DeBord to announce QB soon

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Head Football Coach Mike DeBord will break spring practice with a clear-cut

No. 1 quarterback, following inconsistent play out of the position last season.

“I believe that we need to determine a No. 1 guy,” DeBord said.
“I’m looking for a guy who is accurate. Someone who can get the ball
to our guys.”

Junior Jeff Perry has emerged as a pleasant surprise during camp, and DeBord
speaks highly of his steady play.

“Perry’s been very, very accurate,” DeBord said. “He’s
been a guy who has been very consistent. He has been a surprise only because
he hasn’t played a lot because of injuries.”

Searching for a signal caller SR Derrick Vickers, 5-11, 190, Miami, Fla. JR Grant Arnoldink, 6-4, 230, Holland, Mich. JR Jeff Perry, 6-1, 200, Apple Valley, Calif. SO Kent Smith, 6-5, 200, Toledo, Ohio

Perry was not in the mix last season because of injuries that have plagued
him through his college career. Perry set school and league passing records
at Silverado High in Apple Valley, Calif.

Also in the four-way race for the quarterback position are senior and three-year
incumbent starter Derrick Vickers, sophomore Kent Smith and junior Grant Arnoldink.

DeBord said he is close to reaching his decision.

“The players see a guy out there that has been very accurate and consistent
with moving the offense,” DeBord said. “In my mind, I feel like there
is a No. 1, but I’m not going to say ‘This guy is the No. 1,’
because this is a process. I want to finish spring ball, see where we’re
going to get to and then I might come out and say it.”

The passing game is one area in which the team needs improvement. The Chippewas
limped to a 4-8 record, and their total offense and passing offense ranked
No.11 in the MAC.

“You see guys open, and we’re not getting the ball to them,”
DeBord said. “That just kills you on offense. It takes away the flow.”

NOTES:

NOTES:

• Another area in which Central had serious problems, the secondary, will
  continue its overhaul as the team likely will go without its 2002 starting
  cornerbacks.

  Ron Bartell, who switched from safety to cornerback last season, has decided
  to transfer to another school, while senior Dante McKnight is not participating
  in spring drills because of off-the-field problems. DeBord is unsure whether
  McKnight will partcipate in the fall.

  Despite these setbacks, DeBord is happy with the progress of the secondary,
  led by new Secondary Coach Bill Bartolemeo. DeBord credited junior safety
  James King and sophomore cornerback Marlin Maxwell as having a strong spring.

  “You don’t see as many blown assignments and guys running free,”
  DeBord said. “We’re tackling better back there. We’re a lot
  farther along as a tackling team, and a lot of that is because of the secondary.
  I really believe we’ll be better.”

• Senior running back Terrence Jackson suffered through an injury-plagued
  2002 season. Now that he is back at 100 percent, Jackson is primed to have
  a solid season as a player and as a leader.

  “He brings a fire out there,” DeBord said. “He plays with
  emotion, but also is a quiet leader in some ways.”DeBord is pleased
  with the overall performance of his running backs, a group that includes
  Jackson, Kenan Lawhorne, Spencer Lewis, Mike Pryce, Adam Supianoski and Bryan
  Lindstrom.

• After a disappointing practice Tuesday, DeBord was happy with the effort
  that his team showed during Thursday’s practice.

  “I thought we had a pretty good practice,” DeBord said. “I
  wasn’t happy with the defense Tuesday. I was really upset with the way
  we played up front. I got after them pretty good, and I think that they responded
  today. Overall, the consistency was a lot better.”

  Defensive players whom DeBord credits with playing well in the spring include
  linemen Matt Wohlgemuth, Ike Ajoku and Dan Bazuin and linebackers Ed Hillery
  and Anthony Tyus, Jr.

  On the offensive end, receivers Justin Harper, Willie Hill and Markus Naves
  have stepped up, as have linemen Derek McLaughlin and Eric Ghiaciuc.

• CMU has two more weeks of spring practice. The conclusion of the spring
  will bring the tenative April 18 spring game at Kelly-Shorts Stadium.