2010 Spring Ball News

Joined
Nov 30, 2008
Messages
462
FootballDad said:
Speaking of Nebraska, of the 11 players currently listed on their roster as cornerbacks, 5 are WHITE (and 1 mulatto).  Virtually their entire recruiting class of corners are white kids who played in the state of Nebraska.
Wow. Could this be a watershed moment? I'm suddenly a Nebraska fan.
 

Highlander

Mentor
Joined
Nov 28, 2009
Messages
1,778
Neb Junior Safety/Nickel Back, Austin Cassidy, may be deserving of his own topic pretty soon:

<h1>Cassidy has something to prove at Nebraska</h1>



<div ="tools">
<div ="tool-items">
<!-- _if_component:custom:disable_comments:::../page_elements/_story/commentcount.inc:1
--></div></div><div ="datestamp" style="margin-left: 2px;">Monday, Apr 12, 2010 -
05:18:39 pm CDT</div>



Never mind about circling this season's Texas A&amp;M game on his
calendar.

Austin Cassidy said he's already thought about the
Aggies' return visit to Lincoln in 2011.

That's Nebraska's final
home football game â€" senior night for Cassidy, who's envisioned this odd
scenario: Being introduced with a man who's wearing Texas A&amp;M gear.


<div ="modSm">

<div ="story-"> </div>
<div ="">Nebraska safety Austin Cassidy runs drills during
football practice Friday, April 9, 2010.
</div>
</div>

<div id="" style="display: none; cursor: default;">


doc4bc25625c197e563435693.jpg

<div ="">Nebraska safety Austin Cassidy runs drills
during football practice Friday, April 9, 2010. (ERIN DUERR / Lincoln
Journal Star)</div>
</div>


<div ="modSm">
<div ="spc">

<div ="">

</div>
</div>
</div>


Austin's father, Tim Cassidy, is the Aggies' associate athletic
director for football â€" the same position he held at Nebraska when
Austin joined the Huskers as a walk-on from Lincoln Southwest.

But
when the Cassidy family moved to College Station, Texas, following the
2007 season, Austin stayed in Lincoln.

Tough decision?

Hardly.

"At
that point, it seemed like more of my family was staying here,"Â said
Cassidy, a junior defensive back. "Obviously, I'm close with my parents,
and I have a sister who goes to school here, but I couldn't leave my
family who was on the team."Â

Especially when his football family
was enduring trying times. A coaching change followed a tumultuous 5-7
season.

"I felt like it would be wrong for me to take the easy
route,"Â Cassidy said.

Not only that, Cassidy felt he had
something to prove on the football field. Sure enough, his name has
surfaced multiple times this spring as a player who bears watching.

"Cassidy,"Â
defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said, "is a lot better than most
people realize."Â


(Ummm, I think he meant, better than most DWF's realize...anyway...continuing on with the story...)

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Cassidy is a safety
who's also competing with Eric Hagg at the hybrid linebacker/nickel role
in Nebraska's new "Peso"Â defense.

"He gives me some depth at
some various positions,"Â Nebraska secondary coach Marvin Sanders said.
"I can play him at nickel, he can play safety. He gives us some options.
We know he has the physical ability to help us win some football
games.


Sanders said he never doubted Cassidy's ability.

"He
just had to find his place,"Â he said. "It would surprise me if he is
not a big factor in next year's game plan.


Cassidy played in 14
games last season as a starter on all four special-teams units and had
nine tackles, including six solo. As a reserve safety, he had one pass
breakup.

Hagg, who roomed with Cassidy last year, said he's not
surprised at his friend's emergence
.

"He might take my spot,"Â
Hagg said with a straight face.
"His technique's getting real good. He's
fitting inside and getting outside where he needs to be
, sitting in
zones where he needs to sit.

