Bowling Green State University Athletics
Brandon Still Mulling Lineup
August 23, 2006 | Football
Aug. 23, 2006
By MAUREEN FULTON, Blade Sports Writer -
BOWLING GREEN - Although Bowling Green State University's 16-day training camp concluded Sunday, coaches have not decided on starters across the board for the Falcons' season opener against Wisconsin in Cleveland on Sept. 2.
"It's getting there," BGSU coach Gregg Brandon said. "We're still a work in progress."
Redshirt freshman Freddie Barnes will likely be the starter at quarterback, but the final decision will come this week.
Redshirt freshmen Jacob Hardwick and Thomas James are battling for one of the defensive end spots in Diyral Briggs' absence. Briggs, recovering from a broken foot, will likely miss the Wisconsin game.
Junior Loren Hargrove, who was moved to linebacker from safety last week, has flourished at the position and could be in the mix for a starting spot.
The Falcons will resume practice today after having yesterday off for the first day of school.
PARTRIDGE OUT: Brandon said sophomore receiver Corey Partridge will miss the Wisconsin game with a knee sprain suffered in practice over the weekend.
"He's projected to be back for Buffalo [Sept. 9]," Brandon said. "I feel good about that. I think we dodged a bullet."
Partridge was a large part of BGSU's offense against the Badgers last year in his first collegiate game, bringing down eight catches for 160 yards.
Zach Charles will start in Partridge's spot at receiver and also handle punt return duties in place of Partridge. Charles is a 5-foot-10, 168-pound freshman from Winter Haven, Fla.
Brandon called him a "mini Charles Sharon."
Charles was projected as the backup punt returner and practiced there in camp.
"Antonio Smith can [return punts] as well, so if Zach gets a little wide-eyed in the first game, Antonio will go out and catch it," Brandon said. "We'll be all right."
BARNES IMPRESSES: Before preseason camp began, Barnes said, "I have leadership qualities everybody's seen, but I haven't chosen to make them vocal just yet. In camp, that's when I will."
Barnes emerged as more of a team leader during camp, according to Brandon.
"I feel very comfortable with Freddie Barnes, with running the offense, managing it," Brandon said. "I like the way he's stepped up as a leader. He's improving every day as a passer."
But Brandon reiterated sophomore Anthony Turner will be the starter once he serves his one-game suspension and brought up the possibility of Barnes playing elsewhere. Where?
"I'm making my offensive coordinator [Greg Studrawa] figure it out," Brandon said.
CAPTAINS PICKED: The team voted on captains this weekend. The four are junior center Kory Lichtensteiger, senior wide receiver Kenneth Brantley II, senior defensive tackle Brad Williams and senior defensive end Devon Parks.
The players will also elect a game captain each week, and for the Wisconsin game, it will be sophomore cornerback Antonio Smith.
EXTRA POINTS: Backup right guard Shane Steffy sprained a knee ligament and will be out at least five weeks. ... Junior Brandon Mack moved to offensive tackle from nose guard. ... There will be no tackling in Saturday's 6 p.m. scrimmage.
