Hey this topic is pretty simple.

From your CUSA team, pick one player on offense and one on defense on your team that as a fan you expect to emerge and become a valuable contributor in 2014. The Rules are as follows:
1. No one else outside of the team knows of them; ie, no preseason awards list or preseason conference honors.
2. They are not allowed to be returning starters, ie, coming back from an injury, or transfers.
3. They are not allowed to be true freshman.

Tell who they are and why you think so highly of them. As for as Rice is concerned, I will defer to the opinion of fellow Rice fans.

La Tech (imo) -

Defense:

MLB - Tony Johnson. Big kid (6'2, 240) who can run. Had a great spring and may be poised for All Conference consideration.

Offense:

WR - Carlos Henderson. Probably the biggest get in the 2013 recruiting class. Fast and shifty and has added 30 lbs of muscle since signing with Tech after redshirting last year. (now up to 190 lbs).

Offense: 3 Maudrecus Humphrey Wide Receiver 6-3 185 SR/TR Hoover, Ala. (Univ. of Arkansas) One of the fastest guys in C-USA. Has never played a down at UAB. Being opposite of JJ nelson will cause fits for secondarys. Two ridiculously fast guys that can catch. He is also Bobby Humphrey's son.

Defense: 80 Steve Pickren Tight End 6-4 245 SO/1L Pell City, Ala. (Pell City HS) Moved from TE to DE in the spring. His quickness will keep him in the backfield harassing qbs. He is also bulked up and weighs more than shown.

How about a transfer that hasn't play at either school.

On Offense we got Nick England a 6-1, WR, who played with our QB Taylor Heinicke at Collins Hill HS (GA). With the lost of our top WR, there is a chance for Nick to step up and I think he will. Looked good in the Spring Game

Defense, I like a local kid from Hampton Va, TJ Rick, 6-1, 230, LB, Soph, he's quick to the ball. He'll be one of our leading tacklers this year.

Both of these guys are a little under the radar.

This is a good topic. We can look back and see how many hit the mark.

Offense: Running back Darik Dillard. Carries will be split between a number of good, mostly unknown running backs, but I expect Dillard to lead the pack with his burst and versatility in the passing game (Darik is the younger brother of C-USA great Jarett Dillard)

Defense: Safety Gabe Baker. Offseason attrition means more opportunity for the experienced Senior. Baker is built like a small linebacker and will be ready to step up and produce as a mostly in-the-box safety.

ODU

Offense: I want to go (RB) Gerard Johnson because I think he approaches 1000 yards as a true sophomore but he started some last season so my pick is (WR) Zach Pascal. I think he will go for 60-900-8 as a SO.

Defense: The popular pick will be (DB) Sandy Chapman but I will go with (DE) Scott Wiggins as an emerging situational pass rusher as a sophomore. He had a nice season in 2013 and a good spring.

For WKU:

On offense: #21 WR Jared Dangerfield 6-3/200 JR West Palm Beach, Fla. (Fort Scott CC). He was very impressive in Spring Ball. He has size, speed, great hands, and excellent route running. This guy will end up on one of the all-conference teams.

On Defense: There are a couple that could be big surprises. A couple of JUCO DB's that I think will be very good this season. However, I think if I had to pick one player that everyone will learn his name this season on WKU's defense it has to be LB #31 Terran Williams 6-2/222 SR Bradenton, Fla. (Southeast HS). Known as "Chill" Williams (changed to "Kill" Williams jokingly by some media members after spring ball because of some monster hits), he has patiently waited his turn to be in the spotlight following behind "The President of Destruction" Andrew Jackson who was drafted by the Colts and Xavius Boyd who was an UFA picked up by the Ravens out of WKU's LB corps. I think he will have a breakout season for the WKU defense this year.

It's a little hard for ODU fans to follow all the rules. Our true freshman are some of the most talented players and we have a lot of JUCO transfers who should make an impact.

Offense: RS SO Zach Pascal. I would have gone RS FR Keshawn Henderson but he is one of our dismissed WRs.

Defense: LB Reece Schmidt. He is a JUCO transfer. Big guy (6'3" 240). We're excited to have him. At one point in his recruitment all signs pointed to B10. Reece enrolled in Jan which is a plus. Sandy Chapman is a name to know too.

(07-10-2014 04:58 PM)ODUR8R Wrote:  ODU

Offense: I want to go (RB) Gerard Johnson because I think he approaches 1000 yards as a true sophomore but he started some last season so my pick is (WR) Zach Pascal. I think he will go for 60-900-8 as a SO.

Defense: The popular pick will be (DB) Sandy Chapman but I will go with (DE) Scott Wiggins as an emerging situational pass rusher as a sophomore. He had a nice season in 2013 and a good spring.

