August 14, 2002

21 FRESHMEN REPORT TO FURMAN
FOR FALL FOOTBALL PRACTICE

GREENVILLE -- Furman welcomed 21 freshman football players to campus Wednesday afternoon in preparation for preseason practice, which gets underway Thursday morning at 10:30 a.m.

The Paladin newcomers were issued equipment and underwent physicals after reporting.

"This is a day we've all looked forward to, but I have to admit I may be the most excited one in the bunch," said head coach Bobby Lamb, who is beginning his first year as mentor of the Paladin program. "Anytime you welcome a group of young men you've recruited and who have made a commitment to your program and the university, it has to get you pumped up. The fact that this is our first recruiting class makes it special."

On Thursday morning the Furman freshmen will undergo strength training evaluation at 8:00 a.m. and meetings at 9:00 prior to the squad¹s first practice in shorts and helmets. The first-year Paladins will practice a second time on Thursday beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Furman¹s returning veterans are scheduled to report on Friday between 3:00-5:00 p.m. The first full squad practice is scheduled for Sunday at 3:30 p.m. All Furman practices are open to the public.

Furman, which returns 11 starters off last year¹s 12-3 team that claimed a share of the Southern Conference championship and finished as NCAA I-AA runner-up, is ranked seventh in the Sports Network Preseason I-AA College Football Poll. Furman opens its 2002 season at Vanderbilt on Sept. 7.

2002 FURMAN FRESHMEN
(Reported to camp on Wednesday)

18 Casey Baxter SE 6-2 185 Fr. Calhoun, Ga./Calhoun
86 Brad Bell TE 6-2 215 Fr. Watkinsville, Ga./Oconee County
29 Jeremy Blocker FS 6-0 175 Fr. Hodges, S.C./Greenwood
94 Wesley Bray DE 6-3 247 Fr. Cave Spring, Ga./Coosa
64 Patrick Covington OG 6-3 270 Fr. Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park
69 Jeff Fambrough OG 6-1 240 Fr. Atlanta, Ga./Greater Atlanta Christian
75 Adi Filipovic OT 6-3 250 Fr. Martinez, Ga./Lakeside
68 Kelsey Grodzicki OG 6-2 235 Fr. Atlanta, Ga./Marist
30 Alonzo Johnson CB 5-9 165 Fr. Lithonia, Ga./Stephenson
59 John Kivett OT 6-3 250 Fr. High Point, N.C./Glenn
46 William Marcus LB 5-9 200 Fr. Chesterfield, S.C./Chesterfield
33 Tristian Owusu-Yaw CB 6-0 171 Fr. Watkinsville, Ga./Oconee County
76 Tony Palazzo DE 6-5 242 Fr. Grayson, Ga./South Gwinnett
58 Roy Ravenell LB 6-2 225 Fr. Goose Creek, S.C./Stratford
36 Shelton Riley SS 6-2 185 Fr. Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg
71 Ty Sellers DT 6-3 253 Fr. Dalton, Ga./Dalton
39 Walker Simmons SE/PK 6-1 188 Fr. Memphis, Tenn./Evangelical Christian
11 Josh Stepp QB 6-0 175 Fr. Pelion, S.C./Pelion
38 Justin Stepp FLK 6-0 182 Fr. Pelion, S.C./Pelion
55 Corey Stewart C 6-2 280 Fr. Lilburn, Ga./Brookwood
29 Matt Summey QB 5-11 175 Fr. Asheville, N.C./Erwin