Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Four transfers make a quick impact on TSU defense



By MIKE ORGAN, Staff Writer

Four transfers have made it to the first team defense and will start for Tennessee State when the Tigers open the season Saturday at LP Field. They will face Alabama A&M in the John Merritt Classic.

Sophomore cornerback Marquez Hall, who transferred from Vanderbilt, began working with the first-team unit during the first week of practice and has been a staple throughout camp.

More recently, Kellen Woodard, a linebacker who transferred from Western Michigan last season, has moved to defensive end, where he will start on the opposite side of veteran Shaun Richardson.

Harold Ayodele, a transfer from Coffeyville Community College, has moved into a starting spot at nose tackle, and Ramone Willis, a transfer from Illinois, has jumped ahead of last year's starting linebacker Kalvin Baker.

The emergence of Woodard and the arrival of Ayodele in preseason camp helped to relieve some concerns of the coaching staff about a defensive front that lost three starters.

Photo: Head Football Coach James Webster, TSU

"Woodard has gotten a lot stronger, he's gotten a lot more physical, he's gotten more aggressive, and he's shown really good intelligence," said Coach James Webster.

"Last year we had him between end and linebacker so he never really got to a chance to settle in. This fall camp we put him at one position and kept him at that one position, and it's been good for him."

Richardson is the only returning starter on the line.

Lamar Divens, who started the first three games before being ruled ineligible, will be the other starter at tackle.

Former Antioch star Mark Drew has moved from linebacker to defensive end, where he is backing up Woodard.

Willis caught the attention of the staff at the start of camp, which helped him move ahead of Baker, who was the team's leading tackler before being injured toward the end of last season.

"Willis has emerged as a leader for us," Webster said. "He was a starter for Illinois. He's got really good speed, excellent athletic ability, and he's a good hitter. He's added a positive dimension to our defense."

Moore out: Freshman receiver Jonathan Moore from Maplewood, who was working with the first team, is not expected to play Saturday because of a sprained ankle. Moore has not been able to practice at full-speed since the injury two weeks ago.

New practice time: After starting afternoon practice at 6 p.m. through training camp, the Tigers will begin today at 4 p.m. Classes began Monday and there was no practice.

Nevels gone: Former Pearl-Cohn offensive lineman Robert Nevels, who earned a starting assignment as a freshman last season, has quit the team.

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