Football 2001 Seson Outlook - Guilford College

• Guilford College Football Coaching Staff

Guilford College’s football team returns 37 letter winners and 21 starters from last year’s 1-9 unit (1-6 Old Dominion Athletic Conference). Head coach Mike Ketchum promises wholesale defensive changes in his 11^th season to improve on the Quakers’ most difficult campaign since 1973. Ketchum thinks he found a productive offensive scheme late last season and hopes an added year of maturity for his 40 sophomores and juniors moves his team closer to the top of the ODAC standings.

Guilford’s defense had a record-setting season in 2000, but unfortunately most of the records were not good. Opponents averaged 44.4 points and 482.6 total offensive yards per game last season and scored at least 24 points in all 10 contests. The Quakers’ defense forced just 19 turnovers and yielded 43 rushing touchdowns. Guilford’s opponents controlled the ball for over 32 minutes per game and converted 37 percent of their third-down opportunities.

The defense’s changes start at the top, where Ketchum assumes control of the play calling and schemes. The Quakers will install a base ‘50’ formation with three down linemen and five linebackers. Modeled after the University of South Carolina’s successful 2000 defensive unit, the plan allows Guilford to use smaller, quicker players and keeps opponents off balance with assorted stunts and blitzes. Ketchum notes the scheme is a work in progress and will evolve throughout the season. The defense moves seniors Sean Glarner and Luke White from the defensive line to linebacker and creates great competition for playing time.

Ketchum also anticipates good offensive competition where a bevy of backs and receivers return to Guilford’s wide-open, veer option scheme. The Quakers turned to the entertaining game plan in week seven last season and averaged 386.5 yards over their final four games, including a 49-0 loss to Ferrum and its top-ranked defense. The players love to spread the field, create mismatches and play with no huddles. Junior Oren Robinson, a converted receiver and scholastic option quarterback, enters preseason practice atop the depth chart at quarterback. He has a solid running back tandem in sophomore Marcus Ballard and junior Brandon Lockhart, who combined for over 1,000 rushing yards last year and received honorable mention All-ODAC laurels. The return of two-time All-ODAC wideout Chris McKinney aids the receiving corps.

Division III preseason All-America punter John Alt bolsters’ Guilford’s special teams. The two-time all-region and All-ODAC performer averages over 39 yards per kick and over 60 attempts per season. Ballard handled most of Guilford’s returning chores a year ago and will do so again in 2001 along with McKinney and classmates Nick Harvey and Sherod Long. Sophomore Frank Martenies handles long-snapping duties. Rookies Christian Adams and Grant Murphy contend for placekicking duties along with sophomore Matt Sanders.

Given last year’s lackluster record, no players return with guaranteed starting positions or promised playing time. A 35-member freshman class distinguished by big linemen and quick backs will push the veterans. Ketchum foresees competition at every position on the field, which should keep players sharp and provide a measure of insurance against injury. If the competition yields its expected results, Ketchum likes the prospects for success in 2001 and sees great hope for future campaigns.

Guilford opens its season a week earlier than usual and with a very formidable opponent for the second year in a row. After falling to Guilford alumnus David Dowd’s Division I-AA Charleston Southern team in last year’s opener, the Quakers begin the 2001 campaign at Division II Carson-Newman, a perennial national title contender and the 1999 national runner up. Ketchum coached under longtime Eagles’ boss Ken Sparks from 1985-87. The Quakers play their first home game the following week versus Methodist and begin ODAC competition at Washington and Lee September 15. Defending league champion Emory & Henry and Bridgewater, also an NCAA Championships participant, provide formidable competition. For the first time in the Soup Bowl’s five-year history, Guilford plays cross-town-rival Greensboro under the lights at Grimsley High School September 29.

Here’s a preview of the Quakers by position:

QUARTERBACK: Robinson earned honorable mention All-ODAC laurels last season at receiver, but starts under center for his junior season. His quickness in Guilford’s spread formation makes him a rushing threat and can create extra time to find open receivers. Redshirt freshmen Josh Smith and Payson Davis practiced with last season’s team and are more familiar with Guilford’s offense than the other three rookie signal callers.

