University of Richmond Athletics
2000 Football Outlook
12/20/2000 | Football
Dec. 20, 2000
The Richmond Spiders won a school-record nine games in 1998 and were Atlantic 10 Champions. That is the type of program Jim Reid has built and aspires to maintain.
Richmond returns 11 starters from its 1999 team, including seven starters back from a defense that was one of the Atlantic 10's best. The Spiders offense took some major hits from graduation.
"We have some holes to fill on offense," said Richmond coach Jim Reid, who has led the Spiders to a 29-26-1 record in five years as head coach.
Wide receiver Muneer Moore was drafted by the Denver Broncos, marking the third straight year a Spider has been taken in the NFL Draft. Richmond is one of only four schools outside Division I-A that has accomplished that, with Hampton, Southern and Troy State being the others.
Fellow wideout Dwaune Jones went undrafted but was signed shortly thereafter by the Cleveland Browns while linebacker Paris Lenon signed a free-agent contract with the Carolina Panthers. Quarterback Jimmie Miles and defensive back Chris Anderson stayed at home and joined Richmond's entry into arenafootball2.
Defense
The Spiders' strength since Reid arrived has been defense. Richmond ranked third in the Atlantic 10 in allowing only 329.9 yards a game a season ago. That total was only 22.4 yards more than the stingy defense that led the Spiders to the 1998 Atlantic 10 title.
The difference between the two teams was evident on the scoreboard. In '98, the Spiders allowed a mere 13.7 points per game. Last year, opponents nearly doubled their output with 26.8 points per outing.
"We've got to get back there," Reid said, referring to 1998. "We have to do a better job of not surendering big plays." Seven starters return from last year's edition, which ranked second in the conference in pass defense (183.8).
Secondary
Short, but sweet. Richmond's defensive backs have proven size doesn't always matter.
At 5-8, 180 pounds, junior David Giles is a perfect example. Giles led all Spiders with 110 tackles a year ago from his strong safety post. He's joined by Chad Blackstock (6-0, 200) at free safety. That duo will be backed by sophomores Ramon Richeson (6-2, 200), Matt Barkley (5-9, 185) and Deashawn Goddard (5-10, 200).
The Spiders will look for the Hill brothers - Jason and Harold - to shore up the corners. Senior Harold Hill (5-7, 170) racked up 45 tackles and led the squad with three interceptions. Junior Jason Hill (5-8, 165) also had 45 tackles to go with two picks. Sophomores Maurice Newbill (5-10, 180) and Cordell Roane (5-9, 160) also will see action.
Linebacker
"Unlimited possibilities": that's how Reid described the Spiders' linebacking crew.
Two sure things are seniors Mac Janney and Marcus Neal, both two-year starters. Janney (6-2, 235) patrols the middle and is coming off a tremendous season in which he ranked second with 101 tackles and first with 12 tackles for loss. Neal (6-0, 220) contributed 11 tackles for loss among his 65 stops from the outside.From there, the cast of Ronald Samuel Jr. (6-3, 220), Adrian Archie (5-11, 210), Jermaine Slade (6-0, 205) and Mark Thompson (6-2, 220) will bolster the outside attack. Walter Blue (6-1, 220) adds depth in the middle.
Defensive Line
Up front, Richmond boasts a mix of experience and depth.
The Spiders have three starters back in juniors Jonathan Wilfong, Fred Hanes and Andrew Bogle. Wilfong (6-2, 230) had 49 tackles (11 for loss) and three sacks last year at defensive end. Tackles Bogle (6-0, 255) and Hanes (6-2, 270) combined for 55 tackles and six sacks.
At the other end is Josh Spraker, a 6-2, 255-pound junior. Spraker's blend of quickness and strength enabled him to lead the team with six sacks in addition to his 53 tackles.
Also playing vital roles at the ends will be junior Randy Witham (6-2, 230) and sophomore Steve Boyer (6-3, 240). Senior Kevin Maggs (6-4, 265), returning from a knee injury, is looking to return to his '98 form. That year, he ranked second to Mark Megna with seven tackles for loss.
"The defensive line has the opportunity to be a strength," Reid said.
Offense
Jimmie Miles is gone. So too are Muneer Moore and Dwaune Jones and four other starters.
The Spiders' offensive attack will feature a new field general and many new faces that will look to continue a recent resurgence when UR has the ball - Richmond has topped 4,000 yards of offense in each of the past two seasons.
