Monday (7/25/11) voluntary workout notes

[PonyPride]

• The seven-on-seven portion of Monday's workout included several dropped passes, but also several really nice plays. On one sequence, WRs Der'Rikk Thompson and Keenan Holman dropped consecutive passes from QB Kyle Padron, but Padron went right back to Holman on the very next play, and Holman went up and over his defender to snatch a touchdown that looked like it easily could have been intercepted.

• One of the more sure-handed receivers Monday was Cole Loftin. On one play, Loftin ran a post route and faked an outside route so convincingly that his defender took off toward the sideline. Loftin angled back in toward the center of the field where he easily caught a 30-yard strike from QB J.J. McDermott and cruised into the end zone.

• Maybe the prettiest pass of the day was thrown by QB Steve Kaiser, who threaded a 25-yard pass between two defenders to freshman WR Darius Joseph. On the next play, Kaiser found RB Bryce Lunday in the left side of the end zone for a touchdown.

• Mike Loftus and Matt Stone each spent a good amount of time firing punts back and forth across the field, with each hitting a few over 50 yards. Stone hit one bomb that looked like it was close to 60. Players who took their turn fielding punts included LBs Ja'Gared Davis and Uchenna Nwabuike, WR Steve McCormack and DBs Justin Sorrell and Chris Parks.

• Loftus also worked on field goals. The longest distance he tried was 54 yards, from which he connected on three of four attempts.

• On the final play of the seven-on-seven drills, QB Conner Preston took aim at Holman running a deep fly pattern down the right side of the field. The ball was aimed perfectly, but freshman CB J.R. Richardson stayed with Holman all the way downfield (about 50 yards, including a couple of steps in the end zone), got his head around to locate the ball and continued twisting to reach back and knock the ball away.

• One of the most encouraging sights Monday was the appearance of freshman OLs Taylor Reich (plantar fasciitis) and Dontae Levingston (foot stress fracture) running with their new teammates for the first time. Levingston reported the foot was a little sore when turning and changing direction; Reich said, "it felt OK. I could have done better on some cuts, but I didn't want to hurt it again."

• When he was recruited, NT Rishaad Wimbley was heralded as a powerhouse in the weight room, but he works out like someone intent on claiming some playing time, or at least impressing DL coach Bert Hill and defensive coordinator Tom Mason. Not only is he opening up eyes with his performance in the weight room (remember, a couple of weeks ago he did 32 repetitions on the 225-pound bench press that the NFL uses as a standard measure of overall strength ... after a two-hour workout on his chest and arms). Now, when the team splits up by position groups and does conditioning runs, Wimbley regularly is among the leaders among defensive linemen — impressive for a guy who some suggested was all power and no quickness.

[cutter]

exciting.
thanks.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Thanks PP!

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

I can't wait to see Rishaad Wimbley in person - he sounds like he could be an absolute beast!

[westexSMU]

I thought his Rivals page said Wimbley ran a 4.7. Very quick/ strong NT. Wimbley had said during the recruiting process that, as an example, "Texas was very interested in him", but in the end they thought he was to short. UTs mistake and our gain in my opinion. Great athlete. Our depth is getting better at DL and I wouldn't be surprised to see this guy get some playing time early.

[Junior]

I can't wait to see Rishaad Wimbley in person - he sounds like he could be an absolute beast!

agreed

[RedRiverPony]

Glad to have a media outlet that actually covers the Mustangs. Thanks for your reports.

[BoazBastard]

Nice to hear they're not taking any breaks! Sounds like they really want it, which means heads are going to be turning come fall..