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Alabama A&M Bulldogs

Sidney Jackson

Football 9/1/2016 12:28:00 PM aamu sports info

Experience is the key for Bulldogs this season

HUNTSVILLE – With an abundance of experienced players returning and a schedule that brings the Bulldogs' toughest opponents to The Hill, Head Football Coach James Spady is ready for the season to begin.

"Fall camp was a success," he said. "I feel like we're in better shape than we've ever been."

And his team is ready, too, for Saturday's opener at Middle Tennessee State.

"We're going to go into the game with every intention of winning," he said. "The guys are ready to play somebody different."

Kickoff Saturday in Murfreesboro is 6 p.m. Tickets are available at the MTSU Ticket Office; by calling 615-898-5261 or visiting GoBlueRaiders.com.

Senior De'Angelo Ballard will be the starting quarterback after a solid camp. It is his second season with the pistol offense – also the first time Spady has had a starting quarterback return to run the offense.

Freshman Jordan Bentley had an outstanding fall camp and took over the No. 1 running back position. Last year's Alabama High School Class 5A Running Back of the Year, Bentley was a "pleasant surprise being a freshman," Spady said. In his career at Guntersville High School, Bentley scored 104 touchdowns and rushed for nearly 6,000 yards.

Returning backs Harvey Harris (last year's team rushing leader with 492 yards on 109 carries) and Byran Brower (81 carries for 298 yards), both juniors, will also be called upon in the A&M offense. Look for some carries from senior Rashad Anderson who had a strong spring and fall camp, as well.

The receiving corps is deep and experienced, led by senior wide receivers Tevin McKenzie and O'Darius Williams and senior tight ends Jonathan Dorsey and Kalias Robertson. Sophomore receiver Monte Jones and junior tight end Roderick Randolph will also be called upon to make an impact in the A&M passing attack.

On defense, junior linebacker Bryan Brower returns to anchor the Bulldogs. Last year's tackles leader with 76, Brower is a preseason All-SWAC second team linebacker and a team captain for the third straight year.

Junior defensive back Devonte Simon, also a team captain, and senior Embrel Vaughn each had 45 total tackles behind Brower.

In the secondary, junior Dexter Reese tied with Simon for a team-high five pass breakups and he was the team leader with seven passes defended last season while contributing with 41 tackles.

Another freshman surprise, linebacker Quantravis Kelly, is expected to see a lot of playing time for new defensive coordinator Travis Pearson.

Junior Nick Carden is back for the third-straight year as the Bulldogs' punter but he'll also be adding kickoffs and placekicking to his resume. He had 12 kickoffs last year and was 4-for-4 in extra-point conversions. In punting, he averaged 39 yards a punt and had 12 of 50-plus yards, with his longest being 58 yards. As a special weapon who can change field position, he had 14 punts downed inside the 20 and six more were touchbacks.

After visiting Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 10, the Bulldogs return home Sept. 17 to face Prairie View A&M in the Louis Crews Classic. The other home games are Sep. 24 vs. Southern; Oct. 8 vs. Alcorn State for Homecoming; and Nov. 5 vs. Grambling for High School Senior Day.

For ticket information, call 256-372-4700, visit the ticket office in Louis Crews Stadium or go online to aamutix.com.

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Players Mentioned

#88 Ledarion Heath: WR; 6' 4"; Redshirt Freshman

#2 Monte Jones: WR; 6' 4"; Sophomore

#8 Octayvious Miles: WR; 5' 10"; Junior

#9 Tevin McKenzie: WR; 5' 10"; Senior

#12 Devonte Simon: DB; 5' 11"; Junior

#17 Rashad Anderson: RB; 5' 10"; Senior

#18 De'Angelo Ballard: QB; 6' 1"; Senior

#19 O'Darius Williams: WR; 6' 1"; Senior

#20 Dexter Reese: DB; 5' 10"; Junior

#25 Nick Carden: P/K; 6' 3"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#88 Ledarion Heath
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Freshman
: WR

#2 Monte Jones
: 6' 4"; Sophomore
: WR

#8 Octayvious Miles
: 5' 10"; Junior
: WR

#9 Tevin McKenzie
: 5' 10"; Senior
: WR

#12 Devonte Simon
: 5' 11"; Junior
: DB

#17 Rashad Anderson
: 5' 10"; Senior
: RB

#18 De'Angelo Ballard
: 6' 1"; Senior
: QB

#19 O'Darius Williams
: 6' 1"; Senior
: WR

#20 Dexter Reese
: 5' 10"; Junior
: DB

#25 Nick Carden
: 6' 3"; Junior
: P/K