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Demons Excited About Transfers As They Ready For Final Scrimmage
08/19/08 - 09:20 AM
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NATCHITOCHES — Two practices in full pads were quite a first day for two new Northwestern State football players, transfers William Griffin and Michael Booker, with Griffin capping the afternoon workout by dashing 65 yards for a touchdown run sprung free in part by Booker.

Griffin is a junior tailback from Patterson who moved from Louisiana Tech. Booker is a sophomore offensive lineman, slated to play left guard for the Demons after leaving Oklahoma State with three seasons left to play following a standout prep career at North Lamar High School in Paris, Texas.

“This makes us better,” said seventh-year Northwestern coach Scott Stoker, whose team opens the season at home Aug. 30.  “They will make an impact and in positions where we can use help.”

Griffin (5-foot-10, 203) was the Louisiana Class 3A most outstanding player as a senior, rushing for 2,003 yards and 25 touchdowns. He had 58 career touchdowns and a school record 4,886 yards rushing, drawing scholarship offers from Michigan, Nebraska and Arkansas as the nation’s No. 32 running back according to Rivals.com.

He had 88 career carries for 364 yards and a touchdown at Louisiana Tech, where he had 190 yards on 43 carries last season while seeing a lot of action on special teams as he earned two letters.

Booker (6-foot-3, 310) played at Oklahoma State as a true freshman after choosing the Cowboys over TCU and Iowa State. He was an Associated Press Texas Class 4A All-State pick on offense, and won first team All-East Texas and first-team All-District 12-4A honors on offense and defense in his senior year.

His transition will be helped because the Demons use the same line calls as the Cowboys since NSU offensive line coach Jeremy Offutt, a former OSU standout, began his coaching career at his alma mater under current Oklahoma State offensive line coach Joe Wickline.

“It’s the same terminology on the calls, so there couldn’t be a better situation for Michael to make a quick transition. We don’t run the same plays, but a lot of the blocking schemes are the same,” said Stoker. “It’s a great opportunity for him to come in two weeks before the opener and be ready to play on Aug. 30.”

Griffin will get a crash course in the Demons’ offense as the top two tailbacks, senior Byron Lawrence and sophomore Sterling Endsley, are sidelined this week. Lawrence bruised a pectoral muscle in Saturday’s scrimmage while Endsley has been recovering from a collarbone bruise since early in camp. Both could be back to practice Sunday, but Stoker said the extra repetitions will help Griffin be ready to contribute in the season opener.

Stoker wasn’t planning on two full contact practices Monday, but a sluggish effort in the morning forced his hand.

“They know we’re going to get the work done right, one way or the the other,” he said. “I give the seniors credit for getting things together. We were 10 times better this afternoon. The tempo was so much better and both sides made plays.”

Senior quarterback Drew Branch resumed practice Monday after resting his shoulder last week and was very efficient, throwing the ball well, said Stoker.

Northwestern worked on red zone situations and second and third down scenarios. The Demons will hit the field in shorts and shoulder pads Tuesday afternoon at 3:30, then cap preseason camp Wednesday evening at 6 with their third and final scrimmage at Turpin Stadium.