JACKSON - In 2006, no one thought of Millsaps College as a powerhouse in football. Then came Mike Dubose, who turned the Majors around to a perennial powerhouse which included a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship all four years he was head coach and a 24-2 conference record. When Dubose left after the 2009 season, no one knew where the program would go from here. In stepped Aaron Pelch, a former assistant under Dubose. Though the Majors fell just short of their fifth consecutive SCAC title, Pelch guided a young Major team to a 7-3 record (5-1 SCAC) including five straight wins to finish the season. This year the Majors will be young again but do welcome huge playmakers back as they look to show the SCAC that one year not on top was a fluke in their eyes.

 “I think the number one goal for this team is to regain the SCAC Championship and make it back to the playoffs,” says second year Head Coach Aaron Pelch.

 Offense:
RETURNING STARTERS: 4

Millsaps returns one of the most prolific offenses in the SCAC from a year ago. The Major offense was in the top three in almost every major category. It all starts with junior quarterback Garrett Pinciotti. Coach Pelch named Pinciotti the starter last season as he became the first second year starter since Juan Joseph. Pinciotti did not disappoint.

 “Garrett really developed well being a first year starter for us,” says Pelch. “He really got going towards the end of the year and was one of the leaders on our team.”

 Despite an injury causing him to miss one game, he threw for 2,206 yards and 23 touchdowns. Even more impressive, the young quarterback only threw seven interceptions all season. Pinciotti showed he was a star in the making at the midway point last season against Huntingdon and Rhodes. He threw for nine total touchdowns and 547 passing yards in two key victories. His efforts earned him Second Team All-SCAC.

 “The main difference in last year and this year for me is the experience factor,” says the junior quarterback out of Hoover, Alabama. “Being comfortable in the pocket and knowing the offense at a greater level will give me the confidence to put us in the best situation to win.”

 Pinciotti also brings along one of his favorite targets in junior wide receiver Jason O'Rear.  Originally recruited to play basketball, O'Rear has been stellar in two seasons catching 15 touchdown passes (fifth in school history) and accumulating over 1,200 receiving yards. O'Rear led the SCAC as he averaged 17.1 yards per catch and was named Second Team All-SCAC the last two seasons. Millsaps also welcomes back junior Dustin Fawcett, who hauled in three touchdowns last season and junior Kegan Joplin who averaged 14.2 yards a catch. Senior Tony Bellan is set to be the starter at tight end this season.

 “Jason has put in a tremendous amount of personal work this offseason and it is showing on the field,” adds Pinciotti. “He has phenomenal skills and defenses will be sure to note that he is on the field.”

 Millsaps was blindsided unexpectedly this upcoming season as their All-Purpose back and leading rusher Shane Bowser would not be returning this season for undisclosed reasons. Bowser, who would have been a senior, was the first 1,000 yard rusher since 2004 and scored 16 touchdowns on the season. Youth will be a factor at running back as sophomore Jett Williams is penciled in as the starter. Williams saw limited action at running back last season, but did play a majority of special teams. Sophomore Thomas Theriot is moving to running back this season after catching four touchdowns as a receiver as a true freshman.

 What will be key for the Majors is the play of a young offensive line, and who better to lead them then junior Nathan Quick, a First Team All-SCAC selection last season. Quick has been dominant in the SCAC standing at 6'5” and 295 pounds. He will be the anchor as an entire new line surrounds him in junior Kyle MacDonald, sophomore Kyle Skene and freshman Greyson Smothers. The Majors bring back a familiar face in sophomore tackle Charlie Sagan. Sagan, who originally began his career in 2007, was a starter as a true freshman on a SCAC Championship team. After missing three seasons for various reasons, the Majors look to Sagan to be the force on the line like old times.

Defense:
RETURNING STARTERS: 6

Defensively, the Majors lose some big time players, but still return six starters in the process. On the defensive line, a key loss for Millsaps was Ward Coker, a First Team All-SCAC selection who led the team with 14 Tackles for Loss (TFL). Millsaps will welcome back senior Will Derrick. Derrick finished the season third on the team in TFL along with three sacks earning All-SCAC Honorable Mention. Millsaps also returns junior defensive tackle Randy Thackery, who picked up two sacks last season. Ready to fill out the defensive line will be the Stewart brothers, Alex and Joiner. The twins did not start, but did see ample playing time last season as true freshmen. Alex finished the season with four TFL and one sack; Joiner had two sacks.