"I remember last year, I forget what
game it was in, but he flew down and cracked some dude
, Hagg said. "He
came in for Matt (O'Hanlon) or Larry (Asante), and he came down and
cracked some dude, and I was like, ‘Man!' And he's pretty fast, too."Â


Fast,
and smart.
Cassidy was one of only three players selected to the Big 12
all-academic team with a 4.0 GPA last semester.


"He might be the
smartest kid on the team, I don't know,"Â
Hagg said. "But definitely the
smartest DB in there.
smiley36.gif

 

celticdb15

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jul 24, 2007
Messages
8,469
Since Pelini has taken over there has definitely been a re-emergence in white skill players at Nebraska, just like there should be. Good find Highlander and I look forward to seeing this kid shine next year.
 

Freethinker

Hall of Famer
Joined
Oct 3, 2008
Messages
7,003
Location
Suffolk County, NY
Yes Pelini deserves credit. He plays white receivers, safeties and has Rex at running back. I think he realizes he can tap into all of the under recruited white talent to build a consistent winning program. The haters will also stay off his back a bit if they continue to win.
 

celticdb15

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jul 24, 2007
Messages
8,469

celticdb15

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jul 24, 2007
Messages
8,469
Jack Lambert said:
It looks like QB Zach Mettenberger was kicked of the Georgia Bulldogs' team today.

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/Georgia-Bulldogs-kick-freshman-QB-Zach-Mettenberger-off-team-[/QUOTE]

Sad to see kids w\ talent and so much going for them screw up and party it away. Athletes truly do not realize how many people would kill to be in their position. You're going to school for free, you're playing at a top university in a top conference and if you perforIn the case of Mettenberger, you're going to school for free, you're playing at a top university ina great conference and if you perform well enough there, the NFL is always a possibility.
 

Deadlift

Hall of Famer
Joined
Aug 2, 2007
Messages
5,240
Location
North Carolina
I just watched the Longhorns' April 4th Spring Game:

-They only used wideout Brock Fitzhenry briefly, but he made a nice, acrobatic catch, in the endzone, but it was impossible for him to land inbounds.

-Longhorns' affletes, even non-sumos, got tired early and had their hands on their sides...!!

-Frosh RB, Chris Whaley, is slow and TIGHT-HIPPED. It was really noticeable when he was incredibly stiff when turning the corner. My goodness.. good thing he isn't a "White Boy"... He did have a few gains, running right up the middle through huge holes, but who couldn't do that? I really doubt that he's 6-foot-3, and he was incredibly easy to tackle for the most part.

-Black commentator Rod Babers was quite complimentary toward recent Longhorn Jordan Shipley, and they said Texas would miss his return abilities. Also complimentary toward Blake Gideon and said his defensive ability is what allowed Earl Thomas to get some of his picks. I was SHOCKED! They talked-up Garrett Gilbert and true frosh Case McCoy and the McCoy family. So, it wasn't a complete black-worshipping fest, for once.....
 

Jack Lambert

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jan 3, 2009
Messages
4,743
I took a peek at Indiana's rival's depth chart. Right now, they have two white men starting in the secondary; S (converted WR) Mitchell Evans, and CB Matt Ernest.
smiley32.gif
If the season started now, the Hoosiers would have 8 white starters. (Indiana seems to have a fetish with sumos on the line, but that should change with their recent recruiting classes.)

I don't know if this will last, but how often do you see a white CB and S atop the Spring Depth Chart?

Also, on the Oregon State depth chart, Brandon Hardin also starts at CB.
 

Highlander

Mentor
Joined
Nov 28, 2009
Messages
1,778
<div ="side">
<div =" Menu" id=""><div ="Bottom">


</div>




Nebraska - SPRING
IN REVIEW: Running Back
</font></div></div><div ="main mainCentered"><div =" BlogPost">2010</span>





Apr</span>
19</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</span>

<div ="blog">
Following the 2010 spring camp, Nebraska now
looks back at the progress made by each position group - and what
progress still needs to be.




