Front Porch Football2019 Wofford Season Preview
Southern Conference|Spartanburg, SC|Gibbs Stadium, 13,000|2018: 9-4 (6-2)
By Andrew Sargent
As the dust settled on the 2018 football season for the Wofford Terriers, many players and fans couldn’t help but feel disappointed. The Terriers fell short to Kennesaw State 13-10 in the Quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs. One or two more plays and the boys in Old Gold & Black are dancing as one of the last four teams left standing in the country. Now, the casual fan might be confused as to why players and fans are disappointed with back-to-back conference championships and a third consecutive deep run in the FCS Playoffs. The answer is simple. Wofford College boasts the slogan “Commit to Excellence” and that is the exact standard that the Wofford football program and their fanbase have come to expect. Excellence. To come so close to taking that next step and seeing it slip through your fingers hurts.
The Terriers plan on using that pain from the 2018 season to fuel themselves throughout the coming season. Coach Josh Conklin enters his second season manning the ship for a team that returns 15 of 21 starters from last year’s team that won the SoCon and a preseason ranking of 9th in the country. With the mixture of strong senior leadership and a stable of young and exciting talent, there is no reason why those pesky, short haired dogs can’t make a run at a 3rd consecutive conference championship and ultimately continuing their quest for a FCS Championship.
Offense
Wofford’s offense started the transition last season from a traditional, wing-t, triple option offense, to the new popular and shiny spread offense. Fans were excited to see the Terriers throw the ball significantly more last season, amassing over 1500 yards through the air as a team. Expect this trend to continue into the 2019 season given the depth and experience at QB and the talented playmakers that this offense has. However, Wofford has not lost it’s identity as a run-first offense. Three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and Wofford College running the football down opposing team’s throats. With the talent and explosiveness of this group of offensive line and running backs, the Terriers will continue to be tops in the nation in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns.
Quarterback
Going into the 2018 season, the biggest question mark for the Terrier offense was who would be the signal caller, or how the staff planned on splitting snaps between the QBs on roster. 31 year Wofford coach Wade Lang elected to go with a 2 quarterback system with Joe Newman and Miller Mosley. The two combined for over 2100 yards of offense a year ago, with Newman taking a larger fraction of the snaps compared to Mosley. Expect to see this same two-headed monster under center for the Terriers in 2019. Newman (5-11 185) is a speedster with extreme playmaking ability which he has showcased through his 3 year career that makes him essential to the Terriers attack on the ground. He has worked hard last season and in the offseason to continue to develop his throwing ability and becoming more comfortable as a true pocket passer. Mosley (5-11 190), an Air Force Academy transfer, is widely regarded as the better passer of the two and showcased his ability to throw the long ball routinely last season.
Sophomore Jimmy Weirick (5-11 185) made the most of his snaps last season before a knee injury caused him to redshirt. An interesting wrinkle was thrown into the QB race this offseason as Peyton Derrick (6-2 195), a true pocket passer from Appalachian State, transferred to Wofford. It will be interesting to see how he fits into this QB rotation going forward. Regardless, Newman and Mosley have cemented themselves as the starters on this team and will continue to build on a great 2018 campaign.
Running Back
Losing your top two rushers, who accounted for almost 1800 yards and 19 TD’s, would be cause for concern for most teams in the country. Wofford isn’t most teams. Senior Blake Morgan returns from a knee injury that sidelined him for the last five games of last season to lead a stable of running backs that is as strong as ever. Morgan (5-9, 190) is perhaps the most talented and well-rounded of the backs. He has the speed of a track star, the strength to run in between the tackles, and hands good enough to finish third on the team in receiving yards despite missing five games. For his career, Morgan has 1,135 career rushing yards and 634 receiving yards, which is good enough to place him as Wofford’s career leader in total yards with 8.6 per play. Wofford’s offense will go as Blake Morgan goes, he is that big of a game changer.
Replacing senior and leading rusher Andre Stoddard is true sophomore Nathan Walker. Walker (6-0, 225) is one of the strongest players, pound for pound, on this years squad. As a true freshman he averaged a measley (insert sarcastic face emoji) 7.1 yards per carry. If anyone questions Nathan Walker’s ability to play fullback for the Terriers, just go back and watch his film from the first playoff game against Elon from a year ago. The guy is a straight up dude.
