The LCSN duo discuss whether NMSU basketball can get back on track with a pair of home games this weekend. Also, the prep basketball season heats up with Cruces-Mayfield game. I also encourage all to attend NMSU baseball opener this weekend vs. Saint Mary's:
Friday, February 14, 2014
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
VIDEO: Aggie men's basketball press conference (2/11)
Head coach Marvin Menzies talks recent WAC losses, the need for better effort and postseason implications following such defeats:
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Aggies build with eye towards future
The Aggie football program certainly addressed some of its immediate needs during 2014 National Signing Day: quarterback, linebacker (NMSU signed six players at each position group) and defensive back (where five players joined the program).
Of course, this also gives the team options, particularly at the quarterback position. The coaching staff will need to see how things shake out and who fits their offensive system best. With that being said, expect some of the competitors to eventually be moved to different positions if the QB spot doesn’t pan out — wide receiver, slot back or defensive back, for instance.
One look at the quarterback prospects indicate they do have speed and athleticism to make such moves, if necessary. Players such as Nate Grimm (1,314 rushing yards, 18 touchdowns), Tyler Rogers (10 rushing touchdowns), Jalen Jones (437 rushing yards, seven touchdowns), Andrew Allen (294 rushing yards, six touchdowns), Nick Jeanty (118 rushing yards, four touchdowns) and Cassius Corley (829 rushing yards) put up good numbers running the ball last season.
It already appears the Aggies are strongly considering such a position change for last year’s quarterback prospect. King Davis III, who the team appeared high on during the 2013 season, will get a look at running back and slot receiver during spring practices, according to head coach Doug Martin.
Last year, the Aggies moved Travaughn Colwell from quarterback to wide receiver and then running back, and Martin said Wednesday that Colwell could get a look at safety this spring.
Of the six quarterbacks signed, five are freshman, while the lone junior college alum was Rogers, a transfer from Arizona Western (he still has three years of eligibility remaining).
•••
Such a theme was present throughout the signing class, where the Aggies signed 25 players total, 23 of which were true freshmen. Two — Rogers and defensive lineman Josh Gibbs — were junior college transfers. No other college transfers signed with NMSU this past week.
Martin made it clear throughout the past year he wants to build the Aggie program with primarily high school athletes, and also through the state of Texas — where 15 of the 25 incoming student-athletes hail from.
This is a matter of preference. Some of the top Aggies in recent years — Matt Christian (quarterback), Taveon Rogers (wide receiver), Kenny Turner (running back), Donyae Coleman (safety) and Trashaun Nixon (linebacker) — came from the junior college ranks. Then again, previous head coach DeWayne Walker was well connected and had a good rapport in the Southern California junior college recruiting scene.
Bringing in primarily high school graduates gives the program a chance to build things from the ground up and establish a foundation while cycling in four-year student-athletes. In time, the plan could very well work. Then again, expect the Aggies to take some lumps in the immediate future.
The team’s defense, for instance, will start plenty of youth across the board this upcoming season, as the Aggies must fill holes across the majority of it’s two-deep depth chart from a year ago.
Offensively, the Aggies must replace gamebreaking wide receiver Austin Franklin, and will need to develop young players at quarterback.
There’s also questions at the running back position. While local products Brandon Betancout and Xavier Hall had impressive seasons last year, Betancourt’s coming off a mid-season foot injury that required surgery.
The team signed two backs last week — Larry Rose (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) and Royce Caldwell (5-foot-7, 170 pounds) — that could help and provide speed. With that being said, neither appear to necessarily be big backs. Yes, NMSU could still use a power rusher that can pound the ball between the tackles. Perhaps 2013 redshirt freshman Marquette Washington will bring that to the offense.
But the overriding point is this: the team appears to be building for two, three and four years down the road, when such young contributors hopefully develop into productive college football players.
Consider this quote from Martin during Wednesday’s signing day, which marked his one-year anniversary as head coach at NMSU: “It was nice to start getting our classes put in place. And this is just a start. We still got some work to go. We need a another recruiting class to really get this football program back on solid ground.”
