Lamar Football Fall Camp News & Notes

[KABrother88]

. @LamarFootball defense putting in work @Shytownn_ @IAM_RRJ20 @tannerkanteman @_goldenchild35 pic.twitter.com/sNay8u79X0

— Bmt Examiner Sports (@BmtExam_Sports) August 16, 2017

Edited August 17, 2017 by KABrother88

[KABrother88]

LamarU true freshman RB Myles Wanza @JuiceXwanza talks adapting to college speed & @LamarFootball @CoachDanDodd offense pic.twitter.com/HHhRKVTIZX

— Bmt Examiner Sports (@BmtExam_Sports) August 17, 2017

 

Man I'm ready to see this kid in action

Edited August 17, 2017 by KABrother88

[KABrother88]

[tweet]898266980330950657[/tweet]

[KABrother88]

A Look at the 2017 Offensive Line

 

It goes without saying that the job of an offensive linemen is not a glamourous one. When someone refers to skill position players, offensive linemen are not included in that discussion. When it comes to popular nicknames the offensive line gets the short end of the stick – the Hogs, big uglies, etc. There are no stats for an offensive linemen, other than "pancake blocks" and that is a stat that only coaches keep and does not appear on in-game scoring software that colleges use for official stats. To top it off, offensive linemen primarily go unnoticed by fans unless they make a mistake.

 

The athletes – yes, athletes – that play this position do their battle in the trenches. Their sole responsibility is to do a job so that others get the credit, stats and honors due to their hard work. Offensive linemen must be a team within the team.

 

For the 2017 Lamar University offensive line, the offseason has been a trying one. Not only did the Cardinals' front line have to adjust to a new head coach and position coach, but right at the point they were getting settled with how the new coach operates they were forced to do it all over again.

 

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[KABrother88]

New coach, Lamar look to earn back respect

 

F ollowing its worst season since its 2010 reboot, the Lamar Cardinals knew their standing within the Southland Conference took a hit.

 

In response, the program hired first-time head coach Mike Schultz to turn it around after winning a program-best eight games in 2014 - then following it up with consecutive losing seasons.

 

Schultz quickly focused his attention on instilling the belief Lamar - picked to finish fourth in the Southland last season, but just seventh this season - can be one of the conference's best teams again.

 

"I know we're going to be picked towards the bottom of the conference," Schultz, who replaced Ray Woodard after he was fired in December, said. "I also know we've got a motivated football team that wants to earn respect back and that's what we're going to do this season."

 

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[KABrother88]

[tweet]898636719787958272[/tweet]

[KABrother88]

A Look at the 2017 Receivers/Tight Ends

 

The 2016 season was a unique one for the Lamar University football team at receiver. It marked the first time in several years the Cards didn't return a known commodity at the position, which is not to say LU was void of talent. The roster was filled with names that were new to most fans. Those players were looking to write their own chapter in the program's history books.

 

The Cardinals didn't put up the same numbers from this position in 2016 that the offense was used to, which can be contributed to inconsistency at quarterback. LU's quarterbacks became one of the biggest revolving doors in the nation last year. It started with former signal caller Carson Earp and then junior Andrew Allen battling out for the starting nod – Earp won the job out of fall camp, but Allen took over the starting position in the third game of the season. Once that was settled is when the Cardinals were plagued with injuries. Allen got hurt forcing Earp back into a starting role. Earp then suffered a season-ending injury just as Allen was cleared only to see Allen hurt the following week. Before seasons' end, the Cardinals had burned two redshirts at the position (in the same game), used every quarterback on the roster and even had to turn to a receiver to fill the position at times. It is easy to see where the receivers would be unable to find their rhythm in the offense.

 

A silver lining that came from that season is the Cardinals were very young at the position and through their youth dealt with a lot of adversity. The majority of the receivers return for this season stronger, with another year of valuable experience under their belt and the coaching staff has added some talented pieces around them through recruiting. Big Red returns four of its top five options from 2016.

 

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[Dracula]

Looking over the roster, the DL size and depth is pretty thin. I wonder if he could take a couple of OL guys and see if they could hold the line, so to speak.

[lu cards]

Anyone hear about another qb transfer from blinn via ucla (Aaron sharp)?

