As he will always be a big UNT fan, he sends his best to Todd Dodge and the Mean Green Nation this coming season.  Evans did some great coaching and recruiting for us when he was here and is a good person so I have a feeling he will do some good things at NSU.  He did dispel one rumor for me, he is not “The Fake Lonnie Finch” as many had believed on the boards.  He also remains a big UNT fan and was even in attendance at the last home game of the season last year.  I will always believe the decision to let Kenny go was a mistake and he would have been a terrific recruiter and knowledge base for Dodge and his staff in their move to D-I.

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First some general thoughts - WIth potentially 3 starting defensive linemen not showing up until this Fall it’s very hard to get a real handle on what this defense is going to look like.  Jucos Shavod Atkinson, John Weber and Kelvin Jackson have the credentials to be immediate starters.  I wouldn’t count out big freshman tackle Kyle White from New Orleans in that mix either.  In addition, I would not count out freshman signee Daniel Prior in the mix at the outside linebacker spot either.   On offense, it is pretty much what it will be. Ok, now I have that off my chest let’s dig into who could make a push for significant playing time, based on their production in the spring.

I really like sophomore linebacker turned defensive end Brandon Akpunku from Cedar Hill.  He’s actually filled out quite nicely and has the look and mentality of a D-I difference maker.  The coaches have moved him to a “specialty” defensive end position which in my mind means he could be used on passing down situations.  At 215 dripping wet he will be hard pressed to be an every down defensive end, even in the Sun Belt.  I like him in special teams, as he shows a vicious nature and is fearless.  Looking at him as a situational pass rusher is also appealing although I still believe that he would get more PT at an outside linebacker spot and he has the speed to pull it off.   He’s a player and that is good news for this program; he has a demeanor on the field that you wouldn’t expect from a true sophomore. 

The other defensive player that caught my eye and most of the Mean Green Nation is stud TCU linebacker Jason Phillips little bro Jeremy Phillips.  He reminds me of former UNT star Taylor Casey although he looks to be a bit faster,a little taller and lighter.  He clearly has a knack for the ball and was causing problems for the offense all Saturday long.  Let’s put this in perspective, this kid is a redshirt freshman and given that one could argue he is father along than Casey at this stage.  Like Apunku, he looks like he belongs out there and could develop into one of those leaders we so desperately need.  After Saturday I would put him in the “nice” player category and I look forward to see how he handles the Fall competition.  I would suggest that he, former starter AJ Penson and Daniel Prior may have a knock down dragout battle for that spot in the Fall.

You have to pleased with the progression of defensive end / tackle Tevinn Cantly, the 6-4, 310 pound RS frosh from Arlington.  Folks we may have a major steal here.  I question why they moved him to defensive end but it could be a situation where they are trying to beef up the numbers at that oh so thin position.  The kid can move and has great quick feet for a guy of his size.  I was thoroughly impressed with Cantly and was surprised that he could handle the defensive end position so well.  I am think Coach DeLoach will use him in a 3-4 or Oklahoma package where you may have an Atkinson at nose and a Gilmore and Cantly duo at d-end especially in short yardage or running situations.

Other random defensive thoughts, I really like the look of Joe Hawthorne the RS frosh from Arlington.  He’s listed at 6-4 and 253 but I can see him bigger than that.  He had some nice penetrations and was getting a lot of attention from Coach Mike Nelson.   I am not a huge Jesse DeSoto fan but I did see him make some plays and I think he will be able to provide us some depth in the Fall.  Big Troy Frankin saw some time but appeared to be behind the other players that have been addressed thusfar.  Oh, Kyle Russo, while never a star level player is very solid and should be in the four-man defensive end rotation this Fall with Gilmore, Weber and Cantly.  I saw nothing out of juco Mack Cole.  Perhaps he was hurt.

Last but certainly not least, the coaches have made a good decision moving DeWaylon Cook to safety.  I can see him as a better player there where his speed will be an asset more than a liability.  The star of the Spring in the secondary may be - you guessed it - juco Ira Smith.  The kid can flat out run, he stood out on some reaction plays on Saturday and was fairly phycial once he got there.  He and the ever steady Antoine Bush as a tandem should be a reason for confidence with Mean Green fans.  The amount of recruiting capital spent on defensive backs by Dodge will likely start reaping some benefits in 2009.  I like the numbers and speed.  We still lack the punishing back breakers, but Derrian WIlliams may be heading in that direction for his sophomore season. 

