Scouting The Towson Tigers
This preview was written by mat1992, moderator of the CAAZone’s Towson forum.
Football can be a game about motivation and Towson University’s 2013 squad has enough to fill a decade. Last year, the Tigers finished 7-4 overall and 6-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association and failed to make the FCS playoffs. That’s despite finishing as co-CAA champs and defeating New Hampshire, 64-35 on the road in the season finale.
New Hampshire made the FCS Playoffs for the ninth straight time while Towson was stuck at home. Playing two FBS squads (Kent State and LSU) probably didn’t help, but the Tigers, who come into the season with a four-game winning streak, have used the saying “leave no doubt” as their motto for the 2013 season.
Towson has one of the most talented teams in Football Championship Subdivision, but finding a quarterback will likely be the key to their season. Last year, Grant Enders threw for 2,337 yards with 19 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, while completing 65.6 percent of his passes. He also finished second on the team in rushing with 615 yards and six rushing touchdowns.
Senior Peter Athens (6-1, 220) and sophomore Connor Frazier (6-0, 200) are competing for the starting job. Athens (who just won the job on Thursday),
has the most experience as he started six games in 2009 as a freshman before injuring his knee against Delaware. After sitting out the 2010
season, Enders won the job the following year and Athens replaced him against Maryland, throwing for 217 yards on 17-of-29.
Frazier is the more mobile quarterback, who has thrown just one pass in mop-up duty.
Running back. Junior Terrance West (5-11, 223) is one of the nation’s top runners at the FCS level. The All-American running back has tallied 2,340 yards and 43 touchdowns in two seasons. He won the Jerry Rice Award for the nation’s top freshman in 2011.
There are some concerns at wide receiver where the Tigers have graduated Connecticut transfer Gerrard Sheppard, along with Tom Ryan, who led the team with 44 catches for 533 yards last season.
The top target might be senior tight end James Oboh (6-4, 230), who had nine receptions in an injury-plagued season.
Another Connecticut-transfer, Leon Kinnard, teams with junior Sencer Wilkins, as the most experienced wide receivers.
The offensive line should be the team’s strength as they return four seniors and one sophomore. Left tackle Eric Pike (6-5, 298) was named to the 2013 Sports Network’s Pre-Season All-American second team. Right tackle Randall Harris (6-4, 285) was first-team All-CAA last year, while center Doug Shaw (6-1, 265) was named to the second team. Right guard Anthony Davis (6-3, 310) didn’t have the accolades but might be the line’s best pro prospect. Sophomore Jake Schunke (6-5, 300) will likely start at left guard having played in three games last year at guard and tackle.
On defense, Towson returns just one starter on the defensive line. Arnold Farmer (6-1, 325) is the anchor of the line up front and is one of the strongest players on the team. The other defensive tackles will likely rotate between sophomore Jon Desir (6-5, 315) and junior Brendan Gannon (6-2, 260).
At defensive end, Towson has to replace Frank Beltre and Romale Tucker, who combined for nine sacks last year. Beltre is currently in the San Diego Chargers training camp as an outside linebacker. UMass transfer Ryan Dellaire (6-4, 245) will start at one end. The talented junior had 2.5 sacks with 19 tackles in reserve role. The other end spot is a battle between sophomore Tungie Coker (6-2, 255), sophomore Greg Grant (6-2, 225) and redshirt freshman Syd Holt (6-4, 210).
The strength of the defense should be the linebacking corps, who return all three starters. Senior middle linebacker Monte Gaddis (6-0, 230) transferred from Dean Junior College and went on to earn second-team All-CAA honors. He recorded 74 tackles with five sacks in 10 games including 12 tackles for loss. Senior Telvin Clark (6-1, 230) is a transfer from Virginia Tech, who started 11 games last year and recorded 49 tackles. Sophomore Bryton Barr (6-0, 220) started as a true freshman and tied for second on the team with 74 tackles.
Towson has to replace all-conference free safety Jordan Dangerfield, who had 69 tackles and is in Buffalo’s training camp. Junior Thomas Bradley (6-3, 210) can play strong or free safety. He’s the most experienced safety with sophomores Christian Carpenter (6-2, 183), Walter Dunston (6-0, 198) and Jalil Gordon (5-11, 185) all in the mix along with redshirt freshman Jordan Mynatt (6-2, 195) for the other safety position.
Towson has two quality cornerbacks with good size. Senior Jordan Love (6-1, 185) is a Pre-Season All-American and a transfer from Georgia. He had 35 tackles and two interceptions with the Tigers last season, but missed the spring due to injury and has been battling to get back to 100 percent.
Junior Tye Smith (6-0, 170) was named to the Pre-season All-CAA team and is one of the team’s surest tacklers. He led the team with 75 tackles and had 2.5 sacks and one pick.
The special teams returns kicker D.J. Soven, who converted 9-of-16 field goals last year. The punter is likely to be freshman Grayson Shelly, who can also kick off.
Kinnard and Derrick Joseph are the likely return men.
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