During his five seasons at the helm at Lehigh, Lembo compiled some impressive credentials. He posted a 44-14 overall record, and his .759 winning percentage is the highest among all-time Lehigh coaches and the second-highest among active NCAA-IAA coaches. In Patriot League play, Lembo led the Mountain Hawks to a 26-7 mark – more wins than any other league school during that time span.

Lembo, the country's second youngest NCAA Division I head football coach at 36, will lead Elon into its 85th football season as well as its eighth campaign as an official NCAA-IAA member and fourth in the Southern Conference in 2006. He inherits seven offensive starters and five defensive starters from the 2005 squad.

“I am excited about the foundation we have begun to put in place this winter and spring,” stated Lembo. “We are challenging our players to raise their expectations both on and off the field, and they are beginning to respond. We need to have a great summer and pre season as we continue to build chemistry, install our systems and develop a strong work ethic. If we can take small steps forward each day, then we will field a competitive team this fall.

“Football is an important part of Elon's history as an institution. The coaching staff and I have received a great deal of support since we arrived on campus, and it is clear to me that this community is hungry for a successful football program that they can take pride in. We will work tirelessly to take advantage of this opportunity in the months and years to come.”

Quarterbacks

Elon will have a new man under center for 2006 as junior Wes Pope (Jamestown, N.C.) moves back to the position at which he was recruited. As a red-shirt freshman in 2004, Pope (right) completed 31 of 60 passes for 268 yards in limited time at the quarterback position. Last season, he did not see any action at QB, but played as both a fullback and tight end where he caught six balls for 61 yards.

Sitting second on the depth chart following spring ball is sophomore Shayne Milligan (Raleigh, N.C.). Milligan did not see any action in 2005.

The Phoenix sports two other quarterbacks on the 2006 roster: sophomores Tripp Hursey (Gibsonville, N.C.) and freshman Donny Kirby (Virginia Beach, Va.). Hursey appeared in four games last year, completing two of four passes for 24 yards and one touchdown. Kirby enters his first season after setting the Virginia state high school record with 3,800 passing yards his senior season.

Running Backs

The Phoenix will welcome back its top three running backs from a year ago and also get back a potentially strong back that missed the 2005 season.

Juniors Reggie Hall (Charlotte, N.C. - right) and Jarrett Meadors (Pembroke, N.C.) and sophomore Joe Baptiste (Virginia Beach, Va.) combined for 1,325 yards rushing and eight touchdowns last year and will give Lembo the ability to use many backs.

Junior T.J. Clegg (Graham, N.C.) will see his first action at running back as he moves over from the defensive side of the ball after missing all of 2005.

Also making the move over from the other side of the ball will be junior Tim Applegate (High Point, N.C.). Freshmen Joseph Droz (Fairfield, N.J.) and Brandon Newsome (Windsor, Va.) may also figure into the mix in the backfield this season.

Wide Receivers

The 2006 corps of wide receivers will feature the team’s leading pass catcher from a year ago in junior Michael Mayers (Virginia Beach, Va.). In his sophomore campaign, Mayers (left) hauled in 41 balls for 632 yards and four scores.

Sophomore Bo Williamson (Burlington, N.C.) also returns after a freshman season of 12 catches for 122 yards. Charles Ball (Laurinburg, N.C.), another sophomore, pulled in 11 passes for 83 yards last year while sophomore Johnie Blackwell (Apex, N.C.) grabbed five passes for 25 yards.

Red-shirt freshman Terrell Hudgins (Rocky Mount, N.C.) will also figure prominently in the 2006 offense. Originally recruited as a quarterback, Hudgins adds speed and athleticism to this group of receivers.

Juniors Greg Abbott (Dallastown, Pa.) and Stephen Gibbs (Goose Creek, S.C.) will add depth to the receiving group that will see plenty of action in 2006. Abbott recorded two catches for 20 yards in 10 appearances last year after moving from defensive back at the beginning of the season. Matt Allen (Raleigh, N.C.), a red-shirt freshman may also see some balls thrown his way this season.

True freshmen Cory Boslet (Alpharetta, Ga.), Leamon Cozart (Greensboro, N.C.) and Andrew Shaw (Charlotte, N.C.) may see time this year as well.

