During the first five years of his tenure at Morgan State, football coach Donald Hill-Eley used the spring practice season simply to figure out who he had on his roster.
But this spring, Hill-Eley concentrated on teaching football with the luxury of 10 offensive and eight defensive starters from last season?s 5-6 team. After a 4-4 league record last season, the sixth-year coach feels this year?s Bears squad might have the best chance yet during his tenure of competing for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title.
“This is the best environment we?ve had depth-wise,” said Hill-Eley, who concluded spring practice with a Blue-Orange scrimmage Friday. “Usually, we?re waiting to see what transfers are coming in for the fall. Now, we?ve got 86 kids in the program after having just 42 when we first took over.”
Among his high expectations for nextseason?s team, Hill-Eley said sophomore quarterback Mario Melton will likely start 2007 under center. Melton threw for 924 yards, nine interceptions and five touchdowns last year. But junior Byron Selby will get a chance to compete for the job this fall.
Sophomore running back Chad Simpson (795 rushing yards, 9 TDs) and junior wide receiver Roderick Wolfe (29 receptions, 498 yards, 6 TDs) have solidified their spots as Melton?s main offensive weapons, and the Bears boast an offensive line that averages more than 320 pounds across the front. Among those linemen are 340-pound guard James Key and 335-pound tackle Robert Norris, a transfer from Virginia Tech.
On defense, junior end Terrell Floyd returns after finishing with 49 tackles, 7.5 sacks and 14 tackles for a loss last season. The Bears also led the MEAC in rushing defense in 2006 after allowing 117 yards per game on the ground.
Hill-Eley said many of these returning players learned on the job last year out of necessity, while the 25 incoming recruits this year will be allowed to mature at a slower pace.
“We threw a lot of guys into the fire last year,” Hill-Eley said. “They learned a great deal, and hopefully they grew a great deal because of it.”
Morgan State opens its season Aug. 30 by hosting Savannah State.
