2005 Blazer Outlook 2005 UAB FOOTBALL Blazers Have Lofty Expectations For 2005 As They Begin Play In New Conference USA Contending for a conference championship and earning a second consecutive bowl berth are clearly goals of the 2005 UAB football team. With 58 letterwinners returning, including 16 starters, there is no question those goals are real- istic ones this fall for head coach Watson Brown and his Blazers. But while UAB has loads of experience back in the fold and should be deeper at most positions than it was a season ago, one cannot overlook the voids left by several key per- formers. The Blazers lost little in numbers from their 2004 7-5 team that earned the program’s first- ever postseason bowl appearance, but they lost plenty in quality. Only three offensive starters are missing from last December’s Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl team, but one of those is All-America wide receiv- er Roddy White. White became one of college football’s top playmakers last season and in April, was a first round NFL draft pick (#27 overall) by the Atlanta Falcons. White finished the season with 71 recep- tions for a Conference USA record and nation- leading 1,452 yards. He was on the receiving end of 14 touchdown passes from QB Darrell Hackney. His 121.0 receiving yards per game also established a C-USA single-season record. Attempting to offset the loss of White will be a formidable challenge for Brown and his staff, as will filling voids left at linebacker where all three starters, and the top two backups, were seniors in 2004. The trio of Zac Woodfin, a three-time all- conference selection (including twice as a first- teamer), Nigel Eldridge and Gaylon Black, accounted for 95 career starts and 850 tackles during their careers. Finding immediate help at the linebacker position arguably rates as the pri- mary question mark entering the start of 2005 preseason practice. The Blazers, no doubt, will also miss the services of placekicker Nick Hayes, a four-year starter who was a three-time Groza Award candi- date. Hayes finished his career with 57 field goals and 288 points — fourth all-time in Conference USA in both categories. Senior quarterback Darrell Hackney has proven himself as the Blazers’ team "Obviously, we have some question marks leader on and off the field. to get answered with the guys we lost," said Brown, who will be in his 11th season at UAB in the same. 2005, "but we have a really good nucleus back and this will "Nobody got hurt despite the fact we had a real physical be an older team with a lot of juniors and seniors." spring and the three question marks that I thought needed to Brown was pleased with his team’s spring practice and be answered, we got closer to answering — what we were the efforts to fill the missing pieces, but he knows when pre- going to do at linebacker, (receiver) Roddy White's position season practice begins in August, the objectives will remain and (kicker) Nick Hayes's spot,” said Brown. “I think that in all three of those, we've made some progress.” 2005 UAB Football 21 2005 Blazer Outlook 2005 UAB FOOTBALL career. David Sigler (6-3, 250, So.) is expected to back-up Hampton. Whereas Roddy White was, without question, Hackney’s “go-to” receiver in 2004, the passing game this coming season will doubtless be managed more “by committee.” "We've changed some things a little bit in a philosophical way," Brown said. "Last year, we went at it with the approach of throw it to Roddy if they'll let us. If they won't, then take it some- where else. I think now, we've got to spread it all around as a starting point. So, Darrell has had to adjust to that and I thought he got better at it as the spring went on." Not only did the Blazers lose White from its 2004 roster, but also gone is the team’s No. 2 receiver, Bradly Chavez. Chavez, a senior in 2004, caught 24 passes with a pair of TDs last season. So, who will Hackney look to as his targets? Senior Reggie Lindsey (5-10, 185, Sr.) is certainly a candidate. Lindsey, who played his first season at UAB in 2004 after transferring from Southwest Mississippi Community College, made a big splash The tandem of Dan Burks (left) and Corey White (right) account- last fall, especially as a return specialist as he earned second- ed for more than 1,400 rushing yards and 12 TDs in 2004. team All-Conference USA honors. Lindsey recorded 20 receptions last season for 227 yards OFFENSE with four touchdowns. Another likely target will