Position: Running Back



Spring Summary: Nebraska altered its running game to
more sudden, downhill attack, which suited sophomore
Rex
Burkhead's
running game, but required a slight change in style
from senior Roy Helu. Helu appeared more decisive and
bullish in the spring game. Tray Robinson is NU's clear
No. 3 - for now. He didn't get many carries in the spring game, but he
brings 230 pounds and surprisingly good outside speed for that size.
Overall, this is the strongest offensive position group of the four.
Coach Tim Beck should be a happy man.



Big Mover: Burkhead, who looked every bit of
Nebraska's top running back in the spring game
. He was especially
dangerous when paired with quarterback Taylor Martinez. Both of them are
quick-twitch
, hard-running athletes who get North/South in a hurry.




More to Prove: Lester Ward's long strides and upright
running style just don't seem to fit the direction of Nebraska's
offense. He did little on Saturday.



Wild Card: Austin Jones will never be a starter at
Nebraska, but he's a nice utility guy when the injury bug bits. He
showed off a variety of baseline skills - including good hands in the
receiving department - in the spring game.



Freshmen to Add: Braylon Heard, assuming he qualifies.
Heard is a true home run hitter. Elusive-yet-decisive, Heard is a
nearly perfect fit for the new direction of NU's running game.



Injuries: None of note.



How to Spend Summer Vacation: Helu and Burkhead will
push each other, we're sure. Meanwhile, watch for a potential transfer.
Nebraska's backfield is awful crowded, and Jones, as a walk-on, appears
ahead of a few scholarship guys.</div></div></div>
 

DixieDestroyer

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jan 19, 2007
Messages
9,464
Location
Dixieland
JReb1 said:
Jack Lambert said:
It looks like QB Zach Mettenberger was kicked of the Georgia Bulldogs' team today.

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/Georgia-Bulldogs-kick-freshman-QB-Zach-Mettenberger-off-team-
I hope Aaron Murray wins the starting job because this kid is really talented and he had such an amazing high school career. Murray was as dominant as Tim Tebow in high school.

The Dawgs still have solid talent at QB. Zach really screwed up. Chalk it up to being a 19 year old kid & not using good judgment.
smiley6.gif
 

ToughJ.Riggins

Hall of Famer
Joined
Nov 19, 2006
Messages
5,063
Location
Ontario Canada
Burkhead should have a breakout year splitting carries with his buddy Helu! Burkhead & Wegher are elite talents like McGuffie (previous class) & Brandon Bourbon, Drew Phillips and Nile Knapp this year. Really Poed that Knapp won't be playing FBS ball. Nile probably has even more swivel than McGuffie (but a little less speed and burst). Knapp is a phenom!
 

DixieDestroyer

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jan 19, 2007
Messages
9,464
Location
Dixieland
JReb1 said:
Jack Lambert said:
It looks like QB Zach Mettenberger was kicked of the Georgia Bulldogs' team today.

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/Georgia-Bulldogs-kick-freshman-QB-Zach-Mettenberger-off-team-
I hope Aaron Murray wins the starting job because this kid is really talented and he had such an amazing high school career. Murray was as dominant as Tim Tebow in high school.

Thine wish is answered!
smiley2.gif
BTW, that's BS that Durham's not #1 as SE!
smiley7.gif


***I've annotated the White starters below (5 offense (6 including PK Walsh, .5 defense (1.5 including P Butler). The .5 is for a mulatto/"half" White.
smiley11.gif
smiley5.gif


Richt: Aaron Murray is UGA's No. 1 quarterback (WITH FULL DEPTH CHART)

3:44 pm April 22, 2010, by Tim Tucker

(Updated 7 p.m.)

COLUMBUS â€"- The question that had consumed Bulldog Nation for months was answered Thursday: Aaron Murray is Georgia's No. 1 quarterback.

Coach Mark Richt posted the team's preseason depth chart, listing Murray, the redshirt freshman from Tampa, ahead of Logan Gray, the junior from Columbia, Mo., at quarterback.

