Swami's Preseason I-AA All-American Teams

[Josh]

Here is my list for All-American honors.

I must say I have to agree with Sam Houston fans on their kids. Garner and Mikulec deserve props.

So far you have seen a lot of All-American teams. Here is the most overrated and underrated from what I have seen. Let me know what you think!

Overrated: QB Richie Williams, App State- He is a great athlete but as a pure quarterback he is just doesn't have the knowledge yet that you need in big game situations. He was shut down by GSU and WCU and with LSU and Kansas on the slate expect Mario Stevenson and Charles Gordon to have muliple picks if they stay in the game more than 2 quarters. Richie has been rusty without his man Fowlkes to throw to and inexperience as well as a coaching staff who has not been keeping the team disciplined expect to see this team drop off and possibly win only 4 or 5 games this year. The talent is there but too many injuries and ??? to make ASU a contender when they really should be.

Richie Williams throws for less than 2700 yards with the better opponents as well as 2 games west of the Miss. River and when Richie goes west he normally has off games.

Underrated: LB Marcus Mikulec, Sam Houston State- When you have over 200 tackles and have 4.5/4.6 speed at 253 pounds you have to be one of the top 4 linebackers in I-AA and most are not seeing this. He has the size and speed for the NFL and the talent to be a star. He could be this year's version of Boomer Grigsby but unlike Boomer close his career with over 140 tackles as a senior.

Sam Houston State is a team with ??? at QB but if Allen steps up this team could be dangerous.

2005 Preseason I-AA All-American Teams
Offense
1st Team Offense
WR Eric Kimble, Eastern Washington, Sr., 5-11 204
WR David Ball, New Hampshire, Jr., 6-3 189
TE Corey Roberts, Sam Houston State, Sr., 6-5 235
OT Rocky Hanni, Eastern Washington, Soph., 6-5 280
OT Jonathan Banks, Grambling State, Sr., 6-7 360
OG Chad Motte, Georgia Southern, Sr., 6-3 304
OG Jeff Bolton, Montana State, Sr., 6-3 302
C Antonio Narcisse, Portland State, Sr., 6-1 305
QB Erik Meyer, Eastern Washington, Sr., 6-1 215
RB Clifton Dawson, Harvard, Jr., 5-10 198
RB Arkee Whitlock, Southern Illinois, Jr., 5-9 207
FB Allen Kennett, Portland State, Sr., 5-10 220

2nd Team Offense
WR Cory Parks, Northeastern, Sr., 5-11 180
WR Felton Huggins, SLU, Sr., 6-3 173
TE Daniel Fells, UC Davis, Sr., 6-3 225
OT Brent Pousson, McNeese State, Jr., 6-4 286
OT Willie Colon, Hofstra, Sr., 6-2 302
OG Matt Magerko, James Madison, Sr., 6-0 285
OG Patrick Covington, Furman, Sr., 6-3 289
C Erik Losey, Western Kentucky, Sr., 6-2 285
QB Travis Lulay, Montana State, Sr., 6-2 205
RB Jermaine Austin, Georgia Southern, Sr., 5-8 216
RB Lex Hilliard, Montana, Jr., 6-0 225
FB Reuben Mayes, Grambling State, Jr., 6-2 245

3rd Team Offense
WR Rick Gatewood, Montana State, Sr., 6-0 190
WR Charlie Spiller, Alcorn State, Jr., 5-11 181
TE Jonathan Williams, New Hampshire, Sr., 6-3 220
OT Brad Rhoades, Montana, Sr., 6-5 285
OT Kevin Boothe, Cornell, Sr., 6-5 300
OG Rod Olds, Jacksonville State, Sr., 6-2 290
OG Cody Morris, William & Mary, Jr., 6-4 285
C Pascal Matla, Eastern Illinois, Sr., 6-4 310
QB Ingle Martin, Furman, Sr., 6-2, 223
RB Steve Baylark, Umass, Jr., 6-0 225
RB Travis Glasford, Western Illinois, Sr., 5-11 190
FB Broderick Cole, Nicholls State, Soph., 5-10 230