Complementing Morgan and Walker will be a combination of backs. D’Maurie VanCleave (5-7, 160) will see a significant uptick in snaps this season. His top end speed is perhaps the best on the team and, similar to Morgan, is a receiving threat out of the backfield finishing second on the team in receiving yards and averaging 13.6 yards per catch. Ryan Lovelace will be the other staple in the backfield this season for the Terriers. Lovelace (5-9, 200) took over for Morgan after his injury last year and led the SoCon with 12.3 yards per carry over a four-game span. Junior Kent Phelps, and Redshirt Freshman Jamari Broussard are also making cases for playing time in camp, but it will be tough to get significant playing time, barring injury, given the talent and big play ability of the players mentioned above.
Wide Receiver
A good sign for an offense, and a group of quarterbacks trying to expand their presence in the passing game is the return of the entire receiving corps from a season ago. The Terriers bring back senior receivers Dorian Lindsey, Jason Hill and senior tight end Nick Karas to continue mentoring this young and talented group of receivers, including five true freshmen. Lindsey (6-0 185) and Hill (5-11, 185) will likely receive the majority of targets from the Wofford quarterbacks given their veteran experience and sure handedness. The most exciting of the receivers is sophomore TJ Luther (6-1,185). The speedster is the Terriers best deep threat, boasting a ridiculous 23.1 yards per catch and leading the team with four TD’s as a true freshman. Luther has the ability to take it to the house any time he is on the field and will likely draw the most attention from opposing defenses, opening things up for the rest of the receivers.
Redshirt freshman Landon Parker is a big body at (6-2 200) that flashed signs of being a big time target before taking a redshirt after four games in his freshman season. It will be interesting to see how much the Terriers utilize their receivers outside of the three big names mentioned, considering that Wofford’s running backs often get a fair share of touches in the passing game as well. If the Terriers stick true to their word and throw the ball more, it could lead to big seasons for Lindsey, Hill & Luther, as well as leading to many of these young players to get valuable game experience before being thrust into starting roles next season.
Offensive Line
Where do I even start with this group? This is 100%, without a doubt, undeniably, irrefutably, the best offensive line in the Southern Conference, and the entire FCS for that matter. It is also the strongest group on this 2019 Terrier squad. Every single starter from the 2018 squad is back. This is a huge positive for the offense going into the season. A quarterback can only throw the ball if he’s upright. A running back can only run the ball if he has a hole to run through. I cannot put things in simpler terms, or emphasize enough how important this unit is to the Terriers in 2019.
The group is headlined by seniors Justus Basinger and Michael Ralph. Basinger (6-4, 305) was named as a preseason 2nd team All-American by STATS FCS as well as a preseason 1st team All-SoCon selection at guard, while Ralph (6-4, 285) earned a preseason 2nd team All-SoCon selection. Basinger and Ralph are both entering their fourth year as starters and will anchor this offensive line throughout the year.
Redshirt junior Blake Jeresaty also earned preseason All-SoCon honors as the 2nd team center selection. Jeresaty (6-2, 290) is entering his third season with significant playing time at center with two full seasons as the starter at center. Liam Roonan (6-3, 290) comes into his senior year having started every game at left guard in his junior season. Another redshirt junior Josh Burger (6-4, 290) comes back for his second year as a starter at the tackle position after leading the team with 109 knock down blocks in his sophomore season. Every game, especially games involving predominantly run heavy offenses, are won and lost in the trenches. Luckily for the Terriers, they have the fiercest unit in the entire country to rely on throughout the season.
Defense
The Terrier defense has always been at the top of the league in terms of defensive efficiency for as long as I have been following Wofford football. Despite losing 5 starters from last year, including 2 who are currently on NFL rosters, this defense should still be tops in the league returning their top tackler and top 2 defensive backs from last year’s squad. Coach Conklin is a defensive minded coach and that was on full display in 2018. He has expressed his desire to run more nickel and dime packages this season along with their base 3-4 package, and luckily for him, he has the talent and personnel to do this. This defensive unit will be fast, physical and will fly all over the field in 2019.
Defensive Line
Last season when writing this preview, I gawked over the fearsome duo of Miles Brown and Mikel Horton as the biggest, scariest and fastest defensive tackles in the country. Wofford’s defensive tackles lived up to that hype, and Mikel Horton (6-1, 290) didn’t even play in 10 games. Coming off of an arm injury, Mikel Horton’s reputation as a bull up front was enough to earn him preseason 2nd team All-SoCon honors. There will be little to no drop off from Miles Brown’s departure to the NFL as Horton looks to pick up where he left off. His partner in crime will be Thad Mangum, a preseason 1st team All-SoCon selection and also the team’s second leading tackler (51) and sack leader (3.5) from a year ago. Mangum (6-2, 290) has the size and strength to play on the interior like Horton, but his speed and ability to get to the quarterback has led to him being a staple at defensive end for the Terriers.
