Notes!
M*A*S*H Unit. Well, there are a lot of injuries. Let's go by position.
M*A*S*H Unit. Well, there are a lot of injuries. Let's go by position.
- Quarterback. Davis Mills has been injured for a while. Given that Jack West is listed on the most recent depth chart, Mills is still hurt.
- Running back. Trevor Speights returned from injury to play (sparingly) against UCLA. All RB are currently healthy, which is unusual.
- Wide receiver. JJAW returned from injury to play (a lot, and well) against UCLA. All WR are currently healthy, though I am skeptical about IBS given that he has yet to appear this year.
- Tight end. Kaden Smith did not play against UCLA, and won't against Kal. Colby Parkinson is the starter in his place.
- Offensive line. Nate Herbig remained out against the Bruins, Dylan Powell starting at RG instead. Report is that Herbig will play (and presumably start) against Kal. As with every week it seems, we'll see what actually happens at game time. C/G Drew Dalman did not play against UCLA, and will not against Kal. T/G Foster Sarell is reportedly ready to play after being injured most of the year, though probably not a lot. G/T Devery Hamilton returned from injury to play against UCLA - note that he did not start at RG for Herbig - and will play against Kal.
- Defensive line: DE Dylan Jackson who, for my money, has been the most consistent of the three DL starters, is out. Starting in his place is DWP, who is rostered as a DT. Given his playing time, I am surprised that Thomas Booker was not tabbed to start. As he has been all season, Bo Peek remains out.
- Outside linebacker. Joey Alfieri returned to play against UCLA, sporting a club on his hand. He did not start, and will not against Kal either. Casey Toohill remains out. Jordan Fox and Gabe Reid have picked up the slack well, and will start.
- Inside linebacker. Incredibly, other than QB, ILB is the only position group that has not suffered an injury to a starter at some point this season. However, Mustafa Branch did not play against UCLA, and he remains out. Jordan Perez, who apparently has been injured for a while, also remains out. Joining both of them in street clothes is Andrew Pryts.
- Cornerback. Not an injury, but Alijah Holder is out for the first half against Kal due to his targeting penalty in the waning seconds against UCLA. Not sure who will start in his place. Alameen Murphy, and not Holder, for some reason, was actually the starter opposite Paulson Adebo against UCLA, so, if healthy, it will be Murphy - though there are reports that he is also nursing an injury. Otherwise, Obi Eboh.
- Safety. Brandon Simmons and Ben Edwards have both been out for a while, and remain out. Frank Buncom and Malik Antoine remain the starters.
- Special teams. K Jet Toner returned to play against UCLA.
- I am not defending the shoddy and inconsistent play of our team this year, but that is a remarkable amount of injuries to starters or significant contributors. In addition to those listed above, other starters or significant contributors have missed time: RB Bryce Love, WR Connor Wedington, C Jesse Burkett, OLB Curtis Robinson, along with Holder, Antoine, and DWP, among several other less-significant contributors.
- CB Ethan Bonner played in his second game, likely on ST. I did not see him on defense.
- DE Thomas Booker continued his solid play pressuring the quarterback (less so in run defense), but did not record a tackle. He did break up a pass. He has played in every game this season.
- WR Simi Fehoko (no catches, but was targeted in the endzone). He is now listed as the co-backup (with OSB) to JJAW. This was his second game played.
- DE Andres Fox played in his fourth game, recording a tackle on defense. He looks good. Given how little pressure we've gotten on the quarterback, I am surprised it took this long for him to get PT.
- ILB Jacob Magnum-Farrar. What a great name. JMF played in his first game of the season, but will likely see time this weekend against Kal.
- ILB Ricky Miezan played in his second game. I did not see him play on defense, but he may have. He will this weekend.
- CB Kendall Williamson had a great game against the Bruins. Seven tackles, including two for loss. This was Kendall's eighth game played.
- WR Michael Wilson (4 catches for 41 yards). Has played in every game this season, but hitherto mostly on ST. He has recently been featured more on offense; he is now listed as the backup to Trent Irwin.
- Freshman DE Andres Fox. Once he appears against Kal, his shirt will be burned. Contrary to what the Chron reports, Fox has only appeared in four games this season, so he needs one more appearance to no longer have his redshirt. Once burnt, Fox will be the fourth and final freshman to have his shirt burnt, joining DE Thomas Booker, CB Kendall Williamson, and WR Michael Wilson. Even if all other freshman play in the final two games, no one else will lose their redshirt.
- Sophomore OT/OG Foster Sarell. Looks like he will play against Kal. However, given that he has only played in two games this season, even if he plays in the bowl game, he is eligible to redshirt this season.
- Sophomore WR Connor Wedington has played in three games this season, but coaches want to redshirt him. So he'll play against Kal or in the bowl game, but not both.
- Junior OLB Curtis Robinson has played in two games this season. Even if he plays against Kal and in the bowl game, he is eligible to redshirt this year.
- Junior WR Donald Stewart has played in three games this season, so he could play against Kal or in the bowl game and redshirt, but not both. However, he may or may not be asked back for a fifth year; it seems that Stewart's stock has declined steadily since his freshman year.
- Senior S Ben Edwards has played in three games this season. He is out for Kal. Even if he is back for the bowl game, he can take a redshirt this season.
- So, it looks like we'll be burning four shirts this year, which has been the standard for the past few years. However, the new wrinkle with the new rule is that up to five players whose shirts were previously burnt would be eligible to regain their redshirt.
- CB J.J. Parson played in his fourth game, likely on ST. I did not see him play on defense, though he may have.
- OLB Anthony Trinh played in his third game, likely on ST. I did not see him play on defense, though he may have.
- OLB Thunder Justice Keck missed his first game of the season.
- ILB Ryan Beecher, a former walk-on, has played in every game this season, including against UCLA.
- S Noah Williams, a former walk-on, has played in 10 games this season, including against UCLA.
- QB Jack Richardson, a former walk-on, has played in 3 games this season. He did not appear against UCLA.