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CITY (NewsDakota.com)–Viking football enters the second week of their spring practice schedule this week, with their next practice scheduled for Friday.
After a 9-2 season, a Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) championship, and their first playoff appearance since 2001, the Vikings are using the spring to address some vacancies created due to graduation, vacancies that create some big holes to fill.
Gone are offensive sensation LeTheo Proctor (Sr., Anchorage, AK), a receiver who was 14th in the nation in receving yards per game (81.1), hard-nozed runner A.J. Pfeiffer (Sr., Buffalo, ND), who was ninth in the nation in total rushing yards (1119) and yards per game (101.7), and five defensive backs from a secondary that was fourth in the nation in pass defense (140 yards per game).
Names like Cody Kilthau (Sr., Mililani, HI), Eric Burgad (Sr., Argusville, ND), Dustin Renner (Sr., Britton, SD), Ivan Lora (Sr., Miami, FL), and Devin Aedo (Sr., Miami, FL) will no longer be a part of the “Dirty Birds” secondary that has been spectacular against the pass, having been in the top 20 defenses against the pass every year since 2007.
But head coach Dennis McCulloch says while the seniors were grabbing headlines last year, there were players preparing to step into those spots.
“Players like Troy Still (Jr., Magnolia, NJ) and Tyler Kosel (Jr., Edgeley, ND) got some experience, and we have some depth to build on. We were fortunate to have that depth,” says McCulloch.
Still counted for 24 tackles, with a pair of tackles for loss, while Kosel had six tackles in three games last year for the Vikings.
The need at wide receiver, with the departure of Proctor, may be more difficult to find answers for, according to McCulloch.
“If you asked me if we had the answer today, I’d probably say ‘No’. We had some transfers this spring, and we may replace Theo with more than one guy. Theo was here for five years, and just started doing his thing last year, so we have to be patient,” explains McCulloch.
The Vikings may not have looked far to find their go-to guy at running back. Derek Elliot (Jr., Valley City, ND) is back on the field this spring after an injury that sidelined him in last year’s opener against Morninside. The talented runner has been a question mark for the Viking roster the past couple of seasons, but he appears to be preparing as a full-time Viking this spring.
Elliot had 964 yards from scrimmage (588 rushing, 376 receiving) as a multi-threat back in 2010, but had thoughts of transferring after his sophomore year. He returned to the Vikings last season, but has just three carries for 13 yards before suffering a season-ending injury in the second quarter in the opener.
“We know we’re a much better football team with (Elliot) here. With Darius Anderson (Fr., Kapolei, HI) back with us, we should have some weapons in the backfield,” says McCulloch.
Anderson had 218 yards rushing in six games before being lost last year. His quick explosions and slashing style were a perfect change-up to bruising, physical style of Pfeiffer last year, and may serve the same purpose for Elliot’s style in 2012.
Also back from injury will be Garrett Jackson (Sr., Fairbanks, AK), a fullback-turned-defensive end who had high expectations as a pass-rusher entering 2011, before also being lost to injury in the opener against Morningside.
Tommy Zinke (Jr., Rolla, ND) will return at quarterback after a 2011-season that saw him throw for 2,284 yards and 24 touchdowns. The backup quarterback spot is up for grabs, and that is of particular concern for McCulloch.
“Colton Growden (Fr., Fairbanks, AK) transferred here this spring after playing NCAA Division II basketball at Alaska-Fairbanks. He would be our emergency quarterback, and is taking care of some backup stuff right now, but we are recruiting our backup spot right now,” McCulloch said.
McCulloch will enter his 19th season as a coach at VCSU, his 16th as head coach this year. Marty Costello will again be the offensive co-ordinator, and McCulloch says the offensive strategy has been very similar in spring practice to the two-back, physical style the Vikings used in 2011.
Spring football continues through April 30th. The Vikings will open their 2012 season at Morningside College in Sioux City, IA on August 30th.