Aug 25, 2014 5 min read

CALIFORNIA – If California University’s football team is going to climb back to the top of the West Division standings in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, the Vulcans will do so by depending on a new starting quarterback and without their leading rusher.

James Harris, a 6-2, 225-pound junior from Woodstock, Ga., knocked off incumbent Cody Schroeder for the starting quarterback job in the spring. He started six games last season but the position wasn’t assured heading into spring practice. Harris proved again he is the starter and Schroeder transferred to Urbana University in Ohio.

“He never talked about leaving to me,” said Harris. “If he thought that was his best option, then I wish him well. I had the right mindset to get back at it in the spring. I went in thinking it was my job to lose.”

Jeff Knox, a transfer from Pitt who has bounced between tailback and defensive back since arriving at Cal three years ago, is back on defense at outside linebacker, despite gaining a team-best 507 yards last season.

That leaves Ringgold High School graduate Derrick Fiore and promising sophomore Nick Grissom to share carries at tailback. The two combined for 765 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

Add in new faces at wide receiver, a revamped secondary and some new offensive linemen and it’s obvious that this will have to be a team that jells quickly, namely before the season opener Sept. 7 against Virginia State at Adamson Stadium.

“It’s weird because you lose Rontez (Miles), then Dewey and you say, ‘How do we replace them?'” Kellar said. “Those are two big losses over the last two years. Two years ago, we recruited Jordan Bowman. He started seven games as a freshman. He looks like he can be all-conference but Dewey is playing for the Colts. How do you replace a Mike Williams or a Trey Johnson at wide receiver? We got talented kids, just not as much experience as we have.”

Last season, the Vulcans dropped a 20-7 decision to Indiana in a game in which Schroeder threw two interceptions in the end zone. His penchant for turning the ball over like that – Schroeder had 10 on the season – led to a change and Harris was inserted at midseason.

Interestingly, Schroeder and Harris had nearly identical stats. Schroeder, a 6-2, 190-pound junior from Avon, Ohio, completed 55 percent of his passes for 1,262 yards and 10 touchdowns. Harris also completed 55 percent of his passes for 1,294 yards and eight touchdowns. The difference was Schroeder threw 10 and Harris had five.

“James Harris came out of spring ball as our starter and best case scenario for Cody was to battle in camp,” said Cal head coach Mike Kellar. “He feels he can be the starter there. It’s the best thing for Cody and the best thing for our team, because it entrenches James as our starter.”

The running back situation changed again this season with Knox being moved back to linebacker on defense. Knox has bounced from offense to defense and began his stay at Cal as a short-yardage back and goal line battering ram.

That leaves the position to Fiore, a 5-11, 190-pound junior, and Grissom (5-10, 185).

“Derrick is the best running back in the pass scheme we’ve had in a while,” said Kellar. “Derrick is probably one of the three or four fastest kids on the team. The thing that Derrick knows and we all know is running back at this level, it’s hard to be the every-down guy. A lot of hits go on that body.

“I felt Nick was as good with the ball in his hand, as good as anyone we had with the ball in his hand except for (Antoine) Bagwell. Nick had a lot of growing to do as a freshman. He had a great winter and a good spring.”

Terrell Roberson, a 5-9, 187-pound senior, will be moved from cornerback to tailback.

Graduation wiped out most of the veteran receivers, including Mike Williams, Trey Johnson, Nadir Brown and C.J. Goodwin, who was signed by the Steelers for camp. That group combined for 121 catches for 1,676 yards and 11 touchdowns. Kowan Scott, a 6-4, 190-pound junior, is the lone returner there after a 26-catch season. Sophomore Gary Brown (6-1, 190) will start on the other side.

“We have good players but they are just unproven,” Kellar said.

Two sure-handed tight ends – Desimone Green, a 6-5, 240-pounder, and Paul Butler, a 6-4, 245-pounder – will be big targets for Harris.

Senior Jack Abercrombie (6-2, 295) will anchor an offensive line that will average 290 pounds.

On defense, the Vulcans lost a lot. Safety Dewey McDonald and his team-high 89 tackles, is gone and so is linebacker B.J Stevens and his team-high 7 ½ sacks.

The new faces include Kenny Wilkins, a junior defensive lineman who transferred from the University of Michigan. Wilkins is a Trinity High School graduate and has two years of eligibility.

Spencer Lynn (6-2, 230) and Branko Busic (6-0, 245) are back at linebacker.

“We joke about this that next year we’ll be the team with 19 returning starters,” said Kellar. “We’re not thinking about being good next year. We want to be good this year.”