Tuesday night, head coach Willie Fritz confirmed that RB Tony Mathis is out for the year with an ACL, while RB Steve Polk will miss the season with an Achilles injury. Polk had started running hard and thought he was shining before his injury.
This would have been Mathis’ sixth season. He’ll have to decide if coming back is right for him, and UH will need to secure a waiver for a 7th year. Tony received his degree while at WVU and is closing in on a master’s degree.
At the start of camp, I asked Tony about what he had left to prove:
Freshman QB Caleb McMickle had moved up to 3rd team before an ACL tear ended his season. McMickle had seen it start to click before the injury and very well could have made it on the field this year.
The football staff will spend much of Wednesday deciding on their two-deep heading into the last stretch of fall camp. Having seen 10 of the 12 practices to this point, as well as talking to players and coaches, here’s how I believe the offense will stack up after today:
First group:
WR Stephon Johnson, Jonah Wilson, Joseph Manjack
RB Parker Jenkins
QB Donovan Smith
TE Jayden York
OL (L to R) David Ndukwe, Peyton Dunn, Demetrius Hunter, Tank Jenkins, Shamar Hobdy-Lee
Next group:
WR – Mekhi Mews, Devan Williams, Anthony Gangi or Koby Young
RB – Stacy Sneed or Re’Shaun Sanford
QB Zeon Chriss
TE Maliq Carr or Matt Byrnes
OL (L to R) Dakota White, Cayden Bowie, Sam Secrest, Hingano Hautau, Jake Wiley
I don’t think the offensive line is set in stone, especially with starting tackles. At times, Jake Wiley has seemed the #1 guy and so has Dakota White. Eman Naghavi has worked so many lineups that it’s hard to know who is there right now.
When Willie Fritz talks about playing a lot of guys early in the season, OL is obviously one of the big spots where we’ll see some different lineups.
With the new in-helmet communications system, each QB has two helmets this season. One has a green dot just below the crown, signifying to refs that he’s communicating with the coaching staff. The other helmet cannot receive communications – this is in the distinct likelihood that OC Kevin Barbay puts two QBs on the field simultaneously. Only one on-field player is allowed to receive communications.
It’s unclear how that will work with defensive players, who sub out more, and who could be on special teams together.
Christian Bean has finally been added to the roster and is on the field. The 6’2″ walk-on from Woodville committed in May and is in the receiver room.
Latrell McCutchin was back out in pads and practicing today, his first back after over a week on the sideline.
Willie Fritz has put a huge emphasis on 3rd downs for both his offense and defense. Calling 3rd downs a “4-point play,” meaning the difference in a touchdown and a field goal, practices often feature 3rd down situations pitting offense and defense.
On those third downs, TDECU will be awash in money. The 1973 song, “For the Love of Money” by The O’Jays will be piped in.
“Exaggerate the important things.” – Willie Fritz at the start of Tuesday’s practice to his defense.