•••
I’m all for the Larry Coyer hire at defensive coordinator. I’ve long been a proponent of the Aggies paying good money to their lead coaches, and Coyer (an NMSU official said his contract will be a two-year deal worth an estimated annual salary of $150,000) and Gregg Brandon (who signed a two-year contract last season worth a reported $180,000 a year) are quality and experienced at their positions.
But don’t necessarily expect Coyer to work miracles, at least not initially. Again, he’ll be working with a very young unit. And a rule of thumb to remember: quality coaching is important, but is no more important than quality players.
Think back to last year’s offense, which didn’t truly hit it’s stride until Franklin hit his as a playmaker and catalyst for Brandon to work with.
The point is, poor coaching can hurt talent production on the field, while quality coaching can only take mediocre talent so far. And, yes, it’s tough to make up for a lack of either.
•••
Martin said during his Wednesday press conference that the Aggie football team had tremendous support from the school’s faculty during the recruiting process.
The head coach said incoming recruits would have lunch with NMSU faculty members depending on what degree the player had hopes of pursuing.
“Whether it was business, kinesiology. Whatever it was,” Martin said. “We tried to get professors to come so they could have lunch with the young men and talk with them. “Martin said such a philosophy was well received from the players and their family members, and in his mind was one factor that makes New Mexico State a unique college experience.
“It was over and over reiterated by the parents and the recruits, that they didn’t get that at other places,” Martin said. “How far our faculty went ahead of making them feel at home.”
Follow me on Twitter @TeddyFeinberg
Of course, this also gives the team options, particularly at the quarterback position. The coaching staff will need to see how things shake out and who fits their offensive system best. With that being said, expect some of the competitors to eventually be moved to different positions if the QB spot doesn’t pan out — wide receiver, slot back or defensive back, for instance.
One look at the quarterback prospects indicate they do have speed and athleticism to make such moves, if necessary. Players such as Nate Grimm (1,314 rushing yards, 18 touchdowns), Tyler Rogers (10 rushing touchdowns), Jalen Jones (437 rushing yards, seven touchdowns), Andrew Allen (294 rushing yards, six touchdowns), Nick Jeanty (118 rushing yards, four touchdowns) and Cassius Corley (829 rushing yards) put up good numbers running the ball last season.
It already appears the Aggies are strongly considering such a position change for last year’s quarterback prospect. King Davis III, who the team appeared high on during the 2013 season, will get a look at running back and slot receiver during spring practices, according to head coach Doug Martin.
Last year, the Aggies moved Travaughn Colwell from quarterback to wide receiver and then running back, and Martin said Wednesday that Colwell could get a look at safety this spring.
Of the six quarterbacks signed, five are freshman, while the lone junior college alum was Rogers, a transfer from Arizona Western (he still has three years of eligibility remaining).
•••
Such a theme was present throughout the signing class, where the Aggies signed 25 players total, 23 of which were true freshmen. Two — Rogers and defensive lineman Josh Gibbs — were junior college transfers. No other college transfers signed with NMSU this past week.
Martin made it clear throughout the past year he wants to build the Aggie program with primarily high school athletes, and also through the state of Texas — where 15 of the 25 incoming student-athletes hail from.
This is a matter of preference. Some of the top Aggies in recent years — Matt Christian (quarterback), Taveon Rogers (wide receiver), Kenny Turner (running back), Donyae Coleman (safety) and Trashaun Nixon (linebacker) — came from the junior college ranks. Then again, previous head coach DeWayne Walker was well connected and had a good rapport in the Southern California junior college recruiting scene.
Bringing in primarily high school graduates gives the program a chance to build things from the ground up and establish a foundation while cycling in four-year student-athletes. In time, the plan could very well work. Then again, expect the Aggies to take some lumps in the immediate future.
The team’s defense, for instance, will start plenty of youth across the board this upcoming season, as the Aggies must fill holes across the majority of it’s two-deep depth chart from a year ago.
Offensively, the Aggies must replace gamebreaking wide receiver Austin Franklin, and will need to develop young players at quarterback.
