College Fantasy Football Spring Camp Quick Hitters: April 19th

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.

Past Spring Camp Quick Hitters:
Quick Hitters - April 10th
Quick Hitters - April 3rd
Quick Hitters - March 29th
Quick Hitters - March 19th

ARIZONA STATE

News

In last week’s scrimmage, the new Texas Tech-style offense was in full force. Wide receiver Gerell Robinson burned up the field with five receptions for 91 yards and two touchdowns.

CFG Analysis

This might be the year for Sun Devil receivers to become a fantasy factor. We’ll keep Robinson’s name on our radar.

BOWLING GREEN

News

Bowling Green running back Willie Geter is the lone returning offensive skill position player in 2010. 

Head coach has some high expectations for Geter stating, “I would be disappointed if Willie didn’t rush for a 1,000 yards next season. I think he’s capable of gaining a 1,000 yards.”

CFG Analysis

Geter will make a great late round draft pick in All-120 leagues. 

Last fall, in addition to rushing for 700 yards and nine TDs, he caught 42 balls for 408 yards and a score. 

Expect those numbers to jump as he figures to be the focal point of the offense in 2010.

BUFFALO

News

Brandon Thermilus, Ike Nduka, Jeffvon Gill and Branden Oliver are all battling for the starting running back job at Buffalo.

CFG Analysis

Oliver and Gill have been running with the first team recently, for what that’s worth.  Reports are that Oliver, a redshirt freshman from Miami, might have the most potential of the bunch.

BYU

News

Harvey Unga, the leading rusher in BYU football history, has voluntarily withdrawn from school for violating the school’s honor code. 

It was not clear whether Unga wants to return to BYU, and he could not be reached for comment. It is too late to enter next week’s NFL draft—after Unga considered turning pro in January but withdrew his name before the deadline.

However, a former BYU player with family ties to Unga said he expects the star running back to try to enter the NFL supplementary draft in mid-July, which is for players who missed the filing deadline or because of other issues that affect their eligibility.

CFG Analysis

If Unga is indeed not around this fall, it will obviously be a big hit for the BYU backfield. 

We’ll have to stay tuned in August to see who is the front runner for his lost carries, but as of now J.J. Di Luigi would be the name to watch.

News

The battle for the starting tight end position is now down to freshmen Devin Mahina and Mike Muehlmann.

CFG Analysis

The coaches believe that these two freshmen are neck and neck for the starting job.

CENTRAL FLORIDA

News

UCF coach George O’Leary said Wednesday he thinks Harvey will be back by late August, but it depends on what doctors see when they look at the player’s knee next week. Now, he is singing a different tune.

“I don’t think [Brynn Harvey will] be back until after the nonconference schedule, I would think,” head coach George O’Leary said following Saturday’s spring game.

“Hopefully sooner, but my experience is you don’t count on that. But I think both of them [Brendan Kelly and Jonathan Davis] are good enough to get into the game and get the necessary yards for us to be successful.”

CFG Analysis

We still find it funny that O’Leary has the uncanny ability to predict knee injury recovery time right down to the week … five months out. 

Amazing! 

We would advise you steer clear of Harvey on draft day unless he participates (and looks good) in August practice.

CONNECTICUT

News

Per the Hartford Courant, UConn RB Jordan Todman has missed practices recently to get caught up on his academics.

“I’m just doing what I gotta do, hopefully he’ll understand what he’s gotta do,” head coach Randy Edsall said of Todman, who will be a junior in the fall.

“Sometimes guys have to understand that every day you gotta come out and prove yourself and do things the right way. And if they don’t, I’m gonna do what I see fit for the individual and for our program.”

CFG Analysis

Todman is a top flight fantasy RB.  Let’s hope this serves as a wake-up call and that his academic standing is in good order come the fall.

EAST CAROLINA

News

The passing game started to find its rhythm in the team’s second scrimmage of the spring. The surprising name to emerge was tight end Justin Jones who hauled in eight receptions for 86 yards.

CFG Analysis

Houston’s passing game has utilized big inside receivers.

If the new coaching staff decides to take advantage of Jones’ size like Houston has with players like Mark Hafner and James Cleveland, then he might become this year’s hottest sleeper name at tight end.

FLORIDA

News

True freshman quarterback Trey Burton has been named the backup to starter John Brantley by the coaching staff.

Trey Burton will be used in situations very similar to the way that Tim Tebow was used as a freshman behind starter Chris Leak.

