VMI 2006 Football Outlook
The sounds of jackhammers, bulldozers and drills filled the stands of VMI’s football stadium in the spring and summer as the new Foster Stadium took shape. Come fall, Keydet football fans are planning to replace those sounds with cheers.
Excitement from the ground up is swelling with the VMI football program as the 2006 season will feature a refurbished stadium, a new coaching staff, and many new faces on the roster.
New head coach Jim Reid took the reins of the program in December, 2005 and inherits a squad that returns just nine starters on both sides of the ball.
That hasn’t dampened the spirits of the energetic Reid and his new staff which have impressed upon the players in the VMI program to draw on those qualities that the Institute instills on individual development.
“What we like to be as a football program, and I believe, as VMI, is an environment where we take that small segment of dedicated men and women and develop them to their fullest, to their maximum potential,” Reid said. “We got better as a football team, strength-wise and conditioning-wise this spring; the Institute allowed us to make everybody better and the environment helped us to do that. Our players could see the results and it is absolutely exciting.”
From the day he met with his players for the first time, Reid has impressed upon them to “Embrace the Process”, a slogan which was displayed on T-shirts, locker and meeting room walls, and playbooks throughout the recent spring practice.
“At VMI, you find out quickly there will be discomfort sometimes,” Reid said. “You have two dramatic choices to react. If you complain about it, it brings our whole demeanor down. Instead, you need to say, ‘okay, this is it.’ This is what makes us special. So I believe if you embrace the process, you can be successful at VMI and beyond.”
In 2006, VMI returns 27 lettermen and nine starters plus two accomplished kicking specialists. Twelve letterman and five starters come back on the offensive unit, while 13 lettermen and four starters return on defense.
The Keydets may be youthful on the overall roster, but a veteran is expected to be the triggerman at the quarterback position. Fifth-year senior Jonathan Wilson (Natural Bridge, Va.) is a past All-Big South performer (second-team, 2003) and who serve as co-captain of the 2006 squad. Wilson is a proven college quarterback and ranks third all-time on the VMI list with over 4,300 career yards passing and produced four 200-yard games last year. Wilson enters the season off a strong spring practice where Reid noted the senior “really stepped it up. He can throw the football, has good decision-making ability, and is strong and able to make plays.”
Finding a backup for Wilson at quarterback was a decision process that involved the entire spring practice. The Keydets entered spring with three quarterbacks; Wilson, sophomore Terrel Allen (Wilmington, N.C.), and red-shirt freshman Joey Robinson (Gaithersburg, Md.). Allen was moved to outside linebacker on a trial basis and landed a new home on the depth chart, while Robinson showed promise at quarterback with several big plays in spring scrimmages and also worked out at tailback and defensive back. Regardless of position, it’s likely that Robinson will be on the field in some capacity due to his extraordinary athletic ability.
Carrying the ball will likely fall on the shoulders of senior Sean Mizzer (Prince Frederick, Md.) and junior Nat Jackson (Fredericksburg, Va.), but several other backs could step forward as the season progresses. Mizzer, the third all-time leading rusher in school history with 2,711 yards, was sidelined most of last season with a knee injury and was held out of spring ball to recuperate. A healthy Mizzer in 2006 will be a big compliment to Jackson, who is the leading returning ground gainer from a year ago (622 yards) and handled the majority of repetitions in spring practice. Others who could see running duty are Derrick Leland (Prince George, Va.), Andy Viola (Broadway, Va.), Derek Smith (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and Andrew Gore (Pulaski, Va.), who worked out at tight end as well. “The running backs will be an interesting position group,” said Reid. “A lot of guys are eager to play and we hope to have a lot of different people carrying the ball.”
The offensive line features three returning starters, but with just four lettermen in the group, young players will be counted on for depth. Anchoring the line is junior Adam Reel (Lexington, Va.), a two-year letterman and returning starter who will move to center after starting at right guard last season. “Adam took over the center position as a leader should,” said Reid. “He took control of the huddle and really did a good job at the center position.” Junior Robert Brown (Mesquite, Tex.) and sophomore Jeff Marcey (Gainesville, Va.) are the other returning starters with Brown moving to guard after working mostly at tackle the past two seasons, and Marcey working out of the left tackle spot, where he showed excellent athletic ability in spring drills. The remaining two starting spots should be filled by sophomore Rusty Webb (Bumpass, Va.), who solidified himself with a great winter conditioning effort. Red-shirt freshman Dan vonSchuch (Richmond, Va.) entered the two-deep picture at mid-season last year and continued to progress in spring practice at right tackle and should see some playing time along with red-shirt freshman Frank Ellis (Reva, Va.). Sophomore Chris Duane (Richmond, Va.), who was injured on the first day of spring drills, worked hard to get back into the two-deep picture and could see action at center. Others who will add depth and could see playing time are junior Justin Chetney (Hampton, Va.) at tackle, red-shirt freshman guard Wes Lokey (Harrisonburg, Va.) and sophomore guard Gerard Payne (Bedford, Va.). “The O-line should be a plus for us. We have several quality players who have worked hard and are ready to contribute,” said Reid.