At linebacker, Millsaps loses two time All-American and SCAC Defensive Player of the Year Will Hawkins to graduation. Hawkins led the team in tackles the last two seasons for the Majors and was a force at his position. Millsaps does welcome back junior Marvis O'Sirio. A Second Team All-SCAC selection, O'Sirio led the team in interceptions and forced fumbles. He was also fourth on the team in tackles and TFL. Junior Jeb White will be on the other side of O'Sirio at linebacker. He played every special team for the Majors this past season and showed he can deliver a huge hit. A White at linebacker seems to have become a family tradition as Jeb takes on the same position his brother Cap played from 2005-08. His younger brother, Semmes, also joins the Majors this season at defensive back.

Pelch has high hopes for his front seven.

“Marvis could be primed to have a breakout year, he could be the guy we look to after losing Will (Hawkins).” Pelch add, “Will Derrick is also a great competitor who can have a break out year.”

In the secondary, Millsaps loses safety Kevin Peters, a First Team All-SCAC selection two years in a row. The Majors do welcome back Kenny Reeves, a senior cornerback. Reeves had a down year in stats, but was part of a Major team that was number one in the SCAC in pass defense. Millsaps also welcomes back sophomore Jonathan Moore. As a true freshman, Moore was third on the team in tackles and was named Second Team All-SCAC. Moore played cornerback for most of the year, but will move to safety this upcoming season. Millsaps looks to round out the secondary with senior safety Brent Jerrell, junior safety Russell Pellichino, and junior corner James McCauley. Senior Jordan Nolan, junior Greg Blasiar, and sophomore Nick Arnold are also expected to see good amounts of playing time.

“We got big things from Kenny Reeves in the springs,” says Pelch. “This is the most technically sound I have ever seen Kenny and he should be set to have a big year.”

Derrick goes on to add, “We all expect each other to perform to our potential, be smart and make plays.”

SPECIAL TEAMS:
RETURNING STARTERS: 1

Millsaps loses one of the best kickers in Millsaps history in Taylor Russolino who holds almost every place kicking record. For the 2011 season, the Majors bring back junior punter Stephen Gates. Last season, Gates averaged 31.4 yards per punt in limited action. No one else kicked last season, and the position remains wide open for returning players and incoming freshman.

RECRUITING:
INCOMING FRESHMAN: 50

Millsaps is excited to welcome in one of the best recruiting classes the school has seen with 50 incoming freshmen. With so much youth on the team already, some freshmen may come in and be able to start this season. A big key for the Majors was adding depth to their line, and they did in a big way, adding 12 offensive linemen, and eight defensive linemen making up forty percent of the class.

“We plan to play a lot of freshman this season who bring a competitive nature to practice,” adds Pelch. “They will have an impact on special teams and possibly as starters. This is a really strong class.”

“By far, one of the strongest freshman classes that I have seen here,” says Pinciotti. “They have worked hard this summer and competed relentlessly for playing time throughout camp. Of course, there are groups of freshman that have stood out and will be making a positive impact on the team this season.”

 
SCHEDULE:

The Majors open things up at Mississippi College on September 3rd for Backyard Brawl XII, a game that has been decided by a combined seven points the last two seasons. Millsaps then returns for their home opener at Harper Davis Field against the LaGrange Panthers on September 10th. The Majors then go back on the road to take on Louisiana College on September 17th in Pineville, La.

Millsaps then opens conference play against Trinity at home on September 24th followed by two road conference games against Sewanee and Austin College. The Majors face Rhodes on October 15th before their bye week and return to action on Homecoming against Centre. Millsaps finishes the year on the road against Division II Tarleton State and conference foe Birmingham-Southern.

“For us to reach our potential this year we must continue to get better every day and every week,” exclaims Derrick. “We need to all stay healthy, trust each other and then just ball out on game day.”

“It's easy, execute,” adds Pinciotti. “If we play the way we know we can, we can only stop ourselves.”