B-CU hires QBs coach from Kansas

[Humble Steward]

By BRENT WORONOFF, Staff writer
March 27, 2011 12:05 AM

Posted in: College Tagged:Bethune-Cookman DAYTONA BEACH -- Bethune-Cookman head coach Brian Jenkins hired a new quarterbacks coach, but for now he is still handling the offensive coordinator duties himself.

Jenkins hired Joe Dailey, the recruiting coordinator at Kansas under head coach Turner Gill last year, to replace Danny Barrett as QB coach. Barrett left last month to become an assistant coach at UCF. Jenkins said he likes what he has seen of Dailey so far in early spring drills.

"He's a very detailed coach, very passionate and a good recruiter," Jenkins said. "I'm very excited from what I've seen from him on the practice field."

Dailey played quarterback at Nebraska under former Cornhuskers assistant Gill from 2003-04 before transferring to North Carolina. He then coached under Gill at Buffalo and Kansas.

B-CU lost two offensive coordinators since finishing the 2010 season with a Division I-AA playoff appearance. First, Mark Orlando left for Prairie View A&M in January, and then Barrett -- who had been named to replace Orlando -- also left.

Jenkins said he has no immediate plans to name another offensive coordinator.

"I'm calling the plays right now," he said. "Maybe after the spring I'll look into it again. But right now I'm enjoying it."

Let's Go Wildcats!!!xthumbsupx

[Humble Steward]

A year ago, the excitement of football coach Brian Jenkins' first spring practice at Bethune-Cookman was palpable.

Fans wanted to know what the new coach would bring to the table. What kind of offense would he install to replace the triple-option that the Wildcats had stuck to for 12 seasons? Could he revive a program that had slipped back into mediocrity after making the playoffs in 2002-03?

The answers surpassed even the most optimistic expectations.

B-CU won a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship in Jenkins' first season and hosted a Division I-AA playoff game. As for the offense, quarterback Matt Johnson was named MEAC Offensive Player of the Year, leading a prolific unit that averaged 38.2 points and 425.6 yards per game.

Heading into Jenkins' second season, there are new questions. But in comparison to 2010, spring practice this year has gone almost under the radar.

Yet the players -- who last year had to learn a new system and impress a new coaching staff -- are working just as hard, Jenkins said.

"We're trying to pull in a positive direction," Jenkins said. "We know the league is going to be better this year, so we have to get better, too."

With about six practice sessions remaining before the annual spring scrimmage on April 16, here's what Jenkins and his staff have learned so far:

Johnson's Successor:
Johnson, who won the 2010 Jake Gaither Award -- given to the top player in the country among historically black colleges and universities -- averaged 250.3 yards per game passing and running last season. He passed for 14 touchdowns, with just five interceptions and ran for seven TDs. But his greatest asset, Jenkins said, was his leadership ability. That's what the coach is looking for from his next quarterback.

Jackie Wilson, who played extensively in the final two games last season after Johnson was injured, is competing with David Blackwell for the job.

"Matt was a tremendous leader. This was his offense, and the guys followed him," Jenkins said. "Jackie and David have to get the guys to believe in them. We know both of them are skilled, and both of them are good kids, who have the ability to be good leaders."

Wilson, who rushed for six TDs as Johnson's backup, has the edge in experience, but both players have been getting equal reps in practice.

"Last year, there was a drop-off after Matt," Jenkins said. "We didn't have several guys who could operate the offense at a high level. But now we have two guys who have been here for a year and know the system."

Coming Back:
Safety Jean Fanor had his senior season delayed a year after breaking his foot last year. The redshirt year could work in favor of Fanor as well as the Wildcats, who lost safeties Arkee Smith and Michael Williams, a duo that combined for 11 interceptions last season.

"He's showing he hasn't missed a beat. He's 100 percent," Jenkins said of Fanor, who had 41 tackles in 2009.

Sophomore linebacker Marcellon Nesly was slated to start last year before suffering a knee injury.

"He was healthy by Game 8 or 9, but we felt there was no reason to play him," Jenkins said. "He's about 15 pounds heavier (6-feet, 230 pounds) and is a lot stronger, and he's running really well."

Strengths:
The Wildcats return their top three tacklers in linebackers Ryan Lewis (81) and Reggie Sandilands (80) and defensive end Ryan Davis (58).

They also return most of their offensive line, led by Nattiel Curry and Corey Mason. And they should be solid again at wide receiver with the return of Eddie Poole (33 catches, 550 yards, 8 TDs), Maurice Francois (15 catches, 249 yards) and Courtney Keith (10 catches, 153 yards, 3 TDs).

"Francois (who was a quarterback his first two seasons) is coming into his own," Jenkins said. "And Courtney Keith exploded in our last four games, and has carried that into (spring) workouts." Sophomore Javarris Johnson worked hard in the offseason and has shown that he is ready to join the mix at receiver, Jenkins said.

Problem Area:
Jenkins hopes a healthy -- and lighter -- Sven Hurd can improve the Wildcats' kicking problems. Hurd and Kory Kowalski converted just two of 10 field goal attempts last season, including 0-for-3 from beyond 30 yards. Kowalski, who will probably be a punter exclusively this season, converted just 17 of 24 PATs.

Hurd, who was better at extra points (34 of 36), missed the final five games with an injury.