GARDNER-WEBB QUARTERBACK NICK ROBERTS BLAZES A 4.36 SECOND TIME IN 40-YARD DASH TESTING

GARDNER-WEBB QUARTERBACK NICK ROBERTS BLAZES A 4.36 SECOND TIME IN 40-YARD DASH TESTING


Post Spring Time Is Believed To Be Fastest Ever For A Bulldog Quarterback

BOILING SPRINGS ­ Gardner-Webb quarterback, Nick Roberts, a rising senior, turned the fastest 40-yard dash time of any GWU player during the Bulldogs¹ post-spring Strength & Conditioning testing on Friday, running a cat-quick 4.36 second time that punctuated an impressive offseason.

The blazing time was recorded on Friday, April 29, with three different watches timing Roberts in the 4.3-second range.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound standout returns to lead what should be a potent offense for Gardner-Webb in 2005. Roberts has passed for 4,611 yards and 32 touchdowns during his last two seasons as a full time starter, and has added 756 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns during his career. Roberts is currently fifth on the Bulldogs¹ career passing list heading into the 2005 campaign.

The Springville, Ala., native was a first-team All-Big South quarterback in 2003, and earned second-team honors at the position in 2004.

Roberts will be surrounded by a wealth of offensive talent in 2005, with his top five pass catchers returning ­ in addition to rising sophomore Duvaughn Flagler (6-1, 198), who was tremendously impressive during spring practice and averaged 22.6 yards per catch as a true freshman last season. Rising senior backs George Pressley (5-7, 188) and Jermaine Boston (5-7, 191) also return, but will be pushed hard by Division I-A transfer Kelvin German (5-11, 220, Jr.), a former high school All-American at Sandy Creek (Ga.) High (Middle Tennessee State).

In addition to Roberts, four offensive players for the Bulldogs are returning All-Conference selections ­ receivers Kory Alston (Jr.), Aaron Richardson (Jr.) and Vonzell Pittman (Jr.) and guard/tackle C.J. Brown (Sr.). Overall, Gardner-Webb returns nine offensive starters for the 2005 season.

The Bulldogs will open the 2005 campaign at home on Saturday, Sept. 3, against Union (Ky.) College in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 pm ET.