Taking chances on Division I-A players looking for a new start is nothing new for South Carolina State head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough.

Such recruitment has yielded positive results from the likes of cornerback Ryan Hemby (Clemson) and wide receiver Tavarus Morgan and offensive lineman James Lee (University of Georgia).

Pough has also not shied away from Division I-A transfers with checkered pasts such as former University of South Carolina and current Tampa Bay Buccaneer tailback Derek Watson.

It now appears Pough is ready to try the latter once again with an in-state Division I-A transfer with past troubles as he confirmed Saturday the arrival for voluntary workouts of former Clemson defensive end Xavier Littleberry.

A 6-6, 235-pound Columbus, Ohio, native, Littleberry gained attention from Kentucky, Oklahoma State and the University of South Carolina during his two seasons at Camden Military Academy before selecting Clemson.

After being red-shirted in 2004, Littleberry saw action in three games and had one sack for -7 yards in a reserve role last year. He made more news with two high-profile off-field incidents, the first in November 2004 when Littleberry was charged with assault and battery following an incident on the USC campus.

Those charges would be expunged from Littleberry's record upon completion of a pretrial intervention program.

Two years later on Dec. 26, Littleberry was reportedly a suspect in an assault and indecent exposure in Orlando, Fla., where the Tigers faced Colorado in the Champs Sports Bowl. Although no charges were filed in the incident, Littleberry was kicked off the team in January for unspecified team rules, according to head coach Tommy Bowden.

Pough believes Littleberry has learned from the past and is ready to give him a "new slate" at SCSU where he'll have three years of eligibility. He can also look at the example of another former Clemson defensive lineman, Paul White, who ran into legal troubles before transferring to archrival Hampton and becoming a solid contributor for the Pirates.

"I've only had positive experiences with the young man as long as I've known him and I believe he'll do a good job," Pough said in a telephone interview.

Littleberry is one of several transfers slated for this year's roster. Defensive lineman Michael Hill, formerly of the University of Florida, participated in spring drills while wearing a sling to protect his injured right shoulder, and defensive lineman Devon Ladson, formerly of Presbyterian College, and linebacker Dana Grayden, formerly of Georgia, sat out last season.

In other SCSU news, Pough said he's moving returning SCSU assistant coach C.J. Frye to fill the vacant defensive tackles coaching position. The son of University of South Carolina track coach Curtis Frye and former Gamecock lineman was slated to coach the fullbacks and tight ends before DeJuan Polk's departure to the Atlanta Falcons.

Pough hopes to hire an additional coach before training camp starts on Aug. 5.

T&D Senior Sports Writer Thomas Grant Jr. can be reached by e-mail at tgrant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5547. Discuss this and other stories online at TheT&D.com.

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