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Football Hawks picked third in Mid-South West Preseason Poll
By Matt Green
Complete 2011 Mid-South Conference Football Preseason Coaches' Poll
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Shorter University football team has been predicted to finish third in the Mid-South Conference West Division according to the league's preseason coaches' poll announced Tuesday.
The Hawks, led by head coach Phil Jones, gathered 25 points to finish ahead of Bethel University (Tenn.), Union College (Ky.), Faulkner University and Belhaven University in the conference's West Division.
University of the Cumberlands (Ky.), the 2010 Mid-South West Division champion, picked up 34 points and four first place votes to edge Cumberland University (Tenn.) for the top spot in the West. Last year's division title was the fourth straight for Cumberlands, which won the East Division championship in 2007, 2008 and 2009 before being moved to the West Division last season.
Georgetown College (Ky.) is the favorite to repeat as Mid-South East Division champions after the Tigers gathered 24 points and four first place votes in a vote by East Division coaches. Campbellsville University (22 points) was a close second in the East Division poll while the second-year program at Lindsey Wilson (15) was projected to finish third.
Shorter hopes to challenge for its first division title since 2008 and rebound from a 5-6 campaign in 2010, the first losing season since the program's inaugural year in 2005.
Jones is excited about his 2011 club, one that will feature a healthy group of returners mixed with what many believe is the best recruiting class in program history. Each side of the ball returns nine of 11 starters to the fold while several newcomers will challenge for immediate playing time and have the potential to make an immediate impact.
Headlining Shorter's long list of returners are offensive lineman Nick Newborn, fullback Kenny Foster and outside linebacker Daniel Hazard.
Newborn, a 2010 All-Mid-South selection, has served as the anchor of Shorter's offensive line over the past few seasons, helping the Hawks rank No. 1 in the country in rushing in 2008 and 2009 and No. 2 in ground yardage in 2010, when Shorter churned up over 310 yards per game. The 6-1, 300-pounder is one of four returning starters to the Shorter offensive line.
Foster, a sturdy 6-0, 210-pound native of Canton, Ga., is Shorter's leading returning rusher after picking up 671 yards and scoring eight touchdowns in 2010. Foster will again split time in the backfield with a talented group of ball carriers, but demonstrated his big play ability after tying a school record with four touchdowns in an overtime win over Georgetown last season -- a performance that landed him NAIA National Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Hazard, an undersized but speedy hybrid, is Shorter's leading returning tackler after making 49 total stops in just nine games in 2010. The East Providence, R.I., native made 7.5 tackles for loss and returned an interception 22 yards for a touchdown in a win over Faulkner, proving his versatility as an outside linebacker.
The Hawks are high on their newcomers, most notably the addition of three key components.
Inside linebacker Demery Hawkins (6-2, 235) comes to Shorter from Georgia Military College where he posted 71 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks over the past two seasons. Hawkins figures to fill the gap left by the graduated Garrett Hochstetler, Shorter's three-time All-Conference pick that finished his career as the program's second all-time leading tackler.
Freshman quarterback Eric Dodson (5-8, 170) will challenge for a starting spot behind center with veterans David Byrd and Corey Thacker, but brings a proven resume to the college ranks after piling up 3,820 total yards and 33 touchdowns in two seasons as a starter at Thomas County Central High School. Dodson, the younger brother of Shorter track national champion and All-American Nick Dodson, hopes to serve as a capable replacement for the graduated Ben Williams, a three-year starter for the Hawks at quarterback that ranks second all-time in rushing yards and total TDs while ending his career as Shorter's leading passer.
Georgia Southern transfer Jermel Bennett is another crucial addition for the Hawks. Bennett, a fine looking athlete at 6-1, 245 pounds, will assume a role at defensive end in hopes of improving Shorter's pass rush, which ranked last in the Mid-South in 2010.
The Hawks open the 2011 season on Saturday, Sept. 10 when they travel to Babson Park, Fla., for a 1:30 pm kickoff against Webber International University. Shorter's home opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 17 at 1:30 pm against Mid-South East Division representative University of Pikeville.
