University of North Texas Athletics
Green Gang: Some Two-Deep Thoughts
8/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Return to Play
By Steven Bartolotta, August 31, 2009, 6:55 p.m.
Second only to the release of the roster at the beginning of two-a-days, the only thing more anticipated before the start of the season is the "official" two-deep. Well it's out and there are a few surprises but not many.
First thing though that I noticed was of the 44 names listed, only nine are seniors. That tells me this team still has a lot of growing up to do. The second thing, if you compare the two-deep this year to last year's heading into Kansas State make sure your sitting down.
Of the 44 names on this year's list, only 15 were on the two-deep heading into Kansas State. That's 34 percent. What that says is that Coach Dodge has turned-over this roster to reflect his players that he recruited.
Of the 44 players on this year's two-deep, 33 are players that signed with North Texas under Coach Dodge. Last year that number was 19, so you can say the clock is running.
On offense the thing that I take away from the two-deep is that Tyler Bailey not only battled back from a broken leg last season but also overtook Coleman Feeley for the starting right guard spot. The rest of the O-line broke down as expected and Kelvin Drake won the starting job over Gabe Hollivay.
The WR's are pretty much how they lined up in the spring, sans Tyler Stradford. B.J. Lewis emerged as a favorite target of Riley Dodge and will be opposite Michael Outlaw. Outlaw and Jamaal Jackson had their spots sewn up in the spring and did nothing in the fall to lose their grip on them. Alex Lott continues to be the guy who just won't go away, metaphorically speaking.
He's small, real small, but shifty and elusive to the point where he seems to be the last guy in the world you would think could make plays but he does. The name I think everyone is anxious to see in action is Darius Carey, all he did was make plays in the fall. Two names that are curiously not on the two-deep are Sam Roberson and Forrest Rucker. Roberson plummeted this fall in the two-deep but I still can't help but think he's going to be in the mix somewhere. 6-4, 220 is just too tempting not to get out there for a few snaps.
Meanwhile Rucker is moving to the TE spot, which isn't listed on the two-deep but Bryant Seidle would be listed at the No. 1 spot and Rucker the No. 2.
The defense has two interesting areas for me and neither is the d-line.
As we talked about nearly three weeks ago, the defensive line the going to be a carousel of players going in and out. AK, Atkinson, and Kelvin Jackson are going to be the starters. That's just three. The second end is going to be either Tevinn Cantly or Sam Owusu-Hemeng and both will get a lot of playing time regardless of who starts.
The same goes for the interior. Atkinson and Jackson will begin things, but honestly Mike Nelson is going to rotate just about every big body he can.
Eddrick Gilmore is the X-factor in my opinion. If he goes 100 percent, 100 percent of the time, blocking him is tough. If not, he's just another body. Ross, DeSoto, and Weber will all see time.
The areas of intrigue are at linebacker and cornerback. Freshman Daniel Prior outplayed Steve Warren in the last week of two-a-days and really surged up the charts. The cornerbacks, not named Hill or Adams, were Robby Gordon and Jamaal Wilson. Gordon was one of the stars midway through the camp while Wilson came on late when it became apperant freshman Hilbert Jackson wasn't ready.
The specialist, no big changes other than freshman Will Atterberry as the punter and Royce Hill the full-time punt returner. The big change on special teams isn't noted because it's impossible to tell how many "regulars" will be getting PT on the special teams this year. I'd say over half though is likely.
The two-deep will fluctuate with time but heading into Thursday, what you see is what the Mean Green will have in Muncie.