There’s also questions at the running back position. While local products Brandon Betancout and Xavier Hall had impressive seasons last year, Betancourt’s coming off a mid-season foot injury that required surgery.
The team signed two backs last week — Larry Rose (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) and Royce Caldwell (5-foot-7, 170 pounds) — that could help and provide speed. With that being said, neither appear to necessarily be big backs. Yes, NMSU could still use a power rusher that can pound the ball between the tackles. Perhaps 2013 redshirt freshman Marquette Washington will bring that to the offense.
But the overriding point is this: the team appears to be building for two, three and four years down the road, when such young contributors hopefully develop into productive college football players.
Consider this quote from Martin during Wednesday’s signing day, which marked his one-year anniversary as head coach at NMSU: “It was nice to start getting our classes put in place. And this is just a start. We still got some work to go. We need a another recruiting class to really get this football program back on solid ground.”
•••
I’m all for the Larry Coyer hire at defensive coordinator. I’ve long been a proponent of the Aggies paying good money to their lead coaches, and Coyer (an NMSU official said his contract will be a two-year deal worth an estimated annual salary of $150,000) and Gregg Brandon (who signed a two-year contract last season worth a reported $180,000 a year) are quality and experienced at their positions.
But don’t necessarily expect Coyer to work miracles, at least not initially. Again, he’ll be working with a very young unit. And a rule of thumb to remember: quality coaching is important, but is no more important than quality players.
Think back to last year’s offense, which didn’t truly hit it’s stride until Franklin hit his as a playmaker and catalyst for Brandon to work with.
The point is, poor coaching can hurt talent production on the field, while quality coaching can only take mediocre talent so far. And, yes, it’s tough to make up for a lack of either.
•••
Martin said during his Wednesday press conference that the Aggie football team had tremendous support from the school’s faculty during the recruiting process.
The head coach said incoming recruits would have lunch with NMSU faculty members depending on what degree the player had hopes of pursuing.
“Whether it was business, kinesiology. Whatever it was,” Martin said. “We tried to get professors to come so they could have lunch with the young men and talk with them. “Martin said such a philosophy was well received from the players and their family members, and in his mind was one factor that makes New Mexico State a unique college experience.
“It was over and over reiterated by the parents and the recruits, that they didn’t get that at other places,” Martin said. “How far our faculty went ahead of making them feel at home.”
Follow me on Twitter @TeddyFeinberg
Friday, February 7, 2014
VIDEO: Teddy and Brook Show (2/6)
Flying solo this week without Stockberger in town. I break down our National Signing Day both on the college and high school fronts:
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
2014 National Signing Day: Links and a look at incoming Aggies
First off, some links to stories written for the Sun-News online and print editions that pertained to National Signing Day in Las Cruces.
We obviously took a look at Aggie football, which put a heavy emphasis on quarterback, high-school student athletes and the state of Texas.
On the prep level, four local football players signed with college programs.
And in high school soccer, NMSU signed a local player, while two others will in respective college programs as well.
Below, we listed the entire 2014 Aggie football signing class, along with short bios for each player:
Malik Demby, SS, 6-2, 185, Chino, Calif. (Chino HS)
High School: As a high school senior, Demby recorded 74 tackles, 52 solo efforts, 16 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, an interception and a pass break up. He also played on the offensive side of the ball, recording 307 rushing yards and four touchdowns, while tallying 281 receiving yards and two scores.
Josh Gibbs, DL, 6-5, 255, Madera, Calif. (Fresno City College)
Fresno City College: Gibbs played defensive line for Fresno City College for two seasons. In 2013, he helped his team to a 7-4 overall record and a 4-1 conference record, as his team competed in the Gridiron Classic Bowl. Gibbs recorded 34 tackles, five sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss.
Stody Bradley, DL, 6-2, 240, Arlington, Texas (Bowie HS)
High School: Bradley, a defensive end, was a first team All-District selection and a second team All-Area pick. Bradley recorded 71 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss and three sacks that season, helping his team to a 7-4 record and the first round of the state playoffs.
