North
Carolina Central University
FOOTBALL
The Official Web Site of the North
Carolina Central University "Eagle" Athletics Division
(News & Observer Sports - April 22, 1999)
New
Eagles coach reels in first class
Abrams expects more
signings
By CHRISTIAN HOYT, Staff Writer
DURHAM -- When Rudy Abrams was hired as N.C. Central's football coach in
January, he
said he didn't plan to take forever to turn things around.
Abrams made it clear he wanted to compete for a CIAA championship in 1999.
Now that
the bulk of this year's class has been assembled, the question is raised:
Can this recruiting class
put the Eagles over the top?
Abrams doesn't know yet. Check back with him in September, when the newcomers
have
had a chance to blend with the 15 starters back from last year's 4-6 team.
"We are real pleased with this recruiting class," Abrams said. "We think
we filled some
voids, but we won't know for sure until game time."
The eight-man class includes two quarterbacks, one tight end, one offensive
lineman, two
defensive linemen, one linebacker and one defensive back.
The quarterbacks, who will compete with returning starter Warren Bell,
are Brandon
Roberson and Maurice "Tripp" Stone.
Stone, a two-time All-Central Piedmont Conference performer at West Forsyth,
was
coached by his father, Russell Stone. Stone started at a variety of offensive
and defensive
positions in his three varsity seasons, and last season he accounted for
nearly 1,400 yards
rushing and passing as the quarterback in the Titans' veer offense.
Another player who could help immediately is 6-5, 315-pound offensive lineman
Michael
Patrick from Northeast Guilford. Recruited by several Division I schools,
Patrick is a workout
warrior who holds several school weightlifting records.
Abrams also signed two players from High Point Andrews: James "LeVon" Gorham,
a
tight end, and Nicholas Obayuwana, a linebacker.
Obayuwana was a first team All-Tri County player the past two seasons,
and Andrews coach
Dave Mizell said he's a "special player." He's big (6-2, 215 pounds) and
fast (a 4.75 40-yard
dash).
Johnathon Jones, a defensive lineman at Riverside High School in Durham,
helped lead the
Pirates to their best season ever, 10-2 in 1998.
The other defensive end signed was Wilmington Hoggard's Joseph Brown, who
chose the
Eagles over Livingstone and N.C. A&T. Brown led the Vikings with six
sacks and was one of
the team's top tacklers.
"He's a very active player with great work habits," Hoggard coach Scott
Braswell said.
NCCU also signed Ernest Rice, a defensive back from Spartanburg, S.C.
Abrams said more names could be added to the list.
"We are not done recruiting yet," Abrams said. "We still have some kids
that may want to
transfer here."
One of those potential transfers is former North Carolina defensive lineman
Ricco McCain,
who after being suspended from the Tar Heels' squad last August dropped
out of school.
Defensive coordinator Sam Washington confirmed that McCain has met with
the Eagles'
coaching staff.
Christian Hoyt can be reached at 829-8938 or choyt@nando.com
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Serba, Director of Sports Information
Last Revised: April 22, 1999