First up is Taylor Embree being named co-first string at split end. Embree has been drawing rave reviews since the spring. His sure hands and ability to make circus catches must have impressed the coaches as well. We'll see how much time he gets with the bigger and more experienced Johnson and Everett ahead of him. I'm sure the other freshman like Moutra (who was a favorite target of the QBs during the practice I watched) and Rosario will get some minutes as well.
On defense it looks like John Hale has won the starting Sam linebacker spot. Not a huge surpirse there but there was some chatter that Ayers could pass him up. Same holds true for Norris and Hester for that open corner position. Good to know that our freshman LBs and DBs are pushing the older guys for playing time.
I was a bit surprised to see Ray Carter's name on KOR. I probably should not have been, as many coaches like to use the backup TB in that role. I'm really looking forward to watching Carter this year. I think he can be a really special guy. On that same note, I was a bit disappointed that Aundre Dean didn't make his way further up the depth chart. I'm guessing that Moline being ahead of him is simply because he'll be used on short yardage situations. I believe that Dean can really make an impact for this team.
Otherwise the chart is basically unchanged. The O-line is in such a state of flux, there is no point in even commenting on it. I'm sure that lineup will be different by the kick-off and will likely change by half-time anyways. I have a feeling that Savage will play a lot of minutes along with Reed and Kia. The other spots are a mystery to me.
OFFENSE
SE 19 Dominique Johnson (6-3, 207, So.**) (3) or
82 Taylor Embree (6-3, 186, Fr.)
83 Nelson Rosario (6-5, 207, Fr.) or
2 Ryan Graves (6-1, 171, Sr.**)
LT 73 Micah Kia (6-5, 297, Jr.) (8)
69 Brandon Bennett (6-4, 317, So.**)
78 Brett Downey (6-7, 256, Fr.)^
LG 75 Nick Ekbatani (6-5, 294, Jr.**)
77 Darius Savage (6-4, 350, So.**)
52 Jess Ward (6-4, 277, Jr.**) (6)
C 58 Micah Reed (6-3, 314, Sr.**) (8 at OG)
57 Jake Dean (6-4, 294, So.**)
RG 55 Sonny Tevaga (6-5, 339, So.**)
66 Scott Glicksberg (6-4, 290, Sr.**) (1 at TE)
76 Austin Hill (6-3, 285, Fr.)^
RT 68 Nate Chandler (6-5, 271, Fr.**)
65 Mike Harris (6-5, 304, Fr.**)
TE 86 Logan Paulsen (6-6, 257, Sr.) (13)
15 Ryan Moya (6-3, 234, Jr.**)
87 Cory Harkey (6-5, 247, Fr.)
89 Adam Heater (6-5, 265, Jr.**)
98 Jeff Miller (6-5, 251, So.**)
QB 3 Kevin Craft (6-4, 195, Jr.**)
8 Chris Forcier (6-3, 189, Fr.**)
11 Osaar Rasshan (6-4, 220, Jr.**) (3)
14 Kevin Prince (6-2, 212, Fr.) or
18 Nick Crissman (6-3, 205, Fr.)
FB 31 Trevor Theriot (6-0, 239, Jr.**) (6)
45 Tobi Umodu (5-11, 230, So.**)
39 Tyler Tuiasosopo (5-11, 218, Fr.)
TB 36 Kahlil Bell (6-0, 219, Sr.) (5)
20 Raymond Carter (6-0, 202, Fr.**)
42 Chane Moline (6-1, 232, Jr.) (1)
30 Aundre Dean (6-0, 207, Fr.)
FL 9 Marcus Everett (6-1, 201, Sr.**) (1)
4 Terrence Austin (5-11, 161, Jr.)
88 Antwon Moutra (6-2, 183, Fr.) or
85 Jerry Johnson (6-4, 205, Fr.)
DEFENSE
LE 56 Tom Blake (6-4, 255, Sr.**) (8)
91 Reginald Stokes (6-3, 243, So.**)
99 Justin Edison (6-4, 240, Fr.**)
DT 92 Brian Price (6-2, 300, So.) (5)
90 Jerzy Siewierski (6-2, 285, Jr.)
74 Nathaniel Skaggs (6-4, 294, Sr.**)
DT 93 Brigham Harwell (6-1, 280, Sr.**) (2)
50 Chase Moline (6-1, 241, Sr.)
61 Andy Keane (6-2, 276, So.**)
RE 55 Korey Bosworth (6-1, 244, Jr.**) (3)
85 David Carter (6-5, 261, So.**)
96 Datone Jones (6-4, 238, Fr.)
SLB 12 John Hale (6-4, 227, Sr.)
40 Akeem Ayers (6-4, 234, Fr.**)
17 Chinonso Anyanwu (6-4, 213, Jr.**)
MLB 51 Reggie Carter (6-1, 220, Jr.**) (8)
43 Steve Sloan (6-4, 232, Fr.**)
WLB 54 Kyle Bosworth (6-1, 233, Sr.) (7)
21 Sean Westgate (5-11, 202, Fr.)
53 Joshua Edwards (6-1, 229, Sr.**)
41 Mike Schmitt (6-1, 223, So.**)
LC 22 Michael Norris (5-10, 180, Sr.**) (1)
9 Aaron Hester (6-1, 189, Fr.)
26 Andrew Abbott (5-10, 170, Fr.)^
SS 3 Rahim Moore (6-1, 176, Fr.)
6 Tony Dye (5-11, 190, Fr.)
2 E.J. Woods (6-0, 199, Fr.)
FS 27 Aaron Ware (6-0, 196, Jr.**)
20 Glenn Love (6-4, 200, Fr.**)
31 Garrett Rubio (5-10, 190, So.**)^
RC 1 Alterraun Verner (5-11, 177, Jr.) (11)
7 Courtney Viney (5-8, 150, Fr.**)
26 Andrew Abbott (5-10, 170, Fr.)^
SPECIALISTS
PK 25 Kai Forbath (6-0, 196, So.**) (13)
49 Jeff Locke (6-1, 198, Fr.))
KO 37 Jimmy Rotstein (5-11, 173, Jr.**)^ (13)
P 17 Aaron Perez (6-4, 225, Sr.**) (13)
39 Danny Reese (6-3, 180, So.**)^
LS 52 Christian Yount (6-1, 257, So.) (13)
H 17 Aaron Perez (6-4, 225, Sr.**)
PR 4 Terrence Austin (5-10, 165, Jr.)
2 Ryan Graves (6-1, 174, Sr.**)
KOR 4 Terrence Austin (5-10, 165, Jr.)
20 Raymond Carter (6-0, 202, Fr.**)
( ) indicates number of games started in 2007 season
**indicates utilized redshirt year
^ indicates non-scholarship player
INJURED
QB 7 Ben Olson (6-5, 236, Sr.**) (5)
WR 10 Gavin Ketchum (6-5, 206, Jr.**) - illness
SS 25 Bret Lockett (6-1, 210, Sr.) (1) - suspension
OT 60 Jeff Baca (6-4, 289, Fr.)
