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Fall camp is here! David Beaty’s freshman campaign begins with new faces, plenty of question marks and a crisis of identity.
The roster has been fluid, to say the least, since the clock struck 0:00 in Manhattan last season. During the last eight months 26 lettermen have left the program including 3 NFL draft picks and at least 2 undrafted free agents.
More specifically, on the offense side of the ball we lose 94% of our receiving yards and 62% of our rushing yards. So what’s left? All of the unknowns you can digest. Let’s take a look!
The offensive unit lost 68% of its starts due to graduation, the NFL and rules violations. Outside of QB, not one remaining skill position player started a game in 2014. Yep, that’s where we are. The veteran leadership will come in the form of running back De’Andre Mann (Sr.) who was the team’s second leading rusher, and tight end Ben Johnson (So.) who played in all 12 games last year, but only had 8 receptions.
The current receiving corps combined for 5 receptions and 28 yards in 2014. Senior Tre’ Parmalee will line up with a host of young and unproven players who will define the beginning of the Beaty regime. Versatile athlete Darious Crawley (So.) along with Tyler Patrick (RS-Fr.) and Chase Harrell (Fr.) will begin to establish their roles with the team over the next several weeks. Tight ends Johnson and Kent Taylor (Jr.) will hopefully ease the pain of breaking in such an inexperienced received corp.
So what about a offensive line that was shaky at best in 2014. The good news is that the offensive line is relatively experienced compared to the other offensive units. The bad news, returning players accounted for 42% of last year’s starts for a unit that ranked 107th or worse in 8 out of 9 categories (according to Football Outsiders). Returning tackle Larry Mazyck (Sr.) and center Joe Gibson (So.) will anchor the line and lead a mix of transfers and returning players with scattered experience and a handful of starts. *Random Stat: According to the 2015 Media Guide the average height and weight of the offensive line is 6’-4" and 302 pounds (including freshmen).
In other news, the return of Taylor Cox (Sr.) and the addition of NJCAA Player of the Year Ke’aun Kinner (Jr.) add depth to the running back position and, most importantly, will increase the level of competition during camp. Mann may get the nod at starter but it won’t mean much as we can expect a lot of rotation and multiple looks in the backfield throughout the season. I expect Kinner to be the featured back sooner rather than later and his athleticism will be a bright spot on this offense.
Finally, quarterback. In Michael Cummings absence, this will probably be billed as a competition between Montell Cozart and TJ Millweard. Cozart is what he is at this point. He will complete 50% and throw a touchdown for every interception (hopefully). I just can’t get excited about this battle and probably won’t care who starts on September 5th.
And now the roster:
Quarterbacks
|
# |
FULL NAME |