To make it three in a row, the perfect equation would be the same as it has been: balance.
That starts with the running game, which is powered up front by All-American candidate Eric Beatty and Ken Farrar, who open the holes for TyRonne Turner.
Quarterback
To say it would be tough for Richmond to replace Miles would be an understatement. Miles took nearly every snap last year, accounting for a team-high 633 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns and nearly 2,000 passing yards and 19 TDs.
Junior Sean Gustus will get first crack at stepping under center. Gustus (5-9, 190) rushed eight times for 46 yards but did not attempt a pass last year. Speed and quickness are his strengths.
Junior D'Arcy Wills, a transfer from the Air Force Academy, likely will see time as well. In two years at Richmond, Wills (6-2, 205) has not seen action. Cordell Roane, a sophomore, also could see time.
Running Back
Five Spiders carried the ball 25 or more times last year. Look for more of the same.
Turner, a 5-8, 180-pound senior tailback, will be the primary ball carrier. Turner ranked second to Miles with 601 rushing yards a year ago and with 1,706 career yards, is well within reach of moving up to No. 3 on the Spiders' all-time list.
J.R. Purnell, who carried 25 times for 117 yards as a sophomore, will get his share of carries at tailback as will sophomore Warith Alkebu-Lan and redshirt freshman Ken Dantzler.
At fullback, Scott Fulton returns. Fulton (5-10, 220) totaled 246 yards on 57 carries and will see the bulk of the action. But sophomore Claude Diggs - a load at 6-1, 240 pounds - and versatile David Edwards will get a look, too.
Wide Receiver
Of the Spiders' 147 receptions, Moore and Jones hauled in 107 of those. Sixteen of Richmond's receiving scores came from the pair. That dynamic duo has departed. Throw in that tight end Matt Davis, who grabbed 11 passes, also has graduated, and the current Spiders receivers bring all of 28 catches to the table.
Still, the cupboard is not bare. Junior Ryan Tolhurst (6-0, 190) is capable of stepping into the limelight. As the third receiver last year, he totaled 17 catches and two scores. Sophomore Dan McNair (5-11, 170) is expected to fill the other receiver position.
"They now have to be the leaders of the group," Reid said. Sophomore Cordell Roane, injured midway through the 1998 season, and redshirt freshman Boyd Ouden will see ample playing time.
Tight End
The Spiders lost not only a tight end, but also a leader, when Matt Davis graduated.
But his backup, David Lewandoski, though limited by injury much of the season did see action in all 11 games and is expected once again to be a valuable target. The senior (6-4, 245) has 13 catches in 33 games in his career. He'll be backed by hard-working junior Mike Millard (6-3, 215) and sophomore Matt Muench (6-3, 235).
Offensive Line
Beatty, a senior left tackle, is the anchor of Richmond's line. At 6-4, 300 pounds, Beatty was a first-team All-Atlantic 10 pick a year ago and is in search of All-American honors this year.
"Beatty's got to lead us," said Reid.
Another returning starter is junior right guard Ken Farrar (6-5, 305), who should be joined by sophomore Justin McElfish (6-5, 275), junior David Pustylnik (6-1, 275) and redshirt freshman Joe Wilson (6-3, 265) on the line. Sophomores Chris Collier, Tom Propst and Bill Shansky and redshirt freshmen Josh Burnette and Jon Wilson will add valuable depth.
Special Teams
If Richmond has a secret weapon, it's Cordell Roane. Roane, a sophomore whom the Spiders would like to get as many touches as possible, led the nation in kickoff returns, averaging 36.2 yards a return.
"We'll do whatever we have to do to get the ball in Roane's hands," Reid said.
He averaged 14.5 yards a punt return. Turner and Tolhurst will aid Roane on returns.
As far as the kicking chores, sophomore Doug Kirchner returns after making nine of 15 field-goal tries as a freshman. Junior Tom Mahony averaged 34.6 yards a punt, but buried opponents inside their 20 on 13 of his 41 points.
Coaching Staff
Two familiar faces return to the Spiders sideline in Joe Cullen and Greg Gregory. Cullen, who spent last year at Louisiana State University, will serve as the Spiders' defensive coordinator. Gregory, a quarterback with Richmond from 1977-78, returns as offensive coordinator. Gregory held the same post at Army before taking a head coaching job with Missouri Southern for two seasons.
