Post by The Cats on Mar 21, 2020 16:51:26 GMT -5
Here's a look at 2020 game #3 opponent, and home opener for the 2020 season. Gardner-Webb
BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb's spring practice dates were set to begin on March 15, but those have been postponed along with other related activities. New head coach Tre Lamb and his staff will have plenty to look forward to once things get back to normal.
Lamb and his staff return 15 players with starting experience on defense and 10 who have earned starting assignments on offense.
Officially, Gardner-Webb returns eight starters from 2019 on the offensive side of the ball and nine on the defensive side.
All-Big South inside linebackers Darien Reynolds (6-0, 225, Sr.) and Cade Hamilton (6-1, 230, Jr.) headline the defensive returnees, along with All-Conference defensive lineman Janathian Turner (6-3, 306, Jr.). Another All-Big South mainstay, end John Singleton (6-5, 240, R-Jr.) will miss spring practice recovering from offseason surgery, but will return at full speed prior to summer workouts.
The move to a four-man front should play to Gardner-Webb's personnel strengths, with former linebackers Shai Thomas (6-2, 256, Sr.) and G'Marcus Freeman (6-2, 240, So.) moving down front to help improve a pass rush that produced only 10 sacks in 372 opportunities last season.
A young secondary in 2019 gained experience on the fly and welcomes back corners Dameon Williams (5-11, 175, R-Jr.), Deonte Grier (5-11, 172, R-Jr.), Adonis Henderson (6-1, 175, So.) and Cam McCutcheon (6-3, 200, Jr.). Safeties Malachi Buckner (6-1, 206, R-So.), Jamari Jenkins (5-11, 200, So.) and LeQuincy Shepherd (6-2, 191, So.) also saw a surplus of snaps in 2019.
Offensively, returning quarterback Jordan Smith (6-1, 216, R-Jr.) is unavailable for spring practice due injury recovery but is expected back at full strength in May. That leaves reserve signal caller Keegan Smith (6-1, 195, R-Jr.) and mid-year transfer Trayvon Bowers (6-1, 200, R-Jr.) as the two men taking snaps this spring.
Keegan Smith completed 9-of-15 passes for 104 yards in spot duty last season, while also serving as the team's holder in nine games.
Bowers, a transfer from Wake Forest and former Netflix series star, played in three games for the Demon Deacons last fall and was a three-star recruit – as well as the top-rated quarterback in Pennsylvania – as a senior at state power Bishop McDevitt (Pa.) High.
Regardless of who is delivering passes, they will have one of the nation's most capable corps of receivers on the other end.
Led by All-America candidates Izaiah Gathings (6-4, 220, Jr.) and Devron Harper (5-10, 170, So.), who each caught more than 50 passes last season, Gardner-Webb is well stocked at the position. Gathings led the Big South with 71 catches for 1,046 yards – adding 11 touchdowns in a dominant sophomore year. Most of his damage came against Big South opponents, highlighted by finishing the season with four consecutive games with 10+ catches and 100+ yards. That production is a first in league history.
Harper, also a dangerous return man, had catches of 70 yards and 90 yards – in the same game – while also returning two kickoffs for 80+ yards on the season.
Two more young receivers, Jameson Turner (6-4, 211, So.) and Jacquez Bailey (6-2, 180, R-Fr.) showed signs of great potential in 2019.
The run game must replace All-Big South ball carrier Jayln Cagle from 2019, but A.J. Moses (6-0, 217, Sr.) returns with starting experience. Gardner-Webb also returns more speedy options at running back with Narii Gaither (5-10, 177, So.), D.J. Hancock (5-9, 174, R-So.) and Dexter Brown (6-0, 195, R-So.).
Up front offensively, new line coach Jake Thornton inherits four returning starters in tackles Daniel Smith (6-4, 280, R-Sr.) and Darius Clark (6-2, 275, Sr.) and guards Chris Jones (6-2, 309, R-Jr.) and Jack Nichols (6-3, 308, Sr.). Veterans Carter Francis (6-2, 302, R-Jr.), Garrett Scoggins (6-1, 290, Sr.) and Cliff Cole (6-3, 303, R-Jr.) also return – along with promising young linemen Gabe Thompson (6-3, 321, R-Fr.), Travis Polson (6-3, 275, So.) and Kyle Schneider (6-4, 280, So.).
Gardner-Webb returns most of its key pieces on special teams, which will be anchored by an All-Conference candidate at long snapper in Will Mullins (5-11, 217, Sr.).
