March 31 Spring Scrimmage Picture Gallery

Catawba junior wide receiver Gerron Bryant hauls in a touchdown grab against red-shirt freshman cornerback Doug Barron in Tuesday's spring scrimmage.
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2009 Spring Analysis

Position of strength?

The Indians were plagued by inconsistent quarterback play last season, but now teams in the SAC are envious over Catawba's situation.

The Tribe picked up key newcomers in UNC's Cameron Sexton and Shrine Bowler Brett Mooring in the off-season. Behind Dennis is a proven fifth-year senior in Howard Williamson.

Don't count out sophomore Daniel Griffith and his uncanny arm strength, it is one of the strongest arms in the conference.

Help is needed

The secondary was a pillar of experience last season. Now, it is a position of legitamite concern. One full-time starter was lost in the secondary in All-SAC CB Jasmon Carpenter.

Meanwhile, utility safety Chris Noel and fifth year senior Marcus Glenn have also departed. CB Bryant Vennable has starting experience and has all of the physical tools that Catawba great Jamel Jackson once had.

Restocking the back four does not figure to be a quick and easy process, but transfers Calvin Hall and Marcus McFadden could ease the burden. Rookies Jumal Rolle and LJ McCray could make an impact in the fall. Keep an eye on

RB Antonio Hall: In recent seasons, the Indians have had success with three running backs as a rotation. Last fall, however, Jamelle Cuthbertson was mostly a one-man show. The departed rusher tallied more than 1,000 yards in his feature role last season. Returning leading rusher Hall has first dibs on the starting job this season. At 190 pounds, he fits Catawba's need for a bruiser and a shifter. But who will be the second threat? Look out for redshirt freshman Bobby Morrison, a compact runner with ability who has drawn praise from coaches. Transfer Josh Wright from Western Carolina has Division I experience and talent, but needs more time connecting with his trenchmen.

WR Ronnie Williams: Last season in fall camp, Williams made his presence felt with his physical play at 6'4. Ultimately redshirted in 2008, his progression in the weight room this offseason has shown thus far in spring camp. Circus catches and sideline grabs are the norm for Catawba's latest treasure at WR this spring. His comparison to WR Brent Johnson is neither uncommon nor far-fetched, as Johnson used his superior height to his advantage on smaller CBs.

LB Ronald Martin: A late signee with the program last summer, Martin was a jump and a skip away from playing as a rookie. The coaching staff played marquee recruits Lakeem Perry and Kewone Harris in 2008, and redshirted the 6'0 210 pound linebacker. The lack of depth at linebacker this spring has opened the door for Martin to make strides and a splash at his position. Martin has been feeding off great penetration by a powerful defensive line, an occurance he hopes continues in the 2009 season. At the least, he should contend for a starting spot in the fall.

His time is now

Senior Travis Landrum might be the fastest receiver in the SAC, but his modest production over the past two seasons at WR has been observed. He has been one of the nation's premier kick returners since 2007, but has only managed 26 receptions in that time.

Landrum was one of the South Carolina's most prized prospects during his senior season in 2005. As a dual-threat quarterback at Chapman HS, he earned all-state honors as an athlete after posting consecutive 1,000 yard passing and rushing seasons. Now is Landrum's moment to make an impact this spring, take the momentum into the fall and prove he can be deep target for QBs Cameron Sexton, Patrick Dennis and Howard Williamson.

The buzz

Much of the attention this spring has centered on the Cameron Sexton quarterback sweepstakes rather than the unprecedented offensive and defensive lines built by Hester and his assistants the past four years.

The progress made in rebuilding the secondary and running back corp should be watched just as much this spring. The Indians' '09 season may depend on several unproven, but talented defensive backs aiming to make a good impression on the Tribe's coaching staff. Full Story

2009 Spring Update

Catawba's front four on the defensive line has been receiving the most publicity thus far in spring drills aside from the quarterback battle.

All ten defensive linemen return intact for the second straight season, headlined by All-American candidates Marcus Davis, Melquan Fair and Brandon Sutton.

In Saturday's 10:00 AM scrimmage, the defensive line set the pace and tone with at least eight sacks on Catawba's four quarterbacks. Defensive tackle Brandon Sutton led the way with a trio of sacks, followed by seniors Terrence Porter and Melquan Fair with pairs of sacks.

Junior defensive tackle Alex Hartsell forced a fumble in the white team's redzone while sacking quarterback Daniel Griffith.

Despite the quarterbacks being on their backs early and often during the morning scrimmage, quarterbacks Pat Dennis and Howard Williamson still found their favorite targets for significant gains.

Young receivers like Mario Washington, who had an amazing 40-yard reception off a tipped ball, finished the contest with three catches for 52 yards. Junior Brandon Bunn caught a 25 yard touchdown pass from Dennis towards the waning moments of the game.

Redshirt-freshman wide out Ronnie Williams and senior wide out Jamey Small both made outstanding catches near the home sideline, both resulting in first downs for the offense.

Dennis showed great footwork once he was out of the grasp of the collapsing front four, and he always thanks his hardworking offensive line for the holes they created.

