Breakout players for 2002

[PonyTales]

A few players who haven't played at all, or who have minimal experience, who will be counted on to play big roles this year. My votes:

Safety Rico Harris: With O'Neill graduating, Rico's going to have to play a big role this year. He can cover, and he can really hit. He'll need to do both.

Offensive line: Townsend Hargis, Tommy Miller, Brad Keischnick and Scott Dale. At least two of these players, and preferably three, need to step up and perform in 2002. Hargis is the most experienced, and Miller is the biggest (and reportedly the strongest) - so my guess is that they'll be the first two to earn significant playing time. And it's now or never for Sterling Harris!

Defensive line: Need major help at defensive end with the news that Markus Pratt isn't coming back. Allan Adami will be counted on to contribute a lot opposite Melvin Williams. Adami looked great in last year's spring game, and word is he's a lot bigger and stronger. Look for a breakout season. Sleeper: Khalid Beard.

Linebacker: Don Stansbury is supposed to be a very smart player with very good speed. I heard he lacked strength when he got here last year, but he has the tools (and certainly the bloodlines - two brothers played D-I football) to be a player. He needs to step up.

Special teams: McMurtray and Mentzel (or whatever the new kid's name is) need to play well, or we could be in for a long rebuilding year.

[Grider]

Jay Taylor. Cavan really rooked him out of a year of eligibility by playing him the way he did last year. It seems to me that he only got "trash time" where he didn't really have a chance to contribute. I wish Cavan would have red-shirted him instead of doing that. Regardless, I think he'll make some huge contributions on the offensive side of the ball this year.

I agree that Rico will step up this fall and be a key player on a strong defense.

[smublvddrinker]

Dont expect much from Miller. He hasnt proved much so far and cant keep himself out of trouble. Keischnick will prove to be the most valuable freshman. He is a hrad worker and dedicated to football. Also keep a eye on Stansbury, Nnabufie, and Tate Wallis. Could possibly be break out players in the spring.

[rogershealy]

Matt Bragman. New Punter. Possible All American.

[91Stang]

What do you mean, smublvddrinker, that Miller can't keep himself out of trouble? Has he gotten crossways with the school? Or with the law?

[Jim Rome]

How big are Keischnick, Dale and Miller now?

[smublvddrinker]

Not with the law for sure. But he has dug himself a hole and might not be able to climb out. Once you get on the S list of someone it is hard to get off.

[PonyTales]

When you have new coaches, aren't such lists wiped clean? Hopefully he'll get a chance to show what he can or can't do. Any idea how he got on such a list? Lazy in workouts or something?

[smublvddrinker]

The slate was wiped clean, but he began to faulter the first weeks of Bennett's arrival. Maybe he didn't understand that this was the time to make a impact on the new coaches. It wasn't anthing huge he did, but it doesn't take much with a new coach.

[PonyGirl]

Sounds like you know him personally - maybe you can help him realize the importance of getting his act together?

[MustangMan]

Thornton Chandler will be first-team all-WAC this year, and will get drafted by round 4 or 5.

[MustangFan]

Jonas Rutledge already had something of a breakout year last season. But this season he will be first-team all-WAC, honorable mention All-America and will position himself as a legitimate candidate for the Jim Thorpe Award (nation's top DB) in his senior season.

[SMUrebel]

T.C. will not get All-Wac. He has a lot of heart and plays well at time, but not enough to make All-Wac.

[Pony Up]

Cedric Vinson will emerge this year. He had a badly damaged ankle as a high school senior, and never fully recovered last year. Look for him to play a major role in the WR rotation next year.