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HTTR Forever.
September 29, 2006
Change can be good
Transfers beneficial to B-CC
By BRENT WORONOFF
Staff Writer
DAYTONA BEACH -- The stadiums may be larger, the travel accommodations nicer and the training facilities grander. But the grass isn't always greener in Division I-A football.
Some players feel like a number when they arrive on a major college campus. Some feel like a stranger. Some miss the nurturing relationships they had with high school mentors and mind making bad choices.
For some, the Division I-AA school they shunned during the recruiting process starts to look like a shining beacon after a year or two of anguish in the big time. And a football factory's problem child will often mature into a small school's leader.
Like most smaller schools, Bethune-Cookman College is always willing to give a second chance to a highly-touted prospect who might not have given the Wildcats the time of day coming out of high school. B-CC has long benefited from a steady stream of I-A transfers. But now, all of a sudden the faucet is gushing.
B-CC has 12 former Division I-A football players on its team, the most in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. They added three transfers -- linebacker Brent Davis (South Carolina), cornerback Avery Atkins (Florida) and defensive tackle Eric Wilson (Rutgers) -- since the beginning of preseason practice.
"I just think we're blessed," said B-CC coach Alvin Wyatt, who has started eight I-A transfers on defense this season. B-CC's kicker (Jesus Cortez) and backup slotback (Coyla Dailey) are also I-A transfers.
Coaches are not allowed to recruit at other colleges, so there must be another explanation for the talent that is pouring onto the B-CC campus.
"I believe God did this for this football program," Wyatt said. "We were wondering if we were going to get a run-stopper, and then pop, here comes Eric Wilson. We needed a good cover guy, and pop, here comes Avery Atkins. We needed some linebackers, because our linebacker slot was weak and needed to be strengthened. Josh (Balloon) popped up and Ronnie McCullough popped up. Brent Davis popped up. Taurean Charles popped up the year before."
All the transfers have their own reasons for bursting onto the scene. Balloon and McCullough, cousins who were both at USF, were unhappy with a lack of playing time and consulted with a former teammate, Ramon McCollough, who transferred to B-CC last year.
"I told them there is a lot of love here," said McCollough, who is happy because the Wildcats gave him a chance to prove what he could do on the field. At USF, the 300-plus-pound defensive tackle was told he had to drop weight before he could drop offensive linemen.
Balloon is grateful because he is enjoying football again.
"I didn't want to sit anymore," he said. "Football was always my motivation to get good grades in school. But it got to the point at South Florida where I didn't like football anymore, and that wasn't me."
Defensive end Dennis King left UCF because of the coaching change there. Taurean Charles has found new life after getting suspended at Florida. Cornerback James Monds of Fort Pierce chose Toledo out of high school but really wanted to be the next Rashean Mathis. After two years of enduring freezing temperatures and playing only in nickel packages, he transferred.
"Everybody was making decisions for me," Monds said. "But I actually wanted to be a Wildcat out of high school. Now (in his second season at B-CC), I'm settled in. They showcase your talent here, because we play a lot of man-to-man (coverage)."
"DIFFERENCE MAKERS"
B-CC is not the only elite MEAC program collecting I-A transfers. Two-time defending conference champ Hampton has nine on its roster. South Carolina State has six I-A transfers. And Delaware State, which went 5-2 in the MEAC last year, has five.
"Any young man who comes from a Division I program, whether a starter or not, would be better than any freshman you'll recruit," said Howard coach Rayford T. Perry. "They can fill a hole in your program immediately."
Howard University, however, does not accept "a lot of transferable hours," Petty said, so it has a harder time getting transfers.
Schools also must have a history of success to pull in a steady supply of transfers, said Delaware State coach Al Levan.
"I would love to get three to four D-I guys who are difference makers," Levan said. "But I don't think we've had the sustained success yet to attract those players. But those who have come here have really added to our depth and the quality of our program."
Hampton's transfers have had a similar impact, said coach Joe Taylor. Only two of the Pirates' transfers began the year as starters, including all-conference cornerback Travarous Bain from the University of Miami.
"When we get these guys in, normally they help the depth situation," Taylor said. "You try to get linemen if you can, because that's normally where you need your biggest help."