The man on the other side of the line at the other defensive end spot is not as solidified as the other two. Senior Robbie Armstrong (6-0, 230) made the transition from outside linebacker to defensive end last season. Armstrong was utilized mostly as a 3rd down, speed/edge rusher in 2018. He has worked hard in the offseason putting on mass and working on technique to be able to contribute as a 3-down lineman, rather than a situational pass rusher. Another option for the Terriers are junior Austin Lufkin (6-3, 280), who is a freak athlete in a big body, setting multiple school records and winning conference championships in track & field. True freshman Michael Mason (6-3, 230) could also work his way into some playing time. The South Florence native has the prototypical build for a defensive end. Mason has all the physical tools (size, speed, length) to be able to contribute on this line, it’s just a matter of how well he can adjust to the speed and mental aspect at the next level. The makeup and identity of this defensive line is what it was last year, and what it has been for a long time. They are big, fast, strong, and have the ability to both stop the run and get to the quarterback.
Linebacker
Legendary Wofford beat reporter Todd Shanesy coined the term “Wilson, Wilson & Associates” to describe this year’s linebacker group for the Terriers and I couldn’t agree more. The Wilson seniors, Jireh and DT, will lead a group of young and talented linebackers in 2019.
Jireh Wilson (6-1, 220) is a natural leader on this football team, and his play backs up his boisterous personality. He led the Terriers in 2018 with 59 tackles and seemed to make big plays whenever his team needed it the most, earning him a preseason 2nd team All-SoCon selection. At outside linebacker, he is fast enough to drop back into coverage but excels at setting the edge and stopping the run.
DT Wilson (6-1, 225) is the purest definition of a pure, skull cracking, intimidating middle linebacker. He is big, he is fast, and he will hit you in the mouth every single play. After an incredible freshman campaign, opposing offenses ran away from DT as much as possible. That, combined with some injury issues, have caused his numbers to dip over the past two seasons, but his physical presence and intimidation factor has always been what makes him special. These two linebackers have the potential to end their senior seasons leading the defense in tackles, and anchoring what should be the top defense in the SoCon.
At the other linebacker spots, senior Brandon Brown, and juniors John Beckley and Shaun Moore are competing for the starting spot. Brown (6-1, 230) has been a standout on special teams throughout his career, which got him good playing time last season where he amassed 39 tackles. Beckley (6-0, 215) also saw good playing time last season as a true sophomore, with 33 tackles as the starting outside linebacker. Shaun Moore (6-2, 227) is undeniably the biggest and most athletic option to take the other outside linebacker position, but he made too many mental errors in camp and throughout the season for him to merit significant playing time in 2018. It will be interesting to see how the decision is made by Coach Conklin and his staff regarding the other outside linebacker position.
The last linebacker spot for the Terriers will likely be shared by juniors Joe Beckett and Ryan Titus, who could not be more different players, with Beckett as the slight favorite to be the starter. Beckett (6-2, 235) is a physically dominating presence on the field with a reputation as a hard hitter. He has worked hard in the weight room, putting on close to 30 pounds of muscle since arriving his freshman year. Titus (6-1, 215) is a great linebacker in his own right, but is not the biggest or strongest option the Terriers have. Titus relies on his speed and technicality to make big plays for the defense. With the desire to run more nickel and dime packages, I wouldn’t be surprised if Beckett plays most of the snaps under the base 3-4 with Titus coming in for his speed and coverage abilities in the nickel and dime sets.
Wofford also boasts some freak athletes at linebacker who are underclassmen as well. Sophomore T.J. Neal (6-1, 215) showed signs of huge potential in his freshman campaign with 4.5 TFL and 4 sacks as a freshman. Redshirt freshman Zy Abercrombie (6-0, 195) has made tremendous strides and has impressed coaches in the offseason and has played well in camp so far. Both Neal and Abercrombie transitioned from the secondary to linebacker upon arriving at Wofford, so it will be interesting to see how they handle their second season and their new position. Sophomore Andrew Duckworth and freshmen Jack Scroggs and James Wells are all other names that could get playing time before possibly taking a redshirt after the seasons 4th game.
Defensive Backs
The secondary on the 2018 squad was my favorite part of the Terrier defense and for good reason. This isn’t quite the case this year, as the secondary has a lot of holes that need to be filled. With the departure of Wofford greats Devin Watson and JoJo Tillery (currently on the Tennessee Titans), the Terriers will have to have young guys step into big shoes this season, especially with the expectation of more defensive backs on the field at a time. Luckily for this defensive backfield, seniors and 2nd team All-SoCon selections George Gbeese and Mason Alstatt return to help lead this group of ballhawks. Gbeese (5-8, 180) is Wofford’s best true lockdown corner. Despite his size, Gbeese led the team with three interceptions a year ago. He has the speed to keep up with any receiver on the field, and plays with an aggression and chip on his shoulder that allows him to make any open field tackle that comes his way.
