Now that I have finished up all my stories for tomorrow’s papers and run some errands, I’m back with some leftover tidbits from media day this afternoon.
I will use some of what I picked up over the next couple of weeks and in our annual football magazine.
What I will get to today are a couple of interesting depth chart tidbits.
There are quite a few young players on UNT’s two-deep on the defensive side of the ball. Depending on your point of view, that could be really good (UNT has some really good players in the early stages of their careers) or really bad (UNT is going to roll out some guys with about zip in the way of experience at LSU).
Jarrian Roberts is a backup at outside linebacker, while both of UNT’s backup cornerbacks — Devante Davis and Zach Whitfield — are freshmen. JUCO transfer D.Q. Johnson has also regained a starting spot at cornerback.
Brent Osborn continues to hold down the backup spot at quarterback, which has to be a sign that Andrew McNulty is headed for a redshirt season (Osborn might be the better choice anyway).
With Ryan Boutwell out (covered that earlier), Alexander Lincoln becomes a starter with Austin Orr behind him. That’s a spot on the line where UNT has smaller, quicker players, but it will be interesting to see how those guys check in at about 270 fare until Boutwell returns.
UNT’s offensive line is pretty much back intact, with right tackle Coleman Feeley as the only new guy in the lineup, and he is an old guy as a senior.
That about covers the surprises and interesting points in the depth chart.
I did find it interesting that Dan McCarney was adamant about UNT being a ton better and more athletic at safety this year with Marcus Trice and Laramie Lee back there. He said he expects UNT to be better overall in the secondary, despite having so many new guys back there.
He will probably be right, but I do wonder if UNT will miss the experience some of the older players back there had.
UNT has two really bad matchups in the first half of the season for a team with an unproven secondary against Troy (week four) and Houston (week six).
And in an interesting side note, UNT’s future C-USA rival Florida International picked up not one, not two, but three three-star defensive backs from Miami this week. FIU looks like it’s going to be good for a while.