A&T practice info

[Bornthrilla]

Freshmen could make immediate impact at N.C. A&T

Football practice officially began Tuesday morning at N.C. A&T and new head coach Alonzo Lee spoke about the senior leadership he's seen so far.

But Lee also said his new recruits could make an immediate difference in the Aggies' efforts to stem the tide of six losing seasons in the last seven years.

So far, leading the way among the freshmen are wide receiver Larry Raper from Shelby and two defensive linemen from Greensboro.

"We found out Mr. Raper can definitely fly," Lee said after the freshmen went through running tests starting at 6 a.m. Tuesday. "He can run. He's doing some great things. Matter of fact, he's worked his way into that starting huddle when we go to four wideouts."

The running tests are no picnic. To pass, a player must run 110 yards in 16 seconds. If that sounds easy, there's a catch: The player has to run the 110 sprint 16 times.

"You've got to be humpin' to make that happen," Lee said. "You can gut out about five or six of them, but come eight, nine, 10 and beyond, everything has to kick in right there. That's when being in shape comes into play."

Lee said more than 80 percent of the players passed the running tests, including most of the freshmen.

"Chris Neal and those guys from right here at Dudley, oh, they look great with the running tests," Lee said. "We're looking for some real good things from those guys."

Read more:

www.news-record.com/node/66353

[JeffAggieFan]

Let's hope these players get plenty of fluid and nutrient in their system for this week of practice. I think the temp will be in the mid 90.

[Bornthrilla]

Just got back from a very long day out at the stadium.

The team held it's annual photo session and me and Kev were out there getting your exclusive pictures and interviews. Kev should have his photos ready later on this afternoon. I'm cutting up some of the video right now.

All in all, I was pretty impressed by what I saw out there. We have a number of high-character guys on this roster. The players are all excited and ready to prove something to the fans this year. To a man, everyone said they've been on this website and really appreciate the support you clowns have been giving them.

Like I said, we'll be posting a ton of more stuff later on, but here are a few quick comments:


The Return of Blue Death

This year's version of the Blue Death Defense is mean and confident. They may all be some nice guys and good citizens off the field, but once the whistle sounds they will crack yo mama if she came across the middle with a football. Thor is still a beast and he probably gained about 10 more pounds of solid muscle. That new Nigerian dude at linebacker is not playing around either. He had a real nice hit in practice this morning. I asked around and everybody verified that safety Nick Clement was the hardest hitter on the defense. The said his nickname is "Hit Stick". Overall, we seem to have a lot of depth at linebacker and in the secondary - however the DBs are still kinda unproven. I have no idea who will be the starting cornerbacks by time the WSSU game gets here, but those young guys sound like there definitely will be some new faces. And oh yeah, you already know about the D-line. The Motown Connection is as steady as they come. Those are three mean looking dudes who will be dishing out a lot of pain this season. Like General Lee said, if they stay healthy we will be alright.

Embarrassment of Riches In The Backfield

Running back is a major area of strength this season. The new JUCO transfer Tony Coles is a man-child. I swear he looks like Brandon Jacobs from the Giants when he has his pads on. Night Train was held out most of the morning practice due to a hammy, but he said he should be back in a couple of days. Cosby got a lot of run today, but he still looks too small to be a legitimate every-down back. BTW: Me and Kev put our beautiful minds together and came up with a new nickname for the running back corps. We'll unveil that to you later. But Night Train guaranteed that A&T will have at least one 1,000 yard back this season.

Lots of Talented Wide Outs Too

The top three wide receivers on this team are "The Present"(formerly known as "the Future"), Terrence Whitaker and of course Wallace Miles. Regardless of what you may read or hear from the coaches, those will be your starting 3 wide-outs come September. Write that down. I saw a little bit of Larry Raper but not enough to form a true opinion. He said his fastest 40 time ever was a 4.2 during his junior year in high school. If I ran that fast I wouldn't know what to do. I would probably just run up and down my cul de sac to impress the neighbors. That is just sick.

