Young offense hurts Simpson's numbers

Jerome Simpson did his share of humbling defenses in his first three years at Coastal Carolina.

This year, the tables have turned on Simpson. The receiver is in nearing the end of a frustrating senior season heading into today’s home finale against Gardner-Webb.

Simpson, who caught a school-record 61 passes for 1,077 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, has failed to live up lofty expectations. He was named the preseason Big South Conference offensive player of the year and made several preseason All-America teams.

But playing with an almost entirely new offensive roster, including first-year starting quarterback Will Richardson, Simpson has had trouble duplicating his success from last season.

Simpson has 32 catches for 522 yards and eight touchdowns, which put him fifth in the Big South. The Chanticleers are 3-6, assured of their first losing season in five years of football.

“It’s been a rebuilding season, and we have had a lot of new people,” Simpson said. “I wish it could have turned out differently and been a little different, but it hasn’t.”

Simpson also endured issues off the field. He was charged simple assault of his girlfriend earlier this year, though the charges were later dropped.

Still, Simpson’s problems haven’t scared off NFL scouts, who have visited the school on a weekly basis. The North Carolina native possesses the physical tools to be an NFL receiver.

The 6-foot-2 Simpson has run as fast as 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash and has a 43-inch vertical leap. He also has 11-inch hands, which have helped him make several one-handed grabs during four seasons at Coastal.

“He might test like (Detroit Lions rookie) Calvin Johnson,” Coastal coach David Bennett said of Simpson.

The Web site nfldraftcountdown.com has Simpson ranked as the 15th best receiver in college and nfldraftscout.com projects him as a fourth- or fifth-round selection.

“I will have a chance,” Simpson said of playing in the pros. “Scouts see that we are a young team and won’t hold it against me.”

But before Simpson’s attention turns to a possible NFL career, he wants to end his Coastal career on a high note. If the Chanticleers win their last two games, there is an outside shot they could claim a share of their fourth straight conference crown.

“The last thing we want to do is go out as losers,” Simpson said. “We don’t want to be remembered like that. We are going to fight to the end.”

Notes

With two TDs against Liberty last week, Simpson is the first Big South player with more than 40 TD receptions in his career. He has 41. ... Coastal running back Arthur Sitton has scored a TD in four straight games. ... Gardner-Webb receiver Devaughn Flagler has a reception in 35 straight games is the first Big South receiver with three straight 50-catch seasons.

GAMEDAY

WHAT: Gardner-Webb at Coastal

WHEN: Today, 7 p.m.

WHERE: Brooks Stadium



SIMPSON BY YEAR

Jerome Simpson’s numbers:

Year Rec. Yds TDs

2004 26 419 8

2005 33 527 9

2006 61 1,077 16

x-2007 32 522 8

Totals 162 2,545 41

x — With two games left

Breakdown

A look at per-game averages for Coastal and Gardner-Webb:

GWU Offense CCU

25.7 Scoring 28.7

222.4 Passing 164.9

146 Rushing 203.1

GWU Defense CCU

25.6 Scoring 30.1

180.4 Passing 147.6

155.2 Rushing 238.8

LEADERS

CCU — Will Richardson 110-199-6, 1,361 yards, 10 TDs; Mike Tolbert 77 car., 588 yards, 6 TDs; Jerome Simpson 32 rec., 522, 8 TDs.

GWU — Stan Doolittle 122-200-5, 1,260 yards, 8 TDs; David Montgomery 102 car., 641 yards, 5 TDs; Duvaughn Flagler 51 rec., 679 yards, 9 TDs.