Defense
1st Team Defense
DL Chris Gocong, Cal Poly, Sr., 6-3 263
DL Brady Fosmark, Weber State, Sr., 6-2 260
DL Darrell Adams, Villanova, Sr., 6-4 270
DL Tom Parks, Delaware, Sr., 6-4 280
LB Gian Villante, Hofstra, Jr., 6-2 236
LB William Freeman, Furman, Sr., 6-2 242
LB Justin Durant, Hampton, Jr., 6-1 225
LB Marcus Mikulec, Sam Houston State, Sr., 6-2 253
DB David Pittman, Northwestern State, Sr., 5-11 175
DB Antonio Thomas, Western Kentucky, Sr., 6-2 200
DB A.J. Bryant, Georgia Southern, Sr., 6-3 198
DB Shannon James, Umass, Sr., 5-9 205

2nd Team Defense
DL Mike Murphy, Montana, Jr., 6-3 240
DL Sean Conover, Bucknell, Sr., 6-5 272
DL Michael Ononibaku, Georgetown, Sr., 6-1 235
DL Roy Ravenell, Furman, Jr., 6-1 265
LB Jerome Jones, Eastern Kentucky, Sr., 6-2 220
LB Brian Hulea, Villanova, Sr., 6-1 235
LB Zak DeOssie, Brown, Jr., 6-4 239
LB Joey Cwik, Eastern Washington, Sr., 6-1 230
DB Kevin Edwards, Montana, Sr., 6-2 190
DB Dre Dokes, UNI, Jr., 5-9 170
DB Tony LeZotte, James Madison, Soph., 6-0 190
DB Cletis Gordon, Jackson State, Sr., 6-2 197

3rd Team Defense
DL Ed Queen, Northwestern State, Jr., 6-2 265
DL Jacob Houston, Sacramento State, Sr., 6-3 245
DL Fred Evans, Texas State, Sr., 6-5 300
DL Katon Bethay, Wofford, Sr., 6-2 285
LB Maurice Bennett, Lafayette, Sr., 5-10 220
LB Shane McIntyre, Montana, Sr., 6-3 225
LB Mac Mollohan, Montana State, Sr., 6-0 205
LB Brandon Smith, Western Kentucky, Sr., 6-2 220
DB Reed Doughty, Northern Colorado, Sr., 6-1 211
DB Kenny Chicoine, Cal Poly, Jr., 6-1 200
DB Ben Brown, Eastern Illinois, Jr., 6-0 178
DB Corey Lynch, Appalachian State, Soph., 6-0 200

1st Team Special Teams
K Jon Scifres, SMS, Sr., 6-1 225
P David Simonhoff, Southeast Missouri State, Jr., 6-2 205
RS Toby Zeigler, Northwestern State, Sr., 6-0 195

2nd Team Special Teams
K Craig Coffin, Southern Illinois, Jr., 5-11 215
P Ryan Hoffman, Illinois State, Sr., 6-2 192
RS Eric Kimble, Eastern Washington, Sr., 5-11 204

3rd Team Special Teams
K Lance Garner, Sam Houston State, Sr., 6-0 185
P Cameron Muro, Hampton, Sr., 6-2 220
RS Cletis Gordon, Jackson State, Sr., 6-2 197

[TexasTerror]

Swami! Your an honorary Bearkat in my books...eat'em up!

[blackfordpu]

Though he has not had enough field time to be a preseason all american I think that by the end of the year, Allen, may be on one of those teams.

I'll put my teams together here soon.

[umassfan]

Couple of thoughts...
This must be the CFL because there are twelve guys per team. :D
Jermaine Austin is a fullback. It's Brad Rhoades. On your first two defense teams you have a combined one DT but five CB.

Good effort though there are a number of questionable picks. Let's see other AGS member's teams. This is fun!

DBs are DBs and DLine is DLine... I dont think you need to break it down to Safetys/Corners and DE/DT.

[Retro]

At the end of the year, the only LB from the SLC on the 1st team will be Trey Bennett from Mcneese. You heard it here first.

No offense to SHS, but i saw no defensive player last year from that team that deserves to be 1st team all-american.. On Northwestern State, Yes!

[golionsgo]

At the end of the year, the only LB from the SLC on the 1st team will be Trey Bennett from Mcneese. You heard it here first.

No offense to SHS, but i saw no defensive player last year from that team that deserves to be 1st team all-american.. On Northwestern State, Yes!