Nick Jeanty, QB, 6-2, 185, Miramar, Fla. (Miramar HS)
High School: In the 2013, Jeanty helped his team to a 12-1 overall record and a 6-0 league mark, as his team was ranked the No. 13 team in Florida. In 10 games, Jeanty threw for 1,340 yards and 21 touchdowns, including six touchdowns in one game.
Andrew Allen, QB, 6-1, 200, Texas City, Texas (Texas City HS)
High School: As a senior, Allen was named a unanimous first-team All-District selection, Galveston County Daily News All-County and The Post Newspaper first team All-Area. He threw for 1,307 yards and 14 touchdowns, while rushing for 294 yards and six scores. He was a three-year starter at Texas City.
Jalen Jones, QB, 6-3, 215, Edgewater, Md. (South River HS)
High School: Jones threw for 2,461 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior. He completed 59 percent of his passes (148-252) and averaged 16.6 yards per completion. Jones also recorded 437 rushing yards on 80 carries, along with seven rushing touchdowns.
Brandon Agomuo, DL, 6-3, 247, Houston, Texas (Lamar HS)
High School: During his senior season, Agomuo - who played defensive tackle - recorded 54 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss and 12 sacks, earning first team All-District honors.
Nate Grimm, QB, 6-4, 195, Cedar Park, Texas (Cedar Park HS)
High School: Grimm tallied 2,367 yards passing and 22 passing touchdowns in his senior season. He completed 58 percent of his passes (144-248) last season. Grimm was a dual-threat quarterback as he also rushed for 1,314 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Roman Pellum, LB, 6-4, 235, Palm Springs, Calif. (Desert Chapel HS)
High School: Pellum helped his team go undefeated in the regular season and 10-1 overall his senior year. He tallied 100 total tackles including 55 solo tackles and 4.5 sacks.
Jaden Wright, CB, 6-0, 175, Lewisville, Texas (Lewisville HS)
High School: Wright played both cornerback and wide receiver. In his three seasons as a starter, Wright intercepted three passes and forced five fumbles.
Austin Davenport, LB, 6-3, 220, Saugus, Calif. (Saugus HS)
High School: Davenport helped his team earn a 7-6 record his senior year, including a trip to the CIF Playoffs. He totaled 104 tackles including 75 solo tackles. He recorded 10.0 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks. Davenport also made his presence felt on special teams.
Tyler Rogers, QB, 6-3, 200, Peoria, Ariz. (Arizona Western/Liberty HS)
Arizona Western: Rogers played one season with Arizona Western as the team’s starting quarterback. He threw for 1,832 yards and 14 touchdowns along with seven interceptions. Rogers also ran for 364 yards and a team-best 10 touchdowns. Rogers missed two and a half games down the final stretch of the season.
Larry Rose, RB, 5-11, 180, Fairfield, Texas (Fairfield HS)
High School: As a senior, Rose was named the Associated Press Sports Editors Class 3A Offensive Player of the Year and a first team All-State selection. He rushed for 2,924 yards on 237 carries and 49 touchdowns as a senior. He also caught nine passes for 114 yards and three scores. He helped his team to the state championship game, a 15-1 record and a No. 19 state ranking.
Kortland Busby, DL, 6-3, 235, Pflugerville, Texas (Hendrickson HS)
High School: As a senior, Busby, a defensive end, was named a first-team All-District selection and an academic All-District pick as he recorded 38 tackles, five tackles for a loss and two sacks.
Jamin Smith, OL, 6-3, 275, Castle Rock, Colo. (Douglas County HS)
High School: Smith played offensive tackle and defensive end. As a senior, he helped his team to a 7-4 record and the second round of the state playoffs.
Jacob Nwangwa, FS, 6-0, 177, Arlington, Texas (Arlington HS)
High School: Nwangwa totaled 120 tackles in his senior season. He grabbed six interceptions while breaking up 11 passes and forcing three fumbles. Nwangwa was named first team All-State.
Travis Parnell, LB/LS, 6-3, 195, Rio Rancho, N.M. (Rio Rancho HS)
High School: A linebacker Parnell registered 44 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, two sacks and an interception and a touchdown last season.
