Vandy’s dynamic duo Welch, Smith lead the way for the Terriers

If the hip-hop duo were to return from “One Hit Wonderland,” they would probably be rapping about Vandebilt’s star senior running backs Curtis Welch, a First Team All-State selection, and Dexter Smith.

The pair, from Schriever and Gray respectively, has known each other since elementary school.

Together, they have been running through and by defenders since 8th grade.

Smith revealed, “He’s the inside runner, and I take it outside; but…”

“We switch it up every now and then,” Welch finished.

“I like running by tacklers,” Smith continued.

“I like running them over,” Welch completed.

First-year Terriers head football coach Walter Dupre will be counting on them to carry the offensive load early in the 2008 season.

“We’re going to feature them early on and hope everything falls into place where our younger guys mature,” he said.

The Terriers have made a smooth transition to Dupre after the sudden resignation of former coach Mark King in May.

“I was kind of sad at first because I looked at him (King) more like a father figure,” Smith said. “But its just football. It’s not life.”

The Terriers went 11-2 (4-1 in District 8-4A, 2nd) and advanced to the state quarterfinals before losing to Benton. Five of the six teams in the district went the playoffs last year. Dupre expects an even tougher battle for the district title this season.

“Shaw has been state runner up two years in a row. Helen Cox and Belle Chasse both have about 18 starters coming back this year,” he said. “The district being so strong is what got a lot of teams in the playoffs and doing well. We look forward to the challenge of that tough district because it helps us get ready for the playoffs.”

Despite losing 13 starters, there are high aspirations the Terriers can win its first district title since 2002.

“I think we have a good enough team to win the district, but we’re going to have to work way, way, way harder then we did last year,” Smith said.

Vandebilt is replacing seven starters on offensive, including All State honorable mention quarterback Evan Mistish (Tulane), and the entire line.

Senior Brannon Thompson will be under center running the multiple-I formation offense. While Mistish was more athletic, Thompson is seen as classic pocket passer with a better arm.

“The improvement he’s made from the end of last year to the spring and from the spring to where he’s at now, has been tremendous,” Dupre said.

The five new linemen for the Terriers are senior Daniel LeBlanc (center), juniors Andrew Barker (tackle), Josh Johnson and Jacob Peoples (guards) and sophomore Luke Spinella (tackle).

Dupre said the unit has progressed faster than he anticipated since spring practices.

Returning starters Jonathan Martin (senior tight end) and Gavin Poiencot (junior slotback) and newcomer senior slot end Steven Martinez round out the offense.

On defense, Vandebilt is replacing six players, including First Team All-State defensive end Joel Ross (Southern Mississippi).

The 4-3 defense has a new front four – junior Dylan Duplantis and Michael Ortego, and sophomores David Breerwood and Brandon Bolden.

“We’re trying to train them and we like what we see,” Dupre said. “We got young players who are stepping up and playing well.”

The core of the defense will be the three returning linebackers – senior Ches Morrison, a First Team All-District pick and leading tackler, senior Leighton Babin and junior Ed Dupont.

“They will be what makes us tick. They’re going to play strong and aggressive,” Dupre said. “We’re going to come out and attack people and we got guys in places where we think we can do that.”

In the secondary are senior returning starters Jacob Ourso and Hunter Haydel and juniors Jacob Ellender and Jordan Ezell.

On special teams, Haydel replaces Deroche at punter and sophomore Michael Blanchard replaces Bethel College bound Braden Eschete.

Welch and Smith will be returning kickoffs, but on punts, Dupre wants to use younger players to give his star backs a break.

“If we’re not confident in those guys, we’ll have Dexter back there as well,” he said.

This may be the last year the dynamic duo are on the same team together, so they want to make the most of it.

Numerous major colleges are recruiting Welch and Smith, including Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Southern Mississippi, Tulsa, Alabama, and Georgia Tech.

While they dream of taking their game to the next level together, each would be more than understanding if they go their separate ways.

“Me and Curtis are trying to go the same college,” said Smith, “but I told him, if he gets a bigger scholarship than me, take it.”