Don't rule out Southeastern Louisiana's Damien "Putt" Huren either. He had 12 sacks last year and had an outstanding year overall. I'm surprised he hasn't received more attention.

[Josh]

Couple of thoughts...
This must be the CFL because there are twelve guys per team. :D
Jermaine Austin is a fullback. It's Brad Rhoades. On your first two defense teams you have a combined one DT but five CB.

Good effort though there are a number of questionable picks. Let's see other AGS member's teams. This is fun!

Well most All-League teams do name 12. Hey Corey Davis is all I am going to say lol. He was not even all-league last year. How is he a legit early season All-American?

[Josh]

At the end of the year, the only LB from the SLC on the 1st team will be Trey Bennett from Mcneese. You heard it here first.

No offense to SHS, but i saw no defensive player last year from that team that deserves to be 1st team all-american.. On Northwestern State, Yes!

I like him a lot and could see that.

[Josh]

Really, seems the top I-AA media name 11 to a team. Maybe you are thinking of your I-A or the pros? As for Corey Davis, I guess you don't see what I-AA sees. Its funny that you are mentioning his all-league status seeing as how you were lambasting all-league selections last year as being too political. He who "lol" better beware. :)

They are political but he was not great all year long and his team even doesn't pub him as a 1st team guy. He is one of those that most who have seen him play a lot, and you have seen him play a good bit so you know what I mean, that he is a good player who is getting better each week and is probably going to be a dominate player by the end of the season but now he is just good. Dominate players should be a first teamer.

I say the proof is in the pudding. Let's see where he stands in 5 months or so. I am not saying he is not good I am just saying I think players like Boothe and those who have been stars for more than one year unlike Davis deserve more attention than him in the preseason. I also dont see JMU winning the title this year or going nearly as deep and Davis' play was most impressive late in the season because he got into a groove. This year he might not get that so I am holding my high ratings of him until he comes out and plays like he did the last 2 or 3 games for 10-12 games straight.

[Josh]

No one is right 100 percent of the time so just remember that when you say someone is wrong and your right at this point. There are things you say I am wrong about that I will be totally correct about and vice versa. This is all in good fun so just don't take it seriously. There is not just one official All-American team. I really want to see everyone's teams so please let's see more lists.

[Josh]

Swami! Your an honorary Bearkat in my books...eat'em up!


Thanks but if your not Ralph according to him your wrong so I guess my opinion means nothing... even though I do lists for USA Today, the NFL, ESPN, etc. I guess I am not ever going to be as good as Ralph.... :D :D

[Josh]

He who "lol" better beware.

Are you avoiding the answers or just smoking tonight? Maybe I am just not near as smart as you and you are making fun of me or something but I don't think I said lol in that last post so what does the joke mean? I love a good laugh so please clue me in on the punch line.

[Josh]

Look, if you want to take me on do it via email. I never said you were "wrong" or that your "opinion means nothing." I have also never seen your name as a feature with "USA Today, the NFL, ESPN" so I have no comment on that and never have. As one wise AGS member says, don't start nothing... won't be nothing.

Pick up USA Today Sports Weekly in a couple weeks and if you had picked it up a while back when I told you, you would have seen it. I did their I-A all-conference teams and not starting anything just saying that just because I don't totally agree with you doesn't mean I am wrong as other outlets have used my info as have you. I think I-AA.org is a great source of info and the writers work hard but no one is the only expert here. Everyone has their positives. I cover the NFL draft and do player ratings and judge talent most while some like Coulson and Garner are good writers. You are a very good leader and well organized. You have a passion and you do a good job. You want to learn more and more all the time and you are heavily involved. .

I have reasons for my opinions as you do yours. You and I agree on some things and dont agree on others. It doesn't mean either of us are wrong but we have both had different routes. You played football a long time ago and then did other ventures and came back to the football world. I was raised in it and played it. I have always known a lot of people in the football world and most know me who have been around it for a long time.

I am just wary on any player with injury concerns or a history of it. I have seen so many not make it just because of those reasons so I question any selection of a player who has been hurt because in most cases because so many players have gone down.

