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Sac State football plans to go deep
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Buzz up!By John Schumacher
[email protected]
Published: Friday, Aug. 7, 2009 - 12:00 am | Page 7C
Scan Sacramento State's football roster and notice something the Hornets appear to have for the first time since Marshall Sperbeck took over as coach two seasons ago: Quality depth.
When the Hornets begin fall practice Monday, they'll be missing their biggest stars from 2008: linebackers Cyrus Mulitalo and Mike Brannon, wide receiver Tony Washington and running back Bryan Hilliard.
But a deep talent pool could become their new calling card.
Running back might be Exhibit A. Although Hilliard is expected to miss the season after undergoing shoulder surgery, Washington sophomore transfer Terrance Dailey, freshman Sam McCowan and returnees Evander Wilkins and Jake Croxdale give Sperbeck plenty of options.
"I'm optimistic about this team," Sperbeck said Thursday. "I feel like we've done a good job recruiting, created some depth at multiple positions.
"I thought we made a pretty good jump from year one to two. But I really think we've made an even bigger jump (this year)."
Sperbeck posted a 3-8 record in his first season and a 6-6 mark last year. Improving on 3-5 Big Sky Conference records the past two seasons – the Hornets tied for sixth with Portland State in 2007 and 2008 – is high on his priority list.
"Hopefully we can surprise a few people and jump up to that next tier of teams," said Sperbeck, whose team was picked to finish seventh in the nine-team league in preseason coaches and media polls. "I really think it's time we did.
"I really feel these next two years are very exciting years for us. It needs to happen. It needs to happen now."
The Hornets open the season at UNLV on Sept. 5, travel to Cal Poly a week later and begin Big Sky play against Eastern Washington on Sept. 26 at home.
Junior quarterback Jason Smith, who threw for 1,824 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions last season, returns. So does Wilkins, who ran for 424 yards in five games as Hilliard's backup.
But the 5-foot-10, 195-pound Dailey, who led Washington in rushing with 338 yards on 75 carries, might be tough to keep off the field.
"It's a very competitive group of players that will all play at some point," Sperbeck said.
Sperbeck hopes community college transfers Brandyn Reed, Matt Larson and John Hendershott ease the loss of Washington, who caught 83 passes for 1,279 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.
Sophomore Chase Deadder, who broke his clavicle earlier this summer but is expected to be back early in the season, heads a deep group of returning receivers, including juniors Dylan Lane and Ronald Richardson.
The Hornets lost just one starter on the offensive line – tackle Ray Navar.
Sac State's defense must replace Mulitalo, Brannon and starting linebacker Mike Hickman. The Hornets have moved junior Peter Buck from safety to linebacker, where he joins returning reserves Greg Johnson and David Coleman and community college transfer Jarred Pereira.
But the defensive line, anchored by junior Christian Clark, returns all four starters. Sophomores Deionte Gordon and Marquese Smith move from cornerback to safety.
"We're really excited," defensive coordinator Lou Baiz said. "All the guys are hungry. The guys have really worked their tails off all summer.
"We all know there's a lot of competition. No job's sealed up yet."
Sac State football plans to go deep
ShareThis
Buzz up!By John Schumacher
[email protected]
Published: Friday, Aug. 7, 2009 - 12:00 am | Page 7C
Scan Sacramento State's football roster and notice something the Hornets appear to have for the first time since Marshall Sperbeck took over as coach two seasons ago: Quality depth.
When the Hornets begin fall practice Monday, they'll be missing their biggest stars from 2008: linebackers Cyrus Mulitalo and Mike Brannon, wide receiver Tony Washington and running back Bryan Hilliard.
But a deep talent pool could become their new calling card.
Running back might be Exhibit A. Although Hilliard is expected to miss the season after undergoing shoulder surgery, Washington sophomore transfer Terrance Dailey, freshman Sam McCowan and returnees Evander Wilkins and Jake Croxdale give Sperbeck plenty of options.
"I'm optimistic about this team," Sperbeck said Thursday. "I feel like we've done a good job recruiting, created some depth at multiple positions.
"I thought we made a pretty good jump from year one to two. But I really think we've made an even bigger jump (this year)."
Sperbeck posted a 3-8 record in his first season and a 6-6 mark last year. Improving on 3-5 Big Sky Conference records the past two seasons – the Hornets tied for sixth with Portland State in 2007 and 2008 – is high on his priority list.
"Hopefully we can surprise a few people and jump up to that next tier of teams," said Sperbeck, whose team was picked to finish seventh in the nine-team league in preseason coaches and media polls. "I really think it's time we did.
"I really feel these next two years are very exciting years for us. It needs to happen. It needs to happen now."
The Hornets open the season at UNLV on Sept. 5, travel to Cal Poly a week later and begin Big Sky play against Eastern Washington on Sept. 26 at home.
Junior quarterback Jason Smith, who threw for 1,824 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions last season, returns. So does Wilkins, who ran for 424 yards in five games as Hilliard's backup.
But the 5-foot-10, 195-pound Dailey, who led Washington in rushing with 338 yards on 75 carries, might be tough to keep off the field.
"It's a very competitive group of players that will all play at some point," Sperbeck said.
Sperbeck hopes community college transfers Brandyn Reed, Matt Larson and John Hendershott ease the loss of Washington, who caught 83 passes for 1,279 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.
Sophomore Chase Deadder, who broke his clavicle earlier this summer but is expected to be back early in the season, heads a deep group of returning receivers, including juniors Dylan Lane and Ronald Richardson.
The Hornets lost just one starter on the offensive line – tackle Ray Navar.
Sac State's defense must replace Mulitalo, Brannon and starting linebacker Mike Hickman. The Hornets have moved junior Peter Buck from safety to linebacker, where he joins returning reserves Greg Johnson and David Coleman and community college transfer Jarred Pereira.
But the defensive line, anchored by junior Christian Clark, returns all four starters. Sophomores Deionte Gordon and Marquese Smith move from cornerback to safety.
"We're really excited," defensive coordinator Lou Baiz said. "All the guys are hungry. The guys have really worked their tails off all summer.
"We all know there's a lot of competition. No job's sealed up yet."