be Norris Drinkard (6-0, 195, Jr.) who caught 23 passes for 265 yards and While losing a weapon the caliber of White will be felt by a pair of TDs in 2004. Carl Duncan (5-10, 190, Sr.) and Nick the Blazers, optimism is aplenty on offense. Quarterback Darrell Coon (6-1, 180, Jr.) should also see increased action at receiv- Hackney (6-1, 235, Sr.) returns for his senior season with 6,706 er. career passing yards and 49 touchdown tosses. Versatile Jhun Cook (5-11, 190, Sr.) returns to the wideout Playing his first full season as the Blazers’ signal-caller, position he played his first two seasons. Last year, Cook was Hackney connected for 3,070 yards passing with 26 TD passes. moved to defensive back and he played there in a reserve role. He hit on 55 percent of his passes while yielding only eight inter- The Blazers are in excellent shape at running back where ceptions. juniors Dan Burks (6-1, 218) and Corey White (6-2, 235) are UAB also should be stronger on the offensive line where back in tandem after combining for 1,469 yards and 12 touch- four-of-five starters return. Only Andy Galloway is missing from downs last fall. Burks was the starter in 2004, rushing for 880 the starting front at season’s end last fall. Senior center Matt yards and a 5.4 average per carry. White ran for 589 yards and Batusic (6-3, 300, Sr.) anchors the unit and could challenge for a team-best eight TDs while averaging 5.6 yards per attempt. all-conference honors. Cornelius Rogers (6-4, 320, Jr.) and Trey Chaney (5-8, 190, Jr.) provides depth at the running back Julius Wilson (6-5, 310, Jr.) are back at tackle with Quinton position. Chaney saw only spot duty last fall, but demonstrated Harris (6-4, 330, Jr.) returning at guard. Adam Truitt (6-3, 310, his capabilities in 2003 as a freshman as he ran for 479 yards So.) who backed up Batusic at center, is expected to move over and two touchdowns. to right guard to fill Galloway’s spot. The Blazers should also have some depth on the line as JaMarius Dismuke (6- 5, 320, So.), Marcus Lampton (6-5, 325, Sr.), Tommie Keys (6-1, 300, Sr.) and LaDarius Stanley (6-3, 300, Jr.) all return with some experience. Tight end Cedric Hampton (6-3, 275, Sr.) has- n’t been called upon fre- quently as a pass catcher, but when he has, he has made the most of the oppor- tunity with four touchdowns in 12 receptions over the past two seasons. Hampton Many observers feel this will be UAB’s best offensive line in school history, both from an experi- also has been a solid blocker ence and athleticism standpoint. Above (L-R) are senior center Matt Batusic, along with junior tack- for UAB throughout his les Cornelius Rogers and Julius Wilson. 22208 2005 UAB Football 2005 Blazer Outlook 2005 UAB FOOTBALL front. DEFENSE At end, junior Larry McSwain (6-1, 250) returns after burst- Defensively, the Blazers are hoping to improve from last ing onto the scene last season as he earned first-team All- season when they yielded 412 yards and 29 points per game, Conference USA honors. McSwain, a transfer from Jackson giving up too many big plays in the minds of Brown and defen- State, led C-USA and was among the national leaders in sacks sive coordinator Wayne Bolt. with 13. He also registered 18 tackles for loss while ranking No. If it all starts up front, then things are looking up for UAB’s 4 on the squad in tackles with 56. defense. Three of four starters return on the defensive line, The other starting defensive end is expected to be either along with an abundance of additional experience from their Jermaine McElveen (6-5, 250, Jr.) or David Miller (6-4, 265, Jr.). backups. They both saw extensive action in 2004 while splitting starting The only missing performer from 2004 who logged signifi- duty. McElveen a freshman All-American two years ago, gives cant playing time among the defensive front is Shamar Abrams. the Blazers another effective pass rusher. Miller saw most of the Abrams was a three-year starter at nose tackle for the Blazers starting action down the stretch last season and responded with and ranked sixth on the team last season in stops with 50. several solid performances. The Blazers have experience and talent back along the Tony Haynes-Dalton (6-4, 275, Jr.) and Kyle Bissinger (6- 3, 255, Jr.), a converted quarterback coming off a leg injury in 2004, provide backup help at end for UAB. Sam Williamson (6-5, 295, Sr.) returns as a starter at tackle after recording 30 stops and five tackles for loss in 2004.