Coming off of a season that saw the Baylor Bears pull off crazy upset wins over TCU and Oklahoma, while also providing some exciting games, the 2012 season may be one that brings the Big 12 squad back to reality. The squad loses Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, All-American wideout Kendall Wright and record-setting running back Terrance Ganaway. Continue reading
It’s an exciting time for Arkansas State and its football fans. The team went 10-3 last year, undefeated in Sun Belt play, is coming off of its best season in a quarter-century. Oh yeah, they also went out and hired offensive genius Gus Malzahn to replace Hugh Fezze, who bolted for Ole Miss.
Offense: The one player who has to be happiest with the Malzahn hire is senior quarterback Ryan Aplin. The senior put up video game numbers in his junior season, throwing for 3.588 yards, 19 touchdowns and completing 64 percent of his passes. Despite his accuracy, he will need to cut down on his interceptions, as he tossed 16 of them last year. He also rushed for a team-high 588 yards and 10 touchdowns. Aplin also ranks fourth among active FBS quarterbacks in total offense with 8.734 career yards.
Sophomore Frankie Jackson will be looked upon to take over the reigns of starting running back. Despite an injury-plagued 2011, he finished second in rushing touchdowns with six and ran for 355 yards. Jackson is also a passing threat out of the backfield, as he caught 13 passes for 178 yards last season. Jackson is just keeping the seat warm for stud transfer Michael Dyer, however. The running back followed Malzahn from Auburn.
The offense brings back a wealth of experience amongst the receivers, as all three starters are seniors and their backups are also upperclassmen. Taylor Stockemer led the wideouts with seven touchdown grabs and caught 48 balls for 756 yards. Josh Jarboe snared 54 balls for 730 yards.
Defense: Unlike the offense, the defense brings back little experience, as seven starters are gone from last year, as well as a number of top backups. Last year’s Sun Belt DPOY Brandon Joiner has departed, taking his 13 sacks with him. The Red Wolves are looking for someone to become the main pass rusher.
The linebackers are more experienced, with seniors Nathan Herrold and Nick Nelms back. Sophomore Qushaun Lee also returns. Herrold finished third on the team in tackles last season with 66. Lee had 49 stops and two interceptions.
Having to replace two All-Sun Belt corners will be rough, but ASU brings back experience at safety with Don Jones and Sterling Young. The two finished fourth and fifth in tackles last season, with 54 and 51, respectively.
Recruiting: The Red Wolves brought in a total of 30 recruits. The biggest is probably Dyer, but he won’t be eligible to play until 2013. Malzahn picked up much of his class within the trenches, as six recruits are offensive linemen, three defensive ends and four other defensive linemen. The star of the class, however, may be quarterback Fredi Knighten. Knighten comes in as a Parade All-American after throwing for a ridiculous 4,557 yards and 66 touchdowns. He did that all while completing 74 percent of his passes. Oh yeah, he also rushed for 840 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was Arkansas’ Gatorade Player of the Year.
Schedule: The nonconference schedule is going to provide the Red Wolves with some good experience, as they travel to both Oregon and Nebraska in the first three weeks of the season. Their other noncon games should be easy, as they face Memphis (who they defeated last year 47-3) and Alcorn State. Their two toughest conferfence games, against FIU and Louisiana-Lafayette, are both on the road, however.
The 2012 season preview starts out with Arizona. The 2012 season brings one of change, as Rich Rodriguez replaces Mike Stoops, who was relieved of his duties at the beginning of October. Continue reading
Houston – Zach McMillian, D.J. Hayden and Chevy Bennett have really started to stand out in the defensive backfield. They’ve added to the depth and competition that the Houston coaches look for in their defensive backs…The running backs have failed to separate themselves, and while it looks like seniors Bryce Beall and Michael Hayes and junior Charles Sims has the edge over the youngsters, true freshman Daniel Spencer, Randall Hollimon, who has been here a year,and junior walk-on Braxton Welford, are not far behind…Neither of the offensive linemen who suffered injuries, sophomores Ty Cloud and Ralph Oragwu, will need surgery. Cloud suffered a knee injury in last Friday’s practice and Oragwu hurt his ankle in last Saturday’s scrimmage…One player that wasn’t as fortunate was reserve linebacker Philip Causey, who suffered an ACL and MCL tear in his knee and will be out for the year…UH received a $10 million donation towards its football stadium project, helping the Cougars move closer towards the total they need to break ground on a new football stadium. The donation takes UH’s stadium fundraising total over the $60 million mark, which puts them roughly three-quarters of the way to athletic director Mack Rhoades’ stated goal of $80-85 million needed to break ground on the stadium project. The total cost of the stadium was projected at $120 million.
