Norfolk State preview capsule

The skinny Coach: Pete Adrian^[1] (seventh season, 34-33 in six seasons at NSU, 70-70-1 in 13seasons)

2010: 6-5, 4-4 MEAC

Offense: DeAngelo Branche is gone after setting the school record for career rushing yards (3,678). He gained 1,330 last season, when he scored 13 TDs. NSU may be more air-oriented with QB Chris Walley back. The junior college transfer passed for 1,859 yards last season in his first go-round as a Spartan. Walley is one of five starters back.

Defense: Eight starters return from one of the MEAC's best units. Senior LB Corwin Hammond had 4.5 sacks among his 76 tackles (leader among returning players) last season. Manchester High grad Josh Turner, a 315-pound senior nose guard, is a two-time all-MEAC choice, and on the defensive line joins former Manchester teammate Cameron Jude, a 290-pound junior transfer from Michigan State.

Specialists: Ryan Estep is back as PK after making 11 of 16 FG tries and 26 of 29 PAT attempts last season. Also back is punter Troy Muenzer (36.6 ypp).

Quotable: "We feel like we've got the basis for a strong team this year. We've got almost all of our two-deep back from a defense that ranked sixth in the FCS in total defense. We're a little less experienced on the offensive side of the ball, but when QB is your strongest position heading into preseason, you have to feel pretty good." Adrian

Outlook: Strong defense will keep the Spartans in games. Finding a productive replacement for Branche is the key. No returning NSU runner gained more than 220 yards last season. Spartans can't get physically disabled at West Virginia in second game.

Bottom line: 7-4, 6-2 MEAC

John O'Connor

Date	Opponent	Time
Sept. 3	Virginia State	6
Sept. 10	at West Virginia	1
Sept. 17	at Howard	1
Sept. 24	at Charleston Southern	1:30
Oct. 1	South Carolina State	4
Oct. 8	at Delaware State	1
Oct. 15	Hampton	4
Oct. 20	Bethune-Cookman	7:30
Oct. 29	North Carolina A&T	2
Nov. 5	at Savannah State	5
Nov. 12	at Morgan State	1

References

1. ^{^} Topic - Pete Adrian (www2.timesdispatch.com)