Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Signing day, and more…

Signing-day notes and other items:

Appalachian State’s quarterback situation heading into the post-Armanti Edwards won’t become clear until later this year, but it is beginning to take form.

Coach Jerry Moore said yesterday that Tavaris Cadet, the top backup for Edwards last season, will indeed be moved to full-time receiver in spring practice, which will begin in three weeks. And DeAndre Presley, the former backup who was moved to receiver last season, will go back to quarterback.

The top candidate, however, is most likely Jamal Jackson, a 6-3, strong-armed prospect who was red-shirted last season.

And freshmen Elijah Adamiak and Kalik Barnes, both of whom were among the Mountaineers’ class of 15 signees today, could be counted on for a supporting role next season if needed. One of the them will likely be moved to another position, and conventional wisdom would seem to be that Barnes, two inches taller than the 5-10 Adamiak, might be the favorite to stick at quarterback.

So, heading into the fall, the Mountaineers plan to have Jackson, Presley and one of the freshmen in place at quarterback. Cadet, a proven running threat, will focus on settling in at receiver.

“(Cadet) did a lot a great job for us last year in lots of ways, coming in as a new player,” Moore said. “He’s a very talented player and we moved him around a lot. His attitude was super. We’re going to let him learn at receiver, and just concentrate on that and kick returns with him.

“(Presley) really wanted to go back to quarterback and it really fit us because it allows us to leave Cadet as an M back, a motion back – a running back, receiver kind of guy – and not worry him with quarterback anymore. Now that we’ve got these two guys (Adamiak and Barnes), one of them will be a quarterback and the other will be wherever we need him.”

Moore also said that a focus in spring ball will be finding a role for former quarterback prospect Jamill Lott, part of last year’s recruiting class.

“Lott is a guy that we’ll determine in the next three weeks whether he will be a defensive back or receiver,” Moore said. “He’s a very talented athlete and we’ve got to get him on the field. And we have guys like (Tony) Washington and (Andrew) Peacock and (Rodger) Walker. For example, we’re interested in seeing Peacock at running back. We have good running backs but he gives us a real speed guy.”

ASSISTANT COACH SEARCH

Moore said that hopes are to have a new defensive coordinator and offensive line coach in place in time for spring practice, and that there are a lot of candidates to replace John Wiley (now at East Carolina) and Shawn Elliott (now at South Carolina).

“We’ve been interviewing a lot for the last week and will continue this week and all of next week,” Moore said. “We have had a really special response to that, some guys from some great programs. I think some of that has to do with (our new) facilities and some of that has to do with tradition. I hate to use the word surprised, but I am pleasantly surprised with some of the people that have shown interest in these jobs.”

CHRIS AIKEN

The Mountaineers’ first signee was 25-year-old Chris Aiken, a 6-1, 310-pound defensive lineman from Austin, Texas, who played two seasons at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas. He signed early and enrolled at ASU in January.

Before playing at Blinn, Aiken spent five years in the Army and served two tours of duty in Iraq. He is the third Iraq war veteran to join the Mountaineers’ program, following Wayne Norman (2005) and Brian Stokes (2005-06).

“I don’t think there is any doubt about his maturity and commitment,” Moore said of Aiken. “Chris is a great young guy. His mom is a principal of a school in Austin, Texas. He had two terms in (Afgahistan or Iraq). When we saw him on tape, he’s a guy that can run for a guy that weighs 300 pounds. He plays hard.

“We felt like one of the places we needed, where we were a little deficient in, was defensive linemen having some size and weight to them. He gives us that immediately. He’s here on campus and will go through spring practice with us.”

GEORGIA MILITARY CONNECTION

The Mountaineers signed three players from Georgia Military College – tight end Antonio Danzy and defensive linemen Derrick Shuemake and Dan Wylie. All will be juniors next season, and Moore thinks all can have immediate impact.

“You go after junior-college guys because of immediate needs, and we’ve had a great relationship with Georgia Military for a number of years,” Moore said.

Several Georgia Military players have been standouts at ASU, including Troy Albea, Jerry Beard, Malcolm Bennett, Nygel Rogers, Jimmy Watkins and Daniel Wilcox.

MORE FROM GEORGIA

Eight of today’s 15 signees are from Georgia. And 12 of the Mountaineers’ 16 incoming recruits are from outside of North Carolina.

“We don’t focus on where they’re from,” Moore said. “That said, given a kid from North Carolina and a kid from Florida or Georgia or wherever, everything being equal we’d love to have the kid from North Carolina. But if a kid from North Carolina is not that interested in us, then we’re going to go hard on that kid from Florida or Georgia or wherever.

“My philosophy about recruiting is that it’s nice to be wanted. We go out and spend a lot of time locating these players, we recruit them hard and bring them in for a nice weekend. At some point and time, I really want to know that a guy really wants to be at Appalachian State…I want to read from him that it’s really important for him to be at Appalachian State.”

NEW FACILITY HELPS

Moore said that ASU’s new athletic complex at Kidd Brewer Stadium is a definite boon to recruiting.

“This is the first year we’ve really recruited into this new facility,” he said. “This is the first year we’ve got to expose the (recruits) to everything on a game weekend. This will be a big part of the future here, having official visits on a weekend when we have a ballgame.”

And, Moore said: “I think there was a lot more interest in us this year for one reason or another. I think we had more quality players that came up during the season and experienced games here at home and I think that helped us a lot.”