[LU17]

The roster looks updated...with some new faces!!!

[KABrother88]

The roster looks updated...with some new faces!!!

 

Several names added that I was expecting based off summer recruiting however the 2 JUCO DL guys we signed (Haynes and Iloa) do not appear. We discussed Haynes and his legal issue but nothing on Iloa but it looks like he won't be here either. Noticed that '17 signee Tyris Williams is no longer listed. He was originally listed at LB but I felt like he would eventually become at DE given his size out of HS. Also noticed that Kevin O'Niell is back on the roster. He signed with Lamar in '15 and left the team last season but is back now. It appears most of the others are walk-on guys who made the cut through fall camp.

[KABrother88]

Anyone hear about another qb transfer from blinn via ucla (Aaron sharp)?

 

Haven't heard but he does follow a couple of players on twitter. He went to Summer Creek HS in Humble (same HS as Myles Wanza) so geographically he fits. He also fits the mold of what the staff is looking for in their QB as far as mobility. He was a coveted prospect out of HS, evidenced by his signing with UCLA and was originally committed to Kansas St. right up until a couple weeks before his signing day. He also has offers from Arizona St., Baylor, Colorado, Houston, Michigan St., Mississippi St., Toledo, Utah, UTEP, Wake Forest & Washington. He signed with UCLA as a QB in '14 and took a RS that season. They transitioned him to WR after that season but he didn't record a catch in '15 then transferred to Blinn in '16 and transitioned back to QB.

[KABrother88]

A Look at the 2017 Defensive Line

 

When Mike Schultz took over the Lamar University football program he knew there was a lot of work to be done on the defensive side of the ball. With only five returning starters on defense, it was not going to be an easy task for the new man in charge.

 

That point is even more magnified on the defensive line. The Cardinals graduated three of four starters from last year's squad with senior Manasseh Miles being the lone returning starter. Junior Seth Adams and sophomore Daniel Crosley earned a couple of spot starts which doesn't leave a lot of experience on the defensive front.

 

Some may argue that LU will have to hit the reset button on defense this year, and maybe that is a positive. The Cardinals struggled with inconsistent play on defense in 2016. LU finished last in the league in rush defense (230.0 ypg), but led the Southland in pass defense (189.3 ypg).

 

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[KABrother88]

A Look at the 2017 Linebackers

 

On paper, it would appear that the middle of the Cardinals' defense can boast of certain factors that the rest of the team can't. Big Red graduated only one starter from last season, while returning two. The one graduated senior – Matt Johnson – split the starting role with Tanner Kanteman, which gives LU's linebackers the greatest amount of returning experience on the whole team. With all that being said, LU co-defensive coordinator, Melvin Smith, enters the season with only one senior on the roster.

 

"When I got here, we wanted to establish a certain culture on defense," said Smith. "We're not going to be a gimmick defense. Defense is about getting dirty, pursuing the ball and contact. We're going to play for 60 minutes, we're going to fly to the ball and we're going to tackle. That's what we want to instill. We're getting better as a group."

 

Juniors Cameron Hampton and Chaston Brooks and senior Tanner Kanteman entered the season as the headliners of this group. The trio tallied a combined 25 starts last season, but after injuries and slow starts to camp others have stepped into the spotlight.

 

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[KABrother88]

A Look at the 2017 Defensive Backs

 

One of the biggest highlights for Cardinals' fans during the offseason came from the football team. On the evening of Friday, April 28th, All-American Brendan Langley became the third-round draft selection of the Denver Broncos – making him the first Cardinal since the program's rebirth to be selected in the NFL draft.

 

What served as a moment of celebration for the Red and White was also a reminder of another gap needing to be filled on the Cardinals' depth chart. A depth chart new head coach Mike Schultz has had to rebuild with only 13 returning starters.

 

In addition to the loss of Langley, the Cardinals also graduated All-Southland safety Xavier Bethany. That is two very big losses from a defense that led the Southland in pass defense (189.3 ypg) a year ago. Despite the two losses, the Cardinals return two starters in the secondary including preseason All-Southland selection Rodney Randle Jr. In addition to Randle, and safety Davon Jernigan – the other returning starter – the Cardinals have also added a wealth of talent to the position over the past two years.

 

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