Why take everything so seriously? I am just picking at you or joking around. I joke with people I like so be glad I do mess with you... :D

[Eagle_77]

I have a few questions and statements.
For a long time Swami was a self-proclaimed expert but in recent years has done some major work to back-up his expertise. I have seen you grow as a person and as a sports reporter via AGS. With that being said I do have a few pieces of advise and take them as you will.
As a reporter you will always have people who love and hate you and your work. And then you will have people who are critical because they disagree. It comes with the ground of being a reporter. When people disagree with your opinions you are often quick to defend yourself. I believe most of the time you are trying to do it in good nature but you come across very strong sometimes which can lead people to believe you are rude. Doing your reporting here is a different world then doing it in the public media. When you right for a paper the people will email you directly or call you and the rest of the world rarely sees the debate. Here it is an ongoing discussion so you are really setting up for major debate.
You usually are not too conservative with your picks on many different things and that to will set up for a debate. I believe that if you step back in your responding and simply reword things or let minor issues pass with a grain of salt it will greatly help your reputation. A reputation that I hope to see get better and better because of what you provide to the fans here. Your work is greatly aspirated and will be taken more and more seriously the sooner that these things are changed.
Now on to a slightly different subject. In the past I felt, as did many others, that you were very biased for and against certain teams. You have changed that for the most part and it has helped people take you more serious. With that being said it has become obvious for your change in attitude for App St. While I agree with you on Williams and that they have a schedule that is going to make things very difficult for them it seems more like you are tearing them down rather than stating the obvious. You were pro App St for so long what has caused the changed in position?
Last thing. Isn’t Austin considered a fullback? I know that it is not a conventional fullback but our running backs would be our slot back Maynard and Jefferson. With that being said do you feel that he is still second team at that position?
Hope some of this helps and keep up the good work.

[blackfordpu]

At the end of the year, the only LB from the SLC on the 1st team will be Trey Bennett from Mcneese. You heard it here first.

No offense to SHS, but i saw no defensive player last year from that team that deserves to be 1st team all-american.. On Northwestern State, Yes!

You must not have been paying much attention. Mikulec is a stud and will prove you wrong. You heard it in reply to your first.

[Josh]

I have a few questions and statements.
For a long time Swami was a self-proclaimed expert but in recent years has done some major work to back-up his expertise. I have seen you grow as a person and as a sports reporter via AGS. With that being said I do have a few pieces of advise and take them as you will.
As a reporter you will always have people who love and hate you and your work. And then you will have people who are critical because they disagree. It comes with the ground of being a reporter. When people disagree with your opinions you are often quick to defend yourself. I believe most of the time you are trying to do it in good nature but you come across very strong sometimes which can lead people to believe you are rude. Doing your reporting here is a different world then doing it in the public media. When you right for a paper the people will email you directly or call you and the rest of the world rarely sees the debate. Here it is an ongoing discussion so you are really setting up for major debate.
You usually are not too conservative with your picks on many different things and that to will set up for a debate. I believe that if you step back in your responding and simply reword things or let minor issues pass with a grain of salt it will greatly help your reputation. A reputation that I hope to see get better and better because of what you provide to the fans here. Your work is greatly aspirated and will be taken more and more seriously the sooner that these things are changed.
Now on to a slightly different subject. In the past I felt, as did many others, that you were very biased for and against certain teams. You have changed that for the most part and it has helped people take you more serious. With that being said it has become obvious for your change in attitude for App St. While I agree with you on Williams and that they have a schedule that is going to make things very difficult for them it seems more like you are tearing them down rather than stating the obvious. You were pro App St for so long what has caused the changed in position?
Last thing. Isn’t Austin considered a fullback? I know that it is not a conventional fullback but our running backs would be our slot back Maynard and Jefferson. With that being said do you feel that he is still second team at that position?
Hope some of this helps and keep up the good work.

Thanks for the kinds words. I have an opinion and I tend to reply back first because I do as much homework as anyone else in the country I feel and many who know me will tell you that. Even though I have several projects with media outside of I-AA I still try to give you guys some things that will be of some interest to you.

See as someone who has some affiliation with App State through family I have learned that when you are with a school it should be tougher for that school to be honored by you to prove you are not bias in your picks.

