University of North Texas Athletics
Green Gang: Spring Football Primer
4/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Return to Play
By Steven Bartolotta, April 9, 2010, 1:38 p.m.
Sunday is the Spring game for North Texas and I've got a list of 10 players to watch on Sunday. Festivities begin at 3 p.m. and the game is going to be streamed for free right here at MeanGreenSports.com if you can't make it out. It's going to be broadcast on 88.1 FM KNTU starting at 2:55, so keep those in mind.
Quick explanation about the format. It's the Civil War format again. North vs. South. Points will be kept up by what direction the offense is going when and if they score. So if they score all their points in the north end zone but nothing in the south, it could be 40-0 north. Hope that makes sense. This will be a lot easier in the new place when you can just call it the Batman Wing vs. the South.
It's broken up into four quarters, but not like you think. No clock, but the first quarter features the first-team O vs. first-team D, then second teamers vs. second teamers. And that's the end of the quarter.
That rotation will continue through the second, third, and fourth quarters. The third-teamers will be sprinkled into the mix along the way. Special teams will be between quarters but PAT's and FG's will be within the regular game setting.
Okay now here's my list of 10 guys to watch.
10. WR Bennie Jones- With a slew of injuries, Jones has had a chance to shine this spring and has. He's a walk-on but with the spring he's been having it kinda makes you wonder if he's the next Casey Fitzgerald or something similar. If he's going to supplant either Outlaw or Stradford in the fall, a big showing is necessary.
9. RB Brandin Byrd- A freshman at the running back spot who graduated early from Copperas Cove and has been good, real good. Behind the scenes he's making some giddy about his potential. Yesterday he ripped off one of the best runs in practice of the spring and even had old LB Tobe Nwigwe taking notice.
8. CB D'Leon McCord- The early favorite to replace Adryan Adams at cornerback, he's been good but hasn't really been pushed too much. He's got very good size at 6-1, but still trying to fit into the defensive scheme, which out course often leads to D-Lo bellowing at him from the sidelines.
7. DE Ryan Boutwell- After recovering from an injury last season, he's bulked up big-time and has the look of a DE. At times he's been good, and at times he's been manhandled. Just a freshman though and with the Mean Green playing with undersized DE's already, his development will be crucial.
6. TE Draylen Ross- Moving back to the offensive side of the ball, Ross has Mike Canales salivating at his potential. Ross needs to drop 10-15 pounds, but he's already a great blocker and has soft hands so he's not going to be a one-trick pony. When Ross is in the game, look for North Texas to run the ball to his side a lot.
5. DE K.C. Obi- After getting thrown to the wolves as a freshman last season, Obi has added some weight and is the No. 1 DE opposite AK. He's been more active and looks much more comfortable. Obi must use technique to his advantage because of his lack of size, but with another year of learning from Mike Nelson, it should help.
4. LB Forlando Johnson- I really like what I've seen out of Johnson through the first three weeks of spring ball. Undersized a bit, but he makes up for that in athletic ability. He will play a lot in the different situations and could make a push for a starting LB spot in the fall.
3. WR Willie Taylor- Came out of the gate very strong in the spring but has fallen off just a bit. He's still put himself into the mix and the two-deep at a slot position. Very fast but still has bouts of "dropsy" sometimes that he must eliminate to become a regular at the slot position.
2. RB James Hamilton - I'm a huge fan and have been wanting to see more outta him now for two seasons. Canales has been moving him around a bit, but he's got the No. 2 running back spot locked down and will be a nice compliment to Dunbar. If you're wondering about his size at 5-8 (maybe), yesterday during short-yardage drills, Hamilton went right up the gut and put LB Daniel Prior on his back as he ran right over him.
1. QB Derek Thompson- The hot button position this spring is not doubt QB now that Riley is moving to WR. Thompson has been thrust into the mix and is locked in a battle with Nathan Tune for the starting role. He's been steady during the spring, but Sunday will be his first time to do it in front of an audience since late November last year.
