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Jefferson will start at QB for WSSU
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Published: September 4, 2008
Winston-Salem State has its starting quarterback.
Coach Kermit Blount and offensive coordinator Nick Calcutta decided this morning that redshirt freshman Tienne Jefferson will start Saturday's season-opener at N.C. A&T. Jefferson won the job after an extremely tight race with Jarrett Dunston, a redshirt junior.
Jefferson, a 6-1, 200-pounder from Washington, D.C., spent one year at Fork Union Military Academy before coming to WSSU and was all-conference in football and basketball. He redshirted at WSSU last season but was in uniform for every game and relayed in signals after getting the plays from Calcutta.
"I believe that last year and going on the road and seeing all the games from the sidelines helped me see how defenses are in the MEAC," Jefferson said. Jefferson's style is similar to that of Monte Purvis, who finished his three-year run as the starter and exhausted his eligibility last season.
Dunston (6-3, 220) transferred to WSSU from Temple before last season because he wants to play quarterback. He has the strongest arm of all the Rams' quarterbacks.
Calcutta said that both will play Saturday but that he doesn't plan to alternate quarterbacks.
"Tienne will start, and we'll see how he does, but it's not going to be a case where we want Tienne looking over his shoulder," Calcutta said.
Dunston, from Raleigh, is a second cousin of Shawon Dunston, a former major-league shortstop. He also played a season at Fork Union, in 2005, and was completed 101 of 198 passes for 1,437 yards and 17 touchdowns, with five interceptions.
Dunston saw limited in action in five games for the Rams last season and was 0 for 5 passing with one interception.
"It will help me because it put me in situations where I had to be mentally tough," Dunston said of last season. "Also just going in there and leading the team was helpful."
Blount said that both quarterbacks know that who starts a game isn't as important as who finishes it.
Dunston and Jefferson said that they put aside their personal feelings for the good of the team, and Blount said that they handled the competition well.
"We know we can we win with either one of us at quarterback because we are surrounded by great teammates," Dunston said. "It's just a team thing."
Jefferson said that the competition has been good for both players.
"I think it has made me better every day," Jefferson said after practice Wednesday. "I'm trying to beat this guy out, but we both have great talent, and either one can get the job done."
• John Dell can be reached at 727-4081 or at jdell@wsjournal.com
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