Blogging Maroon & Gold (July 23rd): Top 10 Preview
Written by Brant Freeman on 10:52 AM
Well bobcat fans, Texas State
Training Camp is
also on the horizon as players report on Sunday August 5th and will
be in helmets and shorts August 6th and in full pads for the first
time that Friday, August 10th.
Looking forward to covering camp and you can expect some more blogs and
podcasts with myself and my broadcaster partner Bill Culhane all camp
long! Did you know Bill is entering his
19th football season at Texas
State
In anticipation of
the fall camp and the coming season I would like to take a look at the storylines
I’m most excited to see unfold this season.
And you know me, I love Top
10 lists so here are my Top 10 things to watch for in 2012…
#10 - Special Teams
I think it’s flown
under the radar a bit, but in the past few seasons the Bobcats have been really
good at returning punts and kicks. Did you know that Texas State
Speaking of punting,
the Bobcats will start just their fourth different punter since 2003 this
season while place kicker Will Johnson (who could also do
some punting for the Bobcats) will prepare for his second season kicking field
goals and handling kickoff duties.
Johnson was 13-24 on FGs as a freshman (5 FGs from 45 yards or further)
and had 17 touchbacks on kickoffs.
#9 - The Running
Back Stable
I don’t think many
people thought that by the end of the season last year that Terrence Franks, a
redshirt freshman who’s career high season yardage in high school was 688
yards, would’ve led the Bobcats in rushing but he did. The former track star from Angleton had 863
yards with a 5.9 yards per carry average and 9 TDs. An explosive back, Franks had 8 rushes of 20
yards or more including runs of 74, 58 and 22 yards at SE-Louisiana en route to
a 234 yard day against the Lions, a Texas
State Texas
State
#8 - Pass Rush
When training camp
opened last season, not many knew who Michael Ebbit was. He was a transfer from Texas A&M where he
really didn’t get the chance to play. He
wasn’t listed on the two-deep going into the opener at Texas Tech and was
thought of being just “a guy”. It didn’t
take long for Ebbit to shed that label, totaling 11.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles
for loss. Consider that the season
before that the Bobcat team had 13 sacks TOTAL.
Problem is, last season was the only one for Ebbit in a Bobcat uniform
and Texas State
Defensive
Coordinator Craig Naivar is known for having an aggressive defense, looking to
get pressure on the quarterback from all angles, blitzing linebackers, corners
and safeties. While that shouldn’t
change this season, the more the ‘Cats can get pressure with their front four,
the more other defenders can drop back in coverage and the defense as a whole
will be more effective.
With the loss of
Ebbit, Bobcat coaches hit the recruiting trail to bring in some beef upfront
and around the edges, evident by the signings of Kamu
Taulelei, Jaryl
Mamea and Thomas
Evans. With the returns of DE Jordan
Norfleet (32 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks) and Blake McColloch (18/3.0/1.0)
among others, the ‘Cats front four will look to bring the heat against opposing
QBs in 2012, and against some pass-heavy offenses they’ll need to do just
that. Also look for Bobcat tight end
Chase Harper to get some snaps at defensive end in obvious passing down
situations…
#7 - The New Guys
We just touched on a
couple in Taulelei and Evans but that’s just the tip of the proverbial
iceberg. Between last year’s redshirts,
incoming JUCO transfers and a few freshman (assuming a good chunk of freshman
will be redshirted this season), the Bobcats will be as deep as they’ve ever
been.
A lot of coaches
have expressed excitement about RS Fr. Linebacker Joshua ‘E Robinson who had an
impressive spring and fellow RS Fr Matt Freeman is expected to start on the
offensive line. The true freshman
recruits, such as OL Ryan Melton and DB Martell Summers (a pair of three-star
recruits) could be players to watch out for as well should the coaches choose
not to red-shirt them.
Bottom line is Texas
State is getting an influx of talent like it never has before, and the coaching
staff, the move to the FBS and renovations at Bobcat Stadium have all played a
huge part. Can’ wait to see it translate
onto the field…
#6 - The Schedule
One could argue that
incoming recruits are being sold on Texas
State Texas
State IS an FBS school now. Just compare
this year’s schedule to last
year’s. (An in-state Big XII school is
coming to San Marcos !)
In road games last
season, Texas State San Marcos
(Nevada and
Louisiana Tech).
You will not look at
Texas State
We’ll round out the
top 10 in the next blog coming soon.
Until then…Eat ‘Em Up!
- Brant (bf17@txstate.edu)
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