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ASU #21

Robert Welton



Running Back - RB
Height: 5-11 Weight: 225
unior
Previous Affiliations
Jones County
Previous Experience
Gray, Ga.

The “power back” among the wide array of personnel in Appalachian’s stable of running backs ... after a disappointing showing as a redshirt freshman in 2007, had a breakout season last year despite being slowed by injuries during the latter half of the campaign ... missed spring drills while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery but is expected to be at 100 percent and battling for carries when fall camp opens.

2008 : Despite battling injuries throughout much of the season, had a breakout year ... more than doubled the previous yardage total for his entire career on one play in the season opener at LSU — a 44-yard touchdown connection with Armanti Edwards ... prior to the 44-yard gain, Welton had produced just 19 yards on four carries during his collegiate career ... his coming-out party came the very next week in the home opener versus Jacksonville, when he torched the Dolphins for 161 yards and three touchdowns on only 10 carries ... was named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Week following the breakthrough performance ... picked up 92 hard-fought yards on the ground and scored a pair of touchdowns in the Apps’ heartbreaking 35-32 setback at No. 5 James Madison ... found paydirt twice over the next three games to give him seven touchdowns through seven games but suffered the shoulder injury that would eventually require offseason surgery in that seventh game at Samford and had to sit out versus Georgia Southern and Furman ... returned to the lineup on Halloween night to score one of the Mountaineers’ 10 touchdowns in their 70-24 shellacking of No. 3 Wofford ... posted his second three-touchdown performance of the season eight days later at Chattanooga, scoring all three touchdowns in the first half of the 49-7 rout ... had 54 yards on 13 carries in the SoCon-title-clinching victory over No. 11 Elon, but it came at a price as the injury bug reared its ugly head again, forcing him to miss the regular-season finale at Western Carolina ... he returned to the lineup for the postseason but managed only 23 yards on seven carries in two playoff contests ... despite the late-season drop in production caused by the shoulder ailment, Welton led all ASU running backs with 95 rushes, 544 rushing yards and 11 touchdown runs ... his seven receptions were also tops among Mountaineer RBs.

2007 : Saw action in just one game, rushing four times for 19 yards in home opener versus Lenoir-Rhyne.

2006 : Redshirted.

High School : Returned a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns as a senior ... ran for just under 1,000 yards for a young, 1-9 Jones County squad ... is also a regional champion long-jumper.

MSU #21

# retired for Don "the Iron Tumbleweed" Hass, tailback, '65-'67.

Montana #21:




Keith Thompson - CB
Senior
5'9", 175 lbs.
JuCo Transfer ('08) - Bakersfield
Porterville, CA
Monache HS


'08 Stats:

37 Tackles (1 TFL)
6 Pass Def.

TXST

# 21

Mario Wiggins, Jr.
Class: Freshman
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
High School: Madison
Height / Weight:
6-1 / 190
Position: Defensive Back
Birthdate: 02/22/1990
Experience: Redshirt

2008
Sat out season as a redshirt.

High School
Lettered two years at Madison, helping Madison advance to the 5A Division II State Semifinals ... Played free safety and wide receiver while also returning kicks ... finished his career with 132 total tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery ... was a All-District 26-5A Second-Team ... named one of the top 10 football players in San Antonio by the Express-News.

NAU: Not assigned

UMass # 21 - Eric Dickson

Class: RS Senior
Hometown: Southbridge, Mass.
High School: St. John's H.S.

Height / Weight: 5-11 / 205
Position: DB/LB
Birthdate: 03/04/1987

On Dickson: Versatile four-year player who will see time as an outside linebacker and in the secondary ... Saw most time in the spring at WILL ... Worked as a back-up defensive back last season and was an excellent blitzer off the edge ... Will continue to be a package player in the secondary ... An in-state player who has good skills... Good team player ... From one of the top high school teams, St. John's which won the Division I Super Bowl in 2004.

As a redshirt junior in 2008: Played in all 12 games during the season ... Recorded 31 tackles with two forced fumbles, 1.5 TFLs, a sack and pass break-up ... Five tackles against Hofstra (11/22) in finale ... Totaled five tackles at Maine (11/8) ... Sacked quarterback at Rhode Island (11/1) for a loss of ten yards ... Two stops and 0.5 TFL at Northeastern (10/11) ... Career-high six tackles against Richmond (10/18) ... Four tackles against Delaware (10/4) ... A tackle and pass break-up at Holy Cross (9/6).

As a redshirt sophomore in 2007: Played in nine of 13 games, missing four due to an injury early in the season ... Special teams contributor with six tackles, five assisted ... Recovered a fumble at Colgate (9/8) on punt coverage which led to UMass' opening touchdown ... Two tackles against Fordham (11/24) in NCAA First Round ... Single tackles at Rhode Island (11/3) and Towson (9/15) ... Opened year with two stops against Holy Cross (9/1).

As a redshirt freshman in 2006: Played in 13 of 15 games on special teams ... Made 14 tackles, including four solo and 10 assisted stops ... Made a stop in the NCAA Final vs. Appalachian State (12/15) ... Two tackles in NCAA Semifinal at Montana (12/8) ... In on a stop against New Hampshire (12/2) in NCAA Quarterfinal ... Solo tackle against Maine (11/11) ... Two tackles vs. #9 New Hampshire (11/4) in regular-season game, vs. Rhode Island (10/21) and Colgate (9/2) in the opener.

As a freshman in 2005: Redshirt season.

Before UMass: Played at St. John's High School in Shrewsbury, Mass. under Coach John Anderoli'... Played both quarterback and cornerback as a senior as part of the Division I Super Bowl Champions ... Named Division I Super Bowl MVP and Red Zone Player of the Year ... Threw for 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns along with 500 rushing yards and six touchdowns ... Honored as the Division I Offensive MVP ... Played for the T&G Super Team ... At quarterback as a junior, threw for 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns ... Also ran for 300 yards and three touchdowns as he was named the Team Offensive MVP ... Named an All-Central Mass All-Star and member of All-Conference team as a junior and senior.

Personal: Eric William Dickson ... Born March 4, 1987 in Southbridge, Mass. ... Son of William Dickson and Carrie Chambers ... Brother of Nicole ... Majoring in Sociology.

GP/GS UT AT TT Sacks TFL Int FR

2006 13/0 4 10 14 0-0 0-0 0-0 0
2007 9/0 1 5 6 0-0 0-0 0-0 1
2008 12/0 11 20 31 1-10 1.5-11 0-0 0
Totals 34/0 16 35 51 1-10 1.5-11 0-0 1

Career Highs

Tackles: 6 versus Richmond (10/18/08)
Sacks 1 versus Rhode Island (11/1/08)
Fumble Recovery: 1 at Colgate (9/8/07)