I asked both coordinators today who had locked up starting positions in advance of next week's season opener with Kent State. Offensive mastermind Kevin Brown was much more willing to answer than his defensive counterpart, Curtis Walker, but it was obvious where the questions marks are even before I talked to them.
The offensive line is set with Tim Franklin at left tackle, Seth Smalls at left guard, Ryan Boehm at center, James Sims at right tackle and Bryan Brooks at right tackle. Zach MacDowall will start at quarterback. I'm assuming Eric O'Neal, if healthy, will start at tailback, though it's possible that Jeremy Height could get the nod based on the larger amount of carries he's gotten in the preseason (I don't think the coaches would like to start a true freshman if they don't have to). When the package is used, Tommy Fraser is the starting H-back.
The offensive questions are at wide receiver and tight end. A significant number of players are vying for playing time at wide receiver. Though he's been hurt during the preseason, expect Marquel Willis to be in the starting lineup along with Brandon Whitley. Willis is probably the team's best receiver, and though Whitley doesn't have the surest hands, he's one of the hardest-working players on the team and rarely has a missed assignment. They've both played in big games and I think they'll both be on the field. It honestly doesn't matter who starts, because Keith Graham, Chris Presley, Adrian Sullivan, Akeem Wesley, Justin Cramer and others are sure to see some time early in the season as the depth chart works itself out. I figure that David Duran will start at tight end, though Ben Collins is recovering from a concussion and could return to full activity in time to challenge for the job. Both of them will rotate frequently and even play at the same time, so again it doesn't really matter who starts.
Walker would only mention two sure-fire starters: corner Josh Norman and safety Dominique Davenport. However, you can almost bet that Derrick Frasier and Desmond Steward will be the two starting inside linebackers, Phillip Oboh will start at defensive end, Quinton Davis will start at Chief, the team's hybrid end-outside linebacker position, and Chris Walls will start at Bandit (outside linebacker). The only questions are who will start at the second corner, who will start at free safety and which two players will start on the interior of the defensive line.
The coaching staff wanted Marcus Lott to fill the second safety spot beside Davenport. However, injuries forced him to move back to the corner and I'm betting that he'll start opposite Norman against Kent State. He just hasn't had enough time at safety to settle into the position (I think he's a future star at safety, however). Look for either Tre Henderson or Tarvorris Jolly to be the third corner/nickel back. That leaves current starter Carlton Mitchell, Brandon Autry and Keon Cunningham to battle for the starting spot at free safety. Autry missed most of camp and Cunningham has been inconsistent. Mitchell is limited, though he is probably the best option at this point. I'm assuming Robert Balkunas will start at nose tackle (Jeremy Harden will get some reps here, too). The battle for the starting spot at the other tackle comes down to Chad McField and Dexter Holman. McField is the current starter, but I think their performance over the next week will ultimately decide who takes the field first against Kent State.
The offensive line is set with Tim Franklin at left tackle, Seth Smalls at left guard, Ryan Boehm at center, James Sims at right tackle and Bryan Brooks at right tackle. Zach MacDowall will start at quarterback. I'm assuming Eric O'Neal, if healthy, will start at tailback, though it's possible that Jeremy Height could get the nod based on the larger amount of carries he's gotten in the preseason (I don't think the coaches would like to start a true freshman if they don't have to). When the package is used, Tommy Fraser is the starting H-back.
The offensive questions are at wide receiver and tight end. A significant number of players are vying for playing time at wide receiver. Though he's been hurt during the preseason, expect Marquel Willis to be in the starting lineup along with Brandon Whitley. Willis is probably the team's best receiver, and though Whitley doesn't have the surest hands, he's one of the hardest-working players on the team and rarely has a missed assignment. They've both played in big games and I think they'll both be on the field. It honestly doesn't matter who starts, because Keith Graham, Chris Presley, Adrian Sullivan, Akeem Wesley, Justin Cramer and others are sure to see some time early in the season as the depth chart works itself out. I figure that David Duran will start at tight end, though Ben Collins is recovering from a concussion and could return to full activity in time to challenge for the job. Both of them will rotate frequently and even play at the same time, so again it doesn't really matter who starts.
Walker would only mention two sure-fire starters: corner Josh Norman and safety Dominique Davenport. However, you can almost bet that Derrick Frasier and Desmond Steward will be the two starting inside linebackers, Phillip Oboh will start at defensive end, Quinton Davis will start at Chief, the team's hybrid end-outside linebacker position, and Chris Walls will start at Bandit (outside linebacker). The only questions are who will start at the second corner, who will start at free safety and which two players will start on the interior of the defensive line.
The coaching staff wanted Marcus Lott to fill the second safety spot beside Davenport. However, injuries forced him to move back to the corner and I'm betting that he'll start opposite Norman against Kent State. He just hasn't had enough time at safety to settle into the position (I think he's a future star at safety, however). Look for either Tre Henderson or Tarvorris Jolly to be the third corner/nickel back. That leaves current starter Carlton Mitchell, Brandon Autry and Keon Cunningham to battle for the starting spot at free safety. Autry missed most of camp and Cunningham has been inconsistent. Mitchell is limited, though he is probably the best option at this point. I'm assuming Robert Balkunas will start at nose tackle (Jeremy Harden will get some reps here, too). The battle for the starting spot at the other tackle comes down to Chad McField and Dexter Holman. McField is the current starter, but I think their performance over the next week will ultimately decide who takes the field first against Kent State.
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