The third installment in what I hope will be a weekly (!) update on the Falcon football team as it prepares for spring drills and the 2011 season. This week let’s look at the BG football roster, focusing on the “preferred walk-ons” expected to join the Falcons next fall …
Even though National Letter of Intent Day is long gone, the Falcons expect to add eight more players to their roster when practice begins in August.
How? BG hopes to add eight preferred walk-ons.
Before we roll through the names, I’d like to explain what a “preferred” walk-on is. A walk-on is someone who simply tries out for the team, and should have no expectation of making the team. A preferred walk-on is something much more: Oversimplified, a preferred walk-on isn’t much different than any other member of the team – except the preferred walk-on doesn’t have a scholarship. Coaches know who they are, they are immediately welcomed at that first fall practice, and they are treated as members of the team – except when it comes to scholarships.
It’s an important program that good teams utilize to strengthen their rosters. To wit: last year Jovan Leacock and Cameron Truss, two preferred walk-ons, earned scholarships with their play – and I’m sure there are other examples. That’s the goal of a preferred walk-on: to do whatever it takes to earn a scholarship.
Bowling Green coaches and administrators cannot comment on this list per NCAA rule, but here’s the group of signees I’ve been able to put together. If I’m missing someone, or if someone has signed elsewhere, please let me know by clicking on the “comment” button at the bottom of this story or sending a note to jwagner@theblade.com.
Without further ado, here’s the list I have …
- Ryan Burbrink, WR, DeMatha Catholic High School (Washington, D.C.): Last season Burbrink caught 28 passes for 566 yards and five touchdowns for the Stags. Recruiting sites list him as 5-10 and 183 pounds and cite him as a possession receiver with good hands and toughness.
- Spencer Cairo, OL, Rochester, Mich., Adams High School: A 6-3, 300-pounder who was first-team All-Michigan offensive lineman in Division II. He also earned all-league and all-county honors and will play in Michigan’s East-West All-Star Game on June 25.
- Taylor Hanes, WR, McComb High School: Hanes set an Ohio record this past season by catching 30 touchdown passes. The 6-2, 180-pounder was named first team All-Ohio in Division VI and finished with 109 catches for 1,820 yards.
- Jordan Leininger, RB, Delphos St. John’s High School: Leininger was an All-Ohio first team pick in D-VI as a junior after running for 1,593 yards and 31 touchdowns, but he moved to QB this season. All he did there was run for more than 1,000 while passing for 1,261 yards more. Leininger had 237 yards of total offense in the first half of DSJ’s 77-6 thrashing of Shadyside in the state title game.
- Chris Pohlman, LB, Delphos St. John’s High School: This could rank as a huge steal for the Falcons as Pohlman is the two-time Division VI defensive player of the year. Last season the 6-2, 235-pounder finished with 131 tackles, including three for loss, and had three sacks, four passes broken up, four forced fumbles, two fumbles recovered and three pass interceptions – two of which he returned for TDs.
- Matt Redfield, LB, Columbus Bishop Watterson High School: A high school teammate of BG signee Hunter Maynard, Redfield was the Division III Central District player of the year in helping the Eagles win the state title. Redfield finished with 72 tackles and also led Watterson with 507 yards and eight TDs at running back.
- Malik Stokes, QB, Philadelphia, Pa, Northeast High School: The younger brother of Michigan WR Je’Ron Stokes, Malik played at Taft, Conn., Prep School last fall. Stokes had 1,379 yards passing in 2008 at Northeast and finished with a Public School League record 4,170 career passing yards. At 6-2 and 185, he’s a great athlete who also ran for 166 yards and seven scores as a high school senior. I don't want to jinx him, but ... can you say Freddie Barnes II?
- Tony Traylor, DB, Pickerington North High School: A high school teammate of BG signee Alex Huettel, Traylor was a special mention All-Central District pick in Division I who led the Panthers in tackles last season with 76.
NEXT WEEK: Getting ready for spring practice.
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