RUNNING BACK: Guilford enjoyed its most prolific rushing season since 1995 thanks to the tandem of Ballard and Lockhart, both honorable mention all-league picks. The Quakers’ running backs Ballard averaged over five yards per carry and provided some exciting moments last season with his elusive moves and hard running. Lockhart (pictured) is a durable runner and a threat to break off a long run as evidenced by his 45- and 75-yard touchdown runs against Emory & Henry. Calvin Lockhart, Brandon’s twin, joins his brother in the offensive backfield after two seasons in the secondary. Promising Josh Moore returns for his second season after missing half of his rookie campaign due to injuries.

RECEIVERS: McKinney’s return to Guilford gives the Quakers a dominant receiver and another attractive offensive option. He ranked among the ODAC’s receiving and returns leaders in each of his first two seasons at Guilford before he transferred to N.C. State. He joined the Wolfpack as a walk-on, practiced with the team, and led the receivers in its 2001 spring scrimmage. A strong class of rookie receivers reduced McKinney’s role and inspired his return to Guilford.

Senior Nick Lamotta, a second team All-ODAC performer in 1999, could be the key to Guilford’s offensive success. The lanky 6-4 tight end has good speed and can create matchup problems for opposing linebackers and defensive backs. He is Guilford’s top returning receiver with Robinson’s move to quarterback and J.J. Edwards’ move to safety. Sophomores Nick Harvey and James Hereford are other holdovers from last year and fit the mold of small, yet quick, wideouts.

OFFENSIVE LINE: The line may be Guilford’s most experienced offensive position on the field. Senior guard Lee Massey is a four-year starter and has consistently been among the Quakers’ top linemen. Classmate Drew Baird enters his second year as the team’s starting center after two years as a reserve linebacker and special teams player. Four sophomores contend for the remaining starting line spots, including three with starting experience. Ricky Hiatt’s midseason return from injury at guard certainly helped the offense’s late-season improvement. Sophomore Feky Eugene started his career on the offensive line but switched to defense later in the year. He returns to offense in 2001 and will challenge classmate Dan Caliento for action at tackle.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Brian Person, a 6-2 sophomore, impressed the coaches with his toughness and made six starts on the line as a rookie. Sophomores Erik Welch and Luke Owens start the year on defense after splitting time on both offense and defense last year. Fellow sophomores Jeffry Frisby and Jon Cagle also line up on defense. Junior George Manley shifts from the offensive line to defense and will contend for playing time.

LINEBACKER: In Guilford’s new scheme, the linebackers become the Quakers’ most defenders. They’re responsible for rushing the passer, filing gaps on the line and dropping into coverage. As a result, Ketchum has moved his top defensive playmakers to linebacker. While White and Glarner (pictured)  occupy the inside slots, senior Will Black plays the middle spot. Guilford’s leading tackler in each of the past two seasons, Black averages nearly 70 stops per season in his three years as a starter. Another three-year starter, senior Jake Sorg, contends for one of the two starting outside linebacker spot. This position, which has duties resembling a strong safety’s, is wide open. Sophomore Travis Newkirk, who broke into the starting lineup for three of the last four games last year, and Terrance Gary will also vie for time on the outside. If Ketchum finds some speedy coverage men for corner, Batts could also drop down into an outside linebacker’s post. Sophomores Wes Kidd and Matt Ledbetter, plus rookie Kyle Becher make linebacker one of Guilford’s deepest spots on the field.

DEFENSIVE BACK: Batts picked off a school-record three passes in last year’s win over Randolph-Macon and finished with a team-high five interceptions. A top coverage man and leading tackler, he could find himself at outside linebacker because of his play-making abilities. Junior Charlie Morris and sophomore Sherod Long, a converted receiver, have the most experience among returning cornerbacks. Junior J.J. Edwards, Guilford’s leading receiver in 2000, moves over to contend for starting safety duties.