HT. |
WT. |
YR. |
HOMETOWN / HIGHSCHOOL |
Notes |
|||||||
|
14 |
5/10 |
212 |
Sr. |
Killeen, Texas / Killeen HS |
Started final 7 games in 2014, played in all 12. Threw for 1715 yards and 9 TD including 332 yards against TCU. |
|
|||||||
|
10 |
6/3 |
219 |
Jr. |
Colleyville, Texas / All Saints HS |
RS in 2012 at UCLA, attempted 3 passes in 2014 |
|
|||||||
|
2 |
6/2 |
193 |
Jr. |
Kansas City, Mo. / Bishop Miege HS |
Started 5 games last year was replaced by Cummings. Has 8 games starting, 14 games overall |
|
|||||||
|
8 |
5/10 |
186 |
R-Fr. |
Arlington, Texas / Arlington Bowie HS |
Transfer from TCU, CB coaches son, three ACL surgeries in HS |
|
|||||||
|
9 |
6/2 |
188 |
Fr. |
Vero Beach, Fla. / Vero Beach HS |
|
||||||||
|
13 |
6/4 |
205 |
Fr. |
Overland Park, Kan. / Bishop Miege HS |
|
||||||||
|
15 |
Deondre Ford |
6-1 |
200 |
QB |
Waco, Texas / Midway HS |
Dodge City CC |
|
||||||
|
18 |
Frank Seurer, Jr. |
5-11 |
190 |
QB |
Olathe, Kan. / Olathe South HS |
Hutchinson CC |
|
||||||
Runningbacks
|
# |
FULL NAME |
HT. |
WT. |
YR. |
HOMETOWN / HIGHSCHOOL |
Notes |
|
22 |
5/9 |
180 |
Jr. |
Little Elm, Texas / Little Elm HS |
Transfer Navarro JC, rushed for 1696 yd and 22 TD in 2014 - NJCAA 1st team All-American and Player of the Year |
|
|
23 |
5/9 |
205 |
Sr. |
Miami, Fla. / Killian HS |
2014 2nd leading rusher with 399 yards. Saw action in 9 games |
|
|
36 |
5/11 |
206 |
R-Sr. |
Mill Creek, Wash. / Jackson HS |
Played in 12 games in 2012, med RS in 2013, missed all of 2014 |
|
|
25 |
5/10 |
208 |
Jr. |
Attleboro, Mass. / Attleboro HS |
Transfer Dean College, Mass. Was recruited out of college by BC and NC state |
|
|
40 |
6/1 |
193 |
Jr. |
Lawrence, Kan. / Veritas Christian School |
ST in final 8 games of 2014 |
|
|
52 |
5/11 |
205 |
R-Fr. |
Lawrence, Kan. / Baldwin HS |
||
|
24 |
5/10 |
180 |
Fr. |
Fort Worth, Texas / Dunbar HS |
Wide Receivers
|
# |
FULL NAME |
HT. |
WT. |
YR. |
HOMETOWN / HIGHSCHOOL |
Notes |
|
11 |
5/10 |
171 |
Sr. |
Overland Park, Kan. / Bishop Miege HS |
Saw starts as a Fr, So, and Jr. Missed some time last year with injury |
|
|
12 |
5/11 |
189 |
So. |
Houston, Texas / Cypress Ridge HS |
5 games at ST, RB and WR. |
|
|
1 |
LaQuivionte Gonzales |
5-10 |
175 |
Jr. |
Cedar Hill, Texas / Cedar Hill HS |
TA&M transfer |
|
4 |
6/1 |
179 |
R-Fr. |
The Woodlands, Texas / The Woodlands HS |
ESPN 3-star recruit |
|
|
3 |
6/4 |
200 |
Fr. |
Huffman, Texas / Hargrave HS |
||
|
7 |
5/10 |
170 |
So. |
Dallas, Texas / Lincoln HS |
Played ST, WR and CB in 4 games last season |
|
|
6 |
Joshua Stanford |
6-1 |
200 |
Jr. |
Mississauga, Ontario / Martin Luther King (Ga.) |
VT fransfer |
|
85 |
6/1 |
191 |
Jr. |
Overland Park, Kan. / Blue Valley Northwest |
Highland CC - 42 receptions, TD last year |
|
|
5 |
5/11 |
189 |
So. |
Houston, Texas / Westside HS |
Played in 9 of 12 games, mostly ST |
|
|
17 |
Quincy Perdue |
6-3 |
210 |
So. |
Smyrna, Ga. / Lassiter HS |
UAB transfer |
|
87 |
6/3 |
196 |
Jr. |
Wamego, Kan. / Wamego HS |
Coffeyville CC - 8 rec, 71 yards |
|
|
82 |
6/3 |
192 |
Sr. |
Fresno, Calif. / Central HS |
