Here are a couple links about the one and only scrimmage of Fall Camp that took place on Saturday:

Herald

Waynes World

We have compiled a few notes and thoughts about the Defense (Offensive notes to come later):

The defensive line is the definition of quality over quantity.  Ty Boyle will start at NG, Ross Brenneman at DE, and Broc Bellmore at the other DE.  These guys are all rock solid and all could be potential all-GWC picks.  We feel very good about those 3 guys as they are all experienced and talented.

Devin Benjamin will be the first guy to come off the bench and will be a playmaker from the interior DL position.  He looks to have slimmed down which will most certainly help his lateral ability.  Jay Nelson will be a backup at DE and will be a vital guy this year for depth.  After that is where there is very little experience and the Sioux will need some young guys to grow up quick.  Seth Stanchik, Brent Cole, and Brock Lundeen are all going to be thrust into action if there are any injuries.  With only 5 proven guys it is going to be tough to make it through the year unscathed.  One player who has looked very impressive and is Ross Brenneman.  The sophomore DE out of Omaha has shown a true ability to rush the passer out of the DE position, which is no easy feat in a 3-4 scheme.   With his size (6’4”-252lb) and quick feet  that he has displayed thus far in Fall Camp, we are hoping for big things out of Mr. Brenneman this fall.  We all know what Ty Boyle has done in the past and what he is capable of doing this year.  Lets hope he stays healthy and plays to his lofty expectations this season.  While we doubt any redshirts will be pulled on the DL, true freshman Spencer Cummings has been impressive so far this fall.  He is still only 17 years old.

The defensive backfield is back intact with Joel Schwenzfeier and Kris Ankenbauer back starting at the safety positions.  Justin Belotti and Eric Mersereau will definitely see time, providing a good quality backup.  Dominique Hawkins will man up one corner and Kenny Watkins/Mitch Kudrna will be in line for the other corner position.  R-FR Chris Hall and Chavon Mackey will provide the depth at those positions.  We are expecting a marked improvement in the defensive backfield this year.  Most of the guys have a couple years of the FCS level football under their belts and this could be the year the experience pays off for the Sioux.  Because of depth and lack of need, nobody is expected to have their redshirts pulled in this group either.  However, if there was an all-of-the-sudden need, we think Wayzata freshman DB Daryl Brown would be the guy.  He is talented.

The deepest position through two weeks of fall camp has to be the OLB position.  Those guys have shown great athleticism and depth thus far.  All-GWC Ryan Kasowski and Ross Cochran are both locked into the starting spots.  R-Fr Dominique Bennett has great athletic ability and R-Fr Cordero Finley  will be backing up Cochran at the strong side OLB position.  Transfer Johnnie Daniels seems to be picking up on the defense and should get some snaps at the weak OLB position.   R-Fr Damon Andrews is a guy who could mix into the rotation also.

The ILB position seems to be down to four main guys.  Curtis Dublanko and Dan Hendrickson appear to be the starters as of now.  Both of those guys offer good speed and playmaking ability, which is crucial at this level.  The old NCC days are long gone, everyone has to be able to run.   Redshirt freshman Garrison Goodman will be backing up Dublanko on the strongside and Paul German will be rotating in with Hendrickson at the weakside ILB position.

Hard to believe that practices #12 and #13 were already held today.  More to come soon.