"Countdown To Kickoff": The Secondary
Editor's Note: This is the seventh installment of an eight-part series produced by the FSU Athletics Communications Office looking at different position groups as the Bulldogs prepare for their 2009 season opener on Saturday, Aug. 29, against Tiffin at Top Taggart Field.
Big Rapids, Mich. - When any football team has
to replace six of its front seven starters
defensively, you hope at the very least to have a
veteran secondary to aid in the task.
The Ferris State University football team's defensive unit should
have at least that much going for it as the Bulldogs embark on the
2009 campaign.
Despite losing six starters from the defensive line and
linebacking roles in its 4-3 scheme, the Bulldogs believe they
have a solid and veteran group of secondary players returning to
build around.
Cornerback Angelo Williams (Jackson) returns to
man one side and should rank as one of the league's top cover guys
again this season after starting most of the past two
seasons. One of the squad's fastest players, Williams started
seven games last fall and finished with 29 tackles, six breakups, a
sack and a forced fumble.
Senior C.J. Lee (Lockport, N.Y.) is back to
control the free safety position for the third year and could
potentially develop into one of the GLIAC's top performers at his
position. He finished seventh on the team with 32 tackles
last year and is a high-energy type of guy who hits and moves
well.
The Bulldogs were expecting senior Chad Wilson
(Howell) to be the club's defensive leader from his strong
safety spot following a breakout junior season that saw him earn
All-GLIAC Honorable Mention accolades in 2008. However, a
preseason injury may have derailed those plans and his status
remains in doubt.
If Wilson doesn't figure into the picture, the Bulldogs are still
afforded the luxury of having another veteran return to fill the
other safety spot in senior Santino "Sonny" Favot
(South Lyon). A three-year letterwinner, Favot played in nine
games and made five starts a year ago while totaling 21 tackles,
three pass breakups and a fumble recovery. The hard-hitting
Favot is a physical tackler who has contributed significantly on
special teams in the past and the Bulldogs hopefully won't miss a
beat with him at the position.
At the other corner spot opposite Williams, sophomore
Russell Weatherspoon (Detroit/Pershing) is the
likely starter and the Bulldogs are hopeful he will fill in
admirably for two-year starter and All-GLIAC Second Team pick
Terrell Heggins. The 5-10 Weatherspoon is an athletic corner
coming off a good spring and has the tools to be an impact player
for the Bulldogs this season. He saw limited action as a
special teams player in 2008 after redshirting during the 2007
season.
"Our returning experience on the defensive side lies with our
secondary this season," FSU Defensive Coordinator Duane
Wilson said. "We should be able to do some nice
things with those guys returning on the back end and hopefully will
be able to create more turnovers with the experience that
returns."
Behind the group of veterans returning, the Bulldogs also have a
number of young and talented secondary players who should help
provide depth and challenge for playing time.
Redshirt freshman Cody Groulx (Montrose,
Mich./Hill McCloy) took big strides in his first year and should be
a quality reserve at one of the safety positions this season.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are also high on a pair of redshirt
freshmen corners in Jamar Slade (Macomb,
Mich./L'Anse Cruse North) and Jonathan Bryant
(Detroit/Oak Park), who will provide depth and contend for starting
roles. Another redshirt freshman, Stefan
Scharnhorst (Romeo), may also figure into the mix after
performing well during spring ball at safety.
Newcomer Antwian Windmon (Chicago/Morgan Park) was
highly-recruited by the Bulldogs out of Chicago two years ago
before spending his initial collegiate campaign at Kentucky State
and may challenge to crack the lineup.
The large group of young secondary players also includes two other
redshirt freshmen in local product Zachary Rosman
(Stanwood/Morley-Stanwood) and Mike Davis (Troy)
along with incoming recruits Brandon Bryant
(Novi), Kris Baumgardner (Macomb/Northville),
Jonathan Flynn (Traverse City/West), Devon
German (Muskegon), Randy Lagow
(Parma/Western), John Purdy (Traverse City/West),
Dion Strong (Bolingbrook, Ill./Plainfield
North) and Michael Smith (East Chicago,
Ind./Central). A number of those players could move up the
depth chart as the season progresses.
"Defensively, we added some top-level kids in some areas we needed
to address as part of our recruiting class this year and we also
signed some guys with great speed in the secondary who will help us
down the road," said FSU head coach Jeff
Pierce.
Next Installment: The "Countdown To
Kickoff" series will conclude later Sunday (Aug. 23) with a look at
the special teams units.
