College Fantasy Football Spring Camp Quick Hitters: April 3rd

Out of the loop?  Trying to play catch up on all the latest college fantasy football news?  Here is a rundown of the happenings at spring camps from around the country.

Quick Hitters - March 29th

Quick Hitters - March 19th

AKRON

News: RB Alex Allen has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Allen missed most of the 2008 season due to a hip injury.
CFG Analysis: There were high hopes for Allen in the summer of 2009. But the fall featured a RBBC situation. Allen’s 2010 fantasy value remains low, but RB DeVoe Torrence has decided to leave the team.

ARIZONA

News: Freshman RB Daniel Jenkins shined during Saturday’s scrimmage. He had 16 carries for 91 yards and one TD to go along with his 4 receptions for 28 yards.
CFG Analysis: Most of the top Arizona RBs did not participate in the scrimmage. That has a lot to do with the workload that Jenkins received. He will be a name to tuck away, but his 2010 fantasy value will be low.

ARIZONA STATE

News: Junior college transfer WR George Bell has been making waves is spring camp. His physical talent is great, but the coaches know he has some catching up to do on a learning aspect.
CFG Analysis: The coaches are looking to take advantage of all the talent at WR as they install a new offense that resembles what Texas Tech ran under Mike Leach. If Bell continues to shine during spring camp, we will make a nice sleeper candidate.

CINCINNATI

News: The three starting receivers for the Bearcats at this time are Armon Binns, Vidal Hazelton, and D.J. Woods.
CFG Analysis: There could be some shake-ups in the depth chart at the second string position, but until one of the talented back-ups can unseat these starters; you can focus in on Binns, Hazelton, and Woods for your fantasy draft targets.

COLORADO

News: WR Scotty McKnight’s injury has been upgraded from a broken leg to just a sprain. He will still have to miss the remainder of the spring.
CFG Analysis: McKnight is a sleeper candidate in BCS leagues only. He still lacks the type of production to be a reliable fantasy option.

EAST CAROLINA

News: RB Norman Whitley is beginning to separate himself in the position battle for the starting running back job. New head coach Ruffin McNeill stated that the new offense will, “…target around a small, quick running back. Coach Holtz wanted that big back that can pound you and pound you, and that wasn’t to my advantage.”
CFG Analysis: If Whitley can emerge as the primary back as well as avoid a split carry situation, he will become a good sleeper for your fantasy draft boards.

GEORGIA

News: The quarterback competition was the main focus of the latest scrimmage. Aaron Murray went 10-15 for 125 yards and one TD, Zach Mettenberger was 7-10 for 157 yards and one TD, while Logan Gray went 6-14 for only 37 yards.
CFG Analysis: Murray is the early favorite, but Mettenberger is making this a fierce battle. The eventual winner will most likely have little fantasy value in 2010. But if the winner can effectively get the ball down the field, the fantasy value of WR A.J. Green should remain high.

LOUISIANA TECH

News: The QB competition appears to be down to two candidates. Last year’s starter Ross Jenkins is still in the lead for the quarterback position, but Steve Ensminger has came out of nowhere to pose a real challenge for the job. Ensminger entered last season as a TE before getting a chance to compete for the quarterback job.
CFG Analysis: Jenkins was never very impressive throwing the ball in 2009. With a new spread offense in play, it seems like the coaches are hoping a fresh face can emerge as the starter. Ensminger appears to be that fresh face and don’t be surprised if he does land the job.

MIAMI, FL

News: In the Canes’ spring game, the passing game shined without starting QB Jacory Harris in the fold. Travis Benjamin had the best day with 6 receptions for 171 yards and one TD, while Kendall Thompkins had 8 receptions for 84 yards and one TD. Leonard Hankerson made the most with his time, scoring two TDs on three receptions for 61 yards.
CFG Analysis: Figuring out who the playmakers will be in the passing game are key for fantasy owners. Don’t look too far into this, since we won’t have a clearer picture until Harris is back in action.
News: The ground game featured 4 ball carriers in the spring game. Damien Berry had the most carries with 15 for 42 yards and one TD, while Mike James was the most productive with 64 yards on 10 carries.
CFG Analysis: There might be too many talented backs for any one guy to emerge with fantasy value. This will be a situation we monitor deep into fall camp.

