Player Profiles - Collegefootballdatadvds.com

2007 Season Outlook
2007 Season Outlook
The 6-6 wideout caught 58 passes for 973 yards and
six touchdowns in ‘06.
Senior Patrick Carter (5 receptions for 68
yards) battled injuries a year ago, but is healthy and
ready to contribute. He looked good in the spring
and seems ready to show how talented he can be.
Junior Chris Vaughn (4 receptions for 54 yards)
showed glimpses of being ready to contribute last
season, but seemed to emerge during the spring.
Vaughn was physical and made all the catches
before injuring his knee in the spring. Sophomore
Scott Long (no catches in ‘06) is coming off a good
spring and showed the promise that made him a top
recruit a few seasons ago.
Sophomore JaJuan Spillman (7 receptions
for 56 yards) made a huge impact on special teams
last season and seems to be a favorite of the new
offensive coordinator. Spillman has great speed and
can be a big weapon in the new offense. Sophomore
Trent Guy (no catches in ‘06) also made his debut
as a punt returner last season, but will also get
better this fall at the wideout position.
Junior Corey Thompson (2 receptions for 16
yards) played sparingly after transferring from
Duke, but is coming off a productive spring and
will get an opportunity to earn playing time. Redshirt
freshman Troy Pascley is extremely talented
and will definitely be in the mix. Freshman Josh
Chichester, who stands 6-8, showed glimpses of
being a talented wide out in the system and will
continue to get better. Freshman Doug Beaumont
from Male High School could also be a candidate
for playing time. He is an
exciting player with his
tremendous speed and
athletic ability.
TIGHT ENDS
The tight end
position is in the
capable hands of
seniors Gary
Barnidge (31
receptions 511
yards) and Scott
Kuhn (7 receptions
for 65 yards), who
have been playing since
their true freshmen
seasons. Stubbs loves to
use the tight end and both
players should prosper in the new
offense.
Barnidge is coming off a
career season, recording 31 catches
for 511 yards and four touchdowns.
He averaged 16.5 yards per catch and
was a big part in the offense.
Kuhn is also an experienced player,
but was used mainly as a blocker. He did
catch seven passes for 65 yards and figures
to play a larger role in the passing game in
2007.
Red-shirt freshman Pete Nochta and
freshman Zach Meagher will also get an
opportunity to compete at the tight end
position. The Cardinals also signed Michael
Fennerty in February and could be called upon
right away.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The offensive line returns two first team All-
BIG EAST performers in junior center Eric Wood
(25 starts over two seasons) and junior left offensive
tackle George Bussey (13 starts in ‘06), but must
continue to build depth on the line. Wood has a
string of 25 consecutive starts and is one of the best
centers in the nation, while Bussey started all 13
games and continues to get bigger and stronger, and
has a chance to be one of the best tackles in the
nation. Sophomore Brian Roche and red-shirt
freshman Josh Byrom will also compete at tackle.
Senior left offensive guard Daniel Barlowe (11
starts in ‘06) started 11 games a year ago and has
solidified the guard position. Barlowe seemed to
improve in the spring and has worked himself into a
very solid offensive lineman. Red-shirt freshman
Conrad Thomas and freshman Ryan Kessling
showed some promise in the spring, but Kragthorpe
needs these players to step up their games and
provide depth at guard.
Senior Marcel Benson will compete for a
starting job at right guard, but battled health issues
toward the end of camp. Benson split time last
season at tackle, but performed well at guard in the
spring and is the front runner at that position.
Sophomore Mike Donoghue stepped in during the
spring and showed that he’s capable of being a
starter. He had good feet and technique, and give the
coaching staff more options. Red-shirt freshman
Jeremy Baker played well in the spring and is ready
to compete for playing time.
Senior Breno Giacomini, who worked at both
tackle and tight end last season, is penciled
in as the starter at tackle.
Giacomini is a huge
specimen, but is
extremely athletic and
a great competitor.
Red-shirt freshman
Jeff Adams has a lot
of talent and showed
lots of ability, but needs to
continue to learn the offense.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The overall success of any defense
usually begins with solid players in the
trenches and the Cardinals will be
looking to develop a more consistent
unit in 2007.
Gone is first round pick Amobi
Okoye, who was taken as the 10th
overall pick in the draft to the
Houston Texans and defensive end
Zach Anderson , but the Cardinals
should still be pretty talented upfront
as they return four legitimate starters.
Juniors Adrian Grady (16
tackles) and Earl Heyman (22
tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss)
are two talented defensive
tackles. Grady battled injuries
and recorded 16 tackles in
10 games. Grady broke a
bone in his foot in the
Center Eric Wood has started 25 straight
games and was a first team All-BIG EAST
selection last season.
season opener against Kentucky and was slowed
down most of the season. He seemed to revert back
to form in the Orange Bowl win over Wake Forest.
Heyman played both tackle and end and recorded
22 tackles last season and was having a good
spring before breaking a bone in his foot in the
Red-White game last April.
Sophomores L.T. Walker (3 tackles) and
L.D. Scott (2 games) will compete for time behind
Heyman. Walker played in eight games as a true
freshman and will look to continue to development
this season. Scott played in two games last season
and is expected to challenge for more playing time
this year.
Senior Willie Williams (10 tackles)
developed quicker than expected and was a force in
the middle despite coming in from a junior-college.
Williams is a big body who showed that he can
stymie the line of scrimmage and will be a key
performer in 2007. Red-shirt freshman Aundre
Henderson will be counted on to continue his
growth and must show he’s ready to add depth
along the defensive line.
Sophomore Peanut Whitehead (16 tackles
and four sacks) is coming off a solid season being
thrust into action as a true freshman. He showed
that he won’t be dominated at the line of
scrimmage and can get pressure on the quarterback.
He appeared in all 13 games and recorded 16
tackles and four sacks. Sophomore Michael
Adams (5 tackles) and junior Maurice Mitchell
(1 tackle) also figure into the mix. Adams played a
lot last season and was productive. Mitchell is
coming off a good spring, which saw him make a
lot of plays in the backfield and could be one of the
surprises heading into fall camp.
At the other end, senior Brandon Cox (10
tackles and one sack) has played a lot of football at
the University of Louisville and should be ready to
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