I have some more thoughts from the game in terms of the offense that I will be sharing with you in future blogs so keep checking back.  I also have some hot sports opinions about the stadium and legislative approval process.   As always feel free to discuss this blog with our very active Mean Green Nation on the Mean Green Football Board by clicking here.  GMG!

 More pics to be found @:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/30514299@N08/sets/72157616402576444/

Knighton fits in a need area for the Mean Green who need defensive lineman, in particular on the corner. Knighton also flew under the radar as he played offensive guard in his junior year moving to defensive end in 2008.  It was a genious move as he flourished at dend.   Longview lost in the state championship game against Lake Travis in which Chris played with a broken toe and still managed two sacks.  He had been offered by UTEP and Louisiana Monroe, and was also offered by La. Tech although they are playing the “recruiting” game of saying they removed his original offer due to getting another player.  What the real story on Tech and Knighton’s ultimate verbal to UNT we will never know but the bottomline is this kid had a very outstanding high school senior season and could tuyrn out to be a real gem for the Mean Green.  Here is some info on a combine performance where Knighton was very impressive.

Stewart remains more of a mystery man.  He did not appear to have other offers, and only had New Mexico listed on the Rivals site as other schools interested.  Was he a late qualifier that flew under the radar?  A quick search reveals was a first team all-district defensive back selection at Houston Forst Brook as a junior and later at North Forest, which was born of the merger of football powers Forest Brook and Smiley.  The new school was located at the site of Forest Brook.  Pehaps with the transfer of Forest Brook to North Forest he became somewhat lost in the mix.  He was listed as a receiver his senior year but seemed to play a lot of running back in games and the North Forest team was pretty salty making the playoffs and ultimately losing to top state 25 Beaumont Central.  Here is the teams myspace site with some highlight clips:  http://www.myspace.com/nf_bulldogs

What’s left for UNT?  The best case high school player scenario would be the ability to lure late qualifier and stud linebacker Rockwall Heath linebacker George Bamfo who is playing the waiting game with Colorado State and Houston.   If I was UNT I would point out the fact that Houston already has three verbals from linebackers.  DeAntry Harlen of Everman may be the biggest stud of the uncommitted lot because he is very good and he plays at such a need area for UNT - defensive end.  Baylor is bringing him in on the last weekend meaning they may have a spot for him if something happens.   Offensive lineman Alex Schooler seems to be leaning towards Marshall but could decide to be in a warmer climate. The service academies could also be in play here.

The other two big Juco possibilities are from hard to spell Itawamba Community College in Mississippi.  John Weber is an impact player that could play tackle or defensive end at 6-3, 265. He and his teammate Kelvin Jackson (6-3, 320) could be a package deal and Weber will be a battle down the line with Louisiana Lafayette who is closer to his hometown of Harvey.

The good news for Mean Green fans is even if all of these players don’t end up at UNT, the odds are some of them will and could make the team better.  For immediate impact the juco boys could help right away as could Bamfo and Harlen.   Schooler would probably be a redshirt candidate but if you watch his film you have to like his aggresive nature and he has a big frame that could carry a lot of weight expecially with the revamped strength and conditioning program at UNT.  The better news is that the UNT staff realizes the defensive line is so critical to turning around the program as indicated by this latest flurry of activity.

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DE - Eddrick Gilmore (6-5, 250) - Has outstanding speed and quickness for his size, is long and can put pressure on the QB.  Should be poised for an All Sun Belt year.

DT -  Shavod Atkinson (6-1, 305) - Big and quick, a run stopper and should cause some double teams. Was an outstanding player at junior college and has a physical nature that should make an impression on the entire defense.

DT - Tevinn Cantly (6-4, 310) - OK he’s just a young pup freshman but he’s big and in the very least will take up a lot of space.

DE - Kyle Russo (6-3, 240) - He was one of the most consistent performers on the line last season as a freshman and with his dedication in the weight room should be even bigger and stronger in 2009.