A very strong recruiting class was secured in February and is expected to grow with key additions heading into fall camp.
BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb's spring practice dates were set to begin on March 15, but those have been postponed along with other related activities. New head coach Tre Lamb and his staff will have plenty to look forward to once things get back to normal.
Lamb and his staff return 15 players with starting experience on defense and 10 who have earned starting assignments on offense.
Officially, Gardner-Webb returns eight starters from 2019 on the offensive side of the ball and nine on the defensive side.
All-Big South inside linebackers Darien Reynolds (6-0, 225, Sr.) and Cade Hamilton (6-1, 230, Jr.) headline the defensive returnees, along with All-Conference defensive lineman Janathian Turner (6-3, 306, Jr.). Another All-Big South mainstay, end John Singleton (6-5, 240, R-Jr.) will miss spring practice recovering from offseason surgery, but will return at full speed prior to summer workouts.
The move to a four-man front should play to Gardner-Webb's personnel strengths, with former linebackers Shai Thomas (6-2, 256, Sr.) and G'Marcus Freeman (6-2, 240, So.) moving down front to help improve a pass rush that produced only 10 sacks in 372 opportunities last season.
A young secondary in 2019 gained experience on the fly and welcomes back corners Dameon Williams (5-11, 175, R-Jr.), Deonte Grier (5-11, 172, R-Jr.), Adonis Henderson (6-1, 175, So.) and Cam McCutcheon (6-3, 200, Jr.). Safeties Malachi Buckner (6-1, 206, R-So.), Jamari Jenkins (5-11, 200, So.) and LeQuincy Shepherd (6-2, 191, So.) also saw a surplus of snaps in 2019.
Offensively, returning quarterback Jordan Smith (6-1, 216, R-Jr.) is unavailable for spring practice due injury recovery but is expected back at full strength in May. That leaves reserve signal caller Keegan Smith (6-1, 195, R-Jr.) and mid-year transfer Trayvon Bowers (6-1, 200, R-Jr.) as the two men taking snaps this spring.
Keegan Smith completed 9-of-15 passes for 104 yards in spot duty last season, while also serving as the team's holder in nine games.
Bowers, a transfer from Wake Forest and former Netflix series star, played in three games for the Demon Deacons last fall and was a three-star recruit – as well as the top-rated quarterback in Pennsylvania – as a senior at state power Bishop McDevitt (Pa.) High.
Regardless of who is delivering passes, they will have one of the nation's most capable corps of receivers on the other end.
Led by All-America candidates Izaiah Gathings (6-4, 220, Jr.) and Devron Harper (5-10, 170, So.), who each caught more than 50 passes last season, Gardner-Webb is well stocked at the position. Gathings led the Big South with 71 catches for 1,046 yards – adding 11 touchdowns in a dominant sophomore year. Most of his damage came against Big South opponents, highlighted by finishing the season with four consecutive games with 10+ catches and 100+ yards. That production is a first in league history.
Harper, also a dangerous return man, had catches of 70 yards and 90 yards – in the same game – while also returning two kickoffs for 80+ yards on the season.
Two more young receivers, Jameson Turner (6-4, 211, So.) and Jacquez Bailey (6-2, 180, R-Fr.) showed signs of great potential in 2019.
The run game must replace All-Big South ball carrier Jayln Cagle from 2019, but A.J. Moses (6-0, 217, Sr.) returns with starting experience. Gardner-Webb also returns more speedy options at running back with Narii Gaither (5-10, 177, So.), D.J. Hancock (5-9, 174, R-So.) and Dexter Brown (6-0, 195, R-So.).
Up front offensively, new line coach Jake Thornton inherits four returning starters in tackles Daniel Smith (6-4, 280, R-Sr.) and Darius Clark (6-2, 275, Sr.) and guards Chris Jones (6-2, 309, R-Jr.) and Jack Nichols (6-3, 308, Sr.). Veterans Carter Francis (6-2, 302, R-Jr.), Garrett Scoggins (6-1, 290, Sr.) and Cliff Cole (6-3, 303, R-Jr.) also return – along with promising young linemen Gabe Thompson (6-3, 321, R-Fr.), Travis Polson (6-3, 275, So.) and Kyle Schneider (6-4, 280, So.).
Gardner-Webb returns most of its key pieces on special teams, which will be anchored by an All-Conference candidate at long snapper in Will Mullins (5-11, 217, Sr.).
A very strong recruiting class was secured in February and is expected to grow with key additions heading into fall camp.
