Just some news and notes regarding CMU, I just threw everything together:
Been hearing some rumbling that Alex Niznak might transfer, and it was something we all pointed as a possibility once Rush took the starting spot. Well I think those chances are up. Niznak graduates after this semester with his undergraduate degree, and then will be going to Grad School. As we all know, he would be free to transfer to any school and become immediately eligible if he went for a major CMU did not offer. He would have two years of eligibility remaining as well. If that's the case, that could open the door for CMU to add another QB in this class. And FWIW, I've heard Darrien Boone is likely to return. Of course, this could have also opened the door for CMU to add Briones, who told me he will start at QB. While I don't believe he will stick there (LB is where I project him), his addition could be a result of QB subraction.While he is listed as a RB on the official roster, walk-on Trevor Thomas is a FB and at 5-foot-11 and 235 pounds he has the size to play there. Reality is, that FB might have to biggest shoes to fill on the team. Not only does CMU lose Adam Fenton and Tyler Lombardo, but also Ben Masztak. They currently only have two walkons in Thomas and Christian Conley. Possible for Mike Kinville to get moved there, but he is CMU's best blocking TE right now.Heard some really good reviews of CMU's three freshman receivers in Corey Willis, Mark Chapman and Eric Cooper. All three have turned heads at some point. CMU is VERY deep at wide receiver, I would argue this overall group is on par with the 2008 group that included Antonio Brown, Bryan Anderson, Kito Poblah, Jean Pitts and Joe Bockheim. I would also expect Willis or Chapman to handle PR duties from Titus this season.Kevin Henry and Andy Phillips are the only players on the upcoming roster who will have been recruited by Butch Jones. Every other player was an Enos recruit. Speaking of that 2010 class...that coaching change really hurt. Not only that class, but players CMU was looking at.
2010 Class
OL Kevin Henry - Starter for CMU
LB Nores Fradi - Transferred after camp, been a starter at Wayne State since
K Paul Mudgett - Played one season, left team
RB Ben Brown - Left team, played sparingly
DB Avery Cunningham - Four year starter for CMU
DB Anthony Hollis - JUCO played one year, victim of grades
OL Kent King - Left team, never played a down
LB Mike Kinville - Been solid contributor and part-time starter at CMU
FB Tyler Lombardo - Was a starter, broke leg in Pizza Bowl as JR
DE Kenny McClendon - Rotational starter at DE for CMU
DE Andy Phillips - Recruited by Jones, moved to OL. All-MAC interior lineman now.
TE Joe Sawicki - Left team...was always injured before that
QB Kyle Smith - Eventually moved to DB, never played
TE Caleb Southworth - Made some contributions before leaving team, Jones recruit
WR Jonathan Taylor - Never saw field at CMU
DT Leterrius Walton - Starter at DT for CMU. Loads of potential.
DE Joe Wirth - Never played for CMU
WR Deon Butler - Saw the field some, moved to TE last year
Out of the 19 players signed in that class, CMU gained contributions from 8 of them. Of those 8, three were holdovers from Jones (Phillips, Henry & Lombardo). But I think what hurt CMU more was the losses they had in recruiting battles with other teams, as they got poached and then had a few guys they were close with:
DB Ryland Ward - Starter at Bowling Green, favored CMU
DB Boo Boo Gates - Starter at Bowling Green and electric return man
DB Johnnie Simon - Starter at WMU, wanted to be a Chippewa
RB Dareyon Chance - Starter at WMU, also wanted to be a Chippewa but prob didn't fit this running scheme
WR Dwight Macon - Seen playing time at Toledo, but has not made huge impact
WR Montrel Robinson - Ended up at Cincinnati, left team and never did anything
QB Cody Kater - We all know his story, back at CMU
DB Deven Drane - Starter at Cincinnati, was headed to CMU and Jones staff signed him at UC
WR Jermaine Kelson - Was a CMU commit, ended up at Marshall. Transferred to FIU this season.
WR Lavaughn Whigham - Also a CMU commit, failed to qualify at Texas Tech and Marshall. At a JUCO in Cali right now.
