2007 Northwestern State Football Preview
NATCHITOCHES, La. - Young and experienced might be an oxymoron, but it fits the 2007 Northwestern State football team.
After 34 players got their first college football experience in a 4-7 campaign including visits to Kansas, Baylor and Ole Miss last season, sixth-year head coach Scott Stoker has 48 lettermen (26 offensive, 18 defensive, 4 specialists) and 16 of 22 offensive or defensive starters back this fall.
Mixing into the roster some much-anticipated redshirt freshmen and transfers, it’s easy to see why there are high hopes for a return to championship contention in the Southland Conference by the Demons this fall. Some 2006 starters may not fill the same roles a year later.
Focal figures should include true sophomore quarterback Germayne Edmond (started last three games, 376 yards total offense) and honorable mention juco All-America QB Drew Branch; senior tight end Clay Broyles (18-202), senior receiver Ben Bailey (21-314, four TDs), junior receiver Dudley Guice (14-138, two TDs, despite a broken jaw in the season opener), junior tailback Byron Lawrence (821 rush yards, four TDs), senior offensive tackle Demetrius Bell (a basketball player still learning football, but an NFL prospect), senior defensive ends Charlie Brooks (34 tackles, seven TFL) and Ray Martin (42 tackles, eight TFL, one interception), sophomore defensive tackle Albert Smith (25 tackles), senior cornerback C.L. Grogan (33 tackles, four interceptions, eight breakups), junior linebacker Mack Dampier (51 tackles), sophomore linebacker Rogers Loche (15 tackles), sophomore safety Gary Riggs (48 tackles, two interceptions), senior punter Marshall Burton (38.6 avg.) and junior kicker Robert Weeks (school record 18 FGs in 24 attempts).
The graduation loss of safeties Russ Washington and Jason O’Brien, multi-year starters and the top two tacklers last season, is the key question mark. Redshirt freshmen Chad Bell and Lance Lacoste, sophomore Wesley Eackles and senior Darrell Kitchen are top contenders to step in.
Last year’s record was the first losing mark for the Demons in seven seasons. With only 11 senior letterwinners on the 2007 roster, it seems a good 2007 season could be the precursor of explosive teams in 2008 and 2009 for Stoker and the Demons.
The schedule is typically demanding. It opens, unlike last year’s Kansas/Baylor swing, with two home games, but against nationally-ranked Division II power Henderson State and nationally-ranked SLC newcomer Central Arkansas. The other non-conference games are visits to Texas Tech, Ole Miss and upwardly mobile Colonial Athletic member Northeastern.
With two overtime losses and the other two defeats by 10 and 9 points, a raw bunch of Demons was very close to being in the SLC title chase last year.
After a very productive spring practice capped by an exciting Delaney Bowl spring game, Stoker and staff are confident their Demons are ready for a return to playoff contention this fall.