08-14-2004, 02:51 PM
Incoming freshman receiver Brock Strickland is 6-3, 220 and Roy Covington is 6-1,190. Both have good hands and great speed.
Freshman WRs could get chance to play early
Stickler, Covington to receive first opportunity at playing time
08:50 AM CDT on Saturday, August 14, 2004
By Brett Vito / Staff Writer
Roy Covington was not on hand Wednesday to hear North Texas football coach Darrell Dickey’s comment on the prospect of a few new athletes competing for playing time at wide receiver this season.
After Covington’s name came up, word reached him pretty quickly.
Dickey said during the Mean Green’s media day that the team’s freshmen wide receivers could have a chance to play right away. Covington and fellow freshman Brock Stickler appear to be the first in line.
Both players looked impressive during the two few days of practice, when both snagged their share of passes from freshman quarterback Daniel Meager.
"I heard about what coach said, but he has not talked to us about it," Covington said. "It really motivates me when he says that we have a chance to play. It makes me want to work."
Both will continue to their pursuit of playing time on Sunday when the Mean Green resume practice after taking a day off to attend quarterback Andrew Smith’s funeral in Bay City.
Covington and Stickler saw their chances of playing immediately improve over the summer after Joel Nwigwe and Ja’Mel Branch were lost for the season due to issues off the field. The two ranked third and fourth, respectively, in receiving yards last season.
UNT has several receivers who will compete with Covington and Stickler for playing time, including redshirt freshman Zach Muzzy and senior wide receiver T.J. Culberson.
"[Covington and Stickler] are going to be given the opportunity," Dickey said. "They both have good speed, run good routes and have the will to compete. We hope they can figure in in some kind of role."
The Mean Green have few needs bigger than finding a player to complement sophomore Johnny Quinn. The former McKinney standout led the Mean Green with 34 catches for 709 yards and three touchdowns last season.
Quinn entered the season as an unknown commodity before quickly establishing himself as one of the top players in the Sun Belt.
The path is one Covington and Stickler hope to follow while keeping defenses from concentrating their efforts on Quinn.
Both appear to have the physical ability to become top players. Stickler won the state title in the discus as a senior at Lampasas and brings a rare combination of speed and strength. Covington is 6-1 and was ranked among the top 100 college football recruits in the area by The Dallas Morning News.
Stickler finished with 1,072 yards receiving as a senior, while Covington caught seven touchdown passes.
The challenge for both players will be to learn UNT’s system and adapt to playing on the college level quickly.
"Football is pretty much the same wherever you are playing," Stickler said. "It’s fast-paced here, but I feel like I am catching on."
Covington said he was confident he could pick up the offensive system quickly with the help of his coaches over the next few days. That task will be easier because both he and Stickler arrived at UNT in good shape.
Covington set a goal that helped keep him motivated to work out during the summer so that he would be in top physical condition for the season.
"I told my self that I really wanted to play as a freshman," Covington said. "But even if I don’t get a chance to play, I am going to work hard."
Freshman WRs could get chance to play early
Stickler, Covington to receive first opportunity at playing time
08:50 AM CDT on Saturday, August 14, 2004
By Brett Vito / Staff Writer
Roy Covington was not on hand Wednesday to hear North Texas football coach Darrell Dickey’s comment on the prospect of a few new athletes competing for playing time at wide receiver this season.
After Covington’s name came up, word reached him pretty quickly.
Dickey said during the Mean Green’s media day that the team’s freshmen wide receivers could have a chance to play right away. Covington and fellow freshman Brock Stickler appear to be the first in line.
Both players looked impressive during the two few days of practice, when both snagged their share of passes from freshman quarterback Daniel Meager.
"I heard about what coach said, but he has not talked to us about it," Covington said. "It really motivates me when he says that we have a chance to play. It makes me want to work."
Both will continue to their pursuit of playing time on Sunday when the Mean Green resume practice after taking a day off to attend quarterback Andrew Smith’s funeral in Bay City.
Covington and Stickler saw their chances of playing immediately improve over the summer after Joel Nwigwe and Ja’Mel Branch were lost for the season due to issues off the field. The two ranked third and fourth, respectively, in receiving yards last season.
UNT has several receivers who will compete with Covington and Stickler for playing time, including redshirt freshman Zach Muzzy and senior wide receiver T.J. Culberson.
"[Covington and Stickler] are going to be given the opportunity," Dickey said. "They both have good speed, run good routes and have the will to compete. We hope they can figure in in some kind of role."
The Mean Green have few needs bigger than finding a player to complement sophomore Johnny Quinn. The former McKinney standout led the Mean Green with 34 catches for 709 yards and three touchdowns last season.
Quinn entered the season as an unknown commodity before quickly establishing himself as one of the top players in the Sun Belt.
The path is one Covington and Stickler hope to follow while keeping defenses from concentrating their efforts on Quinn.
Both appear to have the physical ability to become top players. Stickler won the state title in the discus as a senior at Lampasas and brings a rare combination of speed and strength. Covington is 6-1 and was ranked among the top 100 college football recruits in the area by The Dallas Morning News.
Stickler finished with 1,072 yards receiving as a senior, while Covington caught seven touchdown passes.
The challenge for both players will be to learn UNT’s system and adapt to playing on the college level quickly.
"Football is pretty much the same wherever you are playing," Stickler said. "It’s fast-paced here, but I feel like I am catching on."
Covington said he was confident he could pick up the offensive system quickly with the help of his coaches over the next few days. That task will be easier because both he and Stickler arrived at UNT in good shape.
Covington set a goal that helped keep him motivated to work out during the summer so that he would be in top physical condition for the season.
"I told my self that I really wanted to play as a freshman," Covington said. "But even if I don’t get a chance to play, I am going to work hard."