Big South fans: your school's dark horse players for 2011?

[bjtheflamesfan]

Only a few weeks until the first weekend of games and I thought Id pick everyone's brains once again:

For your respective school, who do you think are the players that will have the biggest impact this year that people dont really know about?

On offense I think we could see a big year from Aldreakis Allen. He is back after being out last year and he has bulked up so he could be a big player. Also Grant Jones, he was the big fish in LU's 2011 recruiting class but surprisingly hasnt gotten much talk since spring ball. Defensively, Expect big things from Demetrius Ward and Mike Connolly and possibly Greg Schuster. with Asa Chapman possibly out against NC State, he could be in line to take the starting nose guard spot.

[oceandogs]

For Stony Brook my offensive dark horsres are RT Bamiro and WR Norrell. Bamiro only played one season of high school football before walking on at Stony Brook. He then started in everygame as a redshirt freshman. He is an NFL sized tackle with great genes (one of his brothers is SBU's all time sack leader and another played basketball for the seawolves). Norrell was starting in Pac 10 football games before his 18th birthday. I'd imagine he is one of the most talented players on the team.

Defensively look out for Grant Nakwaasah. He had a couple starts last season as a true frosh but was slowed down by an injury during conference play. I expect him and Dudley to have real nice sophomore seasons after a year in the program. A true dark horse for me is Jeremy Leggiero. He put up ridiculous tackling numbers in hs but then took a year off before going to prep school. His older brother was a four year starter at Lafayette and a Patriot league dpoy and I read on a message board someone thought Jeremy was better. Doesn't mean much but he could be real under the radar kid.

[CSUBUCDAD]

For Chuck South keep an eye on Soph RB Teddy Allen. Looked very good in spring drills. Will bring a new dynamic to the running game with his size and speed 5'!!" 223 and very quick feet. Pair him with BJ Hackworth at 6' 240 and you have a pretty good sized backfield.

My darkhorse for this year is the running game. Should be a very pleasant surprise for Buc fans.

[LynchburgFlamesFan]

I'm going Pat Kelly and Jimmy Eden.

[Libertine]

Jimmy Eden.

That's not just a dark horse, that's a thestral.

(Yeah, it's a Harry Potter reference. Deal with it.)

[bjtheflamesfan]

especially since Eden isnt even on the team anymore...

[LynchburgFlamesFan]

especially since Eden isnt even on the team anymore...

When did he leave?

[bjtheflamesfan]

I think he left this summer...he tried to come back during spring ball but I guess he had too much to overcome after the craziness he went through and missing all last season...he wasnt at a level to compete for a top WR position and so he "retired" (as our fair scribe put it in his blog)

[jcmanson]

He still works with the team though as a video coordinator

[alvin kayak]

That's not just a dark horse, that's a thestral.

Esoteric pop culture reference. I dig.