CFG Analysis

This is going to have a big impact on John Brantley’s fantasy value. If Burton steals many of the red zone snaps from Brantley it will be hard for Brantley to get enough TDs to live up to the fantasy expectations many Gator fans have for him.

FLORIDA STATE

News

In Florida State’s spring game, quarterback Christian Ponder went 16-34 for 266 yards and two touchdowns.

CFG Analysis

It looks like Christian Ponder’s shoulder is 100% and he should be fine come fall.

HAWAII

News

Starting quarterback Bryant Moniz is on “personal leave” and did not accompany the Warriors to today’s scrimmage on Kaua‘i, UH head coach Greg McMackin confirmed this morning. McMackin did not specify how long Moniz would be away from the team. “He has to take care of some personal things,” McMackin said.

CFG Analysis

This is obviously a situation to keep an eye on.  Moniz is the leading candidate to be taking snaps this fall and holds high fantasy value.

IOWA

News

Sophomore running back Brandon Wegher is “dinged,” according to offensive coordinator Ken O’Keefe. His status for Saturday’s spring scrimmage is up in the air, but he likely won’t play, out of caution more than anything else.

CFG Analysis

Wegher, Robinson and Hampton should all be healthy in August, creating a major headache for fantasy owners.

KANSAS

News

Kale Pick and Jordan Webb continue to battle for the Kansas QB job vacated by long-time starter Todd Reesing. 

“There’s really no front-runner in the quarterback spot,” head coach Turner Gill said.

“There’s great competition, I can tell you that. I think we probably have two or three guys that can win ballgames for us.”

CFG Analysis

Until we get some more clarity here, the Kansas QB situation is one to avoid. 

Even if a clear-cut starter does emerge in August, that doesn’t automatically make him the next Todd Reesing. 

Remember there is a new coaching staff with a different philosophy in Lawrence this fall.

LOUISIANA TECH

News

La Tech running back Lennon Creer led the team in rushing in a recent scrimmage (12-53-1.)

CFG Analysis

Creer is a Tennessee transfer who looked like a great fit for Derek Dooley’s rushing attack. 

Then Dooley left for ... Tennessee. 

The new coaching staff at La Tech is installing the spread offense.  Despite this change in philosophy, keep Creer on your radar as a sleeper.

News

Quarterback Steven Ensminger continues his impressive spring, outshining returning starter Ross Jenkins. Ensminger went 13-21 for 148 yards and one touchdown while Jenkins was 7-12 for a measly 58 yards and one touchdown.

CFG Analysis

The way things have looked this spring, it’s apparent that Jenkins doesn’t fit the new offensive system. It’s time to start penciling in Ensminger as the expected starting QB.

MIAMI, OH

News

Miami (OH) quarterback Zac Dysert went 23 of 25 for 137 and a score in the Redhawks’ spring game.

CFG Analysis

Dysert had an intriguing freshman year in 2009 and should remain on your fantasy radar this season.

MICHIGAN

News

Michigan Wolverines coach Rich Rodriguez says the competition at quarterback is wide open.

Denard Robinson did seem to close the gap behind returning starter Tate Forcier at Saturday’s public practice, running for a score on his first drive and connecting with Roy Roundtree in stride on a 97-yard pass. 

Forcier struggled to move the ball consistently.

CFG Analysis

Unless one of these guys turns into Pat White in the next five months, neither holds too much fantasy value in All-120 leagues. 

In BCS-only formats, this battle will be one worth monitoring in August.

MISSOURI

News

Missouri running back Derrick Washington has looked good this spring. 

In a recent scrimmage he carried the ball 10 times for 68 yards and four touchdowns.

CFG Analysis

Washington was a fantasy star in 2008 but was held back by injuries last fall. 

He stands a good chance to rebound in 2010.

News

In the same scrimmage, tight end Michael Egnew was the leading pass catcher with his 10 receptions for 86 yards performance.

CFG Analysis

Missouri has been a destination for fantasy tight ends, but last season it was a fantasy wasteland. We all hope that things can return to how they were in the past, and Egnew will be another name to monitor come fall camp.

OHIO STATE

News

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor went 5-15 for 45 yards in Saturday’s scrimmage dominated by the Buckeye defense.

CFG Analysis

At the end of the 2009 season, Pryor wound up with the 29th most fantasy points of all QBs (in a typical scoring format.) 

