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#‎CUSAFB‬ Players of the Week are here! Offense: Anthony Wales, WKU Athletics Defense: Kishawn McClain, Mean Green Football Special Teams: Chad Davis, Mean Green Football

DENTON — One is more of the hard hitter, the other is more of the ball hawk, but each, sophomore Kishawn McClain and junior James Gray, step into pivotal starting roles for the first time in their North Texas careers, quarterbacking the Mean Green defense from their respective safety positions. “I rather make that big hit,” McClain said. “I like the crowd oohing and ahhing. The pick is nice too, but I rather make the big hit. James and I talk about it all the time. I want to hit somebody, but he wants to go for the ball.” “They’re meshing together back there,” safeties coach Perry Carter said. “They’re playing together and they’re getting better and better each day. It makes my job more fun and a lot easier with those guys back there. They compete every day, and they love competing.” McClain, a Conference USA All-Freshman team selection last season, saw action in all 12 games, starting three, and finished his freshman season with 39 tackles. The Rosenberg, Texas, native made an impact quickly for the Mean Green, intercepting a pass and recording nine tackles in his first career start against Southern Miss. “Coming in as a freshman, he was a great athlete and a great football player,” Carter said. “He’s very tough, he’s physical and he loves contact. I like that about him. Even in practice last year, his nose was around the football. He made plays, so I knew he could play for us this year.” He learned behind Sheldon Wade, who started nine games at free safety and finished as the team’s fourth-leading tackler with 55, and played both safety spots, before taking on the mantle of a starting position and the responsibilities of leadership that comes with it. “I have been working on trying to bring my teammates with me and lead,” McClain said. “I want everybody else to know the scheme and know exactly what we’re doing because if every person does their job, it will work out for all 11 players on the field.” Gray arrived at North Texas by way of Fort Scott CC, where he earned honorable mention JUCO All-American honors and first-team all-conference honors, looking to replace Lairamie Lee at strong safety, who started 33 career games, including 11 games last season. “I want to continue to be coachable,” said Gray on the first day of fall camp. “That’s the No. 1 thing I want to get out of fall camp. I want to communicate with my teammates and make sure we all come together and play faster as a defense and make sure everyone is doing their job. And once I gain the trust of my teammates, I want to be a leader.” His early enrollment for spring practice has helped with the learning curve that comes with playing football at the Division I level, as well as learning the system and making calls. Working on his eyes, technique and keys, he has become a better student of the game and learned the Mean Green defense. “I want him to be comfortable, so he can pin his ears back and take all the thinking out of it,” Carter said. “Now, he has a grasp of our system, so he’s just playing. He’s making plays and getting his hands on a lot of balls in practice, which is always a good sign.” Together, they look to provide playmaking ability and help North Texas achieve a positive turnover margin after breaking even with 22 forced turnovers this past season, to help provide a winning edge on that side of the ball in 2015. “Any time we see the ball, we try to go get it, even if it’s a run play,” Gray said. “We try to knock the ball out and force it out. We do the same things in drill. We work on that every day.” “A lot of times, guys talk about getting more turnovers, but they never work on getting and creating turnovers, so that’s something we work on every day,” Carter said. “We work on catching the football, ripping the football, and scooping and scoring, so they work on attacking the ball and creating turnovers.” read more: http://m.meangreensports.com/m/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082915aaa.html

North Texas impact freshmen: Prized receiver should contribute immediately North Texas has several holes to fill following the departure of a large senior class full of key contributors that made the Mean Greens breakout season that included a win over UNLV in the Heart of Dallas Bowl possible. UNT lost first-team All-Conference USA selections in linebacker Zach Orr and safety Marcus Trice, not to mention the leagues Special Teams Player of the Year in Brelan Chancellor. Read more: http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com/2014/07/north-texas-impact-freshmen-prized-receiver-should-contribute-immediately.html/

UNT finished off one of the final official visit weekends before national signing day and it’s all quiet on the home front. There were a host of key prospects in town over the weekend. To review: Players who have already committed: Brandon Garner, linebacker, Mansfield Timberview Willy Ivery, running back, Sulphur Springs Kishawn McClain, slot receiver, Rosenberg Terry O’Keeron Rutherford, wide receiver, Carthage T.J. Tauaalo, defensive tackle, Keller Central read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2014/01/sunday-night-recruiting-update-3.html/

Looks like this week's visitors will include: Xavier Washington Brandon Garner Kishawn McClain Willie Ivery Okeeron Rutherford Trevor Moore TJ Tauaalo This is only a partial list and I am sure there will be more unidentified visitors. If you are aware of, or come across any other visitors please feel free to add.

Kishawn McClain does a little bit of everything for Rosenberg Terry, from playing quarterback to chasing receivers as a safety in the Rangers’ secondary. That varied skill set attracted the attention of the coaches at North Texas who wondered just how good McClain could become if he was able to focus on one task — becoming a top-notch safety at the college level. McClain decided to accept that challenge and committed to UNT on Thursday night, when the Mean Green picked up commitments from a pair of Texas high school standouts for its 2014 recruiting class. Mesquite linebacker Jalen Montgomery also has committed to UNT. Oral commitments are nonbinding. The first day recruits in the class of 2014 can sign national letters of intent is Feb. 5. McClain and Montgomery participated in UNT’s Talon Talent camp for top prospects July 25 and spent time with Mean Green safety Marcus Trice, who played a role in the school landing both players. Trice is a former Mesquite standout, giving him a connection with Montgomery. UNT projects McClain to play the same position as Trice, who sat down with one of the Mean Green’s top defensive back targets to talk about how he would fit into the team’s defensive scheme. Read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/north-texas-headlines/20130802-football-qb-joins-unt-class-as-safety.ece

Kishawn McClain, an athlete out of Rosenberg Terry, committed to UNT on Thursday afternoon, a week after attending the school’s Talon Talent camp for top prospects. McClain, 5-11, 193, was recruited as a safety by UNT. He plays both quarterback and safety for his high school team. McClain said he chose UNT over an offer from Texas State. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2013/08/mcclain-commits-to-unt.html/

Although McClain says he didn't know that he was being recruited by TX ST, the Bobcat staff had stopped by previously during spring practice and let him know that they liked the way he played. It was just the offer that caught him off guard. So far McClain is being told by the coaching staff that they feel he can play corner. Has has 4.52 speed, good athleticism and agility where he can transition full time to the defensive skill position. Last year for the Rangers he started both ways, as the QB and FS. He rushed for over 1500 yards, scored 20 TD's on the ground and threw for another 13 TD's. With two offers already in hand, more are sure to follow. Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU, Texas A&M, West Virginia, Cal, USC, LSU and many more have been in contact ranging from light to strong. Read more: http://texasstate.scout.com/2/1296477.html