ELON, NC -- The Elon football staff views the 2002 season as one of recovery, but it also has high expectations. On the heels of a 2-9 campaign, Elon welcomes back all but one starter on offense and all but two on the defensive side of the ball.

Last season, the Phoenix battled seven teams that were nationally ranked at some point during the year, including six while they were in the top-25 (#6 Furman, #11 Western Kentucky, #20 Northwestern State, #8 Hofstra, #2 Georgia Southern and #6 Youngstown State). Those opponents included the two-time defending national champion (Georgia Southern) and the 2001 national runner-up (Furman).

Seagraves is excited and optimistic about the 2002 schedule that will feature the first-ever Big South Conference football slate. “The 2002 football schedule is a very exciting and challenging one. We have five new teams since last season with the addition of Florida International, Johnson C. Smith, East Tennessee State, Liberty and Wofford. We are kicking off the inaugural Big South Conference schedule with Gardner-Webb, Liberty and Charleston Southern. We also have three Southern Conference teams on the schedule with Furman, East Tennessee State and Wofford. The competition is strong with four teams that are perennially ranked nationally in Furman, Hofstra, Northwestern State and North Carolina A&T. After our disappointing season last year, we are looking forward to the opportunity to re-establish the hallmark of our program, which is ‘Pride, Poise, Team.’” The Phoenix open the season at home on September 7 with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff agianst Florida International.

Offense

Elon finished 18th among NCAA I-AA’s 123 football teams in rushing offense last season, averaging 212.55 yards per contest.

The lone offensive starter that the Phoenix will look to replace is four-year starting right guard and First Team All-American Scott McLain.

Elon possesses many options at the quarterback position with all four players who saw action there last year returning. Leading the way is sophomore James Murdaugh (Orangeburg, SC), who was pressed into action as a rookie due to injuries. He threw for 241 yards. Also battling for the starting job are junior C.W. Singletary (Chadburn, NC) and seniors Scott Stevens (Bridgewater, VA) and Larrey Burney (Wilmington, NC). Red-shirt freshman Matt McDaniel (Williamsburg, VA) may see some time under center this season as well. Last season, Stevens entered the year as the number one quarterback, but suffered a concussion that kept him sidelined for most of the year. Singletary led the team with 426 passing yards and Burney rushed for 248 yards.

Last season’s leading rusher, Martin Swindell (Swan Quarter, NC), is back to anchor the Phoenix backfield in 2002. Last season, the senior rushed for 602 yards and two scores. Rashaud Palmer (Norlina, NC) led the team with six rushing TDs as a sophomore and will also return to the running back position. Cecil Mitchell (Jacksonville, NC), a senior, and Robert Downing (Woodbridge, VA), a junior, also provide viable options in Elon’s wishbone attack. The two combined for 483 rushing yards and four scores on the ground last year. Rashard Buie (Spring Lake, NC) should also see some time in the backfield during his senior outing for the Phoenix. Returning to action is senior Eric Jones (Winston-Salem, NC) who received a medical red-shirt last season. Other options in the backfield include junior Ronnie Dargan (Jacksonville, NC), red-shirt sophomore Rashaad Jeffers (Greensboro, NC) and red-shirt freshmen Wesley Fulmore (Hope Mills, NC), Marcus Johnson (Hope Mills, NC) and Marcus Southerland (Durham, NC).

At wide receiver, Elon returns senior Arketa Banks (Warrenton, NC), who led the receiving corps last season with 22 receptions for 538 yards and six scores. The 2001 team MVP will be backed up by Stan Smith (So., Thomasville, NC), Bradley Utz (R-So., Burlington, NC) and Derek Neal (R-So., Forrest, VA). Tight ends Phillip Johnson (Sr., Greensboro, NC) and Zak DeBusk (Jr., Greensboro, NC) both return after combining for seven catches and 70 receiving yards out of the wishbone offense.