Richt cautioned that being No. 1 on the depth chart at this point is no guarantee of starting the season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 4, but conceded that it does represent a significant step in that direction for Murray.

"He's in good shape, I'll say that,"Â Richt said before speaking to the Chattahoochee Valley Bulldog Club here Thursday night.

Richt said Gray earned the No. 1 spot with his performance in spring practice

"We see Murray ahead of Logan right now," Richt said. "It's just a matter of, on a consistent basis, [Murray] performed better than Logan at this point. That's really all there is to it. It's the usual things -â€" accuracy, decision-making, those types of things."Â

After briefly hesitating, Richt answered the inevitable question of whether Murray would have been No. 1 in the quarterback pecking order even if a third QB, Zach Mettenberger, had not been kicked off the team on Sunday. The answer, Richt said, is yes.

"I'm not out to hurt anybody worse than they may have been hurt to this point,"Â Richt said, "but Aaron would have been the No. 1 quarterback."Â

Mettenberger was arrested in Remerton, near Valdosta, early last month on charges of underage possession of alcohol, disorderly conduct, obstruction and possession of false identification.

Although Murray has not played in a college game, he had a much-celebrated high school career in Tampa. He was a Parade Magazine All-American, was rated the No. 3 quarterback prospect in the nation by Scout.com and was named MVP of the prestigious Elite 11 camp for the nation's top high school quarterbacks. He became a near legend in Florida prep circles by returning early from a dislocated ankle and broken fibula to lead his Plant High team to a state championship in 2008.

Throughout Georgia's spring practice, which concluded with the G-Day intra-squad game on April 10, Murray shared snaps with Gray and Mettenberger.

Although Murray was widely considered the favorite in the competition all along, Richt and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo avoided providing a pecking order, either publicly or within the team, until Thursday.

Murray had a shaky performance in the G-Day game, completing 10 of 22 passes for 96 yards and throwing one interception, but by all accounts played much better in the team's other spring scrimmages, which were closed to the media and public.

Richt expressed confidence Thursday in the redshirt freshman's ability to thrive in the role of No. 1 quarterback through the off-season.

"He played on a [high school] team that knew how to win and knew what it takes as far as camaraderie and unity,"Â Richt said. "I think our team will respond to him regardless of his age."Â

Gray was Georgia's No. 2 quarterback last season but played minimally behind senior starter Joe Cox. Gray briefly considered a move to another position before spring practice, but with Mettenberger's dismissal, Gray and Murray are the only quarterbacks in the program until the arrival this summer of recruit Hutson Mason from Marietta's Lassiter High.

Richt still doesn't rule out the possibility of Gray eventually playing another position, but said he made progress at quarterback during the spring.

The depth chart was posted after the coaches met individually with each player on the team over the past 10 days.

While most attention was focused on the quarterback battle, the depth chart also revealed the current status of several other highly competitive positions. Orson Charles is listed No. 1 at tight ahead, ahead of 2009 starter Aron White. Bacarri Rambo and Nick Williams are the No. 1 safeties.

Washaun Ealey is listed as the No. 1 tailback, but Richt said Ealey and Caleb King actually are co-No. 1. King is not included on the depth chart because he was injured at the end of spring practice. He is expected to be fully recovered by summer from the sore knee that bothered him the final two weeks of spring ball.

GEORGIA PRE-SEASON DEPTH CHART

(Note: Players who were injured at the end of spring practice are not listed on the depth chart.)

