Nassau CC sets the bar high

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As always, expectations are sky high for Nassau Community College’s football program. The Lions, coming off a perfect 10-0 campaign in former player Joe Osovet’s debut season as head coach, are ranked No. 5 by the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) and return seven starters on each side of the ball.

“This is the highest preseason ranking we’ve ever had and we’ve got the biggest game in program history out of the gate,” said Osovet, who played for a Nassau team that was ranked No. 2 in the nation in the early 90s and served as an assistant coach for 17 seasons. “We have an opportunity to do something really special, but we’ve got to take it one game at a time,” he added.

The Lions will try to keep their winning streak going and set the tone for a big 2015 this Saturday when they travel to Texas to face Trinity Valley, the No. 2 ranked team in the NJCAA behind two-time defending champion East Mississippi.

“All the pieces fit together nicely last season and we return 53 guys who got significant reps,” Osovet said. “I can’t say enough about the group of sophomores we’ve got. They do everything right. Everyone came into camp in great shape and they’re not affected by having a target on their backs.” 

Nassau, the defending Northeast Conference champion which capped 2014 with a 34-27 victory over Scottsdale CC in the Valley of the Sun Bowl, will be led offensively by sophomore quarterback Ben Holmes, who’s talents remind Osovet of former Heisman Trophy winner and current Cleveland Browns signal-caller Johnny Manziel.  

Last season, the Lions ranked second in the NJCAA in red-zone efficiency (83 percent) with 30 scores, including 27 touchdowns, in 36 opportunities. Holmes, the NEC Player of the Year last fall, completed 58 percent of his passes for 1,197 yards and 15 touchdowns with only four interceptions during the regular season. He also ran for three scores. In the bowl game, he went 18 of 29 for 154 yards and one touchdown. “He’s got that moxie on game days that you just can’t teach,” Osovet said of the 5-foot-11, 192-pound Holmes, who threw for four touchdowns in victories against Lackawanna and Louisburg. “He’s an excellent decision-maker who keeps plays alive with his legs.”

The starting offensive line returns intact, and each sophomore has multiple BCS program offers on the table to mull in the near future. The anchor of the group is 6-7, 317-pound left tackle Malcolm Pridgeon, a former standout at Central Islip High School. “He can do it all,” Osovet said. “He’s got great size, strength and athleticism.” Captain Joeb Buissereth is the man in the middle, Chris Hawkins is the right tackle, and Da’Keavis Wilmore (left) and Joseph Pesce are the guards. “They’re all in better shape than they were a year ago,” Osovet noted.

The ground attack will feature Marcus Levy, who in a backup role last season carried 74 times for 397 yards and six touchdowns, and change-of-pace speedster Marcellus Pack, who averaged 22.8 yards on kickoff returns. Levy is a powerful runner who can break tackles and also catch passes out of the backfield.

Nassau passed on 42 percent of its snaps in 2014, but Holmes will be working with a revamped receiver corps that includes Duane Gary and Khaneil Bruce. Tight end Ian Thomas is a polished receiver who also knows how to finish a block in the run game.

The Lions averaged 35.3 points per game last season, which was more than enough for a defense that allowed 16 or fewer in seven of 10 contests. The defensive unit, which ranked third in the NJCAA (217.3 yards per game allowed) and forced 23 turnovers, is breaking in a new secondary but possesses depth and size.

Up front, 6-5, 307-pound sophomore tackle Tyrell Chavis is “impossible to block,” Osovet said. The coach is excited about freshman Eric Whitehead joining Chavis in the interior, while Ali Ali-Musa (five sacks) and Zach Cannon return at end.

Tackling machine Walter Cooper, a First Team All-NEC selection, heads a linebacker group that includes Robert Nelson, who switches from safety, and Deon Wright. Candidates to start in a new-look defensive backfield include Fritznel Jean Francois, Jafar Thomas, Brian Campbell, Devion Young and Quintin America.

The Lions will play an abbreviated home schedule with only three of their nine games at Mitchel Athletic Complex. The home opener comes Sept. 12 against Monroe College. Erie CC visits the following Saturday, and rival ASA comes to town for the regular-season finale on Nov. 7. Kickoff for all three games is 1 p.m.