2007 CFN Redshirt Freshman
All-America Offense
Compiled by
Richard Cirminiello
-
2007 Preview |
2007 CFN Redshirt
All-America Defense
For
hundreds of freshmen across the nation, last season was undoubtedly the
most frustrating of their young lives. Yeah, there was plenty of
growing taking place, both physically and mentally, but there were no
games, no competition, and no box scores that contained their names.
For a variety of reasons, these idle warriors were redshirted in 2006
with the design that they’d return this year a little bigger, a little
stronger and a little wiser. And a whole lot more ready to start paying
dividends for all those recruiting trips, phone calls and text
messages.
QB Jake Locker, Washington – More than any other redshirt
freshman in the country, Locker is being counted on to light a fire
under a struggling program. He’s got all the tools to be an immediate
Pac-10 star, including good size, a live arm, and a war chest of
intangibles that usually don’t develop until much later in a
quarterback’s career. Get ready for the Marques Tuiasosopo comparisons
the first time Locker exits the pockets and lowers the boom on an
overmatched defensive back.
RB DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma – Alright, so he’s not Adrian
Peterson and won’t beat out Allen Patrick this fall, but that doesn’t
mean Murray can’t start carving out his legacy in Norman. An
all-purpose dynamo with gamebreaking speed and the hands of a receiver,
he’s close to unstoppable once he gets into the open field. In what
Sooner fans hope was a harbinger of things to come, Murray capped a
fantastic spring with 103 yards on just four carries in the final
scrimmage.
RB Stanley Havili, USC – Yeah, yeah, Havili is a fullback, but
he’s not your typical one-dimensional plower that’s going to get six
carries a season. And unlike most of this year’s really talented
freshmen, he’s not buried on the depth chart behind a couple of
veterans. At 220 pounds, Havili is a LenDale White-type runner with
unexpected quickness, toughness in short yardage, and soft hands in the
passing game.
WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech – His academic issues resolved
for now, Crabtree is ready to help fill the gaping void left by the
graduations of Joel Filani, Robert Johnson and Jarrett Hicks. A
converted quarterback, he’s emerging at a most opportune time,
dominating Red Raider defensive backs this spring with his physical play
and 6-2, 220-pound frame. In this offense, Crabtree has a chance to be
a statistical beast from the flanker, or “Z” receiver.
WR David Ausberry, USC – While Ausberry is not slated to start
ahead of junior Patrick Turner in 2007, he did make a strong case for
playing time this spring. Still somewhat raw and not considered a
burner, he’ll get by early on with good ball skills and a 6-5, 215-pound
frame that’ll create instant mismatches on jump balls. A good downfield
blocker, he could add some weight, and eventually become a dynamite
tight end for the Trojans.
WR Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech – Just because Thomas is 6-4
and 220 pounds with great leaping ability doesn’t mean he’s the second
coming of Calvin, but it’s understandable why the parallels are being
drawn. He has tremendous upside, and has made considerable strides
since 2006 in the areas of route running and burst off the line of
scrimmage. If Thomas is allowed to develop sans any unfair comparisons,
he’ll be a terrific weapon for new quarterback Taylor Bennett.
TE Vince Jacobs, North Carolina – With a season as a medical
hardship behind him, Jacobs is poised to show why he was one of the
nation’s premier tight end recruits of 2006. While Richard Quinn holds
down the starting job, the 6-6, 225-pound Jacobs is just too big and
athletic to keep on the sidelines this fall. A fluid pass-catcher,
he’ll earn even more reps when he adds some muscle and improves his
blocking assignments.
OT Dominic Alford, Minnesota – Alford has already locked down the
job at left tackle, and should be a fixture along the Gopher line for
the next four seasons. At 6-3 and 305 pounds, he has the quick feet and
athleticism that they crave in Minnesota, and a fierce attitude that
could someday lead to All-Big Ten honors.
OG Dan Wenger, Notre Dame – A top recruit at center, Wenger is
positioned to supplant Bob Morton at right guard for the upcoming
season. Exceptionally bright and quick to the second level, he’s a
physical, blue-collar interior lineman that’ll mesh nicely with Notre
Dame’s desire to run the ball a little more in 2007.
C Ryan McMahon, Florida State – Welcome to what new line coach
Rick Trickett hopes is an example of the next generation of Seminole
linemen. A converted defensive tackle, the 275-pound McMahon is quick
off the snap, very athletic, and nasty at the point of contact. One of
the biggest surprises of the spring, he’ll only get better with more
time at the new position.
OG Eric Rodemoyer, West Virginia – Rodemoyer parlayed a
breakthrough first spring in Morgantown into a starting job at right
guard ahead of the favorite, junior John Bradshaw. All of 6-4 and 300
pounds, he’s a promising run blocker that’s surprisingly athletic and
light on his feet.
OT Stephen Schilling, Michigan – After sitting out all of last
season with mononucleosis, Schilling is healthy again and targeting the
Wolverines’ opening at right tackle. Cut from the same mold as so many
Michigan linemen before him, he’s a 6-5, 300-pound brick wall that’s
uncommonly agile and destined for a special career in Ann Arbor.
Honorable Mention – Offense
QB: 1. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma 2. Adam Weber, Minnesota 3. T.J. Yates,
North Carolina 4. Cody Hawkins, Colorado 5. Trevor Vittatoe, UTEP
6. Justin Burke, NC State
RB: 1. Knowshon Moreno, Georgia 2. Mario Fannin, Auburn 3. James
Montgomery, Cal 4. Keith Payne, Virginia 5. Josh Adams, Wake Forest
6. Randall Antoine, Houston 7. Johnny White, North Carolina
WR: 1. Stephen Carr, Stanford 2. Kyle Brown, Oregon State 3. Terrell
Reese, Arizona 4. Torris Magee, Southern Miss 5. Terrance Turner,
Indiana 6. Rodney Glass, Arizona State 7. Kito Poblah, Central
Michigan 9.Armand Robinson, Miami (OH)
OT: 1. Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin 2. Carl Johnson, Florida 3. Aaron Brown,
Virginia Tech 4. Sean Sheller, UCLA 5. Jeff Adams, Louisville 6.
Bartley Webb, Notre Dame 7. James Meeks, Fresno State 8. Brian Lepac,
Colorado State
OG: 1. Maurice Hurt, Florida 2. Mike Berry, Auburn 3. Mike Ward,
Akron 4. Jan Gewont, Toledo 5. Lou Eliades, Penn State 6. Chris
Davis, Georgia 7. Jovon Hayes, Arizona 8. Ryan Tolar, Washington
C: 1. Chris Guarnero, Cal