for the Akron game is out, and it contains a few surprises, at least to me.
1. Chaz Powell, the guy who was supposed to fill Derrick Williams’ role, is not starting on offense. He’s listed on the second team at one of the WR spots, behind Brett Brackett. The other first-team wideouts are Derek Moye and Manheim’s own Graham Zug. Not a threesome that will scare opposing defensive coordinators. Powell is listed, with Stephfon Green, as the first-team kickoff returners.
2. Knowledge Timmons and A.J. Wallace were expected to be the two starting cornerbacks, but Wallace is listed behind Timmons at left corner. The other starting corner will be soph D’Anon Lynn. This obviously has something to do with Wallace being suspended for a couple games for cutting classes, but still.
3. Jerome Hayes, the fifth-year senior who lost the last two seasons to ACL tears, will start at one defensive end. Not really a surprise, I guess, but Hayes has been a LB for most of his college career and will be an undersized end, at 6-2, 240, who has never shown Aaron Maybin-level quickness.
4. Johnnie Troutman was thought to be the leader at left guard, but he’s been beaten out by redshirt freshman Matt Stankiewski.
In other news: The punt returner will be starting free safety Drew Astorino. Starting linebackers: Sean Lee and Navorro Bowman outside, Josh Hull inside. Nick Sukay has won the battle at hero, or strong safety. Harrisburg’s Brandon Ware is the backup, at left d-tackle, to stud Jared Odrick, like your correspondent a Lebanon native. Joe said at media day that Ware’s weight was a serious problem, and he’s now listed at 341, which raises the question of what the hell Ware weighed before he “got in shape,” and/or suggests that Odrick isn’t going to be off the field much when the other team has the ball.
Football’s coming, people. Dig it.
