Football

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Howard University football team will hold its annual spring game on Saturday, April 18 at 1 pm in Greene Stadium.  It marks the end of spring practice which began two weeks ago.

There are several standouts who have had an outstanding spring.  On defense, safety Arando Jamison has emerged as a leader and appears primed for the leadership void left by linebacker Endor Cooper.  Others in the secondary who have shown marked improvement include Gerald Jackson, Brandon Bufford and Dante Martin.

At the linebacking slot, red-shirt freshman Keith Pough, Martin Corniffe and Patrick Jean Mary have shown they are going to be playmakers. And on the defensive line, James Robinson could be an all-conference candidate as could Will Croner and James Carter.

The offensive line has shown that it has potential to be better under the teaching of new offensive line coach Nick Calcutta and the leadership of tackles Michael Russell and center Sean Woolford.

Senior QB Floyd Haigler took every snap last season in his first full season at the helm, but he received a stiff challenge from red-shirt freshman Jarad Dorsey in spring practice.  They are neck and neck going into the spring game.

They will have a deep and talented group of receivers to throw to including Willie Carter, Brandon Sherman, Brandon Drayton and transfer Jeff Miller.  Carter caught 44 passes in six games last season before going out with a knee injury and was still named MEAC Rookie of the Year.

The running game should be much more effective if Terrence Leffall and Ramon "Ray Ray" McElrathbey continue to play the way they did in the spring.

One phase of the team to look for in the spring game is the kicking game.  Coach Carey Bailey says that senior Dennis Wiehberg and Patrick Wolff have had outstanding spring practices.

"Overall, we have some goals that we set for the spring and I am pleased that overall, we accomplished them," says Bailey, entering his third season.  "We will keep it pretty simple for the spring game.  I think that you will see a defense that is much improved and will be a little bit faster than last season.  On offense, you can look to see some players stepping up and making plays."