ASU has talent but the lack of discipline and recruiting by the coaching staff as well as players who do not seem to trust the staff along with a schedule that would be brutal for anyone in I-AA I have come to realize ASU really shouldn't be that good this year in terms of their record.

ASU also has seen a decline in recent years in wins and the coach has become old and is looking at leaving at the end of the year according to rumors. ASU has a great strength coach who I believe should stay and would be great along with any of the former coaches like Tim Horton or Stacy Searls to lead this program in the future.

ASU has talent but too many players who can't tackle, can't block, and players who are often arrested, injured, or quit the team and come back to it for this team to make me a believer this year.

I am projecting 4-5 wins for this team.

I just think when you give up the points against a team like UTC that they did that Kanas, Furman, and LSU on the road are deadly as well as a GSU team you have beat once in about 4 years.

This team is pretty good but the schedule will do to them what UNI's schedule did to them last year and bounce them from the playoffs but unlike UNI ASU has a tough opponent late and that will probably bounce them from the polls for good if that has not already happened by then.

[kats89]

At the end of the year, the only LB from the SLC on the 1st team will be Trey Bennett from Mcneese. You heard it here first.

No offense to SHS, but i saw no defensive player last year from that team that deserves to be 1st team all-american.. On Northwestern State, Yes!

Like BFPU said, you must not have been watching Mikulec. 205 tackles in two years is pretty good in anyones book. Like Swami said, at 250+ lbs, the fact he has 4.5/4.6 speed is NFL caliber. He will be playing Sundays barring any injuries. You heard it here first, look for him to be a Buchanan candidate when the voting starts!!

MIKULEC FOR BUCHANAN AWARD!!!

http://www.gobearkats.com/football/pics/front_big_mikulec.jpg http://www.itemonline.com/content/articles/2005/07/07/sports/todays_sports/sports01.jpg

[umassfan]

Sure, unless you want to play a game. That's just ridiculous. There's a reason why people play at positions...
And there are two FSs on the first team for I-AA.org as well... do you hear anyone else bitching?

[pete4256]

A guy with nearly 4,000 yards rushing in his career for I-AA's historically most successful team and he doesn't make first team? How is that?


And what about App? Why are they even letting Moore coach this year when his team--undisciplined, overrated losers all--will surely finish way below .500? I mean, the fact that they've been winners for decades now won't help a team that isn't being disciplined properly, will it?

[Josh]

I don't see anyone bitching. I-AA.org has two safetys and two cornerbacks per team.

Well no team has 2 FSs on the starting unit just like they dont have 3 DEs lol so it all evens out. I just name the best player regardless of position and you had the best at each position. I just think with how I did it you see which positions are weak this year.

[Josh]

FYI, I-AA.org does not have "2 FSs" or "3 DEs" while others might. Recheck your positionals. You keep saying "you had" but I do not name teams. Remember these are college football positions and not what some perceive the positions will be after college ball.

I know but I am saying at Safety you just named 2 safeties and they didnt have to be a SS or FS on all of the teams. There could be 2 FSs. I just named the best but didn't name it based on pro projection. If you go that route then I wouldn't name Corey Stewart or Lance Wayne over Pascal Matla.

I also didn't want my teams to be formatted the same as any other. As you know I try to do things no one else does.

[jmuroller]

Corey Davis was dominant from game 1 last year. The only reason you think he got in a groove in the playoffs last year is because that was the only time you saw him. Nothing changed from game 1 to game 15 with him. Between him and Magerko at LG, we ran at will on the left side. Hell, we ran at will wherever and whenever we wanted to last year.

[Josh]

Corey Davis was dominant from game 1 last year. The only reason you think he got in a groove in the playoffs last year is because that was the only time you saw him. Nothing changed from game 1 to game 15 with him. Between him and Magerko at LG, we ran at will on the left side. Hell, we ran at will wherever and whenever we wanted to last year.

I saw him twice earlier in the year actually. He is a great player but a year away from being a First Team All-American I think.

You saw more than I did of him I guarantee that so what all about him does he do that you like?

How is his run blocking compared to his pass blocking in your opinion?

I thought he did a good job with his pass blocking, he has good upper body strength and he is not sluggish. He looks like if he lost maybe 10-15 more pounds he would add the quickness to handle those undersized guys at any level.