LB - Craig Robertson (6-0, 226) - after a sophomore slump, I expect Robertson to rebound in his junior campaign.  Arguably one of the better linebackers in the Sun Belt, he will benefit from a stronger front four.

LB - Tobe Nwigwe (6-1, 251) - Had a quietly outstanding 2008 season.  He led the team in tackles last year with 111 and comes back in 2009 hungry to prove he is NFL worthy.

LB - Tony Charles (6-0, 235) - Sat out a season in JUCO so he may be a little rusty but watch this guys film and you will see amazing speed to the ball and he knows what to do once he gets there.

Safety - Kylie Hill (5-10, 186) - Third in tackles last season and after a year in the system should be a major asset.

Safety - Derrian Williams (5-10, 185) - Struggled at times as a true freshman last season but also showed flashes of big time talent.  Not afraid of laying the wood.

Corner - Antoine Bush (5-10, 186) - Teams threw away from Bush last year and it will be harder for them to do that this year.  Has been a rare 4-year starter for UNT and should have an outstanding senior season with a beefed up defensive line.

Corner - Ira Smith (5-11, 180) the 4.4 speedster was a recruiting coup for UNT who already has some bright young talent at this position.  Smith had offers from Ole Miss, UAB and Louisiana Tech. Should be a perfect complement to Bush.

Do you agree that this defense could be pretty interesting next year? Are there players that I have missed who should be on this list?  Click here to post your thoughts on the Mean Green Football Board.

UNT has had more hits than misses when it comes to landing JUCO defensive linemen capable of raising the bar on one of the most pourous defenses in the country last year.   This is not a new phenomenon for UNT, as proven defensive talent who have played at the JUCO level have become hot commodities for even the big boys of college football.  I am dating myself a bit, but I can recall a time not that long ago when power teams like Oklahoma, USC and Florida shied away from signing JUCO’s instead opting for 5-star high school talents.  Now most all of them are going for the JUCO players, especially defensive linemen, who have proven more often than not they can play at a higher level sooner than young  high school players.  A lot has changed since the good ole days when UNT could pry away quality JUCO linemen like Darrell Daniels (Fort Scott) and Michael Pruitt (NE Oklahoma).  It’s much more difficult now especially when the program is rebuilding.

UNT hit on a big time player when the received the verbal commitment of defensive tackle Shevod Atkinson from Independence, Kansas Community College.  Atkinson is 6-2, 305 and can run.  He brings an attitude and nastiness that DeLoach desperately needs.  He is by far the critical piece to this class and he has a chance to really make an impact even though he won’t be available until the Fall.  This deal is not done but it is close.

UNT gained two commitments over the weekend that should also delight DeLoach.  Kyle White is a 6-3, 310 pound defensive verbal from Louisiana ( New Orleans McDonogh).  Match White up with Atkinson and big Tevinn Cantly (6-4, 305) who returns from a redshirt season and you have size and some ability to work with in the middle.    The other verbal came from outstanding Lewisville punter Will Atterberry who will also handle kickoffs.  UNT had big shoes to fill with the graduation of Truman Spencer and Atterbury jas good bloodlines (brother Zac punts professionally) and seems well qualified (2nd team All State recognized).

If you scan down the remaining verbals you don’t see a lot of other pieces that will help bolster UNT’s defensive line rebuilding process at the most critical defensive end position.  I think defensive end Ryan Boutwell (6-3, 220) from China Springs can help UNT down the line, and may be better served with a redshirt season to bulk up.   DeLoach needs an athletic defensive end that can help their pass rush this season and you can bet they are searching far and wide.  Eddrick Gilmore is a player if they can keep him eligible.  Word is he is keeping nose clean and is on track.  Kyle Russo returns after a solid freshman year and there’s been talk of moving Charlie Brown back to his natural position in high school after a failed experiment at tackle.  Freshman Joe Hawthorne from Arlington Martin at 6-4, 250 could help but he was more of a defensive tackle in high school and will need to learn the college game.  Marquis Sykes has tons of potential but just hasn’t been able to make it happen yet. Beyond Sykes there really isn’t much else there.  Look for them to bring in an impact player or even two there if they can.