Have No Fear, Carlton Is Here
Carlton Fears is the clear cut No. 1 starter and he is probably the undeniable team leader. Dude has a quiet confidence and just a high level of maturity. You have to talk to him one-on-one to know what I mean. There is just something about him that makes you feel like everything is going to be alright. Lewis Kindle is definitely the heir apparent. I kinda wish I hadn't already nicknamed Derek Gould "The Future" because that name probably better suits Kindle right now. He has the best touch of anybody in camp. Best deep ball, best overall arm. Shelton Morgan is still Shelton Morgan. He is the heartbreak kid. Every once in a while he will throw a beautiful pass out of nowhere .... but then on the next play he will fumble the snap or throw a tight spiral to a linebacker or something like that to just break your heart. Think back to the second half of the 2007 NCCU game and you will remember what I'm talking about.

Welcome Back, Chennis

I really like Chennis Berry as our OL coach. I'm not sure how successful he will be as a offensive coordinator, but there's not many coaches in 1-AA football who can coach a O-line better than Berry. He is great teacher of technique and fundamentals. Maybe, just maybe, our O-line this season will be better than that band of misfits we had last year now that he is on the sideline. BTW: Here's a fun fact. His son, my son and former defensive end Rickie Lewis' daughter were all born on the exact same day at Greensboro Women's Hospital, back in 2007.

[Aggie One]

Sounds good even from way out here in the pacific northwest. Believe it it not there are some Aggies even way out here and BDV.com is their source as to what is going with athletics back home. There are going to be a lot of folks will be getting their eyes opened and their feelings hurt real bad in about three more weeks.

We need to just stay healthy.

[TOPPDOGG]

Aug 8, 2009 15:48:17 GMT -5 Bornthrilla said:

Just got back from a very long day out at the stadium.

The team held it's annual photo session and me and Kev were out there getting your exclusive pictures and interviews. Kev should have his photos ready later on this afternoon. I'm cutting up some of the video right now.

All in all, I was pretty impressed by what I saw out there. We have a number of high-character guys on this roster. The players are all excited and ready to prove something to the fans this year. To a man, everyone said they've been on this website and really appreciate the support you clowns have been giving them.

Like I said, we'll be posting a ton of more stuff later on, but here are a few quick comments:


The Return of Blue Death

This year's version of the Blue Death Defense is mean and confident. They may all be some nice guys and good citizens off the field, but once the whistle sounds they will crack yo mama if she came across the middle with a football. Thor is still a beast and he probably gained about 10 more pounds of solid muscle. That new Nigerian dude at linebacker is not playing around either. He had a real nice hit in practice this morning. I asked around and everybody verified that safety Nick Clement was the hardest hitter on the defense. The said his nickname is "Hit Stick". Overall, we seem to have a lot of depth at linebacker and in the secondary - however the DBs are still kinda unproven. I have no idea who will be the starting cornerbacks by time the WSSU game gets here, but those young guys sound like there definitely will be some new faces. And oh yeah, you already know about the D-line. The Motown Connection is as steady as they come. Those are three mean looking dudes who will be dishing out a lot of pain this season. Like General Lee said, if they stay healthy we will be alright.

Embarrassment of Riches In The Backfield

Running back is a major area of strength this season. The new JUCO transfer Tony Coles is a man-child. I swear he looks like Brandon Jacobs from the Giants when he has his pads on. Night Train was held out most of the morning practice due to a hammy, but he said he should be back in a couple of days. Cosby got a lot of run today, but he still looks too small to be a legitimate every-down back. BTW: Me and Kev put our beautiful minds together and came up with a new nickname for the running back corps. We'll unveil that to you later. But Night Train guaranteed that A&T will have at least one 1,000 yard back this season.

