news-record.com

Scouting The Phoenix

Coach: Pete Lembo (49-20 in six years overall, 5-6 in one year at Elon)

2006 record: 5-6 overall, 2-5 Southern Conference

Home field: Rhodes Stadium (11,250), Elon

Key Questions For Elon

The Phoenix is about to play its first game against a Division I-A opponent with a true freshman QB. Is this team ready?

Depends on how you define "ready." Victory is highly unlikely Saturday at South Florida, but it's probably a good sign that Scott Riddle of Eastern Randolph, the News & Record's high school Player of the Year in 2006, secured the quarterback job so quickly. The early-season schedule, which includes a home game against two-time defending NCAA Division I-AA champion Appalachian State, is so arduous that coach Pete Lembo probably was tempted to go with any semblance of experience.

Who's the most exciting Phoenix player to watch?

As a redshirt freshman last year, WR Terrell Hudgins ranked second nationally among Division I-AA players with 102.7 yards receiving per game. He became the second player in Elon history to top 1,000 yards receiving in a season, and he doubled as a stealth passing threat. An accomplished QB at Rocky Mount HS, he was 3-for-3 through the air, including a touchdown pass, in 2006.

What's this team's offensive key?

Primarily a passing team, Elon probably needs to get a better running game to help stabilize Riddle in September. T.J. Clegg, a senior from Southern Alamance, is a team captain who will be running behind a line that includes three sophomores and a redshirt freshman. Nobody said this would be easy.

Elon displayed considerable improvement in Lembo's first season. What will it take to get over the .500 mark?

Maybe big plays from the special teams. The Phoenix has enough skilled return guys to break a couple of game-changers. K Andrew Wilcox doesn't have great range, but is reliable on field-goal attempts shorter than 40 yards.

-- Compiled by Rob Daniels

2006 results

at Coastal Carolina W 23-20

Towson L 24-17

Presbyterian W 28-0

at Appalachian State L 45-21

Western Carolina W 37-19

at Georgia Southern L 28-21

Wofford L 35-21

at Chattanooga W 20-17

Furman L 24-13

at N.C. A&T W 45-0

The Citadel L 44-7

Schedule

Saturday -- at South Florida, 7:05

Sept. 8 -- West Virginia Wesleyan, 6

Sept. 22 -- Liberty, 1:30

Sept. 29 -- Appalachian State, 1:30

Oct. 6 -- at Western Carolina, 6

Oct. 13 -- Georgia Southern, 3

Oct. 20 -- at Wofford, 1:30

Oct. 27 -- Chattanooga, 1:30

Nov. 3 -- at Furman, 2

Nov. 10 -- at The Citadel, 1

Nov. 17 -- Stony Brook, 3:30

Phoenix Info

Tickets: Season tickets available for $65, $90 or a $200 package that includes four passes for seating on the grass. Single-game tickets are $15. Call 278-6750 or go to http://www.elonphoenix.com

Official athletics Web site: http://www.elonphoenix.com

Local radio affiliate: WPCM-920

Offense

Pos. NO. PLAYER HT. WT. YR.

WR 19 Terrell Hudgins 6-2 229 So.

88 Sean Jeffcoat 6-1 192 Fr.

T 51 Chris Werden 6-5 283 So.

78 Corey O'Shea 6-3 285 So.

G 70 David Harrison 6-2 292 So.

64 Rodney Austin 6-3 308 Fr.

C 62 Jeff Allen 6-0 270 So.

66 Charles Porterfield 6-4 291 Sr.

G 67 John Rubertone 6-2 301 R-Fr.

61 Chris Delionbach 6-3 290 So.

T 66 Charles Porterfield 6-4 291 Sr.

73 Dave McClain 6-4 297 So.

TE 87 Matt Leddy 6-2 260 So.

83 Danny Simms 6-2 241 Fr.

WR 1 Michael Mayers 5-8 172 Sr.

4 Lance Camp 5-9 177 Fr.

QB 16 Scott Riddle 6-0 201 Fr.

17 Donny Kirby 6-2 205 R-Fr.

RB 7 T.J. Clegg 5-8 183 Sr.

28 Brandon Newsome 5-9 199 R-Fr.

RB 29 Tim Applegate 6-0 237 Jr.

35 Jake Goldsberry 6-1 219 Fr.

K 97 Andrew Wilcox 6-2 239 Jr.

Defense

Pos. NO. PLAYER HT. WT. YR.

DE 91 Brandon Ward 6-6 206 R-Fr.

95 Andre Campbell 6-1 246 So.

DT 60 Eric Ludwig 6-1 272 So.

94 Joey Hall 6-3 274 Fr.

DT 75 Robert McGruder 5-10 282 So.

98 David Hunt 6-4 260 R-Fr.

DE 92 Tim Happer 6-1 252 Jr.

90 Thomas Blair 6-2 236 Jr.

OLB 10 Corey Weaver 6-0 208 Jr.

43 Brandon Wiggins 5-11 189 Fr.

MLB 32 Zach McAlister 6-0 216 Jr.

42 Lionel Shoffner 6-0 237 Fr.

OLB 5 Daronce Daniels 5-10 210 Jr.

18 Brandon Campbell 6-0 217 Jr.

CB 2 Irvin Raglin 5-9 183 Sr.

20 Cameron McGlenn 6-0 186 So.

FS 48 Chris Bland 6-4 196 Sr.

41 Nolan Ward 6-2 200 So.

SS 49 Walker White 6-0 187 So.

41 Nolan Ward 6-2 200 So.

CB 21 Karlos Sullivan 5-8 171 So.

27 Terell Wilson 5-7 161 Fr.

P 31 Brandon Lane 6-5 257 Jr.