After scoring the fewest points in a season since 2005, the Wildcats offense can expect considerable improvement in the 2010 season.
In 2009, ACU saw the fewest points, yardage and offensive touchdown totals since 2005 – Billy Malone’s first season at the helm of the offense. Last season was marked with quarterback uncertainty and inexperience, which in turn led to sporadic offensive output.
The Wildcats do, however, return nine of the 11 offensive starters from last season. Head Coach Chris Thomsen believes this will be a huge benefit going into the season.
“I think the biggest progress is just those guys all getting to play together for a year,” said Thomsen.
Even with a year under their belt, the offense will have to adjust after learning earlier in the week that Reggie Brown, starting running back, will miss the entire season with a torn anterior crucial ligament. Brown injured his knee in practice last Wednesday before learning of the tear. Both players and coaches recognize what the loss of Brown will mean for the road ahead.
“He is a big loss,” said senior wide receiver Kendrick Johnson. “He was great as a player, leader, and a good friend.”
Brown was the team’s second leading rusher behind co-starter Darryl Richardson, who will now assume the roll as the sole starter for the team.
“We got a lot of confidence in Darryl, he will step up, and he’s proved he is a really good back,” said Thomsen.
With Brown’s injury, Josh Morgan, junior transfer from Pasadena College in California, will step into a backup role behind Richardson. Morgan rushed for over 1,200 yards in his two seasons at Pasadena and scored seven touchdowns.
Richardson and company will have a mix of old and new faces leading the way up front. After losing the entire left side of the line to graduation, the Wildcats will look to a familiar face to step up. Neal Tivis will replace all-American Tony Washington at left tackle. Tivis saw considerable playing time in recent seasons, spelling Washington on the left side, and made one start last season when right tackle Trevis Turner was out with an injury.
Joining Tivis on the left side is red shirt freshman Josh Perez, who will replace Levi Wolfe at left guard. The rest of the line looks the same, with Matt Webber at center and Royland Tubbs and Trevis Turner manning the respective right guard and tackle positions.
One thing the Wildcats will have on the offensive line this season that was lacking last year is solid depth. Transfer Dylan Blount, freshman Logan Hoppenrath, and freshman Blake Spears will add relief, as well as good insurance along the line.
The wide receiver position will look virtually the same, with ACU returning four of the five top receivers from last season. Senior Edmund Gates will be the go-to guy in a passing attack that floundered at times in 2009. Raymond Radway is returning for his senior season after sitting out spring drills to remain eligible for the fall. Darian Hogg, red shirt freshman from Arlington, is expected to make a contribution this season serving as a backup.
“This group should be really solid, if not spectacular at times,” said Thomsen.
As opposed to last season when the quarterback position was up for grabs, this fall seems to have much more stability in the position. Junior Zach Stewart informed the coaching staff he was leaving the team and ACU before fall camp started, making Mitchell Gale the favorite heading into camp. Barring any drastic changes in the next week of practice, Coach Thomsen said Gale will be the opening day starter – a position held last year by Stewart.
With Stewart gone, senior Clark Harrell will move to the backup position. Harrell was listed as the backup in 2009 but lost the job to Gale, who was eventually elevated to the starting role.
With a wealth of returning starters and backups, the ACU offense looks poised to make great strides in its effort to help make the Wildcats an elite team in 2010.
