ELON, NC -- In its fifth season playing I-AA football, the Phoenix has found a new home in the prestigious Southern Conference after spending last year as a member of the Big South Conference’s inaugural football campaign. During this historic season, Elon will take the field for its 800th football game when it plays its first-ever home Southern Conference tilt against East Tennessee State on September 20.

The 2003 Phoenix squad returns all 11 starters on the defensive side of the ball as well as five offensive starters. Elon also welcomes back nine players that earned All-Big South accolades in 2002.

Last season, Elon faced three teams that were ranked in the top-15 in the country: #7 Furman, #9 Northwestern State and #14 Wofford.

Coach Al Seagraves has high hopes for his Phoenix in the program’s first Southern Conference campaign. “We have a great 12-game schedule, which is balanced with six at home and six on the road,” said Seagraves. “We have to be at top form early as we open with perennial power Furman.

“We are all eager to begin play in the Southern Conference,” said Seagraves. “Traditionally, the Southern Conference is one of the strongest leagues in the country. We will certainly be challenged by strong out-of-conference play as well. As a program, this is what you live for. This is an opportunity for us to perform against outstanding competition.”

On Offense
Last season, the Phoenix finished 15th among the nation’s 123 NCAA-IAA football teams in rushing offense, averaging 223.09 yards per game.

The Phoenix offensive line promises to be solid, featuring one true senior, one red-shirt senior, two red-shirt juniors and two red-shirt freshmen. Anchoring the line will be senior David Ware (Chesapeake, VA) at the left guard position and red-shirt senior Zak DeBusk (Greensboro, NC) at tight end. Those two will be looked to for their leadership along with their ability to create holes for the running game. Joining them up front will be red-shirt juniors Brandon Mason (Martinsville, VA) and Craig Page (Shelby, NC) at center and right guard, respectively. Red-shirt freshmen Hunter Jenks (Wake Forest, NC) and Michael Patram (Wallace, NC) are expected to start at the two tackle positions to round out the starting line.

The offensive line is deep, but young after the losses of first-team all-conference honorees Josh Rowan and Ross Gravely to seniorhood. Sophomore Kyle Belkoski (Rockingham, NC), red-shirt sophomore Bob Cooke (Princeton, NC), red-shirt freshmen Ruben Lawrence (Los Angeles, CA), Zach Bevilacqua (Charlotte, NC) and Marty Redden (Gibsonville, NC) as well as several true freshmen may see action on the line this fall.

Junior James Murdaugh (Orangeburg, SC) is leading Elon’s quarterback class heading into 2003. Last season, Murdaugh threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 140 yards and three scores. Also returning as a signal caller fighting for the starting nod will be senior C.W. Singletary (Chadburn, NC), who passed for 386 yards and three TDs in 2002. The Phoenix has also added freshmen Anthony Crews (Reidsville, NC), Wes Pope (Jamestown, NC) and Daniel Barrow (Goldsboro, NC) to the quarterback mix this season.

In the backfield, Elon returns senior halfback Rashaud Palmer (Norlina, NC) - at left, who rushed for 879 yards and nine touchdowns en route to 2002 team MVP honors; Palmer finished 44th in the nation in 2002, averaging 79.91 rushing yards per contest. Red-shirt sophomore Marcus Johnson (Hope Mills, NC) and true freshmen T.J. Clegg (Graham, NC) and Reggie Hall (Charlotte, NC) will spell Palmer carrying the ball. In 2002, Johnson carried the ball 12 times for 35 yards and one score.

At fullback, red-shirt sophomore Wesley Fulmore (Hope Mills, NC) looks to have the starting edge ahead of red-shirt junior Rashaad Jeffers (Greensboro, NC). Fulmore battered defenders for 83 yards and one TD run on 18 carries in 2002.

Elon is expected to open up its offense in 2003, as evidenced by the two wide receiver spots listed on the depth chart. Junior Stan Smith (Thomasville, NC) and red-shirt junior Derek Neal (Forrest, VA) are the front-runners for the starting jobs, replacing three-year starter Arketa Banks, who graduated in 2002. Also expected to see time at receiver are red-shirt juniors Brian Simer (Mayfield, NC), Bradley Utz (Burlington, NC), Patrick Stokes (Burlington, NC) and Andrew Oak (Asheville, NC). Last year, Smith and Neal combined to catch 12 balls for 146 yards.

