SPORTS TEAMS

2007 VUU Football Outlook

Talented youth are words that can be used to describe Arrington Jones' fourth VUU football team. The Panthers return 17 starters from last year's team, including All-CIAA quarterback Lamar Little (5-11/200/JR/Biscoe, NC). VUU is coming off of its' best season during the Jones Era. The Panthers finished 7-3 during the 2006 season, which landed them in 2 nd place in the CIAA's Eastern Division. When asked to comment on the upcoming season, Jones stated “We won't be able to sneak up on anyone anymore.”

 
 
 
 
   

“We are expecting big things offensively since we are returning so much talent”, commented Coach Jones on his offensive unit. Offensively, the Panthers return 8 starters. The offense will be piloted by All-CIAA quarterback Lamar Little. Last season, Little led the CIAA in total offense, racking up 238.8 yards per game. In addition, he led the conference in rushing touchdowns, turning in eleven on the season. The backfield will be sparked by running back Elihu Smith (5-10/205/SR/Glassboro, NJ), who finished third in the CIAA in rushing, averaging 80.0 yards per game. With Little and Smith, combined with the receiving crew, VUU is extremely talented. The receiving crew will be led by Michael Hampton (5-10/180/JR/Charlotte, NC), who caught for an average of 53.5 yards per game during the 2006 season. The Panthers will have to replace All-Conference performers Herb Scott (WR) and Kaeo Laelao (OL), who were both vital to the success of last season's offense.

Jones and his coaching staff spent the off-season trying to get the defense together by making the defense the focus of spring practice and recruiting defensive players. “We spent the off-season trying to get our defense together. The main thing that we needed to do was recruit defensive guys”, said Jones. Defensively, Virginia Union will look to improve upon last season's performance, after finishing last in the CIAA in total defense, allowing 312.4 yards per game. The Panthers will look to 2006 CIAA All-Rookie team linebackers Stephen Johnson (6-2/225/SO/Spotsylvania, VA) and Hurley Hemphill (6-1/235/SO/Concord, NC) to co-anchor the defense. Johnson averaged 7.0 tackles per game, while turning in 3.5 sacks during the season. Hemphill added 6.5 tackles per game. In the secondary, Jonathan Johnson (5-11/200/SO/Midlothian, VA) will also provide security for the Panthers, after finishing the 2006 season tied for second in the CIAA in interceptions, racking up 6 during the season.

Special teams is an area that the Panthers must improve in for a successful season. The Panthers will look to junior college transfer Gil Hernandez (5-9/155/JR/Woodside, CA) to handle the kicking duties. Hernandez transfers from the College of San Mateo ( San Mateo , CA ), after leading all JUCO kickers in the state of California in field goal percentage. Michael Hampton (5-10/180/JR/Charlotte, NC) returns as the Panthers leading kick returner, after finishing the 2006 season ranked 2 nd in the CIAA in kick return average, averaging 25.2 yards per game.

The Panthers will kick-off their season on Thursday, August 30 th , when they travel to Hickory , NC to take on Lenoir-Rhyne College in a non-conference match-up. The next weekend, the Panthers will return home to face-off against the Marauders of Central State University ( Wilberforce , OH ) on September 8 th , as they host Faculty and Staff Night. VUU will “hit the road” for the next two weekends, traveling to Livingstone College on September 15 th , then to Saint Paul's College on September 22 nd . Homecoming 2007 will take place on September 29 th , when the Panthers host the Falcons of Saint Augustine's College. The second half of Virginia Union's 2007 campaign will begin when they travel to Charlotte , NC to take on the Johnson C. Smith University Golden Bulls on October 6 th . The Panthers will be at home back-to-back weekends in mid-October, hosting Elizabeth City State University (Community Youth Bowl) on October 13 th and Bowie State University (Gold Bowl Classic) on October 20 th . On October 27 th , Virginia Union will take a short trip to Petersburg , VA to face-off against CIAA rival Virginia State University . VUU will wrap-up their regular season on November 3 rd , when they travel to Fayetteville , NC to take on the Broncos of Fayetteville State University.

For additional information, please contact the VUU Office of Sports Information at tbsykes@vuu.edu .