OFFENSE

SE

12 Tavarres King (6-1, 180, RSo.)

16 Kris Durham (6-5, 209, Sr.)

15 Marlon Brown (6-5, 200, So.)

25 Rhett McGowan (6-0, 182, RFr.)

23 Greg Lanier (6-1, 185, RFr.)

LT

60 Clint Boling (6-5, 304, Sr.) - ***White

67 Jonathan Owens (6-4, 294, RSo.)

LG

71 Cordy Glenn (6-5, 328, Jr.)

64 Dallas Lee (6-4, 296, RFr.)

65 John Bodin (6-6, 300, RSo.)

C

61 Ben Jones (6-3, 300, Jr..) - ***White

68 Chris Burnette (6-2, 290, RFr.)

58 Ben Reynolds (6-2, 245, RFr.)

RG

63 Chris Davis (6-4, 295, Sr.) - ***White

76 Ben Harden (6-3, 300, Jr.)

55 Josh Parrish (6-4, 290, RFr.)

RT

78 Josh Davis (6-6, 300, Sr.)

66 Kolton Houston (6-5, 270, Fr.)

TE

7 Orson Charles (6-3, 230, So.)

81 Aron White (6-4, 236, Jr.)

89 Bruce Figgins (6-4, 260, Jr.)

88 Arthur Lynch (6-5, 250, So.)

86 Derek Rich (6-5, 245, Sr.)

QB

11 Aaron Murray (6-1, 206, RFr.) - ***White

6 Logan Gray (6-2, 192, Jr.)

FB

49 Shaun Chapas (6-2, 245, Sr.) - ***White

43 Kevin Lanier (5-11, 209, RSo.)

39 Dustin Royston (5-11, 230, RFr.)

43 Charles White (6-1, 224, Jr.)

44 Josh Sailors (5-9, 225, Jr.)

22 Matt Sweat (5-11, 231, So.)

31 Chris Young (6-5, 215, Fr.)

TB

3 Washaun Ealey (5-11, 205, So.)

30 Carlton Thomas (5-7, 180, RSo.

27 Dontavius Jackson (5-10, 205, RSo.)

45 Brian Brewer (5-10, 215, Sr.)

36 Wes Van Dyk (6-0, 208, Jr.)

29 Alex Parsons (5-9, 196, Jr.)

FLK

8 A.J. Green (6-4, 207, Jr.)

17 Rantavious Wooten (5-10, 170, So.)

3 Taylor Bradberry (6-3, 197, RSo.)

87 Brandon Harton (5-5, 170, Fr.)

Injured

48 Fred Munzenmaier (6-2, 240, Sr.)

4 Caleb King (5-11, 210, Jr.)

27 Cameron Allen (6-1, 209, RSo.)

70 A.J. Harmon (6-5, 310, RSo.)

77 Trinton Sturdivant (6-5, 306, Jr.)

73 Austin Long (6-5, 295, RFr.)

54 Tanner Strickland (6-5, 328, Jr.)

36 Cortney Newmans (5-9, 219, Jr.)

28 Israel Troupe (6-1, 215, Jr.)

19 Craig Sager (6-2, 209, Sr.)

DEFENSE

LE

93 Abry Jones (6-3, 290, So.)

97 Brandon Wood (6-1, 286, Sr.)

85 Derrick Lott (6-4, 295, RFr.)

64 Matthew DeGenova (6-1, 225, Jr.)

N

94 DeAngelo Tyson (6-2, 294, Jr.)

98 Kwame Geathers (6-6, 326, RFr.)

98 Candler Cook (6-3, 250, Jr.)

RE

58 Demarcus Dobbs (6-2, 274, Sr.)

74 Kiante Tripp (6-6, 275, Sr.)

86 Nick Franks (6-2, 250, Jr.)

OLB

83 Cornelius Washington (6-4, 248, RSo.)

50 Darryl Gamble (6-2, 250, Sr.)

33 Chase Vasser (6-3, 215, RFr.)

41 Ricky Lowe (6-7, 235, So.)

OLB

42 Justin Houston (6-3, 259, Jr.)

95 Reuben Faloughi (6-5, 232, RFr.)

15 Brock Boleman (6-6, 223, RFr.)

ILB

51 Akeem Dent (6-2, 233, Sr.)

35 Mike Gilliard (6-2, 200, So.)

37 Akeem Hebron (6-1, 223, Sr.)

49 Jason Veal (5-11, 223, RSo.)

47 Chris Grund (6-0, 220, Sr.)

30 Micah King (5-10, 220, Jr.)

ILB

45 Christian Robinson (6-2, 216, RSo.) ***Mulatto

38 Marcus Dowtin (6-2, 220, Jr.)

