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2007 Wingate University Football Outlook

The Wingate University football team had a very successful 2006 season. The Bulldogs placed a school-record 10 players on the 2006 All-South Atlantic Conference first and second teams. In 2006, the Bulldogs compiled an 8-3 overall record and 5-2 ledger in the South Atlantic Conference. Wingate equaled its school record for senior college wins in a season with eight. Wingate’s five SAC wins is also a school record.

In 2006, Wingate had six first team All-SAC selections and four second team picks. Bulldog head coach Joe Reich welcomes back two All-SAC performers in 2007. Senior defensive end Kenwin Cummings earned first team defensive honors for the second year in a row in 2006. Cummings was also named to the 2006 Daktronics All-Southeast Region football second team.

Cummings led the SAC in tackles for loss (17.5), quarterback hurries (15) and quarterback sacks (nine) in 2006. He was 21st in the NCAA in pass sacks and 22nd in tackles for loss. Cummings compiled 66 tackles (24 solo, 42 assists) and three forced fumbles in 2006. He was named to the Don Hansen’s Football Gazette NCAA Division II All-America first team in 2005.

Junior wide receiver Gary Tatum was a second team All-SAC selection. Tatum was second in the SAC (to teammate Dan Brooks) in receiving yards per game (67.5) and receptions per game (5.36). Tatum caught 59 passes for 743 yards and five touchdowns. He also returned 11 kick-offs for 268 yards.

Wingate lost 18 seniors from the 2006 squad. Reich believes Wingate has the personnel to continue its success in the SAC. “I think what we want to do is go through camp and develop more depth and find out who our guys are,” Reich said.

Junior JD Moore enters camp as the number one quarterback. Wingate lost three of its top four receivers from 2006, but the Bulldogs return junior tailback Marcus Davis, senior tailback Jamie Lilly and four offensive line starters.

Returning offensive linemen Greg Keziah, Ben Williams, Cam LeGrand and Shelton Nelson will be charged with protecting Moore. A two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III selection, Keziah has started 32 of 32 games for his Bulldog career. Ben Benshoof and Khalif Wheeler are ready to step into bigger roles on the 2007 O-Line.

Moore will have many receiving targets, including two senior tight ends in Chris Conklin and Brad Horne. Tatum is the top returning receiver. Pernell Thompson was the most improved offensive player in spring drills, while Jordan Softcheck and Shawn Barrett stepped into bigger roles during spring practice.

Softcheck will serve as the team’s holder for placements. Reich is confident when asked about Wingate’s special teams. Both senior place kicker Jonathan Beford and junior punter Michael Crutchfield return for the 2007 campaign.

Cummings will anchor the defensive line. The All-American from Robeson County will lead a veteran group, as Brad Hambric, Cedric McNear, Jermaine Wallace and Dustin Garcia return with starting experience.

“Our linebacking corps is as strong as we’ve had (during my time at Wingate),” Reich said. The Bulldogs welcome back two of three starters: seniors Bobby Floyd and Tyler Johnson. Wingate junior Aaron Plyler will move from mike linebacker to outside linebacker. “Plyler, Pernell Thompson, Moore, Floyd and Cummings were our top five players coming out of the spring drills,” Reich acknowledged.

Redshirt freshman Ed Doughty was the defense’s most improved player after spring drills. Reich says Doughty will push for a big role as a Bulldog linebacker.

The Bulldogs will miss Donald Brown and David Jones from the secondary. Jones was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL draft. The Saints made Jones the 145th overall pick of the draft. He participated in the 2007 Hula Bowl. He was a 2007 D2Football.com and AFCA All-American.

Newcomer Geremy Rodamer and returnee Dietrich Wright will be leaders at the safety positions. Tylan Merkerson will see time at safety as well. With the loss of Brown and Jones at the corners, the two jobs are wide-open. Senior Anthony Williams and youngsters Mike Thornton and Justin Squirewell will look to make noise at the corner position.

“We have certain team goals,” Reich said. “Our statistical goals are focused on turnovers, sacks, special teams, those categories. Our main goal is to win the SAC, but once the season gets started it is not something we discuss. I want our team focusing on the process more than anything.”

The Bulldogs have reaped many pre-season honors. Cummings and Conklin were named to the 2007 Don Hansen’s Football Gazette NCAA Division II pre-season All-America team. Five Wingate players were tabbed for the pre-season All-SAC team: Cummings, Conklin, Tatum, Keziah and Floyd.