Alstatt (6-0, 205) returns for his fourth year as a starter on this defense as one of the scariest head hunters on this defense. He has the strength to play linebacker for this group but his speed and ball skills (3 INTs in 2018), make him a necessity at safety for the Terriers. If I had to guess, Alstatt will likely drop down into the nickelback position in nickel and dime sets given his hit power and run stopping ability compared to the rest of the Wofford defensive backfield.
Lining up beside him at free safety will likely be a combination of senior Dmitri Redwood (6-2, 200) and redshirt junior Ulysses Strawter (5-10, 185). Strawter is considered the better sure tackler, while Redwood’s reputation is more of a ball hawk, which he showcased last season taking an interception 45 yards to the house. Redshirt freshman Isaiah “Zay” Walker (6-0, 190) has made a good impression throughout camp, receiving some first team reps and could play either of the safety positions, especially if Alstatt drops down to nickelback.
The biggest question mark for this defense will be who plays at the other corner spot across from George Gbeese. Junior Darron “DP” Paschal will likely be the next man up, having had two years develop under Devin Watson and Gbeese, seeing action in 10 games last season. Paschal (5-10, 190) is one of the most liked guys on the team so, while there should be a small adjustment curve as he gets used to being an every down player, there should be no significant drop in chemistry amongst the secondary. Also vying for playing time with Paschal will be fellow junior Donovan Anderson. Anderson (5-11, 180) is a local Spartanburg product, coming from Boiling Springs High School and will definitely see playing time in nickel and dime packages if he doesn’t win the starting spot. A freshman name to watch out for is Miles Richardson (5-10, 180) out of Atlanta, Georgia. He was a high value target in the 2018 recruiting cycle for Conklin & co., and has done nothing but impress since arriving on campus this summer.
Special Teams
One of the most beautiful things as a fan of a team is the luxury of not having to worry about having a kicker and whether or not he can make routine kicks. Nothing is more nerve wracking than having a shaky kicker line up to try and hit a 35 yard field goal to win the game. Wofford fans have been spoiled going from all world kicker David Marvin, who is currently on the Atlanta Falcons, to Luke Carter (6-1, 205) two seasons ago. Carter has not missed a beat. He might not have a cannon for a leg like Marvin did, but he is as smooth and steady as kickers come at this level. His consistency has garnered him multiple all conference awards and this season is no different as Carter earned preseason 2nd team All-SoCon honors. Carter will handle all of the kicking duties for the Terriers this season as the kicker, punter, and kickoff specialist. If the game is on the line and the Terriers need a field goal to win the game… sit back and relax, crack open another beer, and be confident in the fact that Luke Carter is going to put it through those yellow posts.
Kick & Punt Returner
Typically the return duties on a football team fall into the hands of the team’s most explosive players. Assuming that the Terriers will follow this trend, expect to see speedsters TJ Luther and D’mauriae VanCleave returning kicks and punts for the Terriers this year. Luther shared some of the return duties last season with Lennox McAfee, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to see the sophomore receiver back there again this season for both punts and kickoffs.
VanCleave’s open field speed and big play ability should be more than enough to put him beside Luther on kickoffs. Luther and VanCleave have very different running styles, both being equally as dangerous. Luther is more of a long strider, and straight line sprinter who is probably the fastest player on the field any time he steps between the white lines. VanCleave is more like a rabbit or a squirrel. Short, quick, seemingly impossible to get ahold of. At his stature (5-7 160), he has the quickness and ability to change directions and the drop of a dime, is slippery enough to get through arm tackles, and has the open field speed to take it to the house. It’s not a given that these two will handle the return duties, but this combination seems to make the most sense. And if this is the case, expect the Terriers to return multiple kicks back for touchdowns this season.
Biggest Strength: Offensive Line/Run Game
This offensive unit, and the team as a whole, will ultimately be defined by the five big men up front for the Terriers. Anyone who understands the game of football understands that the game is won or lost in the trenches. And the short haired dogs have some mean sons of guns down low. Having five veteran offensive linemen, a senior quarterback, and a senior tail back leading your offense, typically means a lot of good things for offenses, especially if your team is a run heavy offense. Having such a veteran group up front will also have a huge impact for the Terriers as they continue to increase their presence in the throwing game. Not many offenses in the country can brag that they have an All-American and three all conference selections on their entire offense, but the Terriers have that just on their line.