22 Richard Samuel, 6-2, 222, Jr.)

26 Jeremy Sulek (6-1, 218, RSo.)

48 Jackson Griffeth (6-2, 196, RSo.)

CB

2 Brandon Boykin (5-10, 185, Jr.)

1 Branden Smith (5-11, 175, So.)

47 Chad Gloer (5-10, 193, Sr.)

13 Blake Sailors (5-11, 185, RFr.)

4 Luis Capella (5-10, 170 RFr.)

SS

39 Nick Williams (6-2, 219, Jr.)

31 Quintin Banks (6-2, 213, Sr.)

36 Shawn Williams (6-1, 195, So.)

16 Josh Murray (6-2, 204, Sr.)

FS

18 Bacarri Rambo (6-0, 210, RSo.)

23 Jakar Hamilton (6-2, 196, Jr.)

87 Eric Elliot (5-9, 186, Jr.)

CB

25 Vance Cuff (5-11, 177, Sr.)

19 Sanders Commings (6-2, 214, RSo.)

10 Jordan Love (6-0, 185, RFr.)

28 Corey Dunson (6-0, 192, RFr.)

Injured

79 Justin Anderson (6-5, 330, Jr.)

53 Jeremy Longo (6-3, 255, RSo.)

SPECIALISTS

P

13 Drew Butler (6-2, 203, Jr.) - ***White

57 Blair Walsh (5-10, 185, Jr.)

99 Jamie Lindley (5-11, 168, Jr.)

PK

57 Blair Walsh (5-10, 185, Jr.) - ***White

31 Brandon Bogotay (6-3, 200, Jr.)

99 Jamie Lindley (5-11, 168, Jr.)

SN

69 Ty Frix (6-1, 206, RSo.) - ***White

86 Derek Rich (6-5, 245, Sr.)

94 Billy Johnson (6-0, 225, RSo.)

H

13 Drew Butler (6-2, 203, Jr.) - ***White


http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/2010/04/22/richt-aaron-murray-is-ugas-no-1-quarterback/Edited by: DixieDestroyer
 

celticdb15

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jul 24, 2007
Messages
8,469

Highlander

Mentor
Joined
Nov 28, 2009
Messages
1,778

Jimmy Chitwood

Hall of Famer
Joined
Aug 10, 2005
Messages
8,975
Location
Arkansas
i wonder if that will affect his room-brightening smile?
smiley19.gif
smiley36.gif
 

Colonel_Reb

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jan 9, 2005
Messages
13,987
Location
The Deep South
Good hit, but why is this posted here?
Edited by: Colonel_Reb
 

celticdb15

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jul 24, 2007
Messages
8,469
Omg bone crushing!! Thats certainly a way to get coaches to notice you!!
 

Jimmy Chitwood

Hall of Famer
Joined
Aug 10, 2005
Messages
8,975
Location
Arkansas
Colonel, both players involved were affletes.
 

Colonel_Reb

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jan 9, 2005
Messages
13,987
Location
The Deep South
Well, 36 looked white when I first watched it but now after looking up his profile, I see that he's just a sort of light negro. Looks like I might have to invest in glasses a little sooner than I'd hoped.
smiley5.gif


Since they are both black, I must ask why this was posted here. Seems kind of pointless. Just my $.02

Edited by: Colonel_Reb
 

celticdb15

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jul 24, 2007
Messages
8,469
I can applaud a good play when I see one. BUT, I agree. Probably shouldn't be making it on this site.
 
Top