Looking back may help Bearkat fans look forward
Sam Houston State head football coach Todd Whitten said it best at his signing-day press conference Wednesday: “We really feel like we have a good group of guys here, but like I say every year, in order to answer these questions accurately, you really need to answer them in about two years.”
Sometimes people forget that after getting caught up in the hype that comes when top prospects from around the country make their choice of where they will play college football.
For every future star, there is a handful of guys who never even step on the field.
After looking over the Bearkats’ latest list of signees and wondering if the next D.D. Terry, Jason Mathenia, Byran Richmond, Blake Martin or Paul Donelson was included, I decided to go back to Whitten’s first signing class and see who has made a significant impact on the program.
I think it would be only fair to remind folks that Whitten and his staff had only been on the job for about two weeks when the 2005 signing day rolled around.
But digging back through the Item archives, I came across the list of names and was pleasantly surprised at what I found. While there were some guys who left me scratching my head as to who the heck they were or what happened to them. Some names also jumped out at me.
I’ll begin with the guys Bearkat fans will recognize, the ones who have had a key role in back-to-back winning seasons and will be leaders in 2008 for an SHSU squad hoping to bring home a Southland Conference championship.
The guys you know
Hunter Schmidt, OL, Alvin High
Schmidt could be the gem of the 2005 class. He has been a catalyst at guard the past two seasons on an offensive line that has cleared the way for back-to-back 1,000-yard rushers. As a senior and only returning starter in ’08, Schmidt will be the backbone of a revamped offensive line.
Justin Wells, WR, Huntsville
Wells made an immediate impact as a freshman, catching nine passes for 131 yards and a touchdown, before being slowed by injuries in 2006. But he enjoyed a breakout season in ’07, proving to be a deep threat for quarterback Rhett Bomar. Wells led the Kats with 660 yards receiving and four touchdowns.
Darnell Jones, WR, Galveston Ball
Jones flashed signs of greatness last season but battled the injury bug that limited him to only eight games. He finished with 20 catches for 261 yards (13.1 yards a reception) and two touchdowns. If Jones can stay healthy, he could have a big senior year in ’08.
Luke McCall, LB, Corpus Christi Calallen
I know it is starting to become a trend, but McCall was a solid force at linebacker last season when he was healthy. He finished second on the team in tackles with 72, had a sack, an interception and forced two fumbles. McCall is one of the top defenders returning next season.
Justin Humphrey, deep snapper, Huntsville
Deep snapper is an underrated position in football, and Humphrey is one of the best snappers around. He has been clutch since taking over the job in 2006. I know every snap probably hasn’t been perfect, but I can’t remember him ever sailing the ball over the punter or holder’s head. Bad snaps can take points off or put them on the board for the other team.
Had a hand in it
Kevin Smith, DL, Klein Forest
Recruited as an offensive lineman, Smith found a home rotating around the defensive line last season. He recorded 15 tackles, one sack and an interception. The pick came in the Kats’ 45-17 win over Stephen F. Austin (Just had to throw that out there).
Chris Stewart, DL, Magnolia
Like Smith, Stewart was also once an offensive line prospect but switched sides in 2007. Stewart saw some time as a backup and finished with six tackles.
Some action
Jake Lebens (WR, Round Rock McNeil), John Dobbs (WR, Mineral Wells) and Chris Hardy (RB, Galena Park) have all seen some playing time in the past couple of seasons.
Next in line
Travis Best, OL, Cy Falls
Best should have a chance to move into a starting role with only Schmidt returning along the offensive line. He has been a backup guard the past two seasons, but with Ryan Dretke gone, someone needs to step in opposite Schmidt.
What might have been
Brian Christian (WR, Decatur) and Desmond Mays (RB, Normangee)
Christian and Mays were two of the names people kept talking about in the class of 2005. Christian was going to be the next Mathenia after posting 67 catches for 1,424 yards as a senior at Decatur. He showed promise as a freshman and sophomore at SHSU, but inconsistency at quarterback limited his production.
I was really looking forward to seeing what he could do with Rhett Bomar. Last I heard, he transferred and gave up football altogether.
Mays, on the other hand, never took the field for the Bearkats. A two-time Class A player of the year after a storied prep career at Normangee, Mays redshirted as a freshman. Disappointed with his lack of playing time, he transferred to Southwest Baptist University (ironically, also the Bearcats) in Bolivar, Mo. This past season, Mays gained 190 yards and scored one touchdown as a sophomore.
Transferring was probably a smart thing for Mays and a good thing for Sam Houston. It caused a shortage at the running back spot and that might have had a hand in D.D. Terry switching positions. We all know how that turned out.
Who?
Whether it was injuries or grades, these guys got buried on the depth chart or just didn’t pan out, Skylar Albritton (WR, Keller), David Nickle (TE, North Crowley), Desmond Jackson (SS/LB, Galena Park), Alan Scripsick (OL, Carthage) and Vitan Moore (WR, Navarro College) are the forgotten names of the class of 2005 and none were on the roster in 2007.
Moore did make the traveling squad two years ago, but I’m not clear what happened after that. As for Albritton, Jackson, Scripsick and Nickle, I’m not exactly sure.
Not too shabby
So there you have it, and in my opinion 2005 was a pretty good class, especially for a coaching staff fresh on the job. Eleven of the 18 recruits are still on the team and either making a difference on the field as a starter, backup or special teams player.
If the class of 2008 has that kind of success two years down the road, the Bearkats should be in good shape for the future because the new prospects look solid on paper.
But remember, for now it’s just paper.
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