Rice – Even though Driphus Jackson is getting reps with the second-team offense, Nick Fanuzzi remains the backup to Taylor McHargue…LT Jake Hicks remains out with calf injury but Coach Bailiff said it’s nothing serious and he will be back soon…WR Lovett Gibson, QB Driphus Jackson, CB Malcolm Hill, S Jaylon Finner and maybe DT Christian Covington could play as true freshmen…
SMU – Zach Line might have a big roll in special teams this year, whether it be as a kick returner or punt returner…SMU is looking for more people to purchase tickets for this season, as sales have been somewhat low, coming off of consecutive bowl games…The team has renovated its facilities, including a new team meeting room with stadium-style seating as well as renovated positional meeting rooms. Changes to the locker room included the creation of a new team lounge, as well as new lockers, updated graphic and audio/visual equipment.
Tulane – The running back position is going to be one of the, if not the, deepest positions on this year’s squad. The Green Wave steps into 2011 with the conference’s second-leading rusher, Orleans Darkwa. Darkwa’s backup, senior Albert Williams, has taken most of the first-team snaps thus far in camp because Darkwa has an injured toe ligament in his left foot. Behind Darkwa and Williams are junior Stephen Barnett and sophomore Jamar Thomas, and freshmen Robert Kelley and Dante’ Butler. Coaches have said all will play…Starting nose tackle Chris Asumnu broke his hand in Monday morning’s practice. He was hit in the hand by a helmet and underwent surgery to repair the fracture Monday afternoon. He should be out about a week…Tulane freshman wide receiver Marc Edwards suffered a season-ending ACL injury at Wednesday’s practice…Tulane announced that the in-state match-up with Louisiana-Lafayette will resume. It will be a home-and-home football series beginning with Tulane visiting ULL in 2012 and the Ragin Cajuns coming to New Orleans in 2016.
Tulsa – John Flanders and Lowell Rose remain on top of the depth chart at cornerback, but continue to draw quality competition from backups. Flanders is being challenged by Milton Howell and J.D. Ratliff, while Rose continues to be pushed by Justin Skillens. True freshmen like Michael Mudoh, Darrell Williams and Dwight Dobbins have grabbed coaches attention… Freshman receiver Gary Owens is making a favorable first impression. With several of the veterans nursing bumps and bruises, the 5-foot-9, 178-pound speedster is getting his turns with the first-team offense…Joe King made the switch from the offensive line to defense tackle on Wednesday.
UTEP – The Miners continue to go through guards as James Robinson left on a cart with a sore knee during Friday’s practice and will be evaluated today. With Jerel Watkins out with an ankle injury, Paul Santillan took over on the first team. Traun Roberson’s MRI is not back on his injured knee, but Coach Price is not optimistic and said surgery may be needed…Carson Meger, Tate Smith and Javia Hall are all vying to be the quarterback backup and none of the three has distanced themselves from each other…The true freshman most likely to play right away is receiver Malcom Trail. The other possibility is center A.C. Patterson, as good snaps from other backup centers have been a problem.
Houston – Two freshman linebackers have been looking good in practice. Everett Daniels and Derrick Matthews have both provided great leverage and are physical players…With a pair of junior college cornerbacks in D.J. Hayden and Chevy Bennett, plus Texas A&M transfer Colton Valencia, there are plenty of new faces to provide competition for spots in the secondary…The offense has gotten off to a slow start but UH coaches say that was to be expected
Rice – Starting free safety Travis Bradshaw has suffered an undisclosed career-ending injury. Bradshaw was second on the team with 76 tackles and had two interceptions last season. Junior Xavier Webb will take Bradshaw’s spot…The Owls are looking to use their 10 returning defensive starters to improve from last year’s defense that only caused 14 turnovers (112th of 120 FBS teams), allowed 51 percent of their opponents third-down plays to be concerted (117th) and produced just 14 sacks…The defense plans to blitz more
SMU – Two defensive starting jobs are still wide open, according to defensive coordinator Tom Mason. At outside linebacker, the Mustangs are still looking at junior Victor Jones, senior Randy McKinnon, redshirt freshman Uchenna Nwabuike and junior transfer Cody Worthen…The left cornerback spot, replacing the graduated Sterling Moore, will likely go to sophomore Chris Parks, sophomore Kenneth Acker or junior Keith Robinson…Inside linebacker Cameron Rogers, expected to replace departed starter Pete Fleps, has missed practice this week with a strained knee. He is expected to return Saturday or Monday.