Please remember this come draft day this year. 

Even if his production both in the air and on the ground improves by 20 percent, TP is no better than a Top 15 QB. 

Draft accordingly.

OKLAHOMA STATE

News

Oklahoma State fans had reason to forget about graduated senior quarterback Zac Robinson as they watch the team’s spring game.

QB Brandon Weeden passed for 257 yards and four touchdowns, showing that his sleeper status might be understating his fantasy impact this fall.

CFG Analysis

Brandon Weeden might be the safest sleeper at the quarterback position.

News

Wide receiver Hubert Anyiam broke his foot and will miss a minimum of two months.

CFG Analysis

Many fantasy experts looked to Anyiam to make a leap in production after Dez Bryant’s suspension during the 2009 season. That leap never really happened.

PURDUE

News

According to the West Lafayette Journal and Courier, sophomore Al-Terek McBurse suffered a hairline fracture in his arm Monday. 

The injury does not mean McBurse will miss the remainder of spring practice, but he will be limited to non-contact drills if he does participate.

The injury should have no effect on McBurse’s availability for the start of summer camp.

CFG Analysis

Doesn’t sound like McBurse will miss too much time.

SOUTH CAROLINA

News

The annual spring game had very little to show from the Gamecock quarterbacks.

Stephen Garcia was 8-15 for 79 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Connor Shaw, who is challenging for the starting job, was 4-8 for 59 yards and one touchdown.

CFG Analysis

Many fantasy owners were hoping for Stephen Garcia to have a breakout year in 2010. But this spring has been a slide backwards, and Garcia is in a fight just to keep his job.

SOUTHERN MISS

News

Southern Miss running back VJ Floyd may be separating himself from the pack as the Golden Eagles look to replace Damion Fletcher. 

In a recent scrimmage, Floyd led all running backs with 12 rushes for 83 yards and five catches for 112 yards and a 70-yard touchdown reception.

CFG Analysis

The Southern Miss RB situation will be a hot topic when draft time rolls around in August. 

At the moment, Floyd seems to have a slight edge over Kendrick Hardy,Tracy Lampley, and Desmond Johnson.

News

The quarterback position is wide open for Southern Miss when the team heads into fall camp.

Martevious Young made a major statement in the team’s spring game passing for 28-43 for 389 yards and four touchdowns.

CFG Analysis

The position battle will be in full swing come fall camp. Don’t think Austin Davis will just walk right back into his old starting role.

STANFORD

News

Running back Jeremy Stewart has emerged as the main back to take over for Toby Gerhart.

CFG Analysis Stewart was our favorite to win the job heading into spring, and it looks like things are shaping up that way.

SYRACUSE

News

Syracuse running back Delone Carter was charged with misdemeanor assault after Syracuse police accused him of hitting and injuring another student in an on-campus disturbance in February.

CFG Analysis

No word yet on any disciplinary action from the team. 

Carter is a fantasy RB consideration in deeper BCS-only leagues.

TEXAS TECH

News

Texas Tech wide receiver Alex Torres caught 10 balls for 115 yards and a score in the Red Raiders’ spring game Saturday. 

This comes off the heels of an 8-116-4 stat line in last week’s scrimmage.

CFG Analysis

Torres is looking like the best Texas Tech WR fantasy prospect thus far this spring. 

The Red Raiders have surprisingly continued to sling the rock around at an alarming pace, despite the departure of Mike Leach.

News

Texas Tech running back Harrison Jeffers showcased his big play ability in last Saturday’s scrimmage.

Jeffers carried the ball only nine times for 139 yards and two touchdowns while hauling in four receptions for 51 yards.

CFG Analysis

Baron Batch who? This performance definitely muddied the waters of the Texas Tech offense even more. As we head into summer there is no clear picture about the quarterback, running back, and wide receiver situation.

USC

News

In Saturday’s scrimmage, USC quarterback Matt Barkley finished 21 of 30 for 291 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions.

CFG Analysis

Barkley will likely be over-drafted in many BCS-only leagues due to name power, but he does figure to be a pretty good fantasy option if drafted appropriately.

UTAH STATE

News

In a recent scrimmage, Utah State running back Michael Smith rushed for 112 yards on seven carries and caught five balls for 91 yards. He also scored a touchdown.

CFG Analysis

Michael Smith was our pick to win the starting role once Turbin went down with a torn ACL. He is definitely worth drafting in larger leagues.

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