August 8, 2001

27 FRESHMEN REPORT TO FURMAN
FOR PRESEASON PRACTICE

GREENVILLE -- Furman football welcomed 27 freshmen to campus on Wednesday in preparation for preseason practice, which gets underway Friday morning.

"This is always an exciting time, to welcome the players who you've already invested a lot of time in and who are the future of your program," said head coach Bobby Johnson on Wednesday afternoon. "They appear ready to get started."

After reporting, the Paladin newcomers were issued equipment and underwent physicals. At 6-foot-7, defensive end John Shields is the tallest member of Furman's freshman class, and center Jesse Grier, who tipped the scales at 282 pounds, is the heaviest.

Thursday morning the Paladins will visit Greenville Children's Hospital before undergoing orientation and meeting with position coaches in the afternoon. The Paladin newcomers will undergo their first practice in shorts and helmets on Friday at 9:30 a.m.

Furman's returning veterans are scheduled to report on Saturday. The first full squad practice in shorts and helmets is slated for Monday beginning at 6:20 a.m., and later at 3:20 p.m.

Furman returns 19 starters off a 2000 squad that posted a 9-3 record and ranked No. 10 in the Sports Network final poll.

2001 FURMAN FRESHMEN

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown/High School
Keenan Adams, TE, 6-3, 213, Fr., Columbia, S.C./Richland Northeast H.S.
Brent Blankenship, LB, 5-11, 211, Fr., Memphis, Tenn./Memphis University School
Matt Cain, QB, 6-2, 176, Fr., Easley, S.C./Easley H.S.
Andrew Carson, LB, 6-4, 211, Fr., Newnan, Ga./Woodward Academy
Daric Carter, FLK, 6-1, 198, Fr., Fuquay-Varina, N.C./Southeast Raleigh H.S.
Elton Daniels, FLK, 6-0, 174, Fr., Leland, N.C./North Brunswick H.S.
Maurice Duncan, CB, 5-8, 166, Fr., Aiken, S.C./Silver Bluff H.S.
Clayton Dyson, OG, 6-2, 274, Fr., North Augusta, S.C./North Augusta H.S.
Eric Emerson, FB, 5-11, 215, Fr., Newnan, Ga./East Coweta H.S.
William Freeman, LB, 6-2, 210, Fr., Swansea, S.C./Swansea H.S.
Brant Glover, NG, 6-0, 260, Fr., Gainesville, Ga./Gainesville H.S.
Jesse Grier, C, 6-2, 282, Fr., Acworth, Ga./Etowah H.S.
Keith Johnson, CB, 5-9, 174, Fr., Belvedere, S.C./North Augusta H.S.
Travis Jones, DE, 6-1, 254, Fr., Greenville, S.C./Southside H.S.
Brian Laggis, OT, 6-3, 249, Fr., Stockbridge, Ga./Heritage H.S.
David Latimer, FS, 6-0, 199, Fr., Nashville, Tenn./Christ Presbyterian Academy
Jon MacDonald, DB, 5-9, 175, Fr., Greenville, S.C./Riverside H.S.
Brandon Mays, TB, 5-11, 185, Fr., Arden, N.C./T.C. Roberson H.S.
Deric Mills, QB, 6-4, 196, Fr., Gray Court, S.C./Laurens H.S.
Jon Mohr, FB, 6-0, 231, Fr., Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain H.S.
Bo Moore, QB, 6-0, 166, Fr., Madison, Ga./Morgan County H.S.
Justin Porter, DT, 6-2, 235, Fr., Bowman, Ga./Elbert County H.S.
John Rust, TE, 6-3, 200, Fr., Burlington, N.C./Williams H.S.
John Shields, DE, 6-7, 216, Fr., Nashville, Tenn./Christ Presbyterian Academy
Ken Striggles, DT, 6-2, 265, Fr., Stockbridge, Ga./Riverdale H.S.
Willis Sudderth, DE, 6-3, 241, Fr., Lilburn, Ga./Parkview H.S.
David Wright, OT, 6-1, 265, Fr., Blacksburg, S.C./Blacksburg H.S.