Mean Green

One of the benefits of being in the news business is that you can stay dry in the press box during a workout like the one UNT went through this morning. It rained from start to finish.

Here are a couple of quick notes:

Defensive back/linebacker Germaine Dawson returned to practice after recovering from a hamstring injury. Defensive lineman Draylen Ross was also back. Offensive linemen Coleman Feeley, Jacob Kaiser and Kelvin Drake are still out.

The most interesting development of the last few days has to do with UNT's offensive line. UNT has used several different combinations over the last few weeks.

I asked Todd Dodge who his tackles would be if he opened the season today and Victor Gill and Esteban Santiago are the starters at left and right tackle, respectively. I will have a story in tomorrow's paper about Gill, a former Argyle standout.

UNT will have one of the smallest pairs of tackles in the Sun Belt. Gill said he is up over 260 pounds, while Santiago is listed at 285. For comparison sake, Troy's Dion Small (314) and Chris Jamison (310) are both well over 300 pounds.

Alex Lott worked with the second team and appears to be working his way up the depth chart.

Kylee Hill continues to be impressive. The junior college transfer made a nice open-field tackle in team drills.

It is looking more and more like Daniel Meager will be UNT's backup quarterback this season.

Freshman running back Jeremi Mathis continues to shine in practice. He broke off several long runs today.

Freshman safety James Hamilton cut down a wide receiver with a solid open-field tackle.

Roderick Johnson had the best day among UNT wide receivers. It looks like he will be in UNT's top eight when the season opens. He caught a 40-yard touchdown pass and made another nice grab on an out pattern.

Brandon Akpunku posted a sack while playing with UNT's second-team defense that features several freshmen. Cornerbacks DaWaylon Cook and Royce Hill are working with safeties John Shorter and Darien Williams. Defensive lineman Troy Franklin gives UNT six freshmen on its second-team defense.