Adaryan Jones, DB, 6-1, 170, Southlake, Texas (Southlake Carroll HS)
High School: As a senior, Jones was a first-team All-District selection, recording 45 tackles, 14 pass break ups, two interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble.
Dalton Herrington, S, 6-2, 195, Halletsville, Texas (Halletsville HS)
High School: Herrington was named an All-District selection and the All-District MVP, as well as a first team All-State member. As a senior, he tallied 185 tackles and four interceptions.
Derek Ibekwe, LB, 6-0, 214, Rosenberg, Texas (Lamar Consolidated HS)
High School: Ibekwe total 79 tackles and five sacks last year.
JB Copeland, LB, 6-2, 205, Southlake, Texas (Southlake Carroll HS)
High School: A two-year starting linebacker. As a senior, Copeland played in just three games, recording 41 tackles, an interception and a pass break up. During his junior season, Copeland tallied 72 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Cassius Corley, QB, 6-1, 185, Grants, N.M. (Grants HS)
High School: Corley was a starting quarterback, throwing for 1,358 yards, rushing for 829 yards, and scoring a combined 21 touchdowns last year.
Royce Caldwell, RB, 5-7, 170, Columbus, Texas (Columbus HS)
High School: Caldwell played running back and defensive back. As a senior, he rushed for 356 yards and a touchdown, while catching 10 passes for 353 yards and five scores. He also returned kicks.
Dezmand Candelaria, OT, 6-3, 295, Mesquite, Texas (North Mesquite HS)
High School: A two-year starter, Candelaria was an All-District selection as a senior. Candelaria helped his team average 419.7 yards per game.
Will Clement, LB, 6-3, 195, Houston, Texas (Kinkaid HS)
High School: As a senior, Clement recorded 57 tackles, four sacks, five quarterback hurries and two pass break ups, helping his team to an 11-0 record and the SPC Championship. A three-year high school starter.
We obviously took a look at Aggie football, which put a heavy emphasis on quarterback, high-school student athletes and the state of Texas.
On the prep level, four local football players signed with college programs.
And in high school soccer, NMSU signed a local player, while two others will in respective college programs as well.
Below, we listed the entire 2014 Aggie football signing class, along with short bios for each player:
Malik Demby, SS, 6-2, 185, Chino, Calif. (Chino HS)
High School: As a high school senior, Demby recorded 74 tackles, 52 solo efforts, 16 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, an interception and a pass break up. He also played on the offensive side of the ball, recording 307 rushing yards and four touchdowns, while tallying 281 receiving yards and two scores.
Josh Gibbs, DL, 6-5, 255, Madera, Calif. (Fresno City College)
Fresno City College: Gibbs played defensive line for Fresno City College for two seasons. In 2013, he helped his team to a 7-4 overall record and a 4-1 conference record, as his team competed in the Gridiron Classic Bowl. Gibbs recorded 34 tackles, five sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss.
Stody Bradley, DL, 6-2, 240, Arlington, Texas (Bowie HS)
High School: Bradley, a defensive end, was a first team All-District selection and a second team All-Area pick. Bradley recorded 71 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss and three sacks that season, helping his team to a 7-4 record and the first round of the state playoffs.
Nick Jeanty, QB, 6-2, 185, Miramar, Fla. (Miramar HS)
High School: In the 2013, Jeanty helped his team to a 12-1 overall record and a 6-0 league mark, as his team was ranked the No. 13 team in Florida. In 10 games, Jeanty threw for 1,340 yards and 21 touchdowns, including six touchdowns in one game.
Andrew Allen, QB, 6-1, 200, Texas City, Texas (Texas City HS)
High School: As a senior, Allen was named a unanimous first-team All-District selection, Galveston County Daily News All-County and The Post Newspaper first team All-Area. He threw for 1,307 yards and 14 touchdowns, while rushing for 294 yards and six scores. He was a three-year starter at Texas City.
Jalen Jones, QB, 6-3, 215, Edgewater, Md. (South River HS)
High School: Jones threw for 2,461 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior. He completed 59 percent of his passes (148-252) and averaged 16.6 yards per completion. Jones also recorded 437 rushing yards on 80 carries, along with seven rushing touchdowns.
