Young NSU starting fresh

Few key players return as new coach seeks better record.

Following a disappointing 2007 season and without an abundance of experienced leadership returning, the Northeastern State RiverHawks hope to head in a new direction under first-year coach Kenny Evans.

Evans greeted more than 100 hopefuls when NSU began preseason drills Aug. 12. The big men on campus are safety Broderick Mondy, projected to be the 2008 Lone Star Conference North's Defensive Player of the Year, and receiver Jarrett Byers, returning from injury that limited him to two games last season.

Mondy is a Consensus Draft Services Preseason All-American who recorded 117 tackles a year ago. Mondy piled up 19 tackles against East Central en route to first-team all-league honors.

Byers already owns the NSU receiving yards record of 1,846 and is 12 catches away from most receptions. He needs two receiving touchdowns to add the school record to his collection.

Go to Tulsa World for rest of story.