JCSU football focuses on depth at Wingate scrimmage

HERBERT L. WHITE | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Johnson C. Smith football players wait to take the field ahead of the Golden Bulls’ join scrimmage against Wingate April 5 at Irwin Belk Stadium. JCSU coach Maurice Flowers held out 11 starters to give less experienced players opportunity to solidify depth across the roster.

Keeping score is optional at football  scrimmages.

For Johnson C. Smith coach Maurice Flowers, it’s an exercise in roster building. For instance, last week’s joint scrimmage against Wingate was less about the first team than depth behind them. With half their starters sitting out, Flowers put newcomers in position to make an impression by measuring their response under game-like conditions.

“We don’t feel that we would have them with us if they didn’t have talent,” he said. “They’re with us because we think they’re talented, so the biggest thing right now is how they react against another team, a team that’s won championships, a team that’s been in the playoffs regularly, a team that’s in the top 25, so this experience is going to really just help us so much in that area, because really, that’s what we want to see.”

JCSU held seven offensive starters out against Wingate, including starting quarterback Kelvin Durham, a transfer from Fort Valley State who earned All-SIAC recognition with the Wildcats. Although Durham has yet to scrimmage, Flowers isn’t concerned about his fit in the offense because he recruited and coached him at Fort Valley. That background makes Durham the clear-cut starter going into August training camp.

“We held him out pretty much the whole spring, because there’s not a quarterback competition,” Flowers said. “Our quarterback competition is for two through six, and what better way to get guys some reps than right here, right now.”

The Golden Bulls also made lineup adjustments on defense by holding out four starters and limiting playing time for others. Still, the overall theme was to give less experienced players and transfers an opportunity to get on the field against one of Division II’s best programs.

“To get out here and get young guys reps against a quality team, you can’t put a price tag on it,” Flowers said. “The biggest thing also is that you can do it now, because this doesn’t count against our record. You feel better doing it now because in the fall, those mistakes can cost you a ball game, but right now, we’ve got so much good film to help our guys.

“Offensive line wise …I think we started four redshirt freshmen – that would never happen for us with our program. It’s good to get those guys some reps against a good doggone team. Quarterbacks got reps. Just real pleased.”

Also

The Golden Bulls will close spring drills with the Gold & Blue Game April 11 at McGirt Field. The scrimmage is open to the public and starts at 6 p.m.

• The Gold & Blue game won’t be the only football at JCSU.

The CIAA is hosting its flag football championship on campus April 11-12 with seven games over two days. The tournament kicks off April 11 with fourth seed Claflin taking on No. 5 Fayetteville State at 11 a.m., followed by host and third seed JCSU taking on No. 6 Livingstone (12 p.m.); No. 2 Winston-Salem State against No. 7 Bowie State (1 p.m.) and top-ranked Virginia Union against No. 8 Bluefield State at 2 p.m.

The semifinals will take place April 12 with the Claflin-Fayetteville State winner taking on the Virginia Union-Bluefield State victor at 12 p.m., followed by the JCSU-Livingstone  winner against Winston-Salem State-Bluefield State winner at 1 p.m.

The title game is at 3 p.m.

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