The offensive line should be solid with seniors Josh Rowan (Gainesville, GA) and Ross Gravely (Red-shirt, Washington, NC) anchoring the blocking game. Joining them up front will be juniors Brandon Mason (Martinsville, VA) and David Ware (Chesapeake, VA) and red-shirt senior Darrin Rainey (High Point, NC). Elon’s line garners plenty of depth, but a lot of talented newcomers could see immediate action. Sophomore Craig Page (Shelby, NC) should see time as well as red-shirt freshmen Bob Cooke (Princeton, NC) and Jerome Hodge (Woodbridge, VA). True freshmen Jeff Allen (Shelby, NC), Zach Bevilacqua (Charlotte, NC), Hunter Jenks (Wake Forest, NC), Michael Johnson (Conway, SC) and Michael Patram (Wallace, NC) may also step in during their first season in a Phoenix uniform.

Defense

This season, the Phoenix must replace nose guard C.J. Habersham and end Ike Herndon, but Seagraves is confident that his defense is more than equal to that task.

On the line, Elon returns juniors Wesley Wheeler (Nicholson, GA), Chris Bell (Columbia, SC), Travis Bell (Greensboro, NC) and Kahlil Brewster (Cheraw, SC). Another junior, Darnell McNeal (Annapolis, MD) will move to defensive end from linebacker. Juniors Ryan Johnson (Siler City, NC) and Maurice Locklin (Hampton, VA) should all see time on the line as well. Geoffrey Cook (R-Fr., Oakwood, GA) has also made the move to the defensive line and will see action there as will Polk Williams (R-Fr., Dalzell, SC), David McCallum (So., Maxton, NC) and Thomas Connor (So., Greenwood, SC).

Penciled into the starting linebacker spots are junior Derrick Collins (Staley, NC), red-shirt sophomore Calvin Sutton (Grifton, NC) and red-shirt freshman Mike Sheley (Greensboro, NC). Last season, Sutton ranked third on the squad with 53 tackles while Collins added 14 stops. Behind them will be red-shirt senior Jamall Scott (Winston-Salem, NC) and juniors Eddie Bell (Havelock, NC) and Quinton Cox (Rural Hall, NC).

In the defensive backfield, senior Chris Geter (Shelby, NC) and red-shirt freshman Gary Tillman (Greensboro, NC) man the safety positions. At the corners will be juniors Shaun Miller (Long Island, VA) and Stephen McCoy (Laurinburg, NC). Last season, McCoy finished second on the team with 54 tackles and paced the team with five pass breakups. Miller led the Phoenix with three picks in 2001. Senior Jameel Abdur-Raheem (Walker Valley, NY), Bobby Griffin (R-So., New Bern, NC) and Allen Little (R-Fr., Kinston, NC) should also see action at the corners. Rounding out the defensive backfield will be red-shirt senior Armeka Ware (Cleveland, OH), red-shirt freshman Lawrence Chetty (Roanoke Rapids, NC) and red-shirt sophomore Vincent Graves (Yanceyville, NC).

Special Teams

The Phoenix special teams will be anchored by sophomore Anthony Turowski (Glen Alpine, NC). In 2001, Turowski tallied 24 punts for an average of 39.7 yards and a long of 63 yards. Senior Beau Wegmann (Athens, GA) and red-shirt sophomore William Rawls (Swansboro, NC) will also compete for kicking duties.

Stevens will act as the holder and Brandon Williams (So., Bluefield, WV) will provide depth with snapping duties.

Returning Statistical Leaders

Rushing

Martin Swindell: 98 carries, 602 net yds., 6.1 ypc, 2 TD, 54.7 ypg

Passing

C.W. Singletary: 53 att., 19 comp., 9 INT, 426 yds., 5 TD, 47.3 ypg

Receiving

Arketa Banks: 22 rec., 538 yds., 6 TD, 24.5 ypc, 48.9 ypg

Scoring

Arketa Banks: 7 TD, 42 pts.

Interceptions

Shaun Miller: 3 INT, 56 return yds., 18.7 ypr

Tackles

Stephen McCoy: 33 UT, 21 AT, 54 total, 2 TFL

Sacks

Wesley Wheeler: 4 sacks, 19 yds. lost, 50 total tackles

Punting

Beau Wegmann: 33 punts, 1,221 yds., 37.0 avg., 1 TB, 8 inside the 20

Punt Returns

Arketa Banks: 13 returns, 194 yds., 14.9 avg.

Kick Returns

Rashaud Palmer: 25 returns, 492 yds., 19.7 avg.

--ELON--