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Date: Saturday, November 3, 2007
Time: 1PM
Site: Plaster Sports Complex Springfield, Missouri
TV/Radio: No TV currently- UNI Radio Network
MISSOURI STATE BEARS
2007 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
2006 Recap: The 2006 Missouri State Bears underwent some major changes and experienced some serious growing pains as new head coach Terry Allen began to put his fingerprints on this program. Despite a 2-9 record (1-6 Gateway) the Bears showed some signs of life and a glimpse of the future. Without an established QB and a shaky offensive line, the defense led by the strength of a deep corps of linebackers and safeties kept Missouri State within three points three times during the season (Central Arkansas 16-14, Sam Houston State 20-17, Western Kentucky 17-14) and within six points of Indiana State. Missouri State lacked a big play receiver to open up the field and fought through inexperience and injury at the QB position after the departure of former QB Scott Carroll before the season left the coaching staff handcuffed. Also helping to undermine the 06 Bears was the lack of a disciplined and talented offensive line to provide protection and open holes for the running game. All of these things combined led Missouri State to finish dead last in the conference in scoring offense and total offense.
2007 PREVIEW
Quarterback: The quarterback situation at Missouri State is seemingly even more confusing than it was last season. However this time there appears to be if nothing else more experience at the position and probably more talent as well. Largely ineffective Garrett Congdon has left the team, while the other two quarterbacks on the depth chart last season gained valuable experience in a tough season.
Both Tyler Horner and Matt Krapfl were forced into action due to the ineffectiveness of Congdon and injuries. The sophomores now return with a full two years of grooming and will likely compete with each other to win the starting job at the beginning of the season. Horner played in 4 games and completed 58.6% of his passes for 736 yards and 2 TDs, while Krapfl completed 59.3% for 652 yards and 4 TDs.
The battle between these two could soon turn into a three person race for playing time as the true quarterback of the future seems to have arrived as the gem of this seasons recruiting class. If he isn’t redshirted for the future, incoming freshman Cody Kirby arrives on campus as the most heralded high school recruit in recent memory for Missouri State. Playing in the largest classification of football in Arkansas, Kirby put up gaudy numbers with 3,500 passing yards, 34 TDs, plus 800 rushing yards, and 18 TDs. Kirby, who stands at 5-11 200 lbs, was largely looked over because of his lack of height often required of DI quarterbacks, but was still recruited heavily by Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Central Arkansas, Rice, Mount Union, and even had a late offer to walk on at Arkansas after the transfer of Mitch Mustain. If Terry Allen and his staff choose not to redshirt Cody Kirby this year then it will be a clear signal that he will play significant minutes by midseason. If they feel he is not ready, they will not waste a full season of eligibility of their future signal caller.
Adding to the depth at QB will be walk on Tyler Schmitt from West Plains, MO, who was recruited by several schools including a visit to Louisville. Coach Allen seems pretty excited at his QB depth by stating we are “light years ahead at the quarterback position this year than we were last year,” which is great news for Bears fans.
Running Back: This may be one of the biggest question marks heading into the season with only one experience player returning to anchor the position. Senior Gerald Davis will likely hold off several young players and inherit the starting position. Davis rushed for 219 yards and 1 TD on 45 carries last season behind graduated starter Michael Cooper. Often considered a power back, Davis has shown the ability to be agile and find holes as well, leading to a 4.4 yards per carry average. Challenging for carries will be a very talented group of youngsters. Redshirt freshman Jonathan Davis has shown a lot of promise after putting up solid numbers in Tampa Bay, FL during high school. There he rushed for 1,201 yards and 11 TDs on 201 carries. Another redshirt freshman and highly regarded 06 recruit Jeran Trotter out of Wichita, KS, where he put up staggering numbers with 1,700 rushing yards and 25 TDs.
Joining the two redshirts freshman are three true freshmen. Stephen Johnston from Arlington, TX (800 rushing yards, 200 rec. yards), where he was also a track star, provides a dual threat option that enticed several DI schools like Air Force, Wyoming, Purdue. The second and maybe a dark horse for a scat back position out of Owasso, OK is Klingjack Washington, who stands at only 5-9 165, probably couldn’t take the beating of an every down back, yet, but put up huge numbers with 2,133 yards rushing and 26 TDs as a senior. He was recruited and held offers from Tulsa, Northern Illinois, and Illinois State.
To add to the wealth of young running backs is Travis Ribbing, a sleeper recruit from Farmington, MO, where he racked up all kinds of awards and statistics. He won Conference Player of the Year, all-state, all-conference, and all-region honors, with 2,443 total yards and 34 total TDs.
With the young potential stars at both key backfield positions, you can begin to see the work of Terry Allen and also understand why he is so excited about the future of the Bears.
