University of North Carolina Athletics
Droschak: Three Newcomers to Watch
August 31, 2004 | Football
Aug. 31, 2004
by David Droschak, TarHeelBlue.com CHAPEL HILL - There are three new players fans should watch Saturday when North Carolina opens its 2004 football season against Division I-AA William & Mary. Strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh is the kind of defensive back coach John Bunting has been looking for since he took over the program four seasons ago. The transfer from East Tennessee State has size at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, and has the natural ability to make big-time plays. And with just two interceptions last season, it's an understatement to say the Tar Heels are in need of major secondary help. The senior should provide it, giving the program a hitter similar to Bracey Walker, who played here a decade ago. "He's everything I've wanted," Bunting said Tuesday of Sensabaugh, who migrated to the Tar Heels when ETSU dropped football after last season. "He's been a pleasure to be around. "He's got great instincts, especially against the run," Bunting added. "He is a very inquisitive football player and athlete. He's strong, has good change of direction and is an explosive tackler. I'm expecting big things from him because he's really caught on to our defense." Sensabaugh should also be a good teacher for true freshman cornerback Trimane Goddard, a speedster out of Robersonville who is fighting Jacoby Watkins for one cornerback position. Goddard came to the Tar Heels with some flashy prep stats from 1-A Roanoke High School in the eastern part of the state. He rushed for more than 5,000 career yards, threw for 1,700 more and scored 64 touchdowns. On defense, he posted 375 tackles and picked off 21 passes. And so far in fall camp, Goddard has been every bit as good as advertised. "Goddard is a player who came to us as a very heralded high school player, a very heady, multi-talented kid," Bunting said. "He played quarterback in high school and he can go knock somebody down at cornerback, and he return punts and return kickoffs. All he has done is come in here and been all of that with us. "He just displays a real passion for football. He loves to play and he loves to do things right. He is what you want at corner, or a nickel back or a return guy. He's going to get a lot of repetitions for us." And freshman place-kicker Connor Barth has some big shoes to fill in replacing Dan Orner, who could bomb kicks from beyond 50 yards with regularity. However, Bunting believes Barth, from Wilmington, is ready to kick in pressure situations despite his inexperience. "I think Connor is different," Bunting said. "He's very mature. He's got a great deal of confidence. I don't think he's totally unflappable, but none of us are. However, he's a guy who will have a short memory with a bad kick. "He's got a great work ethic, which contributes to his confidence. He loves to kick and he loves to do it right." arth has been practicing kicking the last two years without a tee to get ready for college ball. "That gives him an advantage over a lot of other kids coming out of high school," Bunting said. "And he's very deliberate. He's got a great set-up and pre-kick routine. I like him." David Droschak is the former sports editor for the North Carolina bureaus of the Associated Press, the largest news-gathering organization in the world. In 2003, Droschak was named the North Carolina Sportswriter of the Year. He currently works in public relations at Robbins & Associates International, based in Cary.
