Aug. 23, 2008

By Willie T. Smith III, The Greenville News

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Change is in the air for the Furman University defense and Hunter Twitty plans to be an integral part of it.

An outside linebacker during his first three seasons with the team, Twitty's position has been eliminated in the Paladins' new defensive attack. In its place is a hybrid safety/linebacker slot that calls for an athlete possessing a little more quickness and speed than he has.

The 4-2-5 defense has meant a move to inside linebacker, where Twitty hopes to follow in the footsteps of several outstanding Paladins players.

Twitty believes the change will be good for both the Paladins and himself.

"I think it helps us get more speed on the field," said Twitty. "With the way this conference and offenses in general are changing, it gets a lot easier to get players who are accustomed to playing like defensive backs.

"The position of linebacker in itself is changing. You're almost like a big safety. I think it is important to have that kind of athleticism on the field."

Twitty worked hard during the summer so he could begin his final collegiate campaign in the best possible shape.

"The game is changing, offenses are changing so I have to change," he said.. "I did some things differently. I did a lot more agility kind of stuff, lost a few pounds (between five and seven), just trying to get myself ready to compete. I was trying to do things to be more athletic, more agile."

Twitty and his twin brother, All-Southern Conference free safety Thomas Twitty, were part of the more the 70 players who remained on campus during the summer.

Like many of his teammates, Hunter Twitty believes that experience was a game changer for the squad that will be realized when the team begins play after a season he believed to be a slap in the face.

"For me in particular, it was a tough year," Twitty said.. "When you're not used to losing that much and you're 6-5, to me it kind of was a gut check. I went back and said `what do I need to do so we can get better?'

"You get a bunch of guys together. You get them all committed to doing the same thing, you all kind of come together for one purpose which is to win," Twitty said. "I think people are more willing to do what they have to to get themselves ready to win. I know I was. If there was something that I thought needed to be done to make us better and make the defense better I would do it."

The Paladins moved to the 4-2-5 set after successfully utilizing it in a victory over Georgia Southern last season.

Although the Eagles are primarily a run-oriented team, the coaching staff is confident the new set gives the Paladins the best opportunity to successful against pass oriented teams that use spread formations.

"The Georgia Southern thing was kind of a one-week deal," said Twitty. "You kind of put it together. I think this off season the coaches have done a great job putting together some coverages and some fronts that can help us adapt to the different type of offenses we see. I think it is going to work well."

Twitty is also confident Furman fans will see a team more dedicated and determined to prove 2007 was a blip the on Paladins' radar screen of successful football.

"When you get a lot of guys all together they are able to see: 'What do I need to do if I want to be a part of this?,'" said Twitty. "I think a lot of guys did that. Hopefully we are going to see the results of it pretty soon.

"I think people were quick to see it was a different mentality. This had kind of slid and they weren't going to slide any more. Everybody quickly learned we are all committed to winning. That is our goal and what we're going to do."