April 13, 2012
The Hilltoppers close out spring football on Saturday with the Red-White game at 6 p.m. The rosters are set. Practices are over. Which team has the advantage at which positions? Let's find out...
Quarterback
White Team - Kawaun Jakes
Red Team - James Mauro
This is easy. Go with the three-year starter.
Advantage: White Team
Running back
White Team - Antonio Andrews, Oliver Head
Red Team - Keyshawn Simpson, John Evans
Andrews performed very well at last week's scrimmage, but I'm going to go with depth on this one.
Advantage: Red Team
Fullback
White Team - Nick Baisch, Courtney Dalcourt
Red Team - Kadeem Jones, Demetrius Coley
I like the duo of Jones/Coley just a little better than Baisch/Dalcourt.
Advantage: Red Team
Wide Receiver
White Team: Boe Brand, Joel German, Neil Wilson, Dyron Speight, Jerrell Moore
Red Team: Rico Brown, Willie McNeal, Tyler Higbee, Daerius Washington, Jamarielle Brown
This is a close one, but I'm very high on Tyler Higbee and a healthy Willie McNeal is a huge plus.
Advantage: Red Team
Tight End
White Team: Jim Murphree, Ryan Wallace, Tim Gorski
Red Team: Jack Doyle, Mitchell Henry
Doyle and Henry are the top two tight ends on the team. This is an easy pick.
****Henry tweeted Saturday afternoon he will not play in the Spring Game.
Advantage: Red Team
Offensive Line
White Team: Seth White, Adam Smith, William Berner, Luke Stansfield
Red Team: Sean Conway, Luis Polanco, Cameron Clemmons, Cliff Burns
Conway, Polanco and Clemmons were all starters at the end of the season. They should have the slight edge this weekend.
Advantage: Red Team
Defensive Line
White Team: Jamarcus Allen, Cole Tischer, Jamichael Payne, Gavin Rocker, T.J. Smith, Kenny Martin
Red Team: Quanterus Smith, Rammell Lewis, Jonathan Scott, Tevin Holliman
The White Team has more proven talent on the D-line and I have heard good things about Rocker and Smith.
Advantage: White Team
Linebacker
White Team: Andrew Jackson, Tye Golden, Terran Williams, Chuck Franks, Bar'ee Boyd
Red Team: Xavius Boyd, Daerius Washington, Tavis Ciochetty, Mike Federspiel
I could have stopped at Andrew Jackson.
Advantage: White Team
Defensive Back
White Team: Tyree Robinson, Arius Wright, Kiante Young, Ricardo Singh, Ty Scott
Red Team: Kareem Peterson, Jonathan Dowling, Jamal Forrest, Cam Thomas, Vince Williams
I think the White Team has the edge on talent at the top, but the Red Team probably has more depth.
Advantage: Draw
Special Teams
Considering how bad the position was last year, I could not begin to tell you which team has the advantage at place kicker. I'll give the Red Team the edge because they have punter Hendrix Brakefield.
Advantage: Red Team
So let's review. I give the White Team the edge at quarterback, defensive line, and linebacker while the Red Team has the upper hand at running back, fullback, wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, and special teams. Defensive backs was a draw.
Clearly, I believe the Red Team is better on offense while the White Team is stronger on defense. That should provide for a very entertaining game.
Ultimately, I think the Red Team has just a few more playmakers and that will make the difference.
Prediction: Red 23, White 19
