The UND Football team has four official practices under their belts and so far things seem to be progressing as they should. From everything we have read, heard, and seen the team is staying healthy and installing the offense/defense as planned.
Here are a few happenings from camp:
- Starting Offensive Guard Joe Kleason will miss at least a month of the season after re-injuring his foot. UND did develop some depth during spring ball as Kleason was out for that session also. We expect Shea Walker to fill in for at least the first 3 games with freshman Brandon Anderson backing him up. This is a blow to the OL but they will be alright as long as Walker stays healthy. If he goes down then depth/experience become an issue.
- It has been hard to evaluate the offensive and defensive line positions because the full team stuff has not fully started yet. Once they have a few more practices and a scrimmage it will be clearer who is progessing along the lines.
- After three practices it is obvious that the wide receiver core is the strongest position on the team.
- Freshman receiver Kenny Golladay is all of 6’4″, if not 6’5″. He is pretty skinny but once he puts some freshman weight on he will be one heck of a target. He has shown good speed and hands thus far. Freshman Zach Oliver and Anthony Fletcher are both just a hair shorter than Golladay putting them in the 6’3″-6’4″ range.
- Redshirt freshman receiver Romon Bridges has impressed in one-on-ones showing good quickness and speed out of his cuts. He is smaller in stature but could be an useful weapon out on the perimeter with some space. He also appears to be the #1 Kick Returner, giving UND a legitimate threat to break it at any time.
- In the defensive secondary, Daryl Brown has picked up where he left off last season and should be a shutdown corner for UND. The battle will be opposite him. Redshirt freshman Chris Brown and Dwayne Brown along with junior Chavon Mackey appear to be battling for the other starting corner spot. The could be a case where the secondary coaches are wondering which “Brown can do it for us”.
- Keep your eye on redshirt freshman Rumeal Harris out of Eden Prairie, MN. He could jump up and possibly steal the last corner spot.
- The safety positions appear to be up for grabs as Baylee Carr, Erik Mersereau, Will Lewis, and Javen Butler are all taking reps throughout the sessions. Dillon Olson and Clordion Kennedy are also getting in there. The safety spot is a huge question mark and needs to be solidified if UND is to have success in 2012.
- Our early prognostication is that transfer Will Lewis will play his way into a starting role or a spot in the dime package.
- UND received their second commitment to the Class of 2013 in Grant County (ND) fullback Dustin Iverson. Iverson, 6’3″-230, was an All-Conference and All-Region performer for the Coyotes and should bring some good size to the fullback position. Iverson is also a standout basketball player.
Practice continues on this week and we hope to have some mid-week report again. Remember to follow us on Twitter as we do post pertinent information on there daily as its easier to do that than make a new post at times due to the immediacy of the issue.