For the rest of this article: http://www.panthernation.com/showthread.php?t=12640
Time: 1PM
Site: Plaster Sports Complex Springfield, Missouri
TV/Radio: No TV currently- UNI Radio Network
MISSOURI STATE BEARS
2007 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
2006 Recap: The 2006 Missouri State Bears underwent some major changes and experienced some serious growing pains as new head coach Terry Allen began to put his fingerprints on this program. Despite a 2-9 record (1-6 Gateway) the Bears showed some signs of life and a glimpse of the future. Without an established QB and a shaky offensive line, the defense led by the strength of a deep corps of linebackers and safeties kept Missouri State within three points three times during the season (Central Arkansas 16-14, Sam Houston State 20-17, Western Kentucky 17-14) and within six points of Indiana State. Missouri State lacked a big play receiver to open up the field and fought through inexperience and injury at the QB position after the departure of former QB Scott Carroll before the season left the coaching staff handcuffed. Also helping to undermine the 06 Bears was the lack of a disciplined and talented offensive line to provide protection and open holes for the running game. All of these things combined led Missouri State to finish dead last in the conference in scoring offense and total offense.
2007 PREVIEW
Quarterback: The quarterback situation at Missouri State is seemingly even more confusing than it was last season. However this time there appears to be if nothing else more experience at the position and probably more talent as well. Largely ineffective Garrett Congdon has left the team, while the other two quarterbacks on the depth chart last season gained valuable experience in a tough season.
Both Tyler Horner and Matt Krapfl were forced into action due to the ineffectiveness of Congdon and injuries. The sophomores now return with a full two years of grooming and will likely compete with each other to win the starting job at the beginning of the season. Horner played in 4 games and completed 58.6% of his passes for 736 yards and 2 TDs, while Krapfl completed 59.3% for 652 yards and 4 TDs.
The battle between these two could soon turn into a three person race for playing time as the true quarterback of the future seems to have arrived as the gem of this seasons recruiting class. If he isn’t redshirted for the future, incoming freshman Cody Kirby arrives on campus as the most heralded high school recruit in recent memory for Missouri State. Playing in the largest classification of football in Arkansas, Kirby put up gaudy numbers with 3,500 passing yards, 34 TDs, plus 800 rushing yards, and 18 TDs. Kirby, who stands at 5-11 200 lbs, was largely looked over because of his lack of height often required of DI quarterbacks, but was still recruited heavily by Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Central Arkansas, Rice, Mount Union, and even had a late offer to walk on at Arkansas after the transfer of Mitch Mustain. If Terry Allen and his staff choose not to redshirt Cody Kirby this year then it will be a clear signal that he will play significant minutes by midseason. If they feel he is not ready, they will not waste a full season of eligibility of their future signal caller.
Adding to the depth at QB will be walk on Tyler Schmitt from West Plains, MO, who was recruited by several schools including a visit to Louisville. Coach Allen seems pretty excited at his QB depth by stating we are “light years ahead at the quarterback position this year than we were last year,” which is great news for Bears fans.
Running Back: This may be one of the biggest question marks heading into the season with only one experience player returning to anchor the position. Senior Gerald Davis will likely hold off several young players and inherit the starting position. Davis rushed for 219 yards and 1 TD on 45 carries last season behind graduated starter Michael Cooper. Often considered a power back, Davis has shown the ability to be agile and find holes as well, leading to a 4.4 yards per carry average. Challenging for carries will be a very talented group of youngsters. Redshirt freshman Jonathan Davis has shown a lot of promise after putting up solid numbers in Tampa Bay, FL during high school. There he rushed for 1,201 yards and 11 TDs on 201 carries. Another redshirt freshman and highly regarded 06 recruit Jeran Trotter out of Wichita, KS, where he put up staggering numbers with 1,700 rushing yards and 25 TDs.
Joining the two redshirts freshman are three true freshmen. Stephen Johnston from Arlington, TX (800 rushing yards, 200 rec. yards), where he was also a track star, provides a dual threat option that enticed several DI schools like Air Force, Wyoming, Purdue. The second and maybe a dark horse for a scat back position out of Owasso, OK is Klingjack Washington, who stands at only 5-9 165, probably couldn’t take the beating of an every down back, yet, but put up huge numbers with 2,133 yards rushing and 26 TDs as a senior. He was recruited and held offers from Tulsa, Northern Illinois, and Illinois State.
To add to the wealth of young running backs is Travis Ribbing, a sleeper recruit from Farmington, MO, where he racked up all kinds of awards and statistics. He won Conference Player of the Year, all-state, all-conference, and all-region honors, with 2,443 total yards and 34 total TDs.
With the young potential stars at both key backfield positions, you can begin to see the work of Terry Allen and also understand why he is so excited about the future of the Bears.
For the rest of this article: http://www.panthernation.com/showthread.php?t=12640