The tight end position saw some transition in spring ball as senior Tommy Lloyd (Fishersville, Va.) was moved to defensive end, giving sophomore Travis Ludden (Fredericksburg, Va.) a bigger role at tight end where he continues to exhibit terrific hands and excellent blocking ability in addition to handling long snapper duties. Lloyd will see some action at tight end as well. Perhaps one of the best stories of spring practice was the play of former VMI basketball player and junior Chi Chi Ezekwe (Vicksburg, Miss.), who turned in some big plays in spring scrimmages and could be counted on for duty at tight end or wideout.
The receiving corps must replace all three senior starters from a year ago, and sophomore Willie Bell (Newport News, Va.) and senior Chris Gilliland (Naples, Fla.) are the most experienced wide receivers returning. Bell, who showed flashes of his exceptional athletic ability in limited action last year, is coming off a great spring practice and will be counted on for big plays. Gilliland appears poised for a banner senior season after turning in a spring practice “just short of amazing” according to Reid. Both players will be backed up by sophomores Ryan Mingus (Athens, Ohio), who showed excellent bursts of speed in the spring, and Rick Goodwin (Richmond, Va.).
Defensively, the interior line saw several position switches during spring practice to take advantage of quickness and experience. Three-year letterman and returning starter Charlie Liesfeld (Richmond, Va.) was moved from end inside to tackle the last three days of spring practice and will likely start there. Veteran senior and pre-season All-Big South tackle Eric Hall (Marion, Va.) brings three years of starting experience to the defensive line along with senior tackle Jack Herzog (Bel Air, Md.). The trio of Hall, Herzog, and Liesfeld, combined with junior Tommy Lloyd who was moved from tight end to defensive end, gives the Keydets one of the most experienced D-line combinations in the Big South Conference. Rotating in for playing time will be junior tackle and two-year letterman Vic Rosen (Staunton, Va.), sophomore tackle Robbie Appel (Ashburn, Va.), and sophomore Nick Wegener (Abingdon, Va.), as well as red-shirt freshman end Nick Mims (Virginia Beach, Va.) who turned in two sacks and a pass break-up in the final spring scrimmage. Red-shirt freshman James Robertson (Fredericksburg, Va.) was moved from linebacker to defensive line late in spring practice and could add depth along with junior tackle Mike Watson (Springfield, Va.) who is working back from knee surgery, and red-shirt freshman tackle Kyle Johnson (Purcellville, Va.). “We have veteran performers on the defensive line, so that unit appears to be solid,” said Reid.
The linebacker corps must replace both starters at the inside positions, but junior two-year letterman Keashawn Artis (Alexandria, Va.) is ready to move into the “Will” starting spot after having been an understudy the past two seasons. Red-shirt freshman Patrick McKinney (Big Stone Gap) came off an injury last fall and improved greatly in the spring and emerged as the likely starter at “Mike” linebacker. Sophomore Jacob Rochester (Dallas, Texas), an academically distinguished student (4.0 GPA/Econ. and Business) will rotate in at inside linebacker, and sophomore Heath Tomlin (Madison Heights, Va.) will provide depth.
The outside linebacker slot will feature two former offensive players in junior Terrel Allen (Wilmington, N.C.) and senior Colby Hollingsworth (Dallas, Texas). Allen was moved from quarterback to defense early in spring practice and responded well to the new environs, likely landing him a starting job. Hollingsworth, who lettered three years at running back, has had his past two seasons cut short by knee injuries and the move to defense could help his durability while continuing to utilize his quickness. Back-up help at outside linebacker could come from sophomore Lucas Combs (Grottoes, Va.).
In sizing up the defensive backfield which lost three starters from last season, Reid noted, “the idea is not to play too many freshman, but our depth will have to hold up for that to happen.” The unit will be led by senior co-captain and First Class president Jamaal Walton (Va. Beach, Va.), who enters the season with three letters and 16 career starts. Walton, working at left cornerback, will be flanked by junior right cornerback Marcus Brown (Norfolk, Va.) who has lettered for two years and is eager to step into a starting role. Sophomore Keith Taylor (Mechanicsville, Va.) lettered as a freshman and is ready to roam the strong safety slot while red-shirt freshman Joe Taylor (Richmond, Va.) will have some big shoes to fill replacing All-Conference free safety Robert Mason, but made great progress in winter conditioning and made several “big hits” in spring scrimmages. Joey Robinson (Gaithersburg, Md.), previously mentioned at quarterback and running back, could also see action in the secondary after working some there late in spring practice. Sophomores Dawson Boyer (Richmond, Va.) and Brad Harvey (Roanoke, Va.) will provide depth in the secondary.
The kicking game should be solid with senior Adam Peters (Roanoke, Va.), a past all-conference performer, returning to handle the punting chores while Barrett Way (Richmond, Va.) assumes placekicking duties after two impressive years. Peters worked hard in spring practice refining his skills for a big senior finale, and possesses one of the strongest legs in the league. Way enters his junior campaign after leading the Big South Conference in field goal percentage having successfully converted 11 of 13 field goals, including a 51-yarder.