Grambling primed for big leap in year 2 of Fobbs era

GRAMBLING – Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs can come off as a walking public relations clone, someone who never gives away too much but someone who never says too little.

Think of it as of a selected way of communicating. There are times when Fobbs, who is in his second year at Grambling, refuses to discuss things like injuries. Then there are times when he openly says the Tigers underachieved despite a six-win improvement in 2014.

Behind the scenes, Fobbs is focused, yet loose. He knows how to balance the two for the sake of the program. If he doesn’t believe something internally or externally, chances are his players won’t buy in. It makes everything in the present tense relevant — nothing in the past, nothing in the future.

“We’re pleased with our program. We’re pleased with how far we’ve come. We’re pleased with the mindset of our student athletes,” Fobbs said last month at SWAC Media Day. “We still live by the motto of the ‘WIN’ philosophy — what’s important now. For us, it’s about taking the first step.”

Fobbs is extra cautious with how he handles his team this year. Expectations are through the roof at Grambling since the Tigers were selected as the preseason favorite to win the SWAC West Division crown.

Naturally, the players dismissed the recognition, noting how everyone starts 0-0 at the beginning of the season.

Whatever the case my be, Grambling returns most of its talent from last year’s 7-5 squad. There are a few holes to fill, like depth at linebacker, cornerback and quarterback, but Fobbs is of the opinion that the Tigers have the gun loaded.

“I’ve always taken the stance that you don’t rebuild, you just build upon what we have at Grambling State University,” Fobbs said.

“They understand what’s at stake. Any time you lace up and play against these teams in the league, you gotta be prepared, you gotta be ready to perform. There’s a lot of great minds, and there’s a lot of great players. For us, I wouldn’t have it any other way. For us, it’s just seeing about who’s the best.”

The best, at least in the SWAC West, might come down to the final week of the season at the Bayou Classic. Grambling received 92 votes in the preseason poll, just two ahead of arch-rival Southern.

A home game against Bethune Cookman in the second week of the season and a November date with Texas Southern at Independence Stadium in Shreveport are among the schedule highlights in 2015.

Johnathan Williams, who started the second half of the season for the Tigers, is back at quarterback, as is running back Jestin Kelly.

Four of the five offensive linemen return and Chester Rogers, Chad Williams and Verlon Hunter — the top three receivers — are also back.

“All the returners we have on offense, that’s what I’m most excited about,” Williams said. “The experience we have together and knowing the offense and the playbook and knowing our assignments.”

The aforementioned should mean Grambling and its 32 points per game from 2014 shouldn’t miss a beat. The defense, which had its lapses, is a different story.

Grambling returns its three defensive line starters from a unit that helped lead the conference with 45 sacks.

Grambling must replace Aaron Breed and Steve Orisakwe at linebacker and Tyree Hollins and LeAndre Vallot in the secondary in order for the Tigers to take the next step in conference play.

With Hollins and Vallot gone, senior Nick Peoples becomes the leader of the defense. The Shreveport native spent the entire spring and summer trying to rally his fellow secondary members.

“I know we’re going to come together. We’re a band of brothers,” he said. “We spent the whole summer together. We talk. We always hang around each other and getting the relationship like me and Tyree had. I have that with a couple of the new guys.”

Coach: Broderick Fobbs

Career mark:7-5

2014 record:7-5

Home field: Eddie Robinson Stadium

Phone: (318) 274-2625

Radio: KGRM 91.5 FM

2015 SCHEDULE

Sept. 5 at California

Sept. 12 vs. Bethune-Cookman

Sept. 19 at Alabama State

Sept. 26 vs. Prairie View A&M*

Oct. 3 at Jackson State

Oct. 10 vs. Alabama A&M

Oct. 17 at Alcorn State

Oct. 24 vs. Mississippi Valley State

Nov. 7 vs. Texas Southern**

Nov. 14 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Nov. 28 vs. Southern***

*at Dallas

**at Shreveport

***at New Orleans