Been hearing some rumbling that Alex Niznak might transfer, and it was something we all pointed as a possibility once Rush took the starting spot. Well I think those chances are up. Niznak graduates after this semester with his undergraduate degree, and then will be going to Grad School. As we all know, he would be free to transfer to any school and become immediately eligible if he went for a major CMU did not offer. He would have two years of eligibility remaining as well. If that's the case, that could open the door for CMU to add another QB in this class. And FWIW, I've heard Darrien Boone is likely to return. Of course, this could have also opened the door for CMU to add Briones, who told me he will start at QB. While I don't believe he will stick there (LB is where I project him), his addition could be a result of QB subraction.While he is listed as a RB on the official roster, walk-on Trevor Thomas is a FB and at 5-foot-11 and 235 pounds he has the size to play there. Reality is, that FB might have to biggest shoes to fill on the team. Not only does CMU lose Adam Fenton and Tyler Lombardo, but also Ben Masztak. They currently only have two walkons in Thomas and Christian Conley. Possible for Mike Kinville to get moved there, but he is CMU's best blocking TE right now.Heard some really good reviews of CMU's three freshman receivers in Corey Willis, Mark Chapman and Eric Cooper. All three have turned heads at some point. CMU is VERY deep at wide receiver, I would argue this overall group is on par with the 2008 group that included Antonio Brown, Bryan Anderson, Kito Poblah, Jean Pitts and Joe Bockheim. I would also expect Willis or Chapman to handle PR duties from Titus this season.Kevin Henry and Andy Phillips are the only players on the upcoming roster who will have been recruited by Butch Jones. Every other player was an Enos recruit. Speaking of that 2010 class...that coaching change really hurt. Not only that class, but players CMU was looking at.
2010 Class
OL Kevin Henry - Starter for CMU
LB Nores Fradi - Transferred after camp, been a starter at Wayne State since
K Paul Mudgett - Played one season, left team
RB Ben Brown - Left team, played sparingly
DB Avery Cunningham - Four year starter for CMU
DB Anthony Hollis - JUCO played one year, victim of grades
OL Kent King - Left team, never played a down
LB Mike Kinville - Been solid contributor and part-time starter at CMU
FB Tyler Lombardo - Was a starter, broke leg in Pizza Bowl as JR
DE Kenny McClendon - Rotational starter at DE for CMU
DE Andy Phillips - Recruited by Jones, moved to OL. All-MAC interior lineman now.
TE Joe Sawicki - Left team...was always injured before that
QB Kyle Smith - Eventually moved to DB, never played
TE Caleb Southworth - Made some contributions before leaving team, Jones recruit
WR Jonathan Taylor - Never saw field at CMU
DT Leterrius Walton - Starter at DT for CMU. Loads of potential.
DE Joe Wirth - Never played for CMU
WR Deon Butler - Saw the field some, moved to TE last year
Out of the 19 players signed in that class, CMU gained contributions from 8 of them. Of those 8, three were holdovers from Jones (Phillips, Henry & Lombardo). But I think what hurt CMU more was the losses they had in recruiting battles with other teams, as they got poached and then had a few guys they were close with:
DB Ryland Ward - Starter at Bowling Green, favored CMU
DB Boo Boo Gates - Starter at Bowling Green and electric return man
DB Johnnie Simon - Starter at WMU, wanted to be a Chippewa
RB Dareyon Chance - Starter at WMU, also wanted to be a Chippewa but prob didn't fit this running scheme
WR Dwight Macon - Seen playing time at Toledo, but has not made huge impact
WR Montrel Robinson - Ended up at Cincinnati, left team and never did anything
QB Cody Kater - We all know his story, back at CMU
DB Deven Drane - Starter at Cincinnati, was headed to CMU and Jones staff signed him at UC
WR Jermaine Kelson - Was a CMU commit, ended up at Marshall. Transferred to FIU this season.
WR Lavaughn Whigham - Also a CMU commit, failed to qualify at Texas Tech and Marshall. At a JUCO in Cali right now.
