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Sports

2021 Big South Media Day: Monmouth U. Primed to Defend Title

Monmouth football opens preseason camp today in preperation of March 13 opener

Photo courtesy of Monmouth University

WEST LONG BRANCH – Football is in the air again at Monmouth University. Yes, you heard it right, football.

As the surging Hawks basketball team gears up for a run in the upcoming MAAC Basketball Tournament and opening day for the baseball team just a month away, as strange as it may sound, the football team will take the field today, Friday, for the first day of preseason practice with the first of four conference games exactly one month away.

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After the 2020 season was cancelled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Big South announced in November that it will play a four-game conference schedule in the spring to determine the Big South’s automatic qualifier to the FCS playoffs scheduled to commence Saturday, April 24, 2021.

As the saying goes, “Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures.”

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Three of the conferences eight teams, Campbell, North Alabama and Hampton, opted out with five, Monmouth, Kennesaw State, Gardner-Webb, Charleston Southern and Robert Morris choosing to play in the spring.

Long-time MEAC member, North Carolina A & T, will join the Big South for the 2021 season. The Aggies went 9-3 last season and finished ranked 23rd in the final FCS football poll.

Monmouth will open against former NEC rival and Big South newcomer, Robert Morris, on March 13, 2021 in Pittsburg, Pa.

Consistent with Covid-19 protocols, the Big South 2021 Media Day was held on Thursday on a Zoom call.

Prior to the call, it was announced over social media that Monmouth University was picked to finish first in the Big South Football Preseason Poll. The Hawks received six of a possible 10 first place votes with rival Kennesaw State picking up the remaining four first place votes.

Earlier in the week it was announced that the Hawks were picked 21st nationally in the Athlon Preseason FCS Poll and 22nd in the HeroSports Preseason Poll.

The Hawks are coming off, 431 days ago to be exact, arguably their greatest season in program history in 2019.

Monmouth finished the 2019 season ranked No.12 nationally after winning its first ever Big South championship before advancing to the second round of the FCS playoffs – another program first.

It’s the first time since joining the Big South for the 2014 season that Monmouth has been the conference favorite entering the season.

“I don’t see it as more pressure,” said Monmouth head coach Kevin Callahan. “I see it what this group has been able to do over the past three season’s has created a new standard, a new level of expectation for the football program. And the challenge we face on a daily basis is to live up to that standard in everything we do, whether it’s lifting weights or practicing of actually going out and playing.”

Preseason FCS All-American kick returner and wide receiver Lonnie Moore IV doesn’t feel being picked to win the conference will change the way the Hawks go about their business.

“This isn’t the same team from last year,” Moore IV said. “So, yes we had accomplishments and we take pride in those accomplishments but we’re just moving forward. This is a different team and we’re coming into the season hungry. We’re not concerned about where we’re ranked or where we will be ranked, we’re just looking to get better every day and take care of things in our control. When the season comes we’ll definitely be ready. Yes, it’s great to be nationally ranked but as a team we’re not concerned about the numbers, we’re just concerned about doing our job and having a great season.”

Monmouth pulled the high preseason ranking for good reason.

Nine of eleven starters on defense are back, including leading tackler, linebacker Da’Quan Grimes, who led the team with 115 tackles – third in the Big South - and 13.5 TFL along with three sacks and three forced fumbles.

Grimes, free safety Anthony Budd cornerback Justin Terry were all selected to the Big South Preseason All-Conference team.

Led by Budd (Big South high five interceptions ) and Terry, the Hawks return three out four starting defensive backs with sophomore Davis Smith back at strong safety after a breakout freshman campaign.

All four starting defensive linemen are back for the Hawks, including defensive ends Nick Shoemaker and Erik Massey and both tackles, Kurt Aumer and Kahari Scarlett. Sophomore end, Deandre Clifton, also returns after a stellar freshman season.

Starting strong-side linebacker DeJaun Cooper – sixth on the team with 46 tackles, five TFL and three sacks, is back while reserve linebacker, sophomore Tyler Delgado, who appeared in 11 games as a freshman recording 14 tackles and 1.5 TFL, returns and should slot in as a starter in the middle this season.

