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Hawks receive vote in NAIA Preseason Top 25 Coaches' Poll
By Matt Green
2011 NAIA Football Preseason Top 25 Coaches' Poll
KANSAS CITY -- The Shorter University football program picked up one vote in the 2011 NAIA Football Preseason Top 25 Coaches' Poll released by the NAIA on Monday afternoon.
Shorter is one of six teams from the Mid-South Conference to appear in this year's preseason ratings. Three of those teams are featured in the Top 25; defending Mid-South East Division champion Georgetown College comes in as the league's highest ranked team at No. 9, 2010 West Division champ University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) begins the season ranked No. 16 and another of Shorter's West Division mates, Cumberland University (Tenn.), opens 2011 at No. 18.
Union College (Ky.) and Campbellsville University gathered nine and eight votes, respectively, to land ahead of the Hawks, who are making their fifth straight appearance in the NAIA Football Preseason Top 25 Coaches' Poll.
Shorter's highest preseason ranking came in 2009, when the Hawks opened the season as the nation's 11th-ranked team after winning the Mid-South West Division title in 2008.
The Hawks are picked to finish third in the Mid-South West Division this season and return 18 of 22 starters from a 2010 squad that finished 5-6 overall.
Shorter hopes to challenge for its first division title in three years during a campaign which will be its last as a member of the NAIA. The university's application for membership into NCAA Division II was accepted by the NCAA on June 12, meaning that the 2011-12 academic year will be the final year that Shorter is eligible to compete for conference and national championships within the NAIA.
Head coach Phil Jones, who embarks on his seventh season, is excited about his 2011 club, one that mixes seasoned veterans with a recruiting class many believe is the best in the program's seven-year history.
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, which claimed the No. 20 ranking in the preseason poll.
Shorter's home opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 17 at 1:30 pm against Mid-South East Division representative University of Pikeville.