Tight Ends

Four tight ends are listed on the 2006 roster, be led by junior Cameron Clay (Durham, N.C.) and sophomore Anthony Barcel (Johnson City, Tenn.).

Two true freshmen add depth at the postion. Joining the Phoenix this season are Luke Allen (Charlotte, N.C.) and Matt Leddy (Havertown, Pa.).

Offensive Line

The 2006 offensive line features only one starter from a year ago – senior Marty Redden (Gibsonville, N.C.) - who is penciled in to be a starter at guard again this fall.

At the two tackle positions, red-shirt freshman Christopher Werden (Charleston, S.C.) and junior Charles Porterfield (Jonesville, Va.) have the upper hand at starting roles following spring ball. Junior Charles Hairston (Rocky Mount, Va.) and Werden currently occupy the number two spots on the depth chart at that position.

Sitting at the top of the guard spot with Redden (right) is senior Michael Moody (Laurinburg, N.C.) while, playing behind them, will be sophomore Johnathan Hatch (Charlotte, N.C.).

Sophomore Ricky Durham (Norfolk, Va.) will also figure into the rotation of offensive linemen for 2006 while Chris Delionbach (Durham, N.C.) will red-shirt after transferring in to Elon from Lenoir-Rhyne.

Lembo added six true freshman offensive linemen with his recruiting class this winter, including: Jeff Allen (McLean, Va.), Mark Hoffer (Hillsborough, N.J.), Patrick Holloway (Dunwoody, Ga.), Kevin Light (Tallahassee, Fla.), Corey O’Shea (Kennesaw, Ga.) and John Rubertone (Acworth, Ga.).

Defensive Line

For the 2006 season, the Elon football squad will move from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 alignment. None of the three starting defensive linemen from a year ago is back, however two of the three back-ups do return in seniors Travis Wetzel (Sarasota, Fla.) and Robbie Goins (Laurinburg, N.C.). Goins (18 tackles, two sacks in 2005) is slated to be the starting nose guard following spring ball while Wetzel (seven tackles) will add much-needed depth on the line.

Sophomore Robert McGruder (Newnan, Ga.) holds an edge in the number two spot on the depth chart at nose guard entering the fall.

The two defensive end positions look to be held by juniors Cody Scoggins (Armuchee, Ga.) and Mark Ewing (Charlotte, N.C.). Scoggins (left) finished his sophomore campaign with 46 tackles, the sixth-highest total on the squad, while Ewing made two stops in five games. Behind them sit senior Todd Lindgren (Titusville, Fla.) and junior Thomas Blair (Newport News, Va.). As a linebacker in 2005, Lindgren tallied 25 tackles and broke up two passes. Blair made one tackle in one appearance. Tim Happer (Chesapeake, Va.) will also figure into the mix at end.

Sophomore Dan Gabryszewski (Bridgewater, N.J.) will compete for playing time at the end position as will incoming freshmen Andre Campbell (Plantation, Fla.) and David Hunt (Port Orange, Fla.).

Sophomore Jarvier Young (Norfolk, Va.) will see the field for the first time at Elon this year at tackle. Young red-shirted last season after transferring in from Norfolk State.

Junior Seth Norton (State Road, N.C.) will compete with newcomer Tyler Bullard (Charlotte, N.C.) for time on the line as well. Junior Matt Kelleher (Simpsonville, S.C.) moves to the defensive line from the tight end position while red-shirt freshman Eric Ludwig (Burlington, N.C.) moves over from the offensive line.

Linebackers

When you look at the Elon linebacking corps, the first player you notice is senior Chad Nkang (Hyattsville, Md.) who led all of I-AA football with 13.8 tackles per contest a year ago. A five-time All-America selection in 2005, Nkang (right) amassed 152 total tackles, 18.5 tackles for a loss and five sacks en route to claiming Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year accolades and First Team All-Southern Conference distinction. Nkang will hold down the middle linebacker spot in the new 4-3 scheme.

