University of North Texas Athletics
Green Gang: Two-Deep Thoughts
8/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Return to Play
By Steven Bartolotta, August 24, 2010, 3:46 p.m.
Well the last day of the fall camp is tomorrow and it's time to see how the position battles have shaped up and what the heck the two-deep will look like next Monday after nearly three weeks of practice.
Quarterback -No reason to wait to talk about the best battle of the camp. As things stand right now, if I had to give a slight edge, and I mean slight edge it would be to Derek Thompson. Coach Dodge has said he will make his decision sometime tomorrow but it's not going to be easy. Both players have played well throughout the fall camp and each has given the staff plenty of reasons to start. My head says Tune, my gut says Thompson. We should have an answer tomorrow. My only request is that whoever ends up being named the starter, that's who the staff goes with each and every week barring injury. Rotating QB's is not a good idea if you ask me. After Tune/Thompson, Chase Baine is locked down as the No. 3 guy and John Dodson the No. 4. However if something went wrong with Baine, I think No. 11 takes command.
RB- Lance Dunbar is the No. 1, then I think James Hamilton and Brandin Byrd are both going to get enough touches that they can both be considered No. 2. Hamilton is versatile enough to split out as a WR while Bryd is a big, big, back who runs with the head down and has proven to be a tough first tackle this camp. Very impressive freshman.
Offensive Line- No drama here and that's a good thing. Gill (OT), Drake (G), Johnson (C), and Santiago (OT) will start. Matt Tomlinson (G) was locked in a battle for the other starting guard spot with Coleman Feeley during camp, but he Tomlinson has the edge right now unless his injury continues to cause problems. The second team OL is something other teams will be jealous of. Troy Franklin (OT), Aaron Fortenberry (G), Nick Leppo (C), Feeley (G), and Jeremy Bean (OT) all have the ability to start. The depth at this position for North Texas is unmatched anywhere.
WR- Nearly as deep as the OL, but this camp the depth has been tested. Benny Jones, Darius Carey, B.J. Lewis, and Jamaal Jackson have all been banged up. Despite the injuries, the WR's this year are going to be a mix and match as the lineup really goes eight deep. Starting will not matter that much with group. The top eight goes like this, Jamaal Jackson, Tyler Stradford, Darius Carey, Chris Bynes, Alex Lott, Willie Taylor, Michael Outlaw, and Riley Dodge. Also put into the mix Breece Johnson, B. J. Lewis, Draylen Ross (TE), Conon Gilmartin-Donohue (TE), and Brelan Chancellor and that's 13 guys. This position is taken care of. The surprise of the camp has been Bynes. A speedy guy from JC who has the ability to go get the ball in open space.
Defensive Line- The tackles are set, Shavod Atkinson and Kelvin Jackson. The rest is a jumbled mess. In less than two weeks Demario Dixon is on the verge of supplanting AK as the starting defensive end. Hard to believe but it's going to be a photo finish to see who starts there, but right now Dixon is inching his way up. K.C. Obi is in the same battle with a freshman in Aaron Bellazin, but Obi probably will be the starter. The rest of the D-line is going to consist of Kyle White, Richard Abbe, Tevinn Cantly, and Jessie DeSoto at DT. Ryan Boutwell, Frank Gaines, and John Weber will be DE's. Bottom line is Nelly has a lot of bodies to rotate in this year.
Linebacker- Penson, Phillips, and Robertson are the starters for now. Keep an eye on Zach Orr, the MLB has taken on the mantle of big-hitter in the fall camp, but he is still just a true freshman. Forlando Johnson, Brad Graham, and Daniel Prior has spent most of the camp as the backup's, but count on seeing a lot of those guys. Orr though has been the one who has turned the most heads.
Secondary- Royce Hill, Ira Smith, and DaWaylon Cook were the established guys. The one starting CB spot is up for grabs is going to go to Steven Ford. He has been a play-making presence that Gary DeLoach has been looking for. In the final scrimmage last Saturday, Ford blanketed Tyler Stradford, who did play, and has been a pest all scrimmage for the WR's. The loss of Chris Neal will hurt the depth a little as Hilbert Jackson moves up to be the back-up to Hill. The return of John Shorter gives the safety spot depth and D-Leon McCord will be behind Ford, but also can move over and back-up Hill if necessary. Cook has had the best camp of all however. The quite-type, he has brought back memories of Jonas Buckles with some of the hits he has unloaded this fall.
Special Teams- This certainly has become an area of concern. Zach Olen and Jose Serrano are locked in a battle to replace Jeremy Knott. In the beginning, it was Olen's job but his struggles have opened the door for Serrano. Slight edge to Serrano right now. The return game is going to feature a lot of bodies like last season. Steven Ford and Royce Hill will return punts unless Darius Carey is healthy enough to. Kick returns you will see Jamaal Jackson and Royce Hill, along with Ira Smith and many, many others. Troy Kokjohn is the deep snapper, and a host of others will hold. Possibly Riley Dodge, Nathan Tune and Will Atterberry could hold. Which leads us to Atterberry, who has had a sensational camp. After fading down the stretch last year, Atterberry has been very good this camp that position is well taken care of.