Biggest Weakness: Secondary
It’s a great sign if you’re a fan of a team and their biggest weakness includes two seniors with multiple all conference selections among the two of them. George Gbeese and Mason Alstatt are ballers and everyone knows this. The issue is who else will be in the defensive backfield with them. Some names were mentioned earlier, but nobody really knows for sure because everyone is so unproven. And therein lies the problem. It’s not a talent problem, it’s a problem of experience and knowledge of how these players will handle the grind of playing every down. But Terrier fans can be confident in one thing, not many people develop talent, especially at defensive back, quite like Wofford can. Defensive coordinator Sam Siefkes also works directly with the DBs as their position coach, so this group should be the most prepared in terms of scheme and assignment on the entire defense.
Offensive Player of the Year: Blake Morgan
It’s that simple. He was well on his way to another phenomenal season last year before hurting his knee. He’s a true swiss army knife at running back. His pass catching ability is what truly sets him apart though and why I think he’s so tough to guard and game plan against. He could very well lead the Terriers in receiving yards this season, as he did in his sophomore campaign. If he can stay healthy, he has the chance to make his last year truly memorable for the Terriers. He might not have the most rushing yards, or the most TD’s, or the most receptions, but his impact on the field will be felt on every single play.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jireh Wilson
Wilson led the Terriers in tackles in 2018 as a junior, and will likely be the favorite to accomplish that again in 2019. As a natural born leader, his infectious personality elevates the performance of the entire defense. He has a nose for the football and always seems to be in the mix when a big play is needed. His biggest attribute is his combination of speed and strength. He’s got the size to play on the inside as a middle linebacker, but his speed and ability to set the edge and also to drop back in coverage on tight ends and slot receivers are what make him so valuable at outside linebacker for the Terriers. Expect a huge senior campaign for Wilson.
Freshman of the Year: Miles Richardson
One of the toughest things about being a freshman on a team that is bringing back this much talent is getting playing time and then making the most of your opportunity. Luckily for Richardson, he plays a position that is the biggest question mark on this entire team. At this point, there is no questioning his athleticism. He was able to get recruited by this defensive minded coaching staff, has all of the physical attributes that the rest of the DBs have, and has impressed throughout camp. The only thing that will separate him from the rest of the competition is how quickly he can acclimate to the mental side of football at the collegiate level. I think he will see significant playing time and could work himself into the starting spot at the other corner position before it’s all said and done.
Schedule Breakdown
8/31 Wofford @ South Carolina State (Win)
9/14 Wofford vs. Samford University (Win)
9/21 Wofford vs. Gardner-Webb University
9/28 Wofford @ VMI (Win)
10/5 Wofford @ East Tennessee State (Loss)
10/19 Wofford vs. Western Carolina (Win)
10/26 Wofford vs. UT-Chattanooga (Win)
11/2 Wofford @ Clemson (Loss)
11/9 Wofford @ Mercer (Win)
11/16 Wofford vs. Furman (Win)
11/23 Wofford @ The Citadel (Win)
Final Record: 9-2 (7-1)
*bold signifies Southern Conference games
Final Word
The depth and talent that Wofford returns on both sides of the ball should be more than enough for them to capture their third Southern Conference championship in as many years. In typical Wofford fashion, I’m assuming that most, if not all, of their conference games will be incredibly close and come down to a play or two, here or there. However, I think the Terriers have the senior leadership and experience to come out on top in most of these games. Wofford typically drops one or two conference games a year, usually on the road, and I see that coming against an incredibly talented ETSU team. The other possibility for a loss on the road on the schedule is at Mercer just a week after playing Clemson. Western Carolina and quarterback Tyrie Adams will give the Terriers all they can handle at Gibbs Stadium, but Wofford always plays WCU well. That leads us to the home finale against arch-rival Furman. With a little bit of help from the rest of the conference, the Southern Conference championship and a top 8 seed in the playoffs could be decided on November 16th at Gibbs Stadium. Wofford and Furman were projected to finish first and second in the SoCon respecitvely, and both come into 2019 with a top 20 preseason ranking. In all honesty, I hope that is the case. I hope that everything comes down to that one game. I would love to see the boys in the Old Gold & Black whoop up on that team from up I-85 and their horrible, disgusting, ugly Purple uniforms, to win yet another conference title for the Terriers. T-Pups by 90.
Andrew Sargent is from Greenwood, SC and is a senior at Wofford College. He has had an extremely successful intramural career, with seven championship t-shirts already. But will always have one tarnish on his legacy after losing to Brendan Paschal and the senior Kappa Sigma’s in flag football last year.
