Bowling Green State University Athletics
Young and Younger
August 20, 2006 | Football
Aug. 18, 2006
By JACK CARLE, Sentinel Sports Editor - Bowling Green's projected starters in the secondary just got younger.
With the move of redshirt junior Loren Hargrove from safety to linebacker, BG's secondary has two sophomores set at the corners with two true freshmen at the safety spots.
"That's the way it is, I don't have a choice," said BG head coach Gregg Brandon about the youth in the secondary. "I'm not going to moan about it. I'm going to get this kids playing."
Of the four, Antonio Smith started all 11 games in 2005 at cornerback. He finished with 57 tackles, two fumble recoveries, eight pass breakups and two interceptions. He returned both interceptions for touchdowns.
Kenny Lewis, who lettered as a special teams player in 2005, is at the other corner.
Jerrett Sanderson, who started classes in the spring semester of 2006, is at free safety. A 2005 graduate of Long Branch (N.J.) High School, Sanderson attended Fort Union Military Academy in the fall of 2005.
P.J. Mahone, an outstanding running back at Elyria High School in 2005, takes over for Hargrove at strong safety.
"We feel Loren is better, closer to the line of scrimmage," Brandon said.
"We were reluctant to make that move until we found out how we were going to be in the back end (secondary)," he continued. "I'm extremely pleased with Mahone's development."
And even the backups in the secondary are young with true freshmen Jahmal Brown, Vincent Corner, Calvin Marshall and Tarell Lewis looking to move up the depth chart along with redshirt freshman Chris Wright.
Brown started fall drills as a cornerback, but has moved to safety and Corner has changed from running back to cornerback.
"Jahmal Brown is a kid who is coming on now," Brandon said. "Vince Corner is a natural over there."
Brandon said the move of Dennis Springer from running backs coach to the secondary, along with the work of defensive coordinator John Lovett, has helped the development of the younger players.
OTHER CHANGES: Brandon Mack, a 6-5, 257 junior, has been moved from nose guard to offensive tackle.
EMANS OUT: Matt Emans, a redshirt junior walk-on from Bowling Green High School, has been slowed by a broken hand in his effort to crack the rotation at wide receiver.
"Matt was in the mix, so this will set him back a little bit," Brandon said.
MORE INJURIES: BG is a little short at defensive end with Diyral Briggs still looking to bounce back from a broken leg suffered during the winter.
"I think he's questionable for the first game," Brandon said.
Also out at defensive end are redshirt sophomore Joe Schaefer, who has a broken hand, and true freshman Darius Smith, who suffered a broken leg.
Redshirt freshmen Jacob Hardwick and Thomas James are battling for playing time at end.
Shane Steffy, a backup to Derrick Markray at right guard on offense, has a sprained knee ligament and will be out for five to six weeks, Brandon said.
ROSSFORD CONNECTION: Jon Jakubowski, a fifth-year senior from Rossford High School, is a backup at linebacker for the Falcons.
"He can play all the linebacker spots and he's involved in kickoff coverage," Brandon said. "He busts his tail. He's a good team guy and a good guy in the locker room."
BOILING POINT: A new look T-shirt for the football team has 212 degrees printed on the front.
"Just a little motivational technique, let's crank it up to 212 degrees and get moving," Brandon said because even at 211 degrees the steam engine is standing still.