I believe Pascal started at least a few. Correct me if I'm wrong. I get most of my info from you anyway!

I like the Johnson pick too.

For the Mean Green:

Offense - Erick Evans, RB. The other former Sun Belt members can verify that the Running Back cupboard in Denton is rarely empty, and it isn't now. The next name to be mentioned alongside Patrick Cobbs, Jamario Thomas, Lance Dunbar, Brandin Byrd & Co is Erick Evans, a RS Freshman. Most mags and websites are touting Junior Antoinne Jimmerson as the next in line, but the Jim-Jim Show (as he likes to be called) has had plenty of opportunity to seize the Featured role and has come up short of that goal for one main reason: he's soft between the Tackles. He's excellent getting the ball in space, maybe the best in the league at the screen pass. But he tiptoes up the middle, and doing that on a smash-mouth style team will cause him to take a secondary role once again this year. Enter Evans, who dazzled in the Spring Game, outperforming all others running hard up the middle and with speed on the corners. Also returning is transfer senior Reggie Pegram, but he will continue to be used as a change-of-pace pounder. Watch for Evans to be at least a 15-carry back by mid-season, maybe more.

Defense - Fred Scott, Soph MLB. Mighty big shoes to fill replacing Zach Orr at the center of the Mean Green D. It was assumed that Oregon transfer Anthony Wallace would step in this year at the Mike position, having sat out his transfer year last season (and using his redshirt). However Scott, who played sparingly but well in a sub role backing up Orr last year, has taken the job outright away from Wallace.

Offense: JR TE Marcus Smith, he's had a couple of knee injuries but really showed some ability in the passing game last season, I think he will be solid this year.

Defense: (RS) SO DE Malik Dilonga (6'4 258) was named the starter at strong side defensive end after spring practice and will have a chance to make an impact.

Curtzilla actually said both of the ones I wanted to say for UNT. I guess that means others are seeing the same thing I am. I'm especially excited about Evans. He has that same "it" factor that Lance Dunbar has.

I am higher on Jim Jim, though, than Curt is.

Erick Evans is the real deal. I fully expect Jimmerson to be the starter for North Texas, and Pegram is coming back from injury. I think the RB position will be a three headed monster in the first half of most games. I think the back with the hot hand, will get most of the carries in the second half of games. I wouldn't be too surprised if Evans steps up and becomes one of the top back in C-USA. I watched this kid in a few practices, two scrimmages, and the Spring Game (my house is close to the practice fields). He has amazing talent. If he commits himself to becoming the best player he came be, I will enjoy watching him start on Sundays, after he leaves UNT.

On defense, Scott and Ellis are both very talented. Either or both could emerge as the key new additions to the 2014 defense. Both LBs are very fast and seem to hit hard like DB Lairamie Lee. I believe the 2014 North Texas defense might hit just as hard as last season's team.

Just my observations.

(07-10-2014 01:35 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Offense: 3 Maudrecus Humphrey Wide Receiver 6-3 185 SR/TR Hoover, Ala. (Univ. of Arkansas) One of the fastest guys in C-USA. Has never played a down at UAB. Being opposite of JJ nelson will cause fits for secondarys. Two ridiculously fast guys that can catch. He is also Bobby Humphrey's son.

Defense: 80 Steve Pickren Tight End 6-4 245 SO/1L Pell City, Ala. (Pell City HS) Moved from TE to DE in the spring. His quickness will keep him in the backfield harassing qbs. He is also bulked up and weighs more than shown.

Bobby Humphrey's son, wow. That's seriously a big deal.

For UTSA:

Offense is an easy choice with running back Jarveon Williams. The true sophomore is an athletic specimen that is still learning how to play running back. He had some great carries last season but needs to work on consistency and protecting the football. Will be a menace whenever he puts it all together.

On defense Chase Dahlquist is likely to win the strong safety position battle as a true sophomore but he did technically start one game against UNT last year. For a completely inexperienced choice I'll go with redshirt freshman Aneas Henricks. He's a former track star that has the wingspan of a small forward. I could definitely see him edge out one of our older guys for reserve snaps or in nickel formations.

UAB:

Offense: Jordan Howard, RB. Real battering ram. Good speed. Great hands. Started the year backing up Darrin Reaves (now in camp with the Carolina Panthers), but saw significant PT. Expect him to be featured back and All-Conference considered.

Defense: I'll agree with Attala and say Pickren. Kid's got two speeds: WFO and stop. He will be hard to keep out of your backfield.

#3 Paul Turner for La Tech at WR is really good and very fast and will be big boost for our offense this year.