He also improved his technique. He seemed to be a guy who was stronger than a lot of his opponents and in the NFL you can't do that, you have to win with technique and his improved greatly as he went on.

I think he has the talent don't get me wrong. He is just a year away from me naming him the 2nd tackle in I-AA behind Hanni because I have seen Hanni 4 times already and for a freshman he was unreal.

[jmuroller]

Corey's run blocking is about as good as it gets.

For his pass blocking I would give him an 8 out of 10. If he can improve this then he will dominant next year.

His weight is an issue, but he carries it well. At 340+ he is extremely light on his feet. He played tennis in High School and was pretty good.

He is an NFL player, but his height is an issue. His only chance is to switch to guard, but still at 6" 2' he is still short.

As for his strength...if anything, he was weak his first 2 years. He will be even stronger this year and that will help handle the pass rush.

Between him and Magerko, there isn't a better guard/tackle combo in the nation. They pretty much what they want on the left side.

[Josh]

Corey's run blocking is about as good as it gets.

For his pass blocking I would give him an 8 out of 10. If he can improve this then he will dominant next year.

His weight is an issue, but he carries it well. At 340+ he is extremely light on his feet. He played tennis in High School and was pretty good.

He is an NFL player, but his height is an issue. His only chance is to switch to guard, but still at 6" 2' he is still short.

As for his strength...if anything, he was weak his first 2 years. He will be even stronger this year and that will help handle the pass rush.

Between him and Magerko, there isn't a better guard/tackle combo in the nation. They pretty much what they want on the left side.

I agree he has to move to guard. His frame is not long enough and footwork has to improve but he would be a punishing inside guard.

[Mr. C]

Well no team has 2 FSs on the starting unit just like they dont have 3 DEs lol so it all evens out. I just name the best player regardless of position and you had the best at each position. I just think with how I did it you see which positions are weak this year.
On most teams, there is little difference with what you want skill-wise between a free safety and a strong safety. You are going to put your best two safeties on the field, regardless. The free safety probably will have more speed and be a surer tackle, because he is the last line of defense. He also has to decide where to rotate and who to help out on deep routes. The strong safety may be slightly bigger, so that he can handle the size of the tight end, who is often his responsibility on pass routes. Now cornerbacks are a different animal altogther. There are a lot corners who can't handle safety and a lot of safeties who wouldn't cut it as corners. Some of the skills are completely different. I don't see any reason to overlook a safety and put another cornerback on a team, just like I wouldn't do that to a defensive tackle who was being overlooked for the glamour boys at defensive end, or I wouldn't shun a fullback to add another tailback, or bypass a center for a guard or tackle. The job descriptions are all different.

[Mr. C]

Corey's run blocking is about as good as it gets.

For his pass blocking I would give him an 8 out of 10. If he can improve this then he will dominant next year.

His weight is an issue, but he carries it well. At 340+ he is extremely light on his feet. He played tennis in High School and was pretty good.

He is an NFL player, but his height is an issue. His only chance is to switch to guard, but still at 6" 2' he is still short.

As for his strength...if anything, he was weak his first 2 years. He will be even stronger this year and that will help handle the pass rush.

Between him and Magerko, there isn't a better guard/tackle combo in the nation. They pretty much what they want on the left side.

I agree whole-heartedly that Martin and Magerko are the best combo in the country, the Gene Upshaw-Art Shell of I-AA, if you like. I was shocked after seeing Martin four or five times last year that he didn't receive more publicity as a sophomore. He was the first lineman to catch your eye when you saw JMU play last year. He has VERY good feet for a player of his size and just mangles defensive linemen and linebackers, much like players such as Montana's Dylan McFarland, Western Kentucky's Buster Ashley and Wofford's Eric Deutsch did. When you see a guy on the line repeatedly wiping out two or three defenders at a time, you take notice.

I think one of the reasons that Martin was overlooked for honors last year was that he was an underclassmen. Underclassmen don't get a lot of attention in the A-10 and teams have a tendancy to promote veteran players over young players. I dare say that Martin would have started on any team in the country last fall and would have been an All-Conference performer probably in any other league in I-AA.