Two-time All-American left tackle Terence Crosby has elevated his run and pass-blocking skill sets to another level since the last years' 58-23 win over Lenoir-Rhyne. Right tackle Hunter Carnes is a fiery senior that makes sure his troops are ready to play day in and day out.

Senior right guard Kevin Hamaker is always a leader by example, and has been nothing short of productive in his fourth spring season with the team. This is Hamaker's year to earn post season honors for the first time in his career, the coaching staff can feel it.

To Crosby's right is junior Kemp McSween, who has been steady thus far during the spring. McSween's confidence has really soared since his entrance into the starting lineup in early 2007.

Zane Gibson is the definition of reliable at center, who has had the luxury of snapping to great quarterbacks in Brad Roach, Howard Williamson, and Pat Dennis over the past two seasons. Gibson has been remarkable in one on one situations against the nation's most tenacious defensive tackles.

Sophomore Cody Corn was hampered by injury during the week and will likely be out for the week. Backup center Daylon McAlexander will slide over to guard to fill Corn's presence, while long-snapper Phillip Russ will occupy the second-string center position.

Speaking of second-string, Decarius Kanyinda is Crosby's immediate backup at left tackle. Nicknamed "DK" by coaches and teammates, Kanyinda took a redshirt last fall and will provide much needed depth upfront. His play thus far in the spring has been enthusiastic, and he is primed to do good things for Catawba in the near future.

Redshirt-freshmen Ronald Martin and Dustin Craft at outside linebacker have been pleasant surprises. Perhaps Martin's spring emergence is not much of a surprise to the coaching staff, as he was close to not taking a redshirt in 2008.

Craft's journey into Catawba blue and white started by inking with the program by nearby Carson High School. He did it all for a program that just opened its doors during his junior season, where he was one of North Carolina's leading tacklers.

After starting at quarterback as a senior, Craft committed to Chip Hester's Indians as a linebacker and longsnapper. The jury was still out on the status of his knee heading into last season, but his play thus far in the spring has been consistent.

Senior safety Jaspen Gray capped the scrimmage with a 40-yard interception return near the far sideline. Quarterback Logan Huslander escaped immense pressure from the pocket and fired an errant pass that fell into Gray's awaiting hands.

A convoy of blockers literally paved the way for the big return.. Full Story

March 21 Spring Scrimmage Picture Gallery

Catawba running back Casey Hall attempts to elude rising senior defensive tackle Melquan Fair during the scrimmage.

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March 18th Practice Picture Gallery

Rising junior defensive tackle Brandon Sutton takes part in opening drills of the 2009 spring extravaganza. He was named to the All-SAC second team last season with 14 TFL and 4 sacks.

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Spring Practice Opener is a Closer

The 2009 Catawba Indians will take the first steps toward a special fall campaign on another day. Steady rain made field conditions worse by each passing hour. Later details on Catawba's spring schedule.
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UNC QB Cameron Sexton Picks Catawba

By Sammy Batten
Fayetteville Observer

The former Scotland star says the school is ‘a good fit with their coaches.’

Cam Sexton won’t be moving far from Chapel Hill to continue his college football career.

Sexton, who announced in January he would transfer from North Carolina after directing the Tar Heels to a 4-2 record as a starter last season, said Wednesday he’ll play in 2009 at Catawba College in Salisbury.

“I just felt like it was a good fit with their coaches,’’ Sexton said. “They run a pro-style offense there, which is what I was looking for, and they’re in position to be very successful next year. They have a lot of older guys that provide a lot of stability in the program.’’Sexton proved to be a savior for UNC last year as a redshirt junior when he stepped in for injured starter T.J. Yates. The former Scotland High School star completed 94 of 198 passes for 1,261 yards and nine touchdowns before Yates returned to action.

Anticipating that Yates would be the Tar Heel starter again in 2009, Sexton decided to go ahead and graduate from UNC in May and transfer to another school where he could play immediately next fall. His options were limited to NCAA Division II level programs.

Sexton looked closely at three schools – Catawba, North Alabama and Valdosta State – before deciding to join the Indians late last week. He informed Catawba head coach Chip Hester and offensive coordinator Matt Barrett on Sunday.

“They were excited, and I’m excited, too,’’ Sexton said. “They were some of the first people who contacted me after I announced my decision to transfer.’’

Sexton’s decision was also influenced by former Scotland High teammate, Stuart Adams, who played linebacker for the Indians in 2005 and still resides in Salisbury.

“Stuart had only positive things to say about Catawba,’’ Sexton said. “He gave me some great advice and told me it was a good experience for him.’’

Sexton will step into an offense that has featured a potent passing attack directed by Barrett, who is a graduate of Fayetteville’s Terry Sanford High School. Barrett coached AFCA All-American quarterback Brad Roach in 2007. Roach threw for 7,874 yards and 62 touchdowns during his Catawba career and signed last January with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.

