RE: Which returning players will win the belt for your team
Coach Dodge and staff are doing a great job at recruiting D1 talent back to NT. The big problem has been this. The staff was forced into playing
kids the staff wanted to redshirt, so many true freshmen, where playing
their 1st year at NT. Second, many positions had very little depth. Needless to say, opponents took advantage of the inexperienced players and the losses kept comming. These young kids have been paying the price for the future. Now, the team is growing up, with quality depth, size, and experience at each position. Will North Texas
contend for the SBC crown in 2009? No, but this is a different team that
will make the race very interesting! Now, choosing the impact players will
be difficult, with so many players returning. Here are my choices.
1. QB Riley Dodge, 6-0,185,4.5. Riley is the favorite to win the QB battle.
Riley grew up with Dodgeball, and he knows everything about it. Riley can read coverages with just a glance. Very accurate passer, and a very
deseptive runner.
2.DE Eddrick Gilmore, was 6-5, 250, now 6-6, 270. One of a few Sr's on
the team, has NFL scouts watching him. DE John Turner, 6-3, 265.
3.RB Lance Dunbar, 5-9,190,4.4. Coach Dodge uses several RB's in his offense (NT is loaded at RB), so Lance shared duties LY until a mid season injury ended his season. Lance is back, healthy, and will be a
explosive player in 2009. Cam Montgomery, 6-1, 225 outstanding 2008
season. Very powerful runner, tough to bring down.
4.OT, two players, Matt Tomlinson, 6-5,300, and Jeremy Bean, 6-5, 310.
5.WR, 6-6, 225,4.5 Forest Rucker, and Kenny Barrett, 6-2, 175. OU
transfer, Tyler Stradford, 6-1, 175 may play in 2009 if the NCAA lifts the transfer rule. Tyler is a game breaker.
6. DT, the Mean Green will have 6 true DT/NG's, all 300+ for 2009.
Jessie DeSoto, 6-2, 305, will be a JR, drew double teams in 2008,
very powerful man. Shavod Atkinson, 6-2, 298, JUCO transfer.
7.LB, Tobe Nwigwe, 6-1, 252,Sr, SBC HM, NFL scouts are watching Tobe
and Craig Robertson, 6-0, 225 Jr-starter since his T/F year, 2007.
8.Secondary, CB Ira Smith, 5-11, 185, 4.4, S-Darin Williams, 5-10, 190.
There are many more players that will impact the 2009 team, so with
spring ball around the corner, the position battles will be very competitive, with quality depth at each postion.
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