Brandon Agomuo, DL, 6-3, 247, Houston, Texas (Lamar HS)
High School: During his senior season, Agomuo - who played defensive tackle - recorded 54 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss and 12 sacks, earning first team All-District honors.
Nate Grimm, QB, 6-4, 195, Cedar Park, Texas (Cedar Park HS)
High School: Grimm tallied 2,367 yards passing and 22 passing touchdowns in his senior season. He completed 58 percent of his passes (144-248) last season. Grimm was a dual-threat quarterback as he also rushed for 1,314 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Roman Pellum, LB, 6-4, 235, Palm Springs, Calif. (Desert Chapel HS)
High School: Pellum helped his team go undefeated in the regular season and 10-1 overall his senior year. He tallied 100 total tackles including 55 solo tackles and 4.5 sacks.
Jaden Wright, CB, 6-0, 175, Lewisville, Texas (Lewisville HS)
High School: Wright played both cornerback and wide receiver. In his three seasons as a starter, Wright intercepted three passes and forced five fumbles.
Austin Davenport, LB, 6-3, 220, Saugus, Calif. (Saugus HS)
High School: Davenport helped his team earn a 7-6 record his senior year, including a trip to the CIF Playoffs. He totaled 104 tackles including 75 solo tackles. He recorded 10.0 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks. Davenport also made his presence felt on special teams.
Tyler Rogers, QB, 6-3, 200, Peoria, Ariz. (Arizona Western/Liberty HS)
Arizona Western: Rogers played one season with Arizona Western as the team’s starting quarterback. He threw for 1,832 yards and 14 touchdowns along with seven interceptions. Rogers also ran for 364 yards and a team-best 10 touchdowns. Rogers missed two and a half games down the final stretch of the season.
Larry Rose, RB, 5-11, 180, Fairfield, Texas (Fairfield HS)
High School: As a senior, Rose was named the Associated Press Sports Editors Class 3A Offensive Player of the Year and a first team All-State selection. He rushed for 2,924 yards on 237 carries and 49 touchdowns as a senior. He also caught nine passes for 114 yards and three scores. He helped his team to the state championship game, a 15-1 record and a No. 19 state ranking.
Kortland Busby, DL, 6-3, 235, Pflugerville, Texas (Hendrickson HS)
High School: As a senior, Busby, a defensive end, was named a first-team All-District selection and an academic All-District pick as he recorded 38 tackles, five tackles for a loss and two sacks.
Jamin Smith, OL, 6-3, 275, Castle Rock, Colo. (Douglas County HS)
High School: Smith played offensive tackle and defensive end. As a senior, he helped his team to a 7-4 record and the second round of the state playoffs.
Jacob Nwangwa, FS, 6-0, 177, Arlington, Texas (Arlington HS)
High School: Nwangwa totaled 120 tackles in his senior season. He grabbed six interceptions while breaking up 11 passes and forcing three fumbles. Nwangwa was named first team All-State.
Travis Parnell, LB/LS, 6-3, 195, Rio Rancho, N.M. (Rio Rancho HS)
High School: A linebacker Parnell registered 44 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, two sacks and an interception and a touchdown last season.
Adaryan Jones, DB, 6-1, 170, Southlake, Texas (Southlake Carroll HS)
High School: As a senior, Jones was a first-team All-District selection, recording 45 tackles, 14 pass break ups, two interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble.
Dalton Herrington, S, 6-2, 195, Halletsville, Texas (Halletsville HS)
High School: Herrington was named an All-District selection and the All-District MVP, as well as a first team All-State member. As a senior, he tallied 185 tackles and four interceptions.
Derek Ibekwe, LB, 6-0, 214, Rosenberg, Texas (Lamar Consolidated HS)
High School: Ibekwe total 79 tackles and five sacks last year.
