NCAA DIVISION I TRANSFERS TO BOLSTER LENOIR-RHYNE IN 2008
The Lenoir-Rhyne College football recruiting class of 2008 will give the program a definite jump start in more ways than one.

The Bears have restocked their roster with the addition of three NCAA Division I transfers that are attending classes now and are taking part in practice this spring.

“I feel a couple of these young men could be impact players,” said second year L-R Head Coach Fred Goldsmith.

The lynchpin is quarterback/running back Joey Robinson (6-1, 200). Robinson transferred from Virginia Military Institute (VMI), where he was a two-year starter at quarterback and running back. In 2007, he rushed for over 500 yards and five touchdowns and caught 11 passes for the Keydets while starting at both positions.

“He’s awfully good,” Goldsmith said. “He could be our most talented quarterback and or our most talented running back. He can absolutely fly.”

The other potential starter is cornerback Cameron Tompkins, who left Illinois State University for Lenoir-Rhyne.

“We’re hoping he can be the other shutdown corner that can be paired with Barry Tate,” said Goldsmith.

The third transfer is offensive lineman Callaway Ashby (6-4, 320) from Army. Ashby is a Lexington, N.C., native who played at Central Davidson High School.

Under NCAA rules, NCAA Division I transfers do not have to sit out an entire year before resuming participation at the Division II level.

The Bears also have signed 19 first-year college players to letters of intent (so far).

BEARS TO SHOWCASE NEW OFFENSE
By necessity, Lenoir-Rhyne College’s offense will have more than a few new wrinkles in 2008.

Head coach Fred Goldsmith and new offensive coordinator Tommy Laurendine have indicated they will switch to the Flexbone (Wishbone), an offense that Goldsmith believes is a necessary ingredient to turn L-R’s football fortunes around.

“I felt like this was the best way for us to catch up in this very tough (South Atlantic) conference,” Goldsmith said. “You either have to do something better than everybody or something different. We’re trying something different because we’re familiar with this offense.”

The Flexbone is a modern version of the traditional Wishone invented by Texas high school coach Emery Bellard in the 1960’s. It features a fullback and two halfbacks that are spread (flexed) outside the offensive tackles.

Schools such as Navy, Air Force and Wofford have run versions of the Flexbone. Goldsmith is familiar with the offense from his days as an assistant at Air Force and Arkansas. Laurendine was the offensive coordinator at Southern Arkansas where they also implemented this offense.

Also familiar, and perhaps the biggest beneficiary of the change, could Robinson, who was a starter in this style of offense at Virginia Military Institute.

“The play and execution of the quarterback is the key,” said Goldsmith, who also canvassed two run-oriented star quarterbacks from the state of Georgia in Lenoir-Rhyne’s 2008 recruiting class in Major Herron (Camden County) and Reuben Haynes (Commerce).

The pair quarterbacked against each other in the Georgia State High School All-Star game. Now they will be teammates competing for the Bears.

The Bears also have two holdover quarterbacks in junior Justin Sanders and sophomore Daniel Anderson, to whom Goldsmith believes will benefit in the change of offensive philosophy.

“Justin’s (Sanders) strong suit has always been his ability to run,” he said.

Sanders was the SAC Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2006 when he rushed for 450 yards and four touchdowns before he was felled by nagging hand injuries last season.

Anderson stepped in last year as a true freshman and guided the Bears offense smartly in his stint behind center.

“I think with Tommy’s expertise and my background in this offense, we’re confident this offense will work. I’m really excited,” added Goldsmith.