During the 2019 season, Monmouth’s offense set over 40 team, game and individual records and the good news is that eight starters from that team return. However, it will be a challenge to replace the three starters not retuning, including Big South first teamers, guard John Gallina and quarterback Kenji Bahar, and first team FCS All-American Pete Guerriero, who led the nation in rushing with 1,995 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Luckily for the Hawks, 2018 team rushing leader, redshirt sophomore Juwan Farri, is back after sitting out the 2019 season. Farri rushed for 1,087 yards and eight touchdowns and averaged over seven yards per carry in 2018 while garnering first team All-Big South honors.

“That’s very big for our offense,” Moore IV said about getting Farri back. “I know a lot of guys talk about losing Pete – he’s a phenomenal player – but Juwan’s an All-Big South caliber player.”

The starting quarterback position is up for grabs with several players making a case to start. Callahan is confident that one player will emerge as the starter out of preseason camp.

“I liked what we saw at the position,” Callahan said referring to fall practice last November. “I liked the development and depth at the position. We saw a number of players do some different things we were happy about but that was such a small sample. There really only was 12 practices and during that period of time we had to deal with some shutdowns. I’m happy with the skill and the talent at the position but as far as any one guy separating themselves from the others, that hasn’t happened.

“Anytime you have veteran players that you can put around your quarterback it makes the job that much easier,” Callahan added. We’ve got a veteran offensive line, a maturing tight end and all our receivers return. So we’re excited about the pieces we have surrounding the quarterback spot.”

Arguably, the deepest and most talented position group on the team is at wide receiver where the Hawks return all three senior starters, including Preseason first team All-Big South selections, Moore IV (74-1,022, 9 TD) and Terrance Green Jr. (65-916, 10 TD) along with Zach Treadway (39-492, 1TD).

Before getting injured in the fourth game of the season, senior Joey Aldarelli had 20 catches for 160 yards and a touchdown. He’s healthy again and will be a big part of the offense as well. Junior wideout Assanti Kearney appeared in all 14 games recording nine catches for 66 yards and will provide additional depth along with some really talented underclassmen itching to make a name for themselves.

Third team FCS All-American center, A.J. Farris, is back to anchor a veteran and dominating line. He’s joined by Preseason All-Big South first team tackle Justin Szuba, fifth-year senior tackle Mahmoud Shabana and returning guard Manny Christian.

Preseason first team All-Big South tight end selection Gene Scott is a punishing blocker that should emerge as a receiving threat as well this season.

All and all, having 17 returning starters on both sides of the ball bodes well for the Hawks this season as long as they can find an adequate replacement for Bahar.

Another challenge for the Hawks will be the weather. Instead of fighting the heat during a normal summer preseason camp, the Hawks will battling the bitter cold and as luck would have it, we’re in the midst of one of the snowiest winters in recent memory.

“It’s extremely different and there will be challenges and there will be adverse situations, primarily the weather,” said Callahan. We never really played football in the winter before and never had to worry about whether the field is clear so that’s going to be new to us but It’s not anything we can’t overcome. In August it’s hot and humid and we schedule breaks in practice so the players can cool down and hydrate. Now we’ll have to schedule breaks so the players can get heated up. But we’re going to find a way to get out there and practice every day regardless of the weather.”

“It’s not ideal but personally I always wanted to play football in the snow,” said Moore IV. “I live in Jersey so I’m used to playing in the cold. It gets cold in November and December so I think me and the team are pretty used to the cold and I don’t look at the weather as being a factor for us. It’s really no big deal, I feel like it will be fine.”

Callahan praised his players for their fortitude during these trying times and has been pleased with their preparedness, dedication, attention to detail and ability to focus on football despite the many distractions they’ve been subject to.

“I have to really commend our players for what they’ve done,” said Callahan. “Their resiliency and the way they’ve approached the offseason day in and day out has been exceptional. They’re focused on controlling what they can control. They know with so many factors beyond our control it’s not worth worrying about. They are flexible and they know things could change on a daily basis. We’re just going to adapt to the changes as they come and move on.

“I know they’re all excited to get back on the field tomorrow on day number one and we’ve got the field plowed for the second time today, so unless it snows a lot tonight I think we’ll be in great shape.”

Such is life during a Pandemic.


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