July 20, 2007 -- ATLANTA -- New head football coach Rich Freeman has adopted the theme “Play Fast, Play Hard, Play Smart” for the 2007 Morehouse College Maroon Tigers. His task will be to instill that philosophy into the hearts and minds of 38 returning letter-winners and a crop of newcomers that observers are calling one of the best recruiting classes at the ’House in a long time.
Freeman’s biggest challenge will be filling the gaps caused by the loss of nearly a dozen starters, most of them linemen.
“We have a young team, but that doesn’t mean they are short on experience or ability,” coach Freeman said. “We have some returning players who had a good spring and we are counting heavily on our recruits. I think we’re going to be a good team this year.”
Last season the Maroon Tigers played with a split personality – at the top of the conference in total offense, at the bottom of the heap in total defense. The result netted a lowly 3-8 record and eighth-place in the SIAC. One of the wins came courtesy of Miles College, which had to forfeit its six victories, including a 38-9 win over Morehouse, for using ineligible players.
Many returning Maroon Tigers will compete with heightened determination this season, as a result of the bad taste left in their mouths, by last-second losses to Savannah State and Clark Atlanta and a narrow home loss to Kentucky State, 34-31.
The Maroon Tigers are deep with potential at quarterback. Carlos King, who started at quarterback last season before moving to wide receiver, “has earned the starting job outright,” Freeman said. However King will be hotly challenged by newcomer Christian Sterling, a talented passer and signal caller who transferred to Morehouse and sat out last year.
Kelvin Moore, a strong and fast running back should be a bright spot in the Morehouse offensive arsenal, Freeman said. The 6’-2” 200-pound senior has All-Conference potential and will pose a run-catch double threat coming out of the backfield.
The receiving corps will have some big shoes to fill following the loss of star wide receivers Ravenell DuPree, to graduation, and Jeremy Major, to completed eligibility. With 58 catches in 2006, DuPree became the Morehouse single-season and career receptions leader. The speedy Major was always a deep threat and led the team in all-purpose yards with 1,114.
Despite the loss, Morehouse coaches are confident that Achille Hendje, Quincy Avery and James Steadman will take up the slack.
On paper, it would seem that losing four starting linemen with All-Conference pedigrees – Claiborne Green, Bryant Ervin, Michael Robinson and Ross Thompson – would devastate a team. But the emergence of veterans Joseph Williams and Ramon Harewood and the addition of some standout recruits, with good size and talent, should fortify the offensive line and keep the Maroon Tigers moving down the field.
Likewise for the defensive line that lost most of its starters and will be in a rebuilding mode.
“Just like the offensive line, the defensive line deserves our immediate attention and we will be working diligently to address those areas,” Freeman said. “We feel good about our recruits, especially Mario Lane and others, and think we will be in good shape.”
Freeman believes that the best defensive segment is the secondary. The return of Gabriel Harper and Derrick Scott at safety and Brandon Morgan and Randall Ward at the corners, will make the Morehouse defensive backfield a formidable barrier against a passing attack.
The line-backing corps should be a deep and experienced segment. With the return of veterans Brandon Cunningham, Eric Shelton and Earl Thomas and the addition of Brian Heath, a transfer from Appalachian State, the linebackers can effectively shut down a running or passing attack.
Overall, the Maroon Tigers should be a better team this season. A new coaching staff, a new philosophy and new attitude and a solid recruiting class and returning veterans should more than compensate for the failures of 2006.
