Your Guys // 2009

Swindall-No one in the media sees much from him, but he could be our guy who rises to new heights and is second in receptions.
Fehoko-NO ONE is saying much about this guy, but he will be awesome, I think and break into the starting lineup. He can be a beast.
Doege-While Potts rules now and Sheffield is second fiddle, Doege will come on strong this season and if anyone misses some time he will step up to the plate and be a huge factor in sme key wins.
Jeffers-Little is written about this frosh, but his upside may be the most incredable of all.
Ward-I think special teams will be where this guy shines, giving us great field position several times throughout the year.

Cody Davis.

This team is going to sink or swim on his back.

Tech:

Cody Davis – will have a fantastic breakout freshman season. I’m talking All-Big 12 Freshman like season.

Harrison Jeffers – looking more and more like he will be thrown into places to shine. ESPECIALLY on Special Teams should he get the nod to do some returns.

Donnie Carona – I think his leg strength and his willingness to do something good in the kicking game after such a rough first year, besides the LaCoeur suspension, creates a situation where he becomes a top tier punter in the Big 12.

And for the rest of the NCAA:

I look for Andy Dalton, QB of TCU to have a fantastic, efficient year as a third year starter with some great receiving and running talent around him.

Also, Trent Hunter at Texas A&M will have a breakout season at DB as a second year starting true sophomore (except when Taylor Potts torches him of course).

Finally, I see QB Ricky Stanzi of the U of Iowa becoming a very solid quarterback as well, and even though he’s in a league with Clark and Pryor, I think Stanzi is All Big 10 this season.

• Eric Ward – this kid will earn play at the X position with outstanding play on special teams.  He’s got talent and it will earn him more opportunities to get on the field and make plays
• Harrison Jeffers – Too much has been written about this kid and too much is already known.  The injury of Batch will only highlight that more.
• Mickey Okafor and Terry McDaniel – essentially these guys are the only new guys on the offensive line.  While scarcely a replacement for Louis Vasquez (technically Brandon Carter is his replacement) and Rylan Reed, these guys will quickly earn their place in the history of Tech’s Offensive Line.
• Myles Wade – This kid is a beast.  Too much talent and strength to be kept on the bench behind Whitlock and Hunter.  The thought of him alongside Colby Whitlock makes me salivate for fresh (quarter or running) back meat.  If we can generate the kind of pressure I know is possible from a pair of strong DT’s it will greatly relieve the pressure off of our new DE’s.
• Lyle Leong - I am officially the stagecoach driver of the Lyle Leong bandwagon.  This kid’s moves cannot be ignored.  He just looks like a receiver.  Sure, Lewis and Swindall and Britton get all the press, but keep your eye on this kid

Def. linemen: Brandon Sharpe he’s charged up and needs to step up. He posses quick feet and he’s athletic. He needs to provide a minimum of 9 sacks this year, one sack a game would be nice. What’s more I think he can do this for this defense. No chicken fights just get straight up the field and pressure the QB.
 
Off. Linemen: Chris Olsen Love me some multi role blockers. Just put a hat on the defender and let the backs or receiver turn up field. There is no doubt Mr Olsen is more athletic than guys like Vasquez and Reed. Think I heard Coach Moore say the same thing. I can’t tell you how many times I saw Reed and Vasquez appear to get down field, miss a block and stop running. Hmmm. I would like to see a couple of Linebackers or Safeties knocked flat by one of our O linemen. Just get after them on a physical level. We had a couple of plays in the NE, KU and OSU games where the linemen just missed blocking folks down field. Ultimately we ended up fowling up the scoring drive.

 Receiver: Adam James – though the offense is way cool to watch. The traditionalist in me says "what about the tight end?" I know we don’t have one. But as a hybrid A. James has the potential to be very productive for guy like T. Potts looking to check down to a 3rd receiver especially from the 30 yard line to the end zone. That’s why in earlier I posts I said it would not surprise me to see him get 50 catches this year and 5 – 7 TD’s especially in potentially close games like NE and OSU.

Secondary: Cody Davis it’s going to be relief if the safeties turn out to be decent or above averred playmakers. The Raiders could use a couple of big pass break ups or interceptions from this position in the first 3 x games. I.e. stop the hype ventilating on this piece of the secondary.

Special teams: Taylor Charbonnet as a kick blocker and a gunner on punt coverage teams. We need a stand out threat to tip a ball, block kicks or strip a return man from the ball. I can’t think of a better way to regain momentum than to turn the opposition on their ear with a big play on special teams. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Raiders block 5-9 kicks this year.

Jeffers
Davis
Perry
Leong
Bullitt

Taylor Potts—-He will crush girlie boys McCoy and Bradford in his first step at becoming the finest QB Tech or the BIG12 has ever seen.
Lyle Leong——Lyle is to Potts as Crabs was to Harrell. That high school connection, the years of practicing together.
Britton Barbee— I am a Abilene homer, I admit it. Barbee came out of one of the finest football programs in the state, Abilene Wylie. He was teammates with Case Keenum on a state championship team, learned what it takes to win against all odds.
Eric Russell——-He will have a big impact on a neglected part of our game, making a name for himself at the same time.
Mickey Okafor—-Cool name, you just have to pull for Okafor.

*Leong- I’m the guy in the back waving the Pirate Flag(like the boomer sooner) on this Bandwagon!!!!
*Bullitt- could be a wild card in the DB’s. Has several relatives that have played DI and Pro ball, and lastly has he has TAMU ties and anytime we can -———— them then I like it!
*Exerlaven- Punter who can take down a linbacker in “bull in the ring” I for. Also, a Teasip legacy now playin in the Jones—how sweet it is!
*Zouzalik-a little taller, a little faster, a little better hands(at this stage) than welker/amendola/elf and we all know that turned out!!!!!
*Doege/Karam-their running ability could add some interesting “wild raider” to the AirRaid and bode well for the future!!!!! Wreck’ em TECH!