Cougar Football 2005 Preview

Is it already over?! We already have to move on? A season filled with record-breaking performances, and improbable results that resulted in the achievement of a dream of so many involved in the Cougar football program: State and National Championship Titles!

And its done?

"Football's not about last season," said Cougar head coach and WSC Coach of the Year Chuck Lyon. "It's all about what you're doing this season."

Ok. It's hard to let go of a season of perfection, but, then again, with the teams that this Cougar staff puts together, it's hard not to get excited about 2005!

So, let's take a quick look at some of the names Cougar football fans will most likely be seeing this year.

Quarterback Cory Miles, who became just the second Cougar to pass for more than 3,000 yards in a season, won't be back after accepting a scholarship to West Texas A&M, Kingsville. But the position should be more than ably replaced with the familiar face of Marcel Marquez, who finished 37-of-65 for 413 yards and two touchdowns as Miles' backup. Lyon believes Marquez is more than ready to step into the spotlight as the starting quarterback, but the team also has insurance in Cary Dove, a graduate from Taft High School, who spent a year at Cal as a redshirt freshman.

Marquez will be missing a familiar target in one of the most prolific receivers in all of community college football in Tyrell Smith, who moved on to the University of Minnesota-Mankato. Smith was the only Cougar receiver to have ever had two 1,000+ receiving yard seasons. But despite not having Smith in the lineup, Lyon feels the receiving corps is one of the strengths on this team. And with good reason. A number of players who with big-game potential return including Billy Omahen, Chad Garrett, Steve Silva and J.J. Guillory. Added to the mix is newcomer Terence Scott, who Lyon believes should be a star. Scott, who was All-State in Tennessee last season, brings deep-threat speed that will give defensive backs nightmares.

"He's probably the fastest receiver I've ever seen," said Offensive Coordinator Dean Herrington, who's seen some speed in his days.

There's no lack of talent at the tight end spot either, despite Jason Lance leaving for San Jose State. Expect to see the names of Shane Smith, Chris Flick and Travis Gibb coming in for those clutch third-down catches.

Two of the Cougars top running backs in Gerrell Cain and Will Caldwell have also moved on, which leaves the heir apparent to take over the bulk of the rushing duties in Brandon Clayton. Lyon predicts big things for Clayton, who rushed for more than 500 yards and 7 touchdowns in just 103 carries. Double those carries for Clayton, and you can guess what kind of year he could have. Some of the other names that could could carry the ground game include Brian Stuart, Sean Edwards, and Vince Patterson, Jr., who was an All-State selection in Florida in 2004 for Admiral Farragut Academy.

The secondary is, well, to put it bluntly - loaded.

"Ja'Vonte Holmes and Justin Tryon are PAC-10 corners," said Lyon, referring to two of the key returners from last season - a group that also includes Troy Nolan and Mike Zuniga at free safety and Michael Carr and Allen Walker at strong safety. Add in freshman Bryon Bullock and you've got a group that should be able to handle any bomb tossed their way.

Across the middle is a returner who would have gone on to have a phenomenal year, if not for a broken wrist in game eight of last season, but still was selected 2nd-team All-Conference anyway. Yes, Joey La Rocque will once again be prowling and putting on the hits from his linebacker position. Even with the All-everything linebacker Jerrod Perry moving on, the corps looks good with Lee Martin, Marcus Mercer and Gary Cox-Waag adding their strength.

"We don't have a lot of guys at linebacker," said Lyon, "But we really like who we have."

Jonathan Johnson has the unenviable task of following years of having outstanding kickers in Jason Thompkins and Josh Cummings (who, by the way, is ranked at number 3 in pre-season polls of the top kickers in all of college football following a phenomenal season at Pittsburgh that saw him kick three game-winning field goals in 2004, but we digress). But Johnson has some experience in the kicking department, having converted 8/13 field goals and 25/27 extra points for Ventura College last season. He also had a 39.7 average as the Pirate punter, so the kicking game looks to be in good hands...er, feet.

So all this brings us to the weak spot of the 2005 Cougar Football team. Well, if it can be called a weak spot. Seriously though, can you lose defensive linemen Dennis Ellis, David Stanton and Tomi Halai and offensive linemen James Paulk, Luis Solis, Zack Verdin and Greg Titiriga and NOT take a hit to the talent on your lines? Sure, James Maddox and Adam Zucker will be back, but that's a lot of talent to replace. Won't the lines suffer?

What if the lines got BETTER instead?

"We'll be young at the line," said Lyon. "We could, at some point, have five freshman on the lines on both offense and defense. It may take us some time to find out where we are, and I'm sure there'll be growing pains.

"But these guys are good," added Lyon. "And we've got a lot of them, too, which we've never had."

So if anything, the talent pool on the lines, just got younger, but much deeper?

"I love the talent pool we have," said Lyon. "They're all very talented, and they're all very quick."

Oh, my.

Well, maybe that's what winning a State and National Title will do for you, as College of the Canyons, for the first time ever, actually turned players away, letting them know that they might have a better chance to play elsewhere, there was so much talent already in place.

Talented. Deep. Driven. 

Cougar Football, 2005.