Alabama A&M University: Bulldogs secondary looking like winner
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Posted By: HBCU Connect Sports on September 14, 2011 HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Alabama A&M's secondary was filled with wily veterans last season and as a result the Bulldogs finished in the top half of the Southwestern Athletic Conference in pass defense. With redshirt seniors Korey Morrison and Chris Faush at the corners and junior Rico Porch at free safety, A&M allowed just more than 190 yards through the air, which was fourth-best in the SWAC. Despite losing Morrison and Faush, Porch believed the Bulldogs would be good again this season with senior Clarence Morris and sophomore Derrick Harris, who came down the stretch last season, moving into the starting lineup. That was before Morris pulled a hamstring early on in training camp and has been limited ever since. With Morris out, redshirt freshman A.J. Clark, a converted quarerback, has come along nicely as well as redshirt freshman Nicolas Shoaf and true freshman Luther Snipe and because of that, Porch believes his unit won't miss a beat. "I'm not concerned about those guys," Porch said. "This is an opportunity for them to show what they can do and get some experience. They all look good. A.J. has turned some heads. Harris came on last year and Shoaf is a great athlete. "Being a veteran, hopefully, I can have an impact on them and help them learn the system and they can impact our team." Clark has great size at 6-1-and-1/5 and 181 pounds. Harris started the last three games a year ago and is feisty at 5-10-and-1/2 and 175 pounds. Shoaf has come on over the last two weeks, while Snipe has played well despite being sidelined with a shoulder injury. While the youngsters are coming on, A&M's secondary will go as far as Porch takes it. Entering his third year as a starter, the 5-foot-11, 180-pounder is ready to live up to the hype he came with here four years ago from Phenix City. "I didn't play well last year," said Porch, who finished with 38 tackles and four pass breakups. "Being a veteran, I expected to play better. I haven't played up to my expectations since I've been here. This is my last year. It's now or never." Defensive coordinator Brawnski Towns said Porch has been terrific during training camp. "Rico has taken over the secondary," Towns said. "He knows what needs to be done back there. He's another coach on the field for us and that's extremely important when you consider the number of young kids we have playing back there. He's been a great leader for us." Clark agrees. "We look up to Rico," he said. "He's our leader and he's our captain on the field, so when we look at him, he's going to give us the plays and he expects us to be playmakers with him." Porch relishes his role as team leader. "I don't consider it pressure," he said. "It's my job. With me being a veteran, that's the job description." Clark says Porch is doing a terrific job. "We're comfortable with him leading," Clark said. "He makes changes when he needs to and he gives us confidence that we can do it. We're coming along real well. We're going to be good." For full article click here. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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From Columbus, OH Hampton University class of 2001 Member Since March 2011 |
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