SSU vs. Colorado State Game Central
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Earnest Wilson III is convinced this is the year his Savannah State University football team will produce multiple victories, perhaps even a winning season.
"This is the best team we've had in the three years that I've been here," said Wilson, whose Tigers open the season Saturday against Colorado State. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium. The game will be radio-broadcast by WHCJ 90.3 FM.
"Each year I've been here we've gotten stronger," Wilson said. "The program's become more stable. I'm up to 110 football players, which I'm happy about. So now we are able to put together scout teams. We've got about 50 freshmen in our program. The kids are bigger, stronger and faster than what we've had in the past."
SSU left Savannah on Friday and traveled by airplane to Denver, then drove to Fort Collins. The Tigers traveled approximately 1,700 miles to Fort Collins, their longest trip of the season. This will be the seventh consecutive season SSU has played its opener on the road. The Tigers have never played Colorado State.
SSU, which plays in the Football Championship Subdivision as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, will attempt to snap a 23-game losing streak. The Tigers' last victory was a 27-20 decision against NCAA Division II Fort Valley State on Sept. 14, 2013.
Colorado State, which competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Mountain West Conference, last season produced its first 10-win season and top-25 ranking in more than a decade. The Rams finished 10-3 after losing to Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl. Colorado State ended 2013 with an 8-6 record after beating Washington State in the New Mexico Bowl.
Wilson said he expects SSU's defense to be tested both on the ground and through the air in equal amounts. Colorado State is coached by Mike Bobo, who was hired Dec. 23, 2014, from the University of Georgia, where he starred at quarterback in the late 1990s before spending 14 seasons as an assistant coach, including eight as Mark Richt's offensive coordinator.
"I expect for them to be 50-50 (passing and rushing)," Wilson said. "I sat down and watched their personnel, especially (Tuesday), and their offensive line is great. Will Friend, who was the offensive line coach at Georgia, is now the offensive coordinator for Colorado State. As an offensive line coach, you try to run the ball more.
"But they have the No. 1 receiver in the country (junior Rashard Higgins) so they can also throw the ball. They have some really good receivers. They were 10-3 last year. I think (Bobo and Friend) will be a perfect fit for Colorado State being 50-50 (passing and rushing)."
SSU was able to schedule Colorado State because of one of Wilson's connections.
"The Colorado State game came about because my mentor is the head Chancellor of the whole university system," Wilson said. "We decided to play the game against each other and I hope to go out there to Fort Collins and put on a great showing, and show what the MEAC football is all about."
NEW SSU COACHING STAFF
Wilson has added five new coaches to his staff: Andy Siegal (offensive coordinator/running backs), Russell DeMasi (quarterbacks), Donovan Jackson (offensive line), Lyle Leong (outside wide receivers) and Courtney Williams (inside wide receivers).
"This is the first time I've walked into the season where I wasn't hiring coaches on the same day that kids were coming to camp," Wilson said, "so I'm excited about it."
SSU'S SMITH TO START AT QB
Tino Smith will start at quarterback for SSU, Wilson said. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound sophomore from Carmel, Ind., was the frontrunner throughout fall camp.
Smith, in 11 games last season, was 89-of-176 passing (50.6 percent) for 849 yards and five touchdowns. He was intercepted eight times. He ran 80 times for 193 yards and a touchdown.
TIGERS' RECEIVERS MUST IMPRESS
Wilson said SSU's receiving corps has got to be reliable for Smith. The Tigers averaged 157.3 yards receiving per game last season and dropped numerous passes.
"The last three years, nothing has really been proven by our receivers," Wilson said. "Cantrell Frazier was a decent receiver last year."
Frazier led the team in receptions with 31 for 285 yards and three touchdowns. Richard Williams caught 23 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown, and Jeremiah Harris had 22 catches for 273 yards and three touchdowns.
Wilson said he expects Paris Baker, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound freshman from Savannah's Jenkins High School, and Deric Wright, a 6-foot-7, 219-pound freshman from Savannah's Memorial Day School, to stymie defenses this season because of their height and playmaking abilities.
"We have a couple of locals in Paris Baker and Deric Wright," Wilson said. "Those are the guys that have really shown a difference here in our program. One is a 6-7 wide receiver and the other is a 6-4 wide receiver. So we have some big wideouts. The Coastal Empire has been very good to us."
BERRY AND BENTLEY LEAD RUNNING GAME
Wilson said SSU's rushing attack will be spearheaded by Josh Berry, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound sophomore from Ludowici's Long County High School, and Nicholas Bentley, a 5-foot-10, 250-pound sophomore from Decatur, Ga.
Berry ran 23 times for 100 yards last season, and Bentley carried 17 times for 59 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
MORE DEPTH ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE
The success or failure of SSU's running game will be determined, in large part, by the Tigers' offensive line.
"We're a lot bigger on the offensive line," Wilson said. "We've got 12 offensive linemen going, which is a record for us. I remember my first year, we had four offensive linemen. Last year, we had seven or eight. This year, we have 12."
NEW VOICE OF THE TIGERS
Greg Kaplan is the new voice of SSU football on the radio (WHCJ 90.3 FM). Kaplan, who works as an assignment manager at CBS television affiliate WTOC, replaces Toby Hyde, who is attending graduate school.
COLORADO STATE OUTLOOK
Colorado State graduated two NFL draft picks in quarterback Garrett Grayson (New Orleans Saints, third round) and offensive lineman Ty Sambrailo (Denver Broncos, second round). Also gone is running back Dee Hart, the team's leading rusher with 1,275 yards and 16 touchdowns on 194 carries.
The Rams return 17 starters from last season's team: seven on offense, eight on defense and two on special teams. Replacing Grayson is Nick Stevens, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound sophomore from Murrieta, Calif. In five games backing up Grayson, Stevens was 15-of-25 passing for 136 yards and a touchdown. Filling Hart's void is Dalyn Dawkins, a 5-foot-9, 175-pound sophomore who transferred from Purdue. He is the nephew of former NFL star Brian Dawkins.
Higgins, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound junior from Dallas, Texas, enters this season as the nation's top receiver. He led the FBS last season with 1,750 yards and 17 touchdowns. Nicknamed "Hollywood," the All-America selection has caught a pass in 26 consecutive games, every game in which he has played for the Rams.
"We're going to be starting the game with two freshmen and two sophomores in the defensive backfield," Wilson said. "They're really going to have to be on their 'A' game."
SSU vs. Colorado State Game Central