An NCAA rule that allows incoming I-AA transfers to play right away encourages disgruntled athletes to drop down a classification, rather than sit out a year to play at another I-A school.
Starting Oct. 15 students who drop down will be allowed to play right away only if they have at least two years of eligibility remaining.
The rule would not have affected any of B-CC's transfers. All of them joined the 'Cats with at least two years of eligibilty left.
If Hampton and B-CC have an edge in drawing players from the top level of college football it may be that they recruit more I-A prospects to begin with and maintain relationships with them. The schools also happen to be in areas rich in football talent. All of B-CC's I-A transfers are from the state of Florida and four (Davis, King, Atkins and McCollough) prepped just down the road at Mainland High.
"If (Atkins) wasn't from here, we wouldn't see the likes of him," Wyatt said of the sophomore who was penciled in to start for the Gators this season.
But perhaps the No. 1 reason tiny B-CC has been attracting major college talent is the coaching staff's philosophy.
"There is always an open-door policy with coach Wyatt," King said. "He's always willing to give people a second chance. He never closes that door. B-CC never turns their back on you."
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Bethune-Cookman I-A Transfers
CB Avery Atkins, So. Mainland grad had an interception and fumble recovery as true freshman at Florida last year. This year: 10 tackles, 2 pass breakups in three games for B-CC.
LB Josh Balloon, Jr. Three years at USF including redshirt season. Played as a reserve and on special teams last year for Bulls. This year: 22 tackles, 3 for losses, 2 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery, 3 forced fumbles.
MLB Taurean Charles, Sr.: Transferred after three years at Florida, including redshirt season. This year: 22 tackles, 2.5 for losses. Last year: 94 tackles, 8.5 for losses; 3.5 sacks.
K Jesus Cortez, Sr. Transferred after redshirt year at Marshall. Fourth-year starter for B-CC has kicked 32-of-47 field goals with long of 51 yards and 129-of-139 PATs. This year: 3-of-3 FG (25, 41, 35 yards), 16-of-19 PATs.
SB Coyla Dailey, Sr. Two years at Purdue including redshirt season. This year: 7-for-21 yards rushing with 1 TD and 1 catch for 22 yards. Last year: returned kickoffs and punts for B-CC.
LB Brent Davis, Fr. Mainland grad redshirted last season at South Carolina. Second on depth chart after spring. Transferred during preseason. This year: 13 tackles, 3.5 for losses, 2 sacks, 19-yard interception return for TD vs. Savannah State.
DE Dennis King, Jr. Mainland grad spent two years at UCF including redshirt season. This year: 11 tackles, 4 for losses, 2.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries including 1 for touchdown vs. Savannah State. Last year: 45 tackles, 10.5 for losses, 4.5 sacks at B-CC.
DT Donnell Livingston, Jr. Two years at North Carolina including redshirt season. This year: Has yet to play at DT. Last year: Back on defense at B-CC after playing OL in '04 with Tar Heels. Had 22 tackles.
NT Ramon McCollough, Sr. Two years at USF including redshirt season. Had 2 sacks against UAB in '04 for Bulls. This year: 9 tackles, 3 for losses. Last year: 44 tackles, 5.5 for losses at B-CC.
LB Ronnie McCullough, Jr. Three years at USF including redshirt year. Was sixth on Bulls with 40 tackles last year as a reserve. This year: Leads B-CC with 23 tackles (3.5 for losses) in 3 games.
CB James Monds, Jr. Two years at Toledo including redshirt season. This year: 15 tackles, 7 pass breakups. Last year: started all 11 games for B-CC, had 90-yard fumble return for TD in opener vs. Elizabeth City State.
DT Eric Wilson, Jr. Played for Hibbing Community College in Minnesota last year. Signed with Rutgers for this season but transferred to B-CC late in preseason camp. This year: 8 tackles, 2.5 for losses.
You guys know I keep tabs on things back home frequently. With all the guys we've had transfer this year, I found this article to be informative and well written.
I still think Xavier Lee would thrive under Alvin Wyatt if he ever cuts his losses and bails on FSU.
There are a lot of parallels between Alvin Wyatt and Coach Tressel
