After the WSSU Rams football team’s dismal 2002-03 season, they will seek for a boost next season from two incoming freshman recruits.Jeffrey Romanelli and Dale Autrey, both from three time 4-A state champion Charlotte Independence High School, will provide help for both the offensive and defensive units next year.Autrey could possibly provide instant impact for a receiving core that will be without the services of graduating senior Sherman Rigsbee. “I like teams that throw the ball, and the coaches said that is what [WSSU] they do,” said Autrey about what attracted him to Winston-Salem State. “I played tight end and wide receiver in high school, and they said they might put me on the outside to go against some DBs [defensive backs]. And I feel like I can block, so they can throw the toss my way.”Unlike most college freshman receivers, Autrey had the good fortune of catching balls from the best high-school player in the nation, Chris Leak, for three years.”I don’t know what it is with Chris,” said Autrey. “I don’t know how he has it like that, but if you can catch his ball you can catch anybody’s ball. It’s coming hard, and it’s coming fast but after you’ve locked it up a couple times, it’s like nothing.”Autrey also said he is always ready. He will need to carry that attitude into summer workouts in order to compete for a starting job that has wide-open possibilities. Romanelli will be a great addition on next year’s linebacker squad. Entering as a highly recruited athlete, he also will be counted on to fill a lot of gaps on the defensive side.”I liked everything about the school,” Romanelli said. “Everybody was involved in what was going on with the sports. I went to the games and everybody was in to what was going on and I liked that. I went to a basketball game and the gym was packed. Everybody in there was getting up, and I just liked that atmosphere.”Romanelli could be a huge impact in the CIAA at linebacker. Other options to attend major Division I school’s fell apart after Romanelli ran into legal trouble near the end of his senior football season.Romanelli said that his troubles are behind him. He said that the support he received after the incident helped him stay away from further incidents. “Everybody on the team [Charlotte Independence] went out of the way to help me out,” said Romanelli. “If I needed rides or needed help with just anything they were there for me.”Most freshman that come in are red-shirted, but Romanelli might see significant playing time due to absences in the linebacker unit. “I’m coming in there to start,” said Romanelli. “I’m going to come in there and be given a fair chance just like everyone else is. It doesn’t matter to me who is in there. It is my mind-set to come in and start. I just want to come in and do big things off gate.”Both Romanelli and Autrey are in great academic standing. Autrey has plans of becoming a dentist after his formal education. Romanelli said that he is undecided about his plans. Along with the other incoming recruits and walk-ons, Romanelli and Autrey could find themselves in a great position to contribute immediately to a team that struggled with young talent only a season ago.
Contact George Croom at gcroom@thenewsargus.com.