On Defense
The Phoenix defense could prove to be the strength of the squad, as the unit returns all 11 starters.

At defensive end, Elon will look to newcomer, and Clemson transfer, red-shirt sophomore Mark Jetton (Charlotte, NC) and sophomore Mark Hatch (Charlotte, NC) to start. The interior line will feature sophomore Emerson Fazekas (Greensburg, PA) and red-shirt freshman Nicholas Campbell (Elm Grove, LA). The Phoenix will award playing time to red-shirt junior Maurice Locklin (Hampton, VA) and red-shirt senior Wesley Wheeler (Nicholson, GA) at the end positions, red-shirt junior Chris Bell (Columbia, SC) and sophomore Jesse Heller (Chapel Hill, NC) at guard.

Slated to start at the three linebacker spots are senior Eddie Bell (Havelock, NC), red-shirt junior Mike Warren (Linden, NC) and red-shirt junior Calvin Sutton (Grifton, NC). A second-team all-region player, Warren led the squad with 82 total tackles, including 14 tackles for loss and one sack in 2002. Bell and Sutton combined for another 95 stops and four sacks. Seniors Derrick Collins (Staley, NC) and Quinton Cox (Rural Hall, NC) and red-shirt sophomores Mike Sheley (Greensboro, NC) and Michael Herlocker (Greensboro, NC) will also feature into the linebacker rotation this fall. Those three tallied 39 tackles in back-up roles last year.

The defensive backfield will be anchored by senior cornerbacks Stephen McCoy (Laurinburg, NC) - at right - and Shaun Miller (Long Island, VA). McCoy finished second on the 2002 team with 55 tackles and led the squad with seven pass break-ups. Miller recorded 20 tackles a year ago. Behind them will be sophomore Jacobi Jones (Greenville, SC) and red-shirt sophomore Allen Little (Kinston, NC). Jones and Little combined for nine tackles in limited roles last season.

Red-shirt junior Vincent Graves (Yanceyville, NC) and sophomore Dwayne Ijames (Winston-Salem, NC) are penciled in to start at strong and free safety, respectively. Ijames was a pleasant surprise for the Phoenix in 2002, earning a starting role early in the season en route to recording 37 tackles and picking off a team-best three passes. Graves tallied 48 stops and snared one interception. Red-shirt junior Bobby Griffin (New Bern, NC) and red-shirt sophomore Lawrence Chetty (Roanoke Rapids, NC) will see action at safety in 2003 as well.

On Special Teams Elon returns junior kicker/punter Anthony Turowski (Glen Alpine, NC) - at left - in 2003 after a season in which he finished 74th in the nation in punting average (36.44 ypp). Turowski also connected on 7-of-12 field goal tries -- including a long of 47 yards -- and 23-of-32 PAT attempts. His longest punt of 2002 went 57 yards. Red-shirt junior William Rawls (Swansboro, NC) is set to play behind Turowski in 2003. Junior Brandon Williams (Bluefield, WV) will reprise his role as snapper in 2003.

Returning Statistical Leaders
Rushing
Rashaud Palmer:
148 att., 879 net yds., 5.9 ypc, 9 TD, 79.9 ypg
Passing
C.W. Singletary:
67 att., 25 comp., 5 INT, 386 yds., 3 TD, 48.3 ypg
Receiving
Stan Smith:
9 rec., 117 yds., 0 TD, 13.0 ypc, 13.0 ypg
Scoring
Rashaud Palmer:
9 TD, 54 pts.
Interceptions
Dwayne Ijames:
3 INT
Tackles
Mike Warren:
33 UT, 49 AT, 82 total, 14 TFL
Sacks
Wesley Wheeler:
5 sacks, 30 yds. lost, 39 total tackles
Punting
Anthony Turowski:
55 punts, 2,004 yds., 36.4 avg., 2 TB, 8 I20
Punt Returns
No Returning Leaders
Kick Returns
Rashaud Palmer:
14 returns, 539 yds., 18.3 avg.

--ELON--