NSU's new look

By TRAVIS METCALF

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS August 08, 2008 09:05 am

— There are going to be few things this season that reminds fans of the Northeastern State University football teams of the past.
The RiverHawks started practice on Thursday with a few returning faces including Broderick Mondy, Josh Lewis and Jarrett Beal along with many new players as well and all have a shot at getting a starting role.
“Basically, there’s probably going to be 60 new names on the roster,” first year NSU head coach Kenny Evans said. “That’s more than half the team. There are 107 guys here right now so that tells you that there are a lot of new faces.”
Of the guys who are returning, some of them won’t even be at the positions that they were a year ago. Jarrett Beal, who played quarterback much of last season, is training as a wide receiver and Nick Jones who is going to be a defensive end this year.
“There are some guys returning who are really exceptionally good football players,” Evans said. “We’re going to need their leadership. There are going to be guys like Nick Jones who are looking at playing a different position from last year.”
However, some things will remain the same which is the case for Broderick Mondy who was NSU’s top defensive performer last year and this season was named the Lone Star Conference North’s Preseason Defensive Player of the year.
“You would hope that our strength comes from guys like Broderick Mondy, T.J. Raymond, Beal, different guys that have been out there on the field and had some battles out there on Saturdays in the Lone Star Conference,” Evans said. “They know what it’s like. For them right now, they’re still learning a lot of things because we’ve changed so many things from the past years.”
Josh Lewis will also be an integral part of the system at running back, but even he is expected to face some competition this season.
Josh is a very good running back, but the thing is we’ve got about six very good running backs,” Evans said. “There’s four of them that have (NCAA) Division I ties, they were thought of at one time by somebody at higher level. He’s working, he’s battling so I know he’ll be right in the thick of things.”
It appears that the quarterback battle will be between juniors Kaelin Woods and Woody Wilson and sophomore Matt Silcox. Woods is a 6-1, 205-pounder from Miami, a transfer from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, while Silcox is a 6-1, 180-pounder from Alba, Texas. Wilson is a transfer from North Texas University.
“I think the guy that really jumped up at us from spring is Matt Silcox,” Evans said. “I think he had a great spring, especially a great spring game. I thought Kaelin did some good things too and Woody always does some good things. Those three should be a little bit ahead.”
The RiverHawks start the season on Aug. 28 at Arkansas Tech. The home slate of the schedule starts Sept. 13 against Midwestern State. The homecoming game is Oct. 4 against Texas A&M-Commerce. The RiverHawks will end the road slate on Nov. 1 at West Texas A&M and end the season with senior night on Nov. 8 against Central Oklahoma.

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