Been hitting the hoops recruiting trail, so a bit late this AM (yeah it says 11:21 p.m. down there, but trust me, it's Wed AM) with Tuesday's football post-practice stuff. We had to go under the Fouts bleachers. Something about a tropical storm.
Imagine word's gotten out about center J.J. Johnson having an MRI, but nothing official on the results or if he'll go Saturday after getting his foot stepped on at Clemson. Don't forsee any dropoff if Nick Leppo goes instead. He stood in there and got the job done on Saturday and looked good in fall camp when it seemed a foregone conclusion that Aaron Fortenberry would end up No. 2 at center.
Incidentally, Leppo is a budding success story from Southlake Carroll, and here I pose some trivia. Name the other eight former Dragons who have rolled through UNT's program since Todd Dodge became head coach in 2007. Answer's posted in The Village, but give it a shot before you cheat.
Talked with Jamaal Jackson and learned that he has never not started a game in his college career, including the two years he spent at JC in Mississippi. I know JC isn't FBS, but starting is starting, and never backing up seems impressive. Other than a few drops that JJ took responsibility for, he looked solid at Clemson after the catch and on kickoff returns. People talk about Tyler Stradford being difficult to cover, but I don't see anyone having much luck with this guy.
He and Ira Smith are basically sharing kick-return responsibilities, though Jackson is the "call" guy who determines on the fly which one takes the return. On UNT's often-ailing special teams, these two are the bright spots and potential weapons in an effort to turn the Mean Green around in one season.
Speaking of Smith, he's getting some time at CB after injuries made that position thinner than Rick Villarreal's tolerance for salad. It's possible because Ryan Downing has progressed so well at safety, that Smith playing both positions doesn't throw a wrench in the secondary. D'Leon McCord will start opposite Royce Hill, but Smith will be ready.
By the way, Lance Dunbar looks like the cat that ate the canary after his performance at Clemson. This guy is sky-high confident he can victimize Rice or anyone else left on UNT's schedule. He says the OL and blocking WRs really opened up some real estate on Saturday, and if there's any place he can improve, it's on getting some of those long runs or shovel passes to the house for a TD. Don't get me wrong; Dunbar respects the defenses that will undoubtedly come after him, but he sounds ready to meet them head on.
Incidentally, Dunbar said he started at receiver against Rice during the 2008 debacle in Houston. Didn't remember that.
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