UNT has some interior defensive linemen that return on the roster they need to improve to help depth.  Jesse Desoto   (6-1, 270) showed some signs last season and Troy Franklin (6-4, 285) hopes to be healthy for an entire season.  The addition of a new defensive tackle coach who will be handpicked by DeLoach should help their progression.

DeLoach has a decent corp of linebackers and the secondary should be greatly improved after a year of on the job training for some of the best younger talent in the program right now.  This 2009 group does not have to be the “purple people eaters” or even at the caliber of UNT’s when #92 and #85 were roaming the field.  With Dodge’s high powered offense just slowing down opposing offenses some would be a major improvement. After a lot of early misses, UNT seems to slowly and methodically be putting together a group that can DeLoach a chance to right the ship or at least get it pointed in the right direction.

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Evan and Harry welcome back special guest Mean Rob Black and collectively opine over the Gio Vizza departure, recruiting and the latest and greatest news in the Mean Green Nation. 

gmgpod49b

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I have always admired Vizza, he was a tough and gritty football player that never shied away from contact.  He was the best QB recruit we have landed in these parts in quite awhile.  His freshman season was fantastic.  He was part of the original Dodge class which showed us so much promise and eventually fell apart. Sadly most of my memories of him will be his scrambling for daylight behind a porous and undermanned offensive line.   I’ll never know exactly why Gio chose to leave, clearly he was not happy with the current situation.  I’ll also never understand why the coaching staff allowed it to get to this point.  In their defense, they gave the kid a lot of starts and playing time.  Perhaps the culprit here was the supporting cast - or lack thereof - they placed around him.  

 It’s interesting to note that in his farewell letter he thanked his players, the student and the fans - but there was no mention of the coaching staff who ultimately convinced him to come to Denton.  That in itself speaks volumes.

Much like the economy, UNT football is a mess right now and there are a lot of reasons which I will save for another time.  Right now, I would like to thank Gio and his family for their dedication for two years to our program.  He gave it his all and while the results were not what any of us wanted to see, you can’t question his passion and effort for this program.  I - like many of our loyal fans - wish he would have stayed to play it out.  We wish you nothing but the best and hope that down the road your memories of North Texas will be more good than bad.

I do think that there can be life after Vizza despite the fact that losing him hurts.  Here is my list and I do look forward to your comments as always on the GoMeanGreen.com message board.

1.  Riley Dodge  - Yes, young Riley will be the man without question this season and he comes with solid credentials.  First of all, he knows Dodge’s system better than anyone, and that includes Vizza.  Riley is an excellent athlete and although undersized will have another year of maturity after redshirting last year.  His speed will force defenses to protect the corners of the field more.  The biggest reason that I like Riley is he will be inspired like no other player on this team as he will be trying to turn his father’s fortunes around after two miserable seasons.   

2.  The offensive line - The line returns all of the starters but adds some key components, like All Conference Center/Guard Kelvin Drake who sat out for a medical redshirt last season and is the programs best lineman.  JJ Johnson returns as a true sophomore and has all the makings of a good one for years to come.  You have to think that big 350-pound Gabe Hollivay and 375-pound Nate Jenkins will return in better shape than when they first arrived.  Hollivay actually showed some things as the season progressed last year.  Big Esteban Santiago returns as does Matt Menard and newcomer Nick Leppo from Southlake could be a big contributor if he is healthy.   Another wildcard is freshman Matt Tomlinson, who redshirted and will compete for one of the tackle spots.  Even the biggest UNT naysayer would have a hard time arguing that this line won’t be an improvement over last season.

3.  JUCO Infusion - One of UNT’s biggest issues last year were the defensive line and team speed at WR.  The verbal of 300-pound DT Shevod Atkinson helps address the D-Line in a big way.  There are reports that he is still playing the field so the jury is out but as of now he remains committed and he would make a big time impact for this team that so desperately needs size and strength in the middle of the defense.  JUCO wide receivers Mike Outlaw and Jamel Jackson both have something UNT did not have last season at the wide receiver position - speed.  All the reports that I am hearing conclude that UNT’s coaching staff is thrilled to have them in the house.  Cornerback Ira Smith from Mississippi Gulf Coast brings speed, experience and cover capabilities to an already talented group of youngsters.   Give these guys any type of pass rush from the front four next season and you will see a different defense.  And last but not least, NEO’s big Jeremy Bean (6-5, 300)  will help bolster the offensive line.

