Tolbert makes most of shot

By: Lou Bezjak/Morning News | SCNow
Published: November 03, 2007

CONWAY — Mike Tolbert is a hard man to miss.

He’s also a hard man to tackle.

At 5-foot-10, 245 pounds, the Coastal Carolina running back won’t go down without a struggle whenever he has the ball.

VMI found that out last week when Tolbert rumbled for a school-record 244 yards, including a Coastal-record 86-yarder in the 35-28 victory. Tolbert earned Big South offensive player of the week award for his efforts.

“I felt like I was in the zone,” Tolbert said to reporters following the game. “Everybody was moving in slow motion while I was moving at full speed. Every hole looked like it was a mile wide.”

Prior to last week’s breakout performance, Tolbert wasn’t used as much as the other backs in Coastal’s rotation — Jamie Fordham, Eric O’Neal and Arthur Sitton. Tolbert entered averaging seven carries a game.

But Coastal coach David Bennett might have been saving his bruising back for the stretch run. The Chants’ last four games are against conference opponents, including today at Liberty.

Tolbert had 13 carries last week, and more might be on the way.

“It ain’t real hard. You throw the ball to (receiver) Jerome Simpson and hand the ball to Mike,” Bennett said this week.

Tolbert gives the Chants’ running game the muscle it doesn’t get with Fordham or O’Neal. But the senior also possesses speed and agility, which Bennett found out a couple of years ago when Tolbert won a dance contest at a school function.

“We had to wait a week to make sure he was able to get the money for it,” Bennett said of the contest. “Mike has unbelievable balance and strength. He has great hands and he can block.

“He has been a good leader for the team.”

With NFL scouts at practice on a weekly basis to see Simpson and defensive lineman Adrain Grady, Bennett has been making sure they don’t forgot about Tolbert.

“A lot of these scouts, when they come in, we tell them to keep your eye on No. 40,” the Coastal coach said. “A Giants scout who was here last week was intrigued with Mike. I would take a shot on him as a free agent in a heartbeat. I would like to have Mike Tolbert on an NFL team to have him come in and learn the offense.”

Notes

Liberty has seven Division I transfers on its roster, including Stephen Sene. The Dutch Fork product played at South Carolina for a season before transferring. Sene was given a sixth-year of eligibility this year for medical hardship. … Liberty committed a turnover last week against Presbyterian, snapping its streak of 197:50 without one. … Simpson needs one TD for 40 in his career. … Liberty RB Rashad Jennings has rushed for more than 100 yards in four straight games, one shy of the Big South record.

Tolbert makes most of shot

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