21 Season Preview Running back: Carson-Newman must find a way to replace All- American Brandon Baker and All- Region performer Tyron Douglas at tailback. The duo combined to rush for more than 6,400 yards in their C-N careers. However, sometime starter Andy Hibbett returns, as do key reserves Marcellas Pope and Randall Freeman. With 1,817 career rushing yards, Hibbett needs a little more than 600 yards rushing to crack the program’s top 15 list for all-time rushing yards and 800 yards to break into the top 10. Hibbett scored nine touchdowns a year ago and had a pair of 100-yard games. Pope saw action in the first six games of the year and gained 143 yards, scoring touchdowns against Brevard and Mars Hill. The Lions game was his best. Pope gained 71 yards on nine carries. Freeman is back for his senior season after becoming an all-region performer for C-N track in the spring. Freeman gained 211 yards on 40 carries with a rushing touchdown. C-N’s running back corps can go as far as its health; fortunately, Carson- Newman returns all of its sports medicine staff to assist with that end. Wide receivers: Carson-Newman loses its leading receiver in Luther Walker and his 29 catches and 488 yards; however, the rest of C-N’s recently resurgent passing game returns intact. Leading the charge is Anthony Eubanks. He became the first Carson- Newman wide receiver under Ken Sparks since Darren Hughes in 1990 to catch eight passes in a game. Eubanks did so against both North Greenville and Shorter last season. He finished the year with 23 catches for 390 yards and two scores. Both his touchdowns came in the opener against Wayne State last year. Complementing Eubanks are TraShaun Ward and Aaron Seward. Ward snagged 24 passes for 344 yards a year ago and Seward caught 11 balls for 184 yards. Also in the mix is Steven Isom as he tries to return from injury. Offensive line: The Eagles have plenty of experience up front on the offensive line in spite of losing an All-American at right tackle in Alex Taylor and three-time allconference pick in left guard in Lucas Mathis. The leader of the line is Robby Ignagni. He’s tasked with continuing a trend where C-N has been in the top 5 nationally in rushing in each of the last seven years. Ignagni was third on the team last year in overall grade behind Taylor and Mathis, but led the team in knockdowns with 26. He had a four-knockdown game against Shorter. Ignagni earned all-region honors in his junior year. Joining Ignagni up front is 13-game starter Derek Evans at center. He was fourth on the team in grade and knockdowns last year. Dan Gallman and Tyler Scott split time at left tackle a year ago. In Scott’s junior year and Gallman’s sophomore, the duo figures to separate with Gallman taking snaps at left tackle and Scott manning the right side Hibbett could be C-N’s feature of the line. back in ‘14 Ignagni will anchor C-N’s O-Line
Carson-Newman Online 2014 Football Media Guide
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