From staff reports

sports@joplinglobe.com

MIAMI, Okla. — Rob Green, head football coach at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, believes the Golden Norsemen will launch preseason drills on Tuesday with a solid offensive unit.

NEO was picked to finish only seventh in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference in a preseason poll of coaches.

“We don’t have a whole lot of starters returning on either side of the ball,” Green said, “but we have a pretty good nucleus that have experience in our system. Our spring, because of all the rain, was a little sporadic. But we’ll have 40 sophomores that should be our leaders.”

The 2007 Golden Norsemen, besieged by injuries, finished 4-5 overall and 1-5 in the SWJCFC.

The only returning starters on offense are 6-foot-5, 305-pound left tackle Jeremy Bean (Broken Bow) and 5-8, 175-pound running back Jeremiah Sampson (Coweta).

“I really feel like we have six legitimate Division I-type players returning on the offensive line,” Green said. “They’re all in the 6-4, 6-5 range and 300 pounders.

“Add to that mix the fact we have four wide receivers returning with above-average speed,” Green said. “So our offense has some solid foundations upon which to build.

“We’ll be looking for someone to emerge as our leader at quarterback,” Green said. “We also will be looking to add some depth at running back during the preseason.

“All last spring we worked with a ‘no huddle’ offensive approach,” Green said. “Our kids bought into it because it reflected the ‘real’ speed at the college level.”

Inexperience and a lack of depth at quarterback and running back were concerns addressed by the NEO staff during spring practice.

Returning to handle the quarterback chores is 6-3, 175-pound redshirt freshman Jordan Gary of Ardmore.

“Jordan primarily is a pocket passer with a strong, accurate arm,” Green said. “He gets rid of the ball with pin-point accuracy. The ‘no huddle’ offense seems to fit the ability of Jordan.”

Transfer Corey Conley (6-0, 190, Catoosa) provided depth at quarterback during the spring.