JB Copeland, LB, 6-2, 205, Southlake, Texas (Southlake Carroll HS)
High School: A two-year starting linebacker. As a senior, Copeland played in just three games, recording 41 tackles, an interception and a pass break up. During his junior season, Copeland tallied 72 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Cassius Corley, QB, 6-1, 185, Grants, N.M. (Grants HS)
High School: Corley was a starting quarterback, throwing for 1,358 yards, rushing for 829 yards, and scoring a combined 21 touchdowns last year.
Royce Caldwell, RB, 5-7, 170, Columbus, Texas (Columbus HS)
High School: Caldwell played running back and defensive back. As a senior, he rushed for 356 yards and a touchdown, while catching 10 passes for 353 yards and five scores. He also returned kicks.
Dezmand Candelaria, OT, 6-3, 295, Mesquite, Texas (North Mesquite HS)
High School: A two-year starter, Candelaria was an All-District selection as a senior. Candelaria helped his team average 419.7 yards per game.
Will Clement, LB, 6-3, 195, Houston, Texas (Kinkaid HS)
High School: As a senior, Clement recorded 57 tackles, four sacks, five quarterback hurries and two pass break ups, helping his team to an 11-0 record and the SPC Championship. A three-year high school starter.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
National Signing Day: areas the Aggies need to address this offseason
Here are some areas to keep an eye on as the Aggies look to fill needs during Wednesday's National Signing Day:
• The quarterback position has only one player with experience - King Davis III - currently on the roster.
• The defense, which was one of the nation's worst a season ago, must replace 10 of the 22 players listed on last year's season-ending depth chart. The team is also expected to officially name Larry Coyer as defensive coordinator Wednesday to replace the departed David Elson.
• In any given year, the Aggies can always use help along the offensive and defensive lines.
• The team must replace playmaker Austin Franklin (who declared for the 2014 NFL Draft following the season) and could use another player or two to help at the running back position.
• On special teams, the coverage units struggled mightily a season ago and the team also must replace one of its standout players from the past two seasons: punter Cayle Chapman-Brown.
Follow me on Twitter @TeddyFeinberg
• The quarterback position has only one player with experience - King Davis III - currently on the roster.
• The defense, which was one of the nation's worst a season ago, must replace 10 of the 22 players listed on last year's season-ending depth chart. The team is also expected to officially name Larry Coyer as defensive coordinator Wednesday to replace the departed David Elson.
• In any given year, the Aggies can always use help along the offensive and defensive lines.
• The team must replace playmaker Austin Franklin (who declared for the 2014 NFL Draft following the season) and could use another player or two to help at the running back position.
• On special teams, the coverage units struggled mightily a season ago and the team also must replace one of its standout players from the past two seasons: punter Cayle Chapman-Brown.
Follow me on Twitter @TeddyFeinberg
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Aggie legends with Super Bowl XLVIII ties
Wrote some stories for Sunday’s Sun-News print/online editions on a couple former Aggies who had impressive NFL careers, taking the field for Sunday’s Super Bowl participants - the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos.
We’ll start with Fredd Young, a former linebacker who played for NMSU from 1980-83. He was fantastic while with the program - if there ever was an All-Aggie team, Young would clearly be in the starting lineup and perhaps the top defensive player on the unit. While current Aggie head coach Doug Martin talks often about needing playmakers on the field, Young fit that mold. An outside linebacker/defensive end, Young also returned kicks and punts as a standout special teams player. He ranks high in the Aggie record books in key statistical categories and was a four-time Pro Bowler with the Seahawks. “I was like a missile”, Young said of his role on the Aggie defense. “I looked for the ball. Then I’d go get it.” For the full story, click here.
The Broncos connection is none other than Aggie legend Charley Johnson. Of course, Johnson had a marvelous career at New Mexico State from 1958-60 - he led the team to its last two bowl appearances (he was MVP in both NMSU victories) and played for a nationally-ranked Aggie football program (let that sink in for a minute). His No. 33 jersey is retired at the school.
But Johnson also had a solid - if not outstanding - pro career, playing 14 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Oilers and Denver Broncos. Of those teams, Johnson said he follows the Broncos closest and will be pulling for them in today’s game. For the full story, click here.
Follow me on Twitter @TeddyFeinberg
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