Lots of Talented Wide Outs Too

The top three wide receivers on this team are "The Present"(formerly known as "the Future"), Terrence Whitaker and of course Wallace Miles. Regardless of what you may read or hear from the coaches, those will be your starting 3 wide-outs come September. Write that down. I saw a little bit of Larry Raper but not enough to form a true opinion. He said his fastest 40 time ever was a 4.2 during his junior year in high school. If I ran that fast I wouldn't know what to do. I would probably just run up and down my cul de sac to impress the neighbors. That is just sick.

Have No Fear, Carlton Is Here
Carlton Fears is the clear cut No. 1 starter and he is probably the undeniable team leader. Dude has a quiet confidence and just a high level of maturity. You have to talk to him one-on-one to know what I mean. There is just something about him that makes you feel like everything is going to be alright. Lewis Kindle is definitely the heir apparent. I kinda wish I hadn't already nicknamed Derek Gould "The Future" because that name probably better suits Kindle right now. He has the best touch of anybody in camp. Best deep ball, best overall arm. Shelton Morgan is still Shelton Morgan. He is the heartbreak kid. Every once in a while he will throw a beautiful pass out of nowhere .... but then on the next play he will fumble the snap or throw a tight spiral to a linebacker or something like that to just break your heart. Think back to the second half of the 2007 NCCU game and you will remember what I'm talking about.

Welcome Back, Chennis

I really like Chennis Berry as our OL coach. I'm not sure how successful he will be as a offensive coordinator, but there's not many coaches in 1-AA football who can coach a O-line better than Berry. He is great teacher of technique and fundamentals. Maybe, just maybe, our O-line this season will be better than that band of misfits we had last year now that he is on the sideline. BTW: Here's a fun fact. His son, my son and former defensive end Rickie Lewis' daughter were all born on the exact same day at Greensboro Women's Hospital, back in 2007.

Was this media day? Or is that event still to come? Thanks for the update.

[Bornthrilla]

Nah, this was just team picture day. However, there were a number of TV camera out filming the morning's practice and talking to some of the players before the team photo.

I think A&T is still planning to have another Fan Fun Fest/Media Day event. But knowing A&T, they won't announce it until the day before.

[aggiedude]

Do not know any of the details, but I was told by a reliable resource the other day that media day will be August 29th.

[aggie62]

Great Report, Thrilla, keep the updates coming. I can't attend the practices so your report and those of others are very key to us remote fans who can't get there. Again, thanks.

[aggieman007]

Thrilla

you are right Antoinnialrose (Tony) Coles looks like a beast!!!

[Bornthrilla]

When I first saw him I asked why is that defensive lineman practicing with the running backs?

That dude is gonna be a problem this year on the goal line. Just thinking about trying to tackle him makes me cringe.

[DECKS]

Does he actually run a 4.4 forty? If so, how in the hell did we get him? A 6-3 ; 235lbs, 1000 yard rusher with that kind of speed doesn't end up at HBCU's.

[aggiejazz]

Aug 9, 2009 7:05:10 GMT -5 Bornthrilla said:

When I first saw him I asked why is that defensive lineman practicing with the running backs?

That dude is gonna be a problem this year on the goal line. Just thinking about trying to tackle him makes me cringe.

A&T is going to need a short yardage power runningback. Offiensive line sitll needs a tremendous amount of improvement.

[Aggie One]

Every now and then one does. Not everyone with that kind of talent wants to play at a BCS school. It's rare BUT IT DOES HAPPEN. Bill Hayes was a mastermind at getting this kind of talent at both WSSU and at A&T and to a lesser extent as AD at NCCU.

Ya'll may not know this but he was a two time all-state running back at 205 lbs. from the same high school that Mo Hicks came from. He needed some academic work and just blew up physically while in JUCO - A weight room junkie. His forty time is legit.

[DOOMS]

I thought Coles was from Maryland and Mo Hicks was from Emporia, Virginia. You might want to check that one. I think cat was that size in high school. At least he was 6'2" and 230 as a juco freshman. www.westhillsfalcons.com/football/football_roster.asp

[Bornthrilla]

Fears is running the show: