Furman University

2012 Furman Football Yearbook

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2012 FURMAN PALADINS p FOOTBALL Outlook replacement will be Tanner Skogen (5-10, 200, R-Fr.). DEFENSE eight starters Fowler will be looking for more advancement this fall. Stronger work against the run and an improved pass rush that saw the Paladins move from ninth to fourth among SoCon teams, helped keyed the better play, as did a league best turnover margin (+0.82). Furman registered defensive improvement in several areas in 2011, and with the return of 2011 Rushing Defense: ..............................................................................................180.8 (6/93) 2011 Passing Defense: ...............................................................................................193.6 (7/33) 2011 Passing Efficiency Defense: ..............................................................................136.48 (7/86) 2011 Sacks: ..................................................................................................................1.82 (4/74) 2011 Total Defense: ....................................................................................................374.4 (8/74) 2011 Scoring Defense:..................................................................................................26.0 (7/57) 2011 Turnover Margin: ............................................................................................. +0.82 (1/20) (Southern Conference Rank/National Rank) DEFENSIVE LINE four starters and eight lettermen. The unquestioned leader will be defensive end Josh Lynn (6-4, 255, Sr.), a two-year starter and consensus All-SoCon selection a year ago following a campaign that saw him tally 49 tackles, including 11 for-loss, and team high five sacks. The other end slot will be manned by Shawn Boone (6-2, 233, Jr.), who started every game in 2011 and tallied 27 tackles and three sacks. Veterans return at the two inside One of the program's biggest strengths this fall should be the defensive line, which returns all Mitch McGrath is a proven playmaker and one of the SoCon's most underrated defenders Florida. Gary Wilkins (6-2, 223, So.), a SoCon All-Freshman Team selection a year ago following a 46-tackle campaign, emerged at mid-season to claim four starts at weak side linebacker, which included a season high 13-tackle performance in the Paladins' victory over Wofford. Backup roles will likely be settled in the preseason, leaving the door open for possible contributions from newcomers Carl Rider (6-2, 212, Fr.), Cory Magwood (6-1, 202, Fr.), and T.J. Warren (6-1, 196, Fr.). SECONDARY positions, with Colton Keig (6-4, 271, Sr.) expected to man the tackle post and Neal Rodgers (6-3, 300, Jr.) nose guard. Keig, who racked up 32 tackles in 2011, has been a regular in the lineup the last two seasons. Rogers, meanwhile, notched eight starts and 21 tackles last fall before missing the final three games due to injury. A number of other experienced Cortez Johnson (5-10, 195, Sr.), Derrick Murray (6-3, 181, Sr.), and Austin Williams (5-10, 175, Jr.) — sport starting experience and will ensure the Paladins field game tested performers. Johnson logged starts in the Paladins' first six games a year ago, and Murray, who has seen action at both free safety and corner, owns four career starts and is coming off a 2011 campaign that saw him register 23 tackles and an interception. Johnson, meanwhile, counts three starts. The Paladins boast a pair of outstanding players at strong safety in All-SoCon performer cornerback Ryan Steed, a free agent signee of the New York Jets, is a chal- lenging loss; however, the Paladins return three starters, including a pair of safeties that rank among the best in the SoCon. At cornerback three players — performers will provide quality depth. They include Rashaun Phillips (6-2, 272, Jr.) at tackle and Ricky Lang (6-2, 261, Sr.) and Ira McCune (6-2, 242, So.) at end. The status of Tyreek Phillips (6-2, 285, So.), who stepped up to earn three starts at nose guard late last year, remains uncertain heading into the preseason. LINEBACKERS Wiley (210 career tackles) and All-American Kadarron Anderson (372 tackles), a free agent signee of the New Orleans Saints. Despite the losses the Paladins boast quality talent and established ability among the three Furman's linebacking corps was hit hard by graduation, which claimed multi-year starters Chris projected starters but experienced depth is nonexistent. The unquestioned leader will be Mitch McGrath (6-2, 212, Sr.), a proven playmaker and Expected to take over for Anderson in the middle is Matt Solomon (5-11, 220, Sr.), who tallied 22 tackles and started for the injured Anderson in the Paladins' 2011 season finale versus quite possibly the league's most underrated defender who played in the shadows of two Paladin All-America defenders a year ago. An instinctive, hard-hitting ball hawk, he racked up 87 tackles, a squad high 14 tackles for-loss, and four interceptions in 2011. Included in his season body of work was a stellar nine-tackle performance in a win over Chattanooga that also featured four sacks, an interception, a caused fumble, and a fumble recovery — all of which helped him land Sports Network National Defensive Player of the Week honors. He will man the strong side linebacking post. Nathan Wade (6-0, 185, Sr.) and Marcus McMorris (6-0, 198, So.). A three-year starter who has registered 215 tackles, four interceptions, and 12 pass deflections in his career, Wade is the veteran leader in the secondary. McMorris is coming off an impressive first season that saw him tally 18 tackles and a game clinching intercep- tion in Furman's 16-6 triumph over The Citadel in Charleston. Free safety will be in the very All-SoCon defensive end Josh Lynn heads up a expe- rienced Furman defensive front. capable hands of Greg Worthy (6-1, 208, Jr.), a heady, hard-hitting player who compiled 80 tackles and three interceptions in 2011. SPECIAL TEAMS tency, Furman special teams experi- enced significant turnover following the 2011 campaign. Gone are punter/ placekicker Chas Short, snapper Luke Wynn, holder Bryan Hays, and kickoff return man Sederrik Cunningham. One returning veteran, Ray Early After a couple of years of consis- Strong safety Nathan Wade has registered 28 starts and 215 tackles in his Furman career. (6-0, 184, Jr.), has the proven ability to bridge the loss at placekicker and punter, but to do so he must regain the All-SoCon form he displayed in 2010 (11x12 FGs, 73 points) and put to rest his disappointing 2011 effort (2x6 FGs, 20 points). In the squad's final spring scrimmage Early provided a strong indication of his potential return to form by converting 9-of-10 field goal attempts ranging from 34 to 56 yards. Early's ability as a punter could also allow Furman to notch needed improvement (35.6 avg. in The graduation of All-America '11). The departure of Cunningham (26.7 avg., 96-yard return for TD vs. Georgia Southern in '11) is a significant loss, and his successor will be determined in the preseason. 5

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