4.  Cam and Lance return-  Running back Cam Montgomery (6-1, 220) returns for his senior season and was a bright spot in last year’s otherwise otherwise dreary season.  He will be complemented by explosive sophomore Lance Dunbar (5-9, 189) who showed off his speed and athleticism early last season before his injury.  Putting these two behind an improving offensive line and more speed at receiver is good news for the Mean Green.  Also gotta mention the return of speedy sophomore James Hamilton who showed some nice things at the tail end of last season.

5.  The defensive line will be addressed - This one requires a leap of faith but stick with me here.  Right now UNT is sitting on just one soft JUCO verbal (Shevod Atkinson) which makes you nervous but relax.  I promise you that this will change as we will see more JUCO defensive lineman on signing day.  The downside is they will probably not be here until May or later (to finish up academics), meaning they will not be eligible to participate in Spring training.  The upside is they will be a vast improvement over what we had.  The entire coaching staff now (finally) realizes that the talent and numbers at this position is what has hurt them more than any other deficiency.   I’m not saying that they will be signing 5-star talent but they will get players who can play and will take some of the pressure off of a decent linebacking corp and secondary.   With talented senior Eddrick Gilmore (6-5, 245)  and surprise contributor in sophomore Kyle Russo (6-3, 240) you have some talent at defensive end to work with.  Big freshman Tevinn Cantly (6-4, 310) at the very least will help plug up the middle and has tremendous upside.  Redshirt Frosh Joe Hawthorne (6-4, 260?) presents an interesting candidate at defensive end.  Jesse Desoto and hopefully a healthy Troy Franklin will be eager to show what they can do as well.

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…Not so fast my friend.  Some passages brought me back to reality.  ”They [the students] voted to add, for the first time, a dedicated athletic fee to help fund a new football stadium.”  After a detailed description of the improvements this stadium will provide in lieu of dilapidated Fouts Field, they follow up with this disclaimer from Student Government Association President Jeff Kline: “…We’ve made an investment in this University by voting yes.  We now challenge the alumni to support their alma mater as well.” 

Upon deeper inspection you realize that a big part of this article is hammering home that this project won’t happen unless the alumni do their part.  UNT’s new fundraiser Ann Clinkscale’s contact info is included and a link to the stadium video is provided.   The clincher is in the caviat, “…Texas regulations state students may only pay up to 50% of a stadiums cost, and no state funds may be used.  Private donations and corporate sponsorships are imperative to the stadiums future.”  There are no particulars when it comes to the projected actual cost of the stadium although we have seen the 60-million dollar figure thrown around quite a bit on the GoMeanGreen.com Football Mesage Boards.

In essence the pitch is that our students have made the sacrifice and now it is time for the alumni to as well.  I like the pitch, and I think it is probably an effective one in normal economic times.  As we all know these are not ordinary times. With corporate layoffs abundant and 401(k) plans in the tank, the timing of this campaign is - well let just say a little “off”.   Don’t get me wrong, I am a fan and will give what I can, but with two kids - who I hope to send to UNT someday - and a mortgage I would be hard pressed to make much of a dent in our half of the cost.   

The fuzziest parts of the article are groundbreaking and completion dates.  They state that the groundbreaking “could take place as early as October 2009″ and the stadium could be open as early as fall 2011.  That certainly provides plenty of wiggle room. 

Where I wish I could get a better handle on this - and the article does not enlighten us on - is what will flip the switch on actual construction.  We all know from our experience with the building of the Darrell Dickey Athletic Center, it is hard to lure the big money without some brick and mortar.  When the exciting vision that they have for this new stadium starts to take form, you will see more donors willing to step forward.  

The article states that “The new $10 per credit hour fee will be implemented only when the new stadium opens…”  Does this mean that UNT can bond out the costs of the construction based on the financial commitment of the students?  Resident expert UNT Flyer had this to say regarding the financing of the stadium, “There seems to be this ongoing fallacy that we have to have $60 million in hand to build a stadium. We don’t. It will be a mortgage.”  So, theoretically speaking, could we take out a loan to finance the entire projected cost of the stadium, based in part on the fee increase that has passed?  If so, it would enable us to start the construction process and in the meantime sell donors and corporate sponsors on naming rights, seats luxury boxes etc, etc.  Could we bond out the cost of the stadium based on the fee increase?  I would really like to understand their strategy here, because I don’t believe they would publically promote dates and details - even with caviats - unless they expected it to happen.  