Tulane – Coach Bob Toldeo has been impressed with backup corner Alex Lauricella. Lauricella had a deflection and interception on consecutive plays Friday…Defensive back Renaldo Thomas was taken to the hospital Wednesday after losing consciousness. It apparently is a recurring problem and forces him to lose eight or nine pounds a day…It looks like freshmen are going to get a chance to contribute at the linebacker position
Tulsa – Tulsa is looking like it will go with a committee of wide receivers this year. Who rises up to the challenge is yet to be seen…6-foot-3, 270-pound true freshman tackle Derrick Luetjen has been impressive, as he has picked up the system well and looks to be a vital backup…Freshman Derek Patterson is listed at free safety in the media guide, but the coaches have moved him to quarterback for the time being…Junior Lowell Rose, a transfer from UCLA, is getting the first shot at the second cornerback spot but is getting pressed by Justin Skillens. Milton Howell and J.D. Ratliff also are fighting for playing time. One freshman is also intriguing Guy – Dwight Dobbins.
UTEP – In UTEP’s scrimmage Wednesday, 10 different receivers caught passes with no one finishing with more than two receptions. There may be no clear leader emerging as a preferred target…The defense, which will be heavy on pass rushers this year, caused six sacks in that scrimmage…Coach Mike Price is going to be the play-caller this year…Nick Lamaison, who enrolled early coming out of junior college in the spring, looks to lead the race to start at quarterback
East Carolina – Offensive lineman Drew Gentry is sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury. Kenneth Freeman has been added to the squad to replace Gentry…Defensive back Desi Brown (shoulder) and offensive lineman Doug Polochak (shoulder), who was expected to start at left guard, have sat out three consecutive days of practice…Saturday’s scrimmage will help clear up lock jams at running back, wide receiver, linebacker and on both lines, where starting nods are on the line…
Marshall – The Herd is still looking for leading receiver Aaron Dobson to return from a hamstring injury that’s plagued him for most of spring practice and has held him out of fall practice so far. Dobson was the team’s leading receiver with 44 catches for 689 yards last year…Four quarterbacks, Eddie Sullivan A.J. Graham, Rakeem Cato and Blake Frohnapel, are fighting for the starting nod. It looks like Cato is the leader tho…
Memphis – The Tigers might be looking to freshmen to help them often this year. Three rookie running backs, Joe Price, Carl Harris and Artaves Gibson, are all vying for time behind starter Jerrell Rhodes…Wake Forest transfer Skylar Jones, JC transfer Andy Summerlin, Will Gilchrist and true freshman Taylor Reed are fighting to be the starting quarterback. Summerlin has the edge but none of the four is very experienced…OL Ronald Leary and WR Marcus Rucker were the only two returning players to have started every Tiger game in 2010…
Southern Miss – Tray Becton-martin, who was signed as a wide receiver in February, has made a nice transition to cornerback early in camp and the coaching staff is looking for him to be able to contribute right away…Coach Larry Fedora said he’s been impressed with some of the freshman wide receivers, offensive and defensive lineman…The team held their first scrimmage of the preseason and Kendrick Hardy led all rushers with 62 yards on seven carries including a long touchdown run of nearly 60 yards. Desmond Johnson added 52 yards on 10 carries…Austin Davis was 17-of-28 for 180 yards with two touchdowns
UAB – Freshmen Darrin Reaves and Bashr Coles are both pushing for a spot in the running back rotation…Shaquille Roberson is still waiting to be cleared academically by the NCAA…Tight end Kennard Backman, a true freshman, has looked really good and the Blazers feel may have a chance to playing a big role this year…
UCF – The Knights held their first scrimmage and had some players put up impressive stats. On a day where the defense was out to shine, backup quarterback Blake Bortles put together a nice stat line, completing 14-of-21 passes for 173 yards, including one touchdown and interception each…Starting quarterback Jeff Godfrey was seven-of-12 for 88 yards…Six receivers caught three balls each…Latavius Murray led the running game with 69 yards on 13 carries…On defense, Deion Green has 1.5 sacks, while Barry Snider, Toby Jackson and Darius Nall had one each
Miami – Potential upset: Week three vs. Kansas State
Don’t look now, but the Wildcats are bringing in some very talented players. They’ve brought in Chris Harper and Bryce Brown, two highly regarded transfers, in the past year. The Big 12 media members think so highly of Brown that they named him to the Preseason All Big 12 Team, without ever playing a down in Manhattan. Continue reading
Michael Wojtychiw 