The Howard football team?s quarterback situation in 2006 wasn?t just a rotation. It was more like a revolving door.
Six different players threw passes for the Bison last season. But it?s difficult to convince first-year head coach Carey Bailey that anyone is more capable than senior Brian Johnson when it comes to running Howard?s spread option offense in 2007.
“The only position that is secure for the moment is [Johnson at quarterback],” said Bailey at Thursday?s media day at Greene Stadium. “Everything else is up for grabs. He?s going to have to have a very, very average camp, and the other guys are going to have superior camps in order to change that.”
Johnson wasn?t one of the top three quarterbacks at the start of last preseason, but he grabbed hold of the starting job midway through the year and led the Bison to four wins in their final five games.
“It was rough, coming inand watching other people play,” said Johnson, who was 42-of-82 for 474 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions in seven appearances. “I wanted to get in so once I got my opportunity, I had to make the best of it.”
Seniors Rudy Hardie, a former walk-on and preseason All-MEAC first-team defensive end, linebacker Endor Cooper (Hylton High) and defensive back Thomas Claiborn, also a first-team All-MEAC pick, highlight the team?s top returning players on the other side of the ball.
Bailey, a former Tennessee defensive lineman, makes his head coaching debut after more than 15 years at a number of schools, most recently Minnesota, where he was defensive line coach. He was named Howard head coach in February, replacing Rayford Petty, who lead the Bison to a 25-30 record in five years, including 5-6 overall and 4-4 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play last year.
