University of North Carolina Athletics
Spring Football Strength & Conditioning Results
March 7, 2003 | Football
March 7, 2003
Top 10 Vertical Jumps | Top 10 Bench Press | Top 10 Power Clean
by Adam Lucas
It's no secret that Carolina's defensive line wasn't a position of strength last year. Strength and conditioning coach Jeff Connors is trying to change that this winter-literally.
The defensive line has been an area of focus in winter strength and conditioning, which finishes today with the last rounds of testing before spring break begins this weekend. TarHeelBlue.com will be your official source for all the facts and figures associated with the end-of-winter tests, which cap the winter conditioning process before spring practice begins on March 18. The first set of test results released include the top 10 for the bench press, the power clean and the vertical jump, which are linked above.
Names from the defensive line pepper those lists.
"Our biggest concern this offseason was the defensive line," Connors says. "We're so young in that area, so we really focused on those individuals."
It has had visible results. Chase Page played defensive tackle last year at about 265 pounds. He's now up to 290. Jocques Dumas came to Chapel Hill weighing 225 pounds and now checks in at 273. Redshirt freshmen Alden Blizzard and Xavier Rainey have both added significant muscle since their arrival on campus, with Blizzard packing on 35 pounds and Rainey picking up 18. Sophomore Kendall High, who had to play defensive tackle last year as a 250-pound true freshman, now weighs 273 pounds.
Page and senior tackle Donti Coats were in the top 10 of both sets of strength numbers released today, the only defensive players to achieve that feat.
"Chase has done a great job this offseason," Connors says. "I don't even think we've reached his potential yet. Donti Coats has also done a great job. His attitude has been excellent and he has some outstanding physical attributes. Those two guys should be very competitive in the trenches."
Connors divides the Tar Heels into three groups for their offseason conditioning, which takes place four days per week. The first is made up of players with low strength and conditioning experience such as Blizzard, Rainey, and fellow redshirt freshman Brian Rackley. The second group is for the general population, and the third is a more advanced group for players with significant conditioning experience.
Two new members of the conditioning process are freshmen Melik Brown and Ronnie McGill, both of whom enrolled in January to get a head start on their inaugural campaigns. Brown, who is likely to start his career at linebacker, and McGill, a running back, have both made early impressions.
"Melik has a great attitude and great energy," Connors said. "He loves the game of football and is always willing to do whatever you ask him to do. He's a little bit behind strength-wise because he really didn't do much lifting last year. He's at 255 pounds, and we'll work with him this summer to get his strength levels up.
"Ronnie McGill has already benched 410 pounds and already squatted 600 pounds. He will be very strong within a year."
