ONE WEEK until Spring Ball!
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 12:30 amSpring football is nearly here, so it's time to start thinking about the Mustangs' areas of focus this spring:
Quarterback: Jerad Romo and Tony Eckert are graduating, and most believe Chris Phillips will move to tight end, wide receiver or running back. That leaves redshirt freshmen Justin Willis and Eric Johnson, newcomer Corey Slater and true freshman Zach Rhodes, who will enroll in August. Willis drew raves from coaches and teammates last year with the scout team, and Slater has a year of post-high school experience, so they likely will be the early leaders. It's safe to assume Coach Bennett will not announce the starter this spring, even if one QB outshines the others. If none separates himself from the pack, Rhodes might be able to enter the mix with a strong performance in two-a-days. Prediction: Willis.
Linebackers: In the last calendar year, the Ponies have lost six LBs: D.D. Lee, Alvin Nnabuife, Rico Harris, Clayton Cox, Avery Cleveland and Russ Powell. Wilton McCray is the lone returning starter, and Reggie Carrington got major playing time in 2005. The Ponies signed five this spring: Damon Hurst, Pete Fleps, Anthony Sowe, Taylor Bon and Patrick Strodtman, who I think is supposed to grayshirt. As a JUCO transfer, Hurst has more maturity and experience than any of the newcomers, so you've got to think he has a leg up on the competition. Fleps sat out last year, but is substantially larger and stronger than he was as a senior at Southlake Carroll. Predictions: Hurst (SAM), Carrington (MIKE), McCray (WILL).
Cornerbacks: Ro Humphrey is graduating, and the rumor mill suggests that Brandon Jones won't be on the team this year. Translation: Texas Tech is loading up the guns, and not the goofy little Yosemite Sam hand signal that the fans make between tortilla throws. What this also means is that the Ponies must replace BOTH starting corners, which can't be comforting with Tech up first. The corners on the roster have little to no experience, but Jonathan Lindley and David Haynes excelled on special teams and are fast players who are sure tacklers. L.J. (formerly LaCori) Johnson and Emerson Settle also will factor in the rotation, and true freshman Bryan McCann was singled out on Signing Day as a true freshman with a good chance to play. Predictions: Lindley, Haynes.
Free safety: SS Joe Sturdivant was a star last year, but former FS Jamey Harper is one of those players who will be better appreciated after he's gone. Bam Blackmon has great athleticism and speed, but he spent the 2005 season as Sturdivant's backup. Tony Hawkins reportedly is moving from wide receiver to safety, and might well have the ball skills to play the center field style of free safety. Randall Goode, Victor Makinde and Bryce Hudman also could get a look. Prediction: Goode.
Center: Ben Poynter started last year, and JUCO Joe Holmes was brought in to fortify the position. Holmes has a few pounds on Poynter, but Poynter has a year of playing in the system, and added tremendous weight and strength between his true freshman season and his redshirt freshman season last year. Poynter has played some backup tackle, but Holmes reportedly plays guard, too, so his flexibility might make him more valuable as a backup at multiple positions. Prediction: Poynter.
Right guard: Brad Kieschnick started the 2005 season as the starter, but Chris Urbanus finished the season as the starter. A converted tackle, Urbanus made the adjustment pretty well. Sean Lobo and Holmes also factor in. Prediction: Urbanus.
Right tackle: Assuming Darrin Johnson stays on the left side, there are several candidates at right tackle. Urbanus played the position in the past, but he appears entrenched at guard. Holmes, Kenard Burley, Ben Poynter and Tommy Poynter all can play tackle. In the interest of keeping Holmes as the supersub who can play numerous positions across the line. Like Ben Poynter, Tommy is getting stronger by the day. Burley was huge when he arrived at SMU, has very long arms and is one of the strongest players on the team. Prediction: Burley.
Quarterback: Jerad Romo and Tony Eckert are graduating, and most believe Chris Phillips will move to tight end, wide receiver or running back. That leaves redshirt freshmen Justin Willis and Eric Johnson, newcomer Corey Slater and true freshman Zach Rhodes, who will enroll in August. Willis drew raves from coaches and teammates last year with the scout team, and Slater has a year of post-high school experience, so they likely will be the early leaders. It's safe to assume Coach Bennett will not announce the starter this spring, even if one QB outshines the others. If none separates himself from the pack, Rhodes might be able to enter the mix with a strong performance in two-a-days. Prediction: Willis.
Linebackers: In the last calendar year, the Ponies have lost six LBs: D.D. Lee, Alvin Nnabuife, Rico Harris, Clayton Cox, Avery Cleveland and Russ Powell. Wilton McCray is the lone returning starter, and Reggie Carrington got major playing time in 2005. The Ponies signed five this spring: Damon Hurst, Pete Fleps, Anthony Sowe, Taylor Bon and Patrick Strodtman, who I think is supposed to grayshirt. As a JUCO transfer, Hurst has more maturity and experience than any of the newcomers, so you've got to think he has a leg up on the competition. Fleps sat out last year, but is substantially larger and stronger than he was as a senior at Southlake Carroll. Predictions: Hurst (SAM), Carrington (MIKE), McCray (WILL).
Cornerbacks: Ro Humphrey is graduating, and the rumor mill suggests that Brandon Jones won't be on the team this year. Translation: Texas Tech is loading up the guns, and not the goofy little Yosemite Sam hand signal that the fans make between tortilla throws. What this also means is that the Ponies must replace BOTH starting corners, which can't be comforting with Tech up first. The corners on the roster have little to no experience, but Jonathan Lindley and David Haynes excelled on special teams and are fast players who are sure tacklers. L.J. (formerly LaCori) Johnson and Emerson Settle also will factor in the rotation, and true freshman Bryan McCann was singled out on Signing Day as a true freshman with a good chance to play. Predictions: Lindley, Haynes.
Free safety: SS Joe Sturdivant was a star last year, but former FS Jamey Harper is one of those players who will be better appreciated after he's gone. Bam Blackmon has great athleticism and speed, but he spent the 2005 season as Sturdivant's backup. Tony Hawkins reportedly is moving from wide receiver to safety, and might well have the ball skills to play the center field style of free safety. Randall Goode, Victor Makinde and Bryce Hudman also could get a look. Prediction: Goode.
Center: Ben Poynter started last year, and JUCO Joe Holmes was brought in to fortify the position. Holmes has a few pounds on Poynter, but Poynter has a year of playing in the system, and added tremendous weight and strength between his true freshman season and his redshirt freshman season last year. Poynter has played some backup tackle, but Holmes reportedly plays guard, too, so his flexibility might make him more valuable as a backup at multiple positions. Prediction: Poynter.
Right guard: Brad Kieschnick started the 2005 season as the starter, but Chris Urbanus finished the season as the starter. A converted tackle, Urbanus made the adjustment pretty well. Sean Lobo and Holmes also factor in. Prediction: Urbanus.
Right tackle: Assuming Darrin Johnson stays on the left side, there are several candidates at right tackle. Urbanus played the position in the past, but he appears entrenched at guard. Holmes, Kenard Burley, Ben Poynter and Tommy Poynter all can play tackle. In the interest of keeping Holmes as the supersub who can play numerous positions across the line. Like Ben Poynter, Tommy is getting stronger by the day. Burley was huge when he arrived at SMU, has very long arms and is one of the strongest players on the team. Prediction: Burley.
