Rick

Thank you 2008. That explains the lack of aggression from that position the first three games. I hope that they settle on some sort of hybrid. Barton should be our biggest playmaker on defense.

I note the question mark on linebacker play. I agree. Does anyone have insight based on what they saw today? I was unimpressed. I thought Fotu was all over the place last week when he came in for Reid. I didn’t notice Reid in the game. My bigger concern is Barton. I watched him closely last week and thought he was average. Today, I didn’t see him…[Read more]

I’m not one to complain much to the athletic department about game issues but I sent them a note last weekend. I experienced the same thing on the west side. We arrived at the gate 25 minutes before kickoff and did not get to our seats until SUU’s third down of their first series. Someone made the call moments before kickoff to pull the security…[Read more]

I don’t know the nature of Simote’s injury but he’ll be back in a few weeks – perhaps against USU but most likely against OK State.

Simote is injured – one of the only injuries in camp. He’s back week three or, at the latest, week four against OK St. I don’t know about Leki. Weird. He’s had a strong camp.

On offense – Dallin Bentley. On defense – Tao Johnson. There’s been a lot of talk about Johnson but it’s his first season as a free safety. I think it will be a good to great one. It may take a few games, but I believe the talk that he’s the next great safety at the U.

I do worry at corner. Calhoun needs to get healthy and I think we’ll be all right. I was worried about running back but I’m not anymore. Mitchell is going to rise this year and Stanley may as well while Bernard remains a consistent force who does everything well.

I chuckle a little at those of us on the board that worry at this level. I suppose…[Read more]

OnlyU is the best person to answer this but what I was told (second hand) was two reasons – biggest one was that they know what they have with the two of them and they particularly wanted to see how the other quarterbacks were doing; the second has to do with a program-level initiative to make sure the players sustain less injury in training camp.…[Read more]

I’m not surprised at the wideouts – all run and get out of breaks at an elite level. They also have rapport with Rising. It will be fun to see who else gets on the field. A little size is missing from that starting group – McClain, Alford (especially), Caldarella and Lyons all have good size.

I love that Bentley is emerging. He has terrific size…[Read more]

Does this mean Andrews is a running back for now or is he playing offense and defense?

That’s freakin’ mean OnlyU – to tease the board with a statement like that.

Details – when do we get the details?

I appreciate the positive vibe though.

Woods will not play this season – ACL injury. Hopefully, we’ll see him competing in the spring.

That’s an interesting tidbit OnlyU has thrown us. Hunter Andrews has been touted as a next great linebacker – 6’3″, 220 lbs as a freshman; but he was a runningback in high school.

Perhaps we’ll hear some more soon. He must be getting some reps on offense. One thing that stood out in his high school highlights to me was how hard he ran. That’s the…[Read more]

I imagine Dillon will redshirt. All kinds of potential and, as has been said, he’ll move somewhere else if adding weight is an issue. I don’t think it will be. He sure looks like he can put on 20 to 30 pounds over the next few years.

Akana is the player I’m hearing who has made significant progress and should see some playing time at end. I’m…[Read more]

Remember – Reynolds saw time as a freshman – much like Fotu. There may be mission rust but the linebacker room is solid. Any more depth and you’d have players transferring – like Medlock did from last season when it became clear Fotu was ahead of him. The other Calvert brother transferred because he wanted playing time rather than be depth in our…[Read more]

The QB depth chart is consistent with what I’ve heard going into camp. I don’t know how much it means. That order could shuffle as camp progresses. Lots of good things being said about Huard.

I don’t know that our true freshman class adds a lot on the playing field this season. I don’t think that downgrades the class, I think it tells us how terrific our ones and twos are. Hunter Andrews, right now, is a linebacker. There is simply too much in front of him but he’s going to be a player. Davis Andrews is mission bound, if not already…[Read more]

I think quarterbacks are in trouble this season. I like our defensive ends but I love our tackles. They are as critical to the pass rush as the ends and I think most teams will have trouble creating a pocket for longer than Two Mississippi. I think the defensive line is the strongest position group – ahead of the wide receiver/tighten corps.

I like your questions Proud. I can give you definitive answers on Woods and Barton. Woods will not play this season due to an ACL injury. Barton is healthy and should pick up where he left off last season – one of the dominant linebackers playing college football.

I want Rising to be better than 2021 and he should be. That may be expecting a lot…[Read more]

Love the position group of the year add on – and from your lips to God’s ears.