Sam Houston football preseason workouts begin
8/3/2007 1:00:00 AM | Football
2007 SHSU Football Practice Schedule
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Bearkat 2006 Football Facts |
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Head Coach: Todd Whitten Starters Returning: 9 (6 offense, 3 defense) All-Time SHSU Football Record: Won 424, Lost 422, Tied 34 |
Seeking
to build on a 2006 Southland Conference runner-up finish, head coach
Todd Whitten and his staff begin their third season at Sam Houston
State with a squad that mixes a strong group of returning veterans with
a cast of talented newcomers.
The
Bearkats return 41 lettermen from last year's squad that rolled up a
6-5 record. That includes six offensive starters and three defensive
first teamers.
Becoming more explosive on offense and putting more pressure on the
quarterback on defense are two of the staff's top goals coming into the
2007 season.
Last
year's top offensive weapon, D. D. Terry (the SLC Offensive “Player of
the Year” after setting a school season record with 1,328 yards
rushing) is gone. The Bearkat defense totaled only eight sacks, Sam
Houston's lowest output as an NCAA football program.
Five All-Southland Conference Bearkats return. Tight end Blake Martin
(39 catches, 481 yards, 2 TD) and offensive tackle Brandon Hale both
were first team selections in 2006.
Fullback Dustin Dziuk and quarterback Brett Hicks were honorable mention selections. Defensive lineman David Branch, All-SLC in 2005, returns from an injury red-shirt season last year.
What had the Bearkat fans buzzing during 2006 spring drills, however, was the presence of severl top transfers.
Expected to fill important spots in the Bearkat lineup are transfers Rhett Bomar (Oklahoma) at quarterback, Chris Brown (Texas) at defensive end, Trey Payne (Baylor) at wide receiver, and Frank Simon (Northeastern Oklahoma) at linebacker.
Bomar passed for 2,018 yards at Oklahoma in 2005, earning Most Valuable Player honors after leading the Sooners to victory in the Holiday Bowl. The junior signal caller is aware of Sam Houston's tradition of success with transfer quarterbacks with Chris Chaloupka from Oklahoma State (1999), Josh McCown from SMU (2001), and Dustin Long from Texas A&M (2004) each leading the Bearkats to banner offensive seasons.
"I'm a big football guy, so I paid attention when those three all transfered," Bomar said. "I've played only one season in the last three years so I'm looking forward to getting back out on the field."
Bomar passed for 323 yards and a touchdown in Sam Houston's Orange-White spring game in April.
"Rhett
is talented," Whitten said. "He's a guy who can beat you throwing the
ball or running. His greatest asset is every time you snap, he has the
ability to extend the play."
Sam Houston
returns four of its five offensive linemen, each starting all 11 games
last season. Back are Ryan Dretke (6-0, 297), Brandon Hale (6-3, 324),
Hunter Schmidt (6-3, 303), and Brennan Williams (6-0, 273).
The Bearkats lost all three starters at wide receiver and the league's leading rusher but look to improve with several talented young players. Sophomore Chris Poullard and redshirt freshman Tymagic Robinson will carry the load on the ground. Tight end Blake Martin is expected to be one of Bomar's prime passing targets.
Backing up Bomar will be Brett Hicks who passed for 1,773 yards last season and threw for 273 yards in the spring game.
Defensively, four secondary starters, all four-year lettermen, graduated. The secondary has been a key area in the past two recruiting classes and the Bearkats look to a group of talented young players to take over.
Linebacker Luke McCall, defensive lineman Eric Mikolajchak, and linebacker Patrick Robinson are returning starters.
Brown, the transfer from Texas, was impressive in spring drills and looks to anchor the defensive line.
"We made an effort in the spring to emphasize pressuring the quarterback," Whitten said. "We've got to get that done."
Sam Houston State faces another strong schedule in 2007, highlighted by another non-conference encounter with a Big 12 opponent. The Bearkats take on Oklahoma State in Stillwater Sept. 29.
Other non-conference opponents include NCAA Division II Angelo State and Arkansas-Monticello at home and NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision opponent North Dakota State on the road.