Fresno City College transfer, 2014 - 1 GP (Duke) |
|
|
80 |
6/2 |
195 |
Jr. |
Eureka, Mo. / Eureka HS |
||
|
30 |
5/11 |
174 |
Sr. |
Osborne, Kan. / Osborne HS |
||
|
16 |
5/10 |
170 |
Fr. |
Houston, Texas / Travis HS |
||
|
20 |
6/1 |
200 |
Fr. |
Haslet, Texas / Northwest HS |
||
|
83 |
Jeremiah Booker |
6/2 |
195 |
Fr. |
College Station, Texas / College Station HS |
|
|
26 |
Chris Bell |
5-10 |
171 |
Fr. |
The Woodlands, Texas / The Woodlands HS |
|
|
33 |
Ryan Schadler |
5-11 |
185 |
R-Fr. |
Hesston, Kan. / Hesston HS |
Played RB in spring |
|
88 |
Eric Rivers |
5-9 |
180 |
Jr. |
Arlington, Texas / Bowie HS |
College of the Desert |
|
89 |
DeAnte Ford |
5-10 |
170 |
Fr. |
Missouri City, Texas / Ridge Point HS |
Tight Ends
|
# |
FULL NAME |
HT. |
WT. |
YR. |
HOMETOWN / HIGHSCHOOL |
Notes |
|
81 |
Kent Taylor |
6/5 |
220 |
Jr. |
Tampa, Fla. / Land O'Lakes HS |
6 games as freshman at Florida, Soph RS, sat out last season (transfer) |
|
84 |
Ben Johnson |
6/5 |
234 |
RS So. |
Basehor, Kan. / Basehor Linwood HS |
12 games at TE, ST. 10 rec, 80 yards |
|
86 |
Andrew Zimmer |
6/1 |
209 |
R-Fr. |
Lee's Summit, Mo. / Lee's Summit West HS |
Extensive NFL and NCAA relative network |
|
19 |
Jace Sternberger |
6/4 |
225 |
Fr. |
Kingfisher, Okla. / Kingfisher HS |
|
|
49 |
Sebastian Sock |
6-4 |
220 |
Fr. |
Highlands Ranch, Colo. / Valor Christian HS |
Offensive Line
|
# |
FULL NAME |
HT. |
WT. |
YR. |
HOMETOWN / HIGHSCHOOL |
Notes |
|
79 |
6/5 |
296 |
Jr. |
Waco, Texas / Reicher Catholic HS |
Switched to OL in 2014 fall camp, played all 12 games in 2014 - Played games at TE in 2013 |
|
|
78 |
6/8 |
343 |
Sr. |
Washington D.C. / Friendship Collegiate Academy |
12 GP, 9 GS (RT) |
|
|
77 |
6/3 |
293 |
RS So. |
Prairie Village, Kan. / Rockhurst HS |
7 GS at C, 8 games total, OL and ST |
|
|
70 |
6/2 |
290 |
Sr. |
Baltimore, Md. / W.E.B. DuBois HS |
Started 5 games at C, lost starting job |
|
|
76 |
6/3 |
298 |
Sr. |
La Mirada, Calif. / La Mirada HS |
11 GP, 1 GS (RG) |
|
|
62 |
6/3 |
309 |
Jr. |
Killeen, Texas / Harker Heights HS |
Transfer from Trinity Valley CC (12-0 team) |
|
|
72 |
6/3 |
327 |
Jr. |
Shawnee, Kan. / Shawnee Mission Northwest HS |
Transfer Butler CC, 3-star |
|
|
55 |
6/4 |
284 |
R-Fr. |
Nacogdoches, Texas / Nacogdoches HS |
Per ESPN, 2013 No. 3 center in Texas, 4 star |
|
|
71 |
6/4 |
304 |
R-Jr. |
St. Augustine, Fla. / St. Augustine HS |
RS last season, 15th best OT prospect per Jcgridiron.com |
|
|
65 |
6/4 |
300 |
RS So. |
Deer Park, Texas / Deer Park HS |
Transfer, Blinn College, converted DE |
|
|
64 |
6/4 |
273 |
Jr. |
Villa Park, Ill. / Fenwick HS |
||
|
63 |
6/3 |
290 |
Fr. |
Sherman, Texas / Sherman HS |
|
|
|
74 |
Clyde McCauley III |
6/5 |
275 |
Fr. |
Arlington, Texas / Bowie HS |
|
|
59 |
Jackson Jenkins |
6-4 |
305 |
Fr. |
Overland Park, Kan. / Bishop Miege HS |
|
|
66 |
Hunter Saulsbury |
6-4 |
280 |
Fr. |
Stillwell, Kan. / Blue Valley West HS |
|
|
68 |
Beau Lawrence |
6-5 |
295 |
Fr. |
Overland Park, Kan. / Blue Valley Southwest HS |
|
|
69 |
Mesa Ribordy |
6-4 |
245 |
Fr. |
Louisburg, Kan. / Louisberg HS |