The TTU Players

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Yesterday we saw that the Golden Eagles are a pretty balanced team. From what I can tell, the offense looks to run primarily out of the shotgun with a back on each side of the quarterback. Based on the statistics it may be a form of the mid-line option? They are led by seniors at the tailback and receiver positions in what they dub the “Fastest 60 Minutes in Football.”

Tim Benford (#3, 6-1/195) was named the OVC player of the year on Tuesday. The senior receiver led the conference in receptions per game (5.8) and receiving yards per game (82.6). He had five TD catches and averaged 14.2 per reception.

Benford may have been the PotY, but senior tailback Dontey Gay (#25, 5-9/205) certainly looks just as valuable to the offense. Gay had 1009 rushing yards on the year and 15 rushing touchdowns, averaging 100.9 yards per game and scored 13 touchdowns to lead the conference in scoring. Maybe the most impressive stat is his 5.6 yards per carry average. Gay is also their third-leading receiver with 16 catches for 140 yards.

Backing up Gay is Adam Urbano (#6, 5-8/195). Urbano has only played in five games this season (started the first game and then didn’t play in the next four), but he had 100+ yard games in two of the final three. Urbano is a Georgia Southern transfer, so this is his first season on the field for TTU. He’s shown more explosiveness this season and has a 6.9 ypc average and four carries of more than 30 yards this season.

Gay and Urbano are listed as the tailbacks, the runningback (lined up on the other side of the quarterback) isn’t used much to carry the ball, but Zack Ziegler (#16, 6-0/200) is a huge weapon as a receiver. Ziegler is second in catches (30) and yards (316).

The guy throwing the ball is junior Tre Lamb (#9, 5-9/185). Lamb might not be tall, but he’s thrown for over 2,000 yards and is efficient, completing 65% of his passes with a 15:9 touchdown to interception ratio. He also has carried the ball 102 times this season. Lamb started eight games in 2010 as a sophomore before being injured. He’s mobile and because of his height often moves the pocket to make passing lanes.

Up front, the Eagles have loads of experience and size across all five positions. Senior Scott Schweitzer (#78, 6-5/300) is a four-year starter even though it’s been at several different positions on the line. Schweitzer was just named a first-team All-OVC at left guard. To his right are center Michael Baker (#66, 6-2/285) and right guard Slade Adams (#73, 6-6/315). Wesley Sherrill (#74, 6-4/290) and James Normand (#60, 6-2/295) are the sophomore tackles that took over the starting roles during the 2010 season.

Other players:

• Zach Sharp (K, #97, 6-2/190) 9-for-15 field goals; misses from 19, 32, 33, 37, 42, and 46 yards
• Charlie Stevens (Hybrid FB/TE, #43, 6-1/230) 15 catches for 177 yards and three touchdowns.
• Cody Forbes (RB/KR, ) just 29 carries and two catches on the season, but Forbes is their leading kick returner and averages 22.5 yards per return with a long of 59.