Star-Telegram - UNT Football Notes

MeanGreen61 · August 22, 2006

UNT FOOTBALL NOTES

Green not Mean to QBs

By TROY PHILLIPS

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

DENTON - At North Texas, the red no-contact jerseys are reserved for veteran quarterbacks, which basically applies to no one this season.

But, this week, whistles will blow more quickly as the Mean Green starts scaling back on the rough stuff -- probably just in time.

UNT's top three quarterbacks have all missed practice or scrimmage time during fall camp.

Daniel Meager missed Saturday's scrimmage after being knocked around late last week, Matt Phillips had some woozy moments during UNT's first scrimmage, and Woody Wilson has battled knee soreness that an untimely tackle could aggravate.

"They've all showed the toughness that we're looking for," said UNT coach Darrell Dickey, who put his quarterbacks through two weeks of sitting-duck workouts and scrimmages. "If they take a hit during a game, they'll be able to get back up, go in the huddle and go again."

Most of UNT's drills until now have involved "live, full-speed tackling," Dickey said.

This week, defenders are pulling up and avoiding quarterbacks.

Practice injuries can occur when quarterbacks make ill-advised throws while not protecting themselves. In 2002, UNT's Scott Hall tore a pectoral muscle doing so.

Briefly

Senior starting receiver Johnny Quinn injured his left hand in Monday's morning workout and is scheduled to have X-rays this morning to check for fractures.

Senior tight end Robert Harmon (hernia) is not expected to be ready for the Sept. 2 opener at Texas, and senior linebacker/defensive end Willie Ransom (foot) is questionable.

The battle for kicking duties remains tight between freshman Steve Woodward and senior Denis Hopovac. They might split kickoff and place-kicking duties.

Redshirt freshman Evan Robertson has risen to second team behind junior Jamario Thomas at running back.

Lack of depth at defensive end has forced redshirt freshman Tobe Nwigwe (6-2, 237) to move there from linebacker. True freshman defensive end Sam Owusu-Hemeng of Arlington Seguin, a standout in the Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star game, has played his way into the rotation between the first and second teams.