On the question of size, too many NFL idiots overlook talent and put too much emphasis on size, or body type when making draft accessments. They don't want to be second-guessed, so that is the way they handle things. The same type of thing is also being reevualated by a lot of baseball people these days, when they choose players — the good old boys versus the Moneyballers. Someday, some folks in the NFL will getting tired of losing and will look at how they draft players. There are plenty of undersized guys in the Hall-of-Fame in Canton Ohio. And for every physical specimen like Todd Marinovich or Ryan Leaf who is selected in the early part of the first round, you have a Tom Brady who was completely off the radar of most teams. Which one of those players do you think will be inducted into Canton someday?

[Josh]

I agree whole-heartedly that Martin and Magerko are the best combo in the country, the Gene Upshaw-Art Shell of I-AA, if you like. I was shocked after seeing Martin four or five times last year that he didn't receive more publicity as a sophomore. He was the first lineman to catch your eye when you saw JMU play last year. He has VERY good feet for a player of his size and just mangles defensive linemen and linebackers, much like players such as Montana's Dylan McFarland, Western Kentucky's Buster Ashley and Wofford's Eric Deutsch did. When you see a guy on the line repeatedly wiping out two or three defenders at a time, you take notice.

I think one of the reasons that Martin was overlooked for honors last year was that he was an underclassmen. Underclassmen don't get a lot of attention in the A-10 and teams have a tendancy to promote veteran players over young players. I dare say that Martin would have started on any team in the country last fall and would have been an All-Conference performer probably in any other league in I-AA.

On the question of size, too many NFL idiots overlook talent and put too much emphasis on size, or body type when making draft accessments. They don't want to be second-guessed, so that is the way they handle things. The same type of thing is also being reevualated by a lot of baseball people these days, when they choose players — the good old boys versus the Moneyballers. Someday, some folks in the NFL will getting tired of losing and will look at how they draft players. There are plenty of undersized guys in the Hall-of-Fame in Canton Ohio. And for every physical specimen like Todd Marinovich or Ryan Leaf who is selected in the early part of the first round, you have a Tom Brady who was completely off the radar of most teams. Which one of those players do you think will be inducted into Canton someday?

I agree somewhat but don't call them idiots in a public place lol. That is the NFL is the only football league I would be scared to have to face!

[jmuroller]

I agree whole-heartedly that Martin and Magerko are the best combo in the country, the Gene Upshaw-Art Shell of I-AA, if you like. I was shocked after seeing Martin four or five times last year that he didn't receive more publicity as a sophomore. He was the first lineman to catch your eye when you saw JMU play last year. He has VERY good feet for a player of his size and just mangles defensive linemen and linebackers, much like players such as Montana's Dylan McFarland, Western Kentucky's Buster Ashley and Wofford's Eric Deutsch did. When you see a guy on the line repeatedly wiping out two or three defenders at a time, you take notice.




I think one of the reasons that Martin was overlooked for honors last year was that he was an underclassmen. Underclassmen don't get a lot of attention in the A-10 and teams have a tendancy to promote veteran players over young players. I dare say that Martin would have started on any team in the country last fall and would have been an All-Conference performer probably in any other league in I-AA.

On the question of size, too many NFL idiots overlook talent and put too much emphasis on size, or body type when making draft accessments. They don't want to be second-guessed, so that is the way they handle things. The same type of thing is also being reevualated by a lot of baseball people these days, when they choose players — the good old boys versus the Moneyballers. Someday, some folks in the NFL will getting tired of losing and will look at how they draft players. There are plenty of undersized guys in the Hall-of-Fame in Canton Ohio. And for every physical specimen like Todd Marinovich or Ryan Leaf who is selected in the early part of the first round, you have a Tom Brady who was completely off the radar of most teams. Which one of those players do you think will be inducted into Canton someday?



Davis, not Martin. Corey Davis


On the size issue, without a doubt the most overrated aspect in sports today, especially football. The thing is, if a scout hands you a 6' 5" 330lb lineman that can run and has good feet, he has done his job. It's the coaches fault after that if he can't play.

[eagleskins]

How can Lance Wayne not be on the list? What about John Mohring and Terrence McBride?

[Josh]

How can Lance Wayne not be on the list? What about John Mohring and Terrence McBride?

Wayne is my 4th center. McBride and Mohring would be 4th or 5th team types. They are close though!