Three players who saw significant action last season at quarterback for the Indians will return in 2009. Sophomore Patrick Dennis saw the most extensive playing time, appearing in 10 games and throwing for 1,152 yards and 13 touchdowns. Junior Howard Williamson passed for 619 yards and five scores in five games, while redshirt freshman Daniel Griffith had 125 yards passing and one touchdown in seven games.

The Indians also signed Shrine Bowl quarterback Brett Mooring, who led West Craven High School to the state 3-A championship game as a senior.

Sexton is looking forward to working with Mooring and all the Catawba quarterbacks.

“We discussed me working with him (Mooring), and I’m anxious to do that,’’ Sexton said. “I’m just happy to have this decision made now and I’m looking forward to continuing my career at Catawba.’’ Full Story

Catawba Wins Sexton Sweepstakes

According to the Salisbury Post, University of North Carolina quarterback Cameron Sexton will announce his commitment to the Catawba College football program on Thursday, March 12th.

The Indians will be the recipient of a decision that came down to the University of North Alabama and the small college in Salisbury, NC.

Sexton played in eight games during his junior season, completing 94 of 168 attempts for 1,261 yards and 9 touchdowns.

The highlight of his 2008 season came during the Tar Heel's 28-24 win over the Miami Hurricanes, where he threw for 242 yards and a pair of scores en route to ACC Player of the Week honors. Coach Butch Davis' club was down by as many as ten points in the second half before Sexton connected with future NFL wide out Hakeem Nicks for a 74-yard touchdown.

UNC used a trio of quarterbacks last fall that helped lead the Tar Heels to an 8-5 record and a berth in the annual Meineke Bowl. TJ Yates, the assumed frontrunner at quarterback for the spring, finished second on the team with 1,168 yards through the air.

In the 45-24 win over Boston College, Sexton connected on a season-high 19 of 30 passes for 238 yards and three touchdowns. His 18 pass completions that propelled UNC to a 29-24 victory over Notre Dame was the second most completions in his lengthy career.

Despite seeing limited action as a sophomore, Sexton saw vast amounts of playing time as a redshirt freshman.

During his initial season, he completed 57 of 136 attempts for 840 yards and four scores.

His first game-action occurred against Virginia Tech where he came off the bench to throw for 124 yards and a touchdown in the 35-10 loss.

Sexton's first career start came in 2006 when he led the Tar Heels to a wild 45-42 win over the Furman Paladins. In the high scoring contest, Sexton unleashed 265 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

He was the first signal-caller since Darian Durant in 2001 to start as a freshman.

Sexton was a SuperPrep All-American quarterback from Scotland County High School prior to committing with the University of North Carolina in 2005. Rivals.com ranked Sexton as the No. 6 best quarterback in the country as a senior, and No. 2 in the state.

He also had scholarship offers from Clemson, Florida State, NC State, South Carolina, and Virginia Tech.

Returning quarterbacks Pat Dennis, Howard Williamson and Daniel Griffith all have starting experience and look forward to impress the coaching staff in spring drills.

Apart of the 2009 signing day class was Shrine Bowl signal-caller Brett Mooring, an all-state performer from West Craven.

The 6'4 235 pound Mooring will likely redshirt this fall and grasp knowledge of the Tribe playbook during his first year. Full Story

N. Davidson Defensive Leaders Coming to Salisbury

North Davidson High School will send two of its top defensive players to Catawba College in linebacker Michael Priest and defensive tackle Rob Creason.

Priest started both ways for the Knights as a senior. As a fullback, Priest blocked for sensation running backs LJ Scott and Landon Powell.

On defense, the 6'0 190 pound linebacker racked up 112 tackles and six sacks en route to All-Central Piedmont Conference and all-county honors . Creason is a 6'2 293 pound defensive tackle that really made a name for himself in the middle dating back to his junior season.

As a two-time all-county selection, Creason received medium interest from Appalachian State, Western Carolina, Army, Western Carolina, Elon, and the Penn Quakers throughout his final prep year.

As a senior, Creason posted 98 tackles and 10 sacks. It is rare when a run-stopping interior lineman approaches the century-mark in tackles.

During his junior year, he finished 8th in the state with 13 sacks.

Creason runs a 5.3 40 yard dash, has a personal best 325 on the bench press, and 490 pounds on squat. Full Story

Foard HS DB Alex Miller Commits to Catawba

Standout running back Alex Miller from Fred T. Foard officially committed to Catawba this week.

Miller looks to further his career as a 5'9 175 pound member of the Tribe secondary.

Heading into his final prep season at Fred T. Foard, coach Ryan Gettys promised reporters that Miller would be in on almost every tackle at safety.

Obviously Miller was a busy man on Friday nights during his career, always facing collisions on every single play on either offense or defense.

As a sophomore for the Tigers, Miller recorded 189 carries for 809 yards and 9 touchdowns. He missed the majority of his junior season due to a leg injury, but still managed to lead Fred T. Foard in rushing with nearly 300 yards.

According to ESPNU's North Carolina College Football Prospects, Miller was rated as a running back recruit ranked in the top 30 at his position.

The Tigers finished 9-3 during his senior season and was named to the 2008 All-Catawba Valley Athletic 2A-3A Conference team. Full Story