Sitting behind Nkang on the depth chart in the middle are junior Sidney Fitz-Coy (Salisbury, Md.) and red-shirt freshman Jordan Daniel (Durham, N.C.). Last season, Fitz-Coy notched 36 tackles, including two tackles for a loss in 11 games.

Junior Danny Boback (Fort Myers, Fla.) and sophomore Corey Weaver (New Bern, N.C.) hold the number one spots at the two outside linebacker positions after spring practice. Boback made 31 stops and grabbed one interception as a sophomore while Weaver recorded 19 tackles as a true freshman.

Senior Tommy Hill (Escondido, Calif.) and sophomore Jeremy Barrett (Charlotte, N.C.) will also figure prominently at outside linebacker in 2006. In his first year at Elon last season, Hill made 12 tackles.

Two other linebackers return this season and will battle for playing time – junior Tim Brown (Winston-Salem, N.C.) and sophomore Adam Kelly (Hillsborough, N.C.). Also fighting for spots will be two true freshmen in Chris Carter (Greensboro, N.C.) and Kyle Johnson (Apex, N.C.).

Defensive Backs

Thirteen defensive backs are featured on the Elon roster this season. The two starting corner slots are currently held by junior Irvin Raglin (College Park, Ga.) and sophomore Daronce Daniels (Cincinnati, Ohio). As a true freshman, Daniels made 18 tackles, had one interception and two pass breakups last year.

Juniors Daniel Barrow (Goldsboro, N.C.) and Matt Madeo (Toms River, N.J.) will see plenty of time at corner this season as well.

At free safety, junior Chris Bland (Shallotte, N.C.) holds the edge for the starting role after spring practices ended. Bland (left) finished seventh on the team a year ago with 45 tackles. His two interceptions also led the squad. Sophomore Brandon Campbell (Beaufort, N.C.) will play behind Bland after recording two stops in 2005.

Sophomore Zach McAlister (Anderson, S.C.), a two-time SoCon Freshman of the Week last year, enters the fall as the starting strong safety. McAlister was second on the team with 63 total tackles a year ago. Campbell will also back-up McAlister.

Seniors Chase Martin (Morehead City, N.C.) and Nathan Trott (Hewitt, Texas) and sophomores Brandon Poling (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Mike Vantusko (Broadview Heights, Ohio) will fight for action in the defensive backfield this year. Trott was the only one of those four to record a tackle last year as he made one stop in two games.

Lembo added five freshmen to the defensive backfield with his recruting class who will compete for playing time. Joining the Phoenix this year are Travis Greene (Falls Church, Va.), Cameron McGlenn (Belmont, N.C.), Karlos Sullivan (Greenville, S.C.), Nolan Ward (Brandon, Fla.) and Walker White (Charlotte, N.C.).

Special Teams

Elon returns both its punter and placekicker from last year in sophomores Brandon Lane (Greensboro, N.C.) and Andrew Wilcox (Richmond, Va.), respectively. As a true freshman, Lane (right) booted 69 punts for 2,747 yards, an average of 39.8 yards per punt. He also kicked 17 balls inside the 20. Wilcox led the team with 51 points as a freshman, converting 18-of-19 PAT’s and 11-of-15 field goal attempts. His longest field goal came from 42 yards.

Red-shirt freshman Andrew Fearheiley (Sherrills Ford, N.C.) will serve as the number two punter while sophomore Brian Siegel (Burlington, N.C.) gets the nod as the number two placekicker in 2006. Austin Toman (Greensboro, N.C.) also holds down a roster spot as a kicker.

Brown will act as the long snapper this season, but senior Sean Lawson (Charlotte, N.C.) could see some time there as well.

The Schedule

The 2006 schedule consists of seven Southern Conference battles and four non-conference contests. It also includes four opponents that finished last year ranked among the country's top 25 teams, according to The Sports Network's 2005 NCAA-IAA poll – No. 1 Appalachian State, No. 3 Furman, No. 9 Georgia Southern and No. 24 Coastal Carolina.

“Without question, this is a very challenging schedule,” said Lembo. “The Southern Conference is an outstanding league from top to bottom and each contest will be an intense physical match-up.”

Elon kicks off its 2006 season at Coastal Carolina on September 2 at 7:00 p.m.