
The secondary was the spot on the SFA roster hit the hardest due to players running out of eligibility, but it is not without returning talent. The ’Jacks return speed burners Stephon Rhea and Johnny Thacker. Both athletes have been starters during their career, and both will be counted on for their experience this season. SFA also returns sophomore Jonathan Botley, who started the first four games of the 2006 season.
This returning trio will be surrounded by a host of redshirt freshmen who bring a wealth of talent to the field but just need game experience. Mesquite, Texas, freshman Jerrel Barnett enters fall camp as a starter at safety. Barnett will be joined by a 6-1, 205-pound prospect from Houston Bry Roby and 6-1, 180-pound Irving native Eric Griffin. Roby is currently listed as a reserve at the other safety position, while Griffin will be counted to contribute a cornerback spot. All three showed flashes of brilliance during the spring and will be counted on to make a significant impact in the upcoming season.
Special Teams
The theme of “the heart of the squad returns for the 2007 season” continues with the special teams players. Honorable mention All-SLC kick returner Vincent Pervis headlines the group. A natural running back with great speed, Pervis did a solid job of shortening the field for the ’Jacks in 2006. Pervis turned in one of the better return seasons in school history, averaging 25.4 yards per return. Pervis has the speed and ability to change the field position every time he steps on the gridiron.
Along with Pervis, SFA returns Rhodes to handle punt returns. Rhodes is a sure-handed receiver who finished third in the conference in punt returns in 2006. With a year of experience at the NCAA Division I level under his belt, he should be even stronger in his final season.
The ’Jacks also return kicker Cory Long and punter Ryan Gooch. Long scored 62 points on the season, connecting on all 23 extra-point tries and 13-of-19 (68 percent) of his field goals. Long was almost automatic from 40 yards and in nailing 12-of-14 (86 percent), but struggled from beyond 40 yards connecting on only 1-of-5 tries.
There could be some early competition for the kicking responsibilities in the upcoming season with addition of 6-0, 230-pound Jaime Fernandez. A Lufkin, Texas, product, Fernandez scored 247 points during his prep career and showed a knack for burying kickoffs deep in the endzone.
Gooch returns for his final season in a purple-and-white uniform and is looking to improve upon a 2006 season that was eerily similar to his sophomore season. As a sophomore, Gooch recorded a 37.2 yards per punt average with a career-long of 63. A model of consistency, Gooch also averaged 37.2 yards per punt with a long 63 yards in 2006.