NAVY

News: QB Ricky Dobbs returned to the practice field after undergoing surgery on his knee back in January. Although he is practicing, he will be held out of contract drills during spring camp.
CFG Analysis: Dobbs should have no lingering effects from his surgery. Look for more big things out of Dobbs in the fall.

NORTHWESTERN

News: Head coach Pat Fitzgerald says that the quarterback position is Dan Persa’s to lose. Coach Fitzgerald hasn’t gone as far to say he is the starter yet.
CFG Analysis: Persa’s spring performance will go a long way into locking down the starting QB job. It’s still too early to proclaim Persa as a sleeper candidate for 2010.
News: RB Alex Daniel has been suspended until September 5th for violating team rules.
CFG Analysis: Daniel was going to challenge Arby Fields for the starting running back position.

OHIO STATE

News: Quarterback Terrelle Pryor, after having his knee scoped in the offseason, took part fully in practice. He was wearing padded white stretch pants under his shorts, but was not wearing a knee brace. Jim Tressel said he expects Pryor to do everything the other quarterbacks do this spring.
CFG Analysis: Looks like Pryor is ready to roll.

OKLAHOMA

News: WR Jaz Reynolds is beginning to emerge as the main deep threat for the Sooner offense.
CFG Analysis: If Reynolds can score on deep passes, he will have fantasy value as a sleeper in 2010. His ability to stretch the field will also open up room for WR Ryan Broyles to work underneath on the inside.
News: Another receiver making noise this spring is Kenny Stills. His plays has impressed the coaches enough where Stills could see the field in 2010.
CFG Analysis: We’re taking a wait and see attitude here. Tuck Stills’ name away but don’t add him to your sleeper list just yet.

OREGON

News: After speaking with head coach Chip Kelly, QB Jeremiah Masoli has decided to remain in school and stay with the team over the course of the 2010 season. His recent suspension for the 2010 season left this action in doubt, but it appears that he will take care of business in the classroom.
CFG Analysis: Be cautious before running too far with this news. He still must keep his nose out of trouble for the next year. Without football to occupy his time, it only leaves more opportunities for bad decisions. Let’s hope he avoids those situations and is back on the field come 2011.

PENN STATE

News: WR Chaz Powell has been moved to defensive back fulltime. Powell had 27 receptions for 363 yards and three TDs in 2009.
CFG Analysis: There’s a lot of depth at WR, making this decision easy for the coaching staff. Scratch Powell off of your draft boards.

PURDUE

News: Purdue running back Ralph Bolden will miss the rest of spring practice and possibly more time after suffering a knee injury Wednesday that coach Danny Hope described as serious.  Hope said he didn’t know the extent of Bolden’s injury Friday but told reporters the coaching staff is preparing for the chance Bolden will miss the 2010 season.
CFG Analysis: Tough news for Purdue.  Bolden burst onto the scene last fall with some monster games in September.  It doesn’t sound like he will be playing this fall - certainly not at 100%.

SMU

News: The Dallas Morning News is listing WR Darius Johnson as a potential breakout star for the 2010 season.
CFG Analysis: Someone will need to step up at WR with the loss of Emmanuel Sanders. There will be plenty of stats up for grabs for any receivers that can separate themselves from the pack.

SOUTH FLORIDA

News: The coaching staff has decided to move Lindsey Lamar from running back to wide receiver. Lamar is already running with the second string offense since making the switch.
CFG Analysis: This is good for Lamar since there is a logjam of talent at RB. This is also good news for finding a feature RB. The move was made in part because of the play of RB Demetrius Murray, who has shot up to second string on the RB depth chart.

