Football

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Floyd Haigler capped off the spring practice with an impressive effort in the Howard University Annual Blue-White scrimmage at Greene Stadium.

A 6-2, 200-pound senior from Orangeburg, SC, Haigler completed 16 of 24 passes for 185 yards.  He threw a beautiful 25-yard TD strike to Brandon Sherman, completed a long pass to Andre Lane that set up another TD, and engineered a drive that set up a 37-yeard field goal by Dennis Wiehberg.

"Floyd did an outstanding job today," said Howard second year head coach Carey Bailey.  "He showed that he can put the ball anywhere on the field.  He was able to complete the short pass, the out routes and the long pass equally well.  He has grown a lot since last year and it was good to see that kind of performance today."

Haigler, who took every snap in spring practice and in the scrimmage, played sparingly last season as Brian Johnson took the majority of the snaps.  He played in 5 games, completed 15 of 29 for 144 yards and 2 TDs.

Senior running back Karlos Whittaker, who is coming off his best season despite battling nagging injuries, also had a fine performance, carrying the ball 11 times for 65 yards, including a 25-yard jaunt that set up the field goal.

"I mentioned to the coaches that Karlos looks faster and stronger," said Bailey.  "I have to give our strength and conditioning coach Travis Coleman credit.  You can see the difference in Karlos from last season."  Whittaker finished third in rushing on the team with 412 yards, but led the team in rushing TDs with five.

The receiving corps appears to be in good shape as well.  Sherman, a junior and Arlandus Hood (23 receptions, 295 yards, 2 TDs), a senior, along with Lane, a junior, all looked like they are ready to fill the void left by Jarahn Williams and Larry Duncan, who combined for 100 receptions and 17 TDs between them.

The offensive line did a good job of opening holes for the running backs and giving protection to Haigler.  Bailey says that returning veterans Michael Russell, Michael Adams and Sean Woolford along with Auburn transfer Oscar Gonzalez showed well throughout spring practice.

On the defensive side, Endor Cooper, an all-American candidate, was his usual self, disrupting the blocking assignments, stuffing runners and pressuring Haigler at times.  A 6-3, 245-pound senior DE/LB, Cooper finished second on the team in tackles with 88.

"Well, Cooper is Cooper," stated Bailey.  ‘We expect that from him.  But we are equally pleased with the potential of Sackie Kerkulah (6-4, 295, SO), Corey Berry (6-4, 240, SO), James Carter (6-1, 265, JR) and Jordan Faust (6-2, 305, SO).  They all got a lot of reps during spring and with that, and the people we have coming in, we have a chance to be very solid up front."

Linebacker Robert Parker picked up where he left off last season.  The 5-10, 200-pound redshirt junior from Tampa, FL, surprised a lot of people with the season he had last season as he finished fourth on the team in tackles with 55.

"Robert Parker could very well be our most technically sound player," observed Bailey.  "He seems to always know where to be and what is going on around him."

Bailey also feels that a young, inexperienced secondary, has the potential to be good.

"I thought Martin Corniffe (6-2, 195, Jr.) and Arando Jamison (6-1, 190, Jr.) played well at the safety positions and that Theodore Graham (5-10, 175, SO), Lanny Kelly (5-10, 180, SO) and Martin Decembert (6-1, 190, SR) all showed great promise and growth throughout the spring."

Bailey added that he feels especially good about the kicking game with strong-legged punter Patrick Wolff (6-0, 190, SO) being eligible along with junior placekickers John Mendoza and Wiehberg returning with experience under their belt.

The Bison open the 2008 season with a home game against Georgetown University at Greene Stadium at 1 pm.