For instance, if I was able to contact Ms. Clinkscale via email and throw a hundred grand her way, via paypal, wouldn’t I be given some type of return policy if the 50% goal wasn’t met and the stadium wasn’t built?  Not to mention the millions of dollars tied to the increased athletic fee which requires stadium completion.  If the stadium is not built UNT would never get to realize the benefit the additional fees would provide.  

Give UNT credit, they realize that this stadium provides them a terrific vehicle to address their most pressing need as an institution, alumni giving.  I am thrilled with the proactive nature of this project from a school that has so often been slow to make improvements.  This time the problem - through no fault of their own - is they are trying to do it when many folks are wondering where their next paycheck is going to come from and many corporations are backing off their commitments to project support and naming rights. To ask the corporations and alumni to do this without some tangible signs of construction is a tall order. Here’s hoping they get it done one way or another. 

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Our young secondary was tremendously exposed due to a very inept defensive line. When you don’t get any pressure on a quarterback and you can’t stop the run it is a recipe for disaster. There are so many things about Dodge’s entry into the Division I arena that I know he wishes he could take back; a late start to the recruiting class of 2007 when he won the state championship has turned out to be a major error as that class has provided some big misses due to the time that wasn’t given into their backgrounds and history. Having to deal with Mendoza - almost to the level of a Captain Queeg of the Caine Mutiny - put the defense at a tremendous scheme disadvantage and we are still trying to recover, rebuild. Dickey left him very little and Deloach came back too late to make a diff in 2008. The talent was so depleted from whence DeLoach was there before.

They are addressing the speed issue and doing their best on the defensive line. They signed two Juco WR’s, that is clear evidence of their need to win now.  You know that signing so many Juco’s has to hurt their strategy of focusing on the high school coaches who they put so much hope and expectations on. 

They (The Mean Green )  have positives. Vizza enters as a qualified and capable starter at the most important position. RB Cam Monty has a what could be a special senior season possibility. Speedy Lance Dunbar returns for a full season to exhibit his speed. Hopefully, Kelvin Drake will return for a big year. Drake’s return is absolutely critical to turning this ship around. The rest of the offensive line could be good and NEO Juco Bean (6-5, 305) adds size at tackle. I like the line.   JJ Johnson, Santiago and Drake make for a good nucleus and the surprise could be Redshirt Freshman Nick Leppo. Now Sophomore Feeley shows potential and Matt Menard could finally blossom - he certainly looks the part. Does the gamble on Tomlinson pay off for them?  It could.

I am truly interested in how the remaining scholarship offers go. I really think they have to offer at least one more Juco defensive tackle and end. Atkinson could be a nice player for us at nose but he will not be arriving till the Fall. Will Gilmore make the grade? That is a huge question heading into potentially Dodge’s last hurrah at the D-I level.  

The suspense heading into next season is heavy - you can feel it already. Dodge has to show improvement. Another 2007-08 campaign record and he is gone. There don’t appear to be any major coaching changes save special teams with Drake leaving. Can this team forge some Sun Belt wins and turn things around? I hope so - I truly do.

I was one of those Dodge Hire fans who felt for the limited money we had he provided the most upside. And he did for a period of time. In the Spring of 2007 I witnessed the largest crowd I had ever seen for a North Texas Spring scrimmage. He brought tons of press coverage and on opposing message boards we truly sensed envy about a head coach in the first time since Hayden Fry.

But the honeymoon was short lived. Dodge - through loyalty - fell victim to a primarily novice high school coaching staff that struggled at times in the basics of D-I football, defense and special teams. To bring quality assistants into this situation now is not a realistic option.

The 2009 season will make or break the Dodge regime. He - and his staff - will try to land difference makers for next season that are difficult to find.  I like who they have landed so far.  As bad as the last two seasons have been, I see 2009 as a very interesting season for the fans and the direction of the program. I sincerely hope that Dodge will get some wins and re-establish his hold on this program and the future.  It won’t be easy in 2009.

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