TEXAS TECH

News: Head coach Tommy Tuberville said that after reviewing the tape from the team’s first scrimmage that QB Steven Sheffield, “...was head and heels the best guy at quarterback.” But on Monday, Sheffield re-injured the foot that held him out of action in the fall. Sheffield will now miss eight weeks while recovering from surgery.
CFG Analysis: The coaching staff wanted to name a starter at the end of spring camp, but the news of Sheffield’s injury throws a wrench into those plans. Looks like the QB battle will last well into fall camp.
News: Red Raiders senior Taylor Potts is expected to miss the remaining eight spring practices after suffering a cut on the webbing between the index and middle finger on his right hand.  Potts injured his throwing hand after hitting a teammate’s helmet while following through on a pass.  The injury was originally expected to only hold Potts out until the end of this week, but the prognosis has changed and he is likely to miss the team’s final eight practice sessions.
CFG Analysis: The Texas Tech QB situation was already a big fantasy question mark with the departure of Mike Leach.  Now, with Sheffield and Potts’ injuries forcing them to miss valuable spring action, this is looking like a competition that won’t come into focus until August (if we’re lucky).
Sophomore Seth Doege and redshirt freshman Jacob Karam will take remainder of snaps this spring. 

UCF

News: RB Brynn Harvey injured his knee in last Saturday’s scrimmage. He will undergo surgery and will miss the remainder of spring camp. There is no word on the extent of the injury, and if his recovery time could spill over into fall camp.
CFG Analysis: This is devastating news for fantasy owners. It took Harvey a while to get rolling last season, and many expected him to get off to a fast start in 2010. The injury will now put enough doubt in the minds of owners to make it hard to draft him as one of your first two RBs.
News: The QB competition is close to wrapping up according to the coaching staff. It appears as if Rob Calabrese should win the job over Jeffrey Godfrey.
CFG Analysis: There’s little fantasy value in UCF’s quarterback position. But if Brynn Harvey’s recent knee injury limits what he can do in the fall, don’t be surprised to see UCF throw the ball more.

USC

News: QB Matt Barkley will focus on throwing the ball to more checkdowns when his downfield options are covered.
CFG Analysis: Barkley could have a breakout season in 2010. If he does utilize his checkdowns more, his over production should increase, while cutting down on the 14 interceptions he threw in 2009.
News: Redshirt freshman WR Brice Butler has been running with the first offense as the Trojans opened spring camp. The coaches have commented on how Butler catches everything thrown his way.
CFG Analysis: WR Ronald Johnson will be the playmaker at receiver, but Butler could become a safety value. He might get a nice share of receptions, but if he can find a way to reach the endzone he will have fantasy value as a sleeper candidate.
News: The coaches are looking to use freshman RB Dillon Baxter primarily as a running back, and well as splitting him out wide at times. Head coach Lane Kiffin compares Dillon’s new role to that of a Reggie Bush type of role.
CFG Analysis: It’s too early to add Dillon to our sleeper’s list, but he will be a name to monitor. If he is able to make some waives in the spring scrimmages he will find himself on our sleeper list.

VIRGINIA TECH

News: Offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring has decided to utilize more two back formations in the offense for 2010. This decision has been made because of the return of running back Darren Evans, and the move of Josh Oglesby from tailback to fullback.
CFG Analysis: There are two possible reasons for this. One reason is that a two back formation would allow the coaches to place Ryan Williams and Darren Evans on the field at the same time. Another reason is the fact that the Hokies graduated the entire left side of their offensive line, along with starters at fullback and tight end. Adding more fullbacks in their formations will help in picking up any missed blocks from the line of scrimmage.
News: Although the Hokies return lots of experience at wide receiver this year, the coaches are looking at WR Marcus Davis as a potential breakout player for 2010.
CFG Analysis: A breakout WR in the Virginia Tech offense most likely won’t generate enough production for them to become a fantasy option.

Joe Arpasi is the co-owner of CollegeFootballGeek.com , your premier resource for college fantasy football information. Check us out.