Football 2013

Denton Record-Chronicle

In The SpotlightInside: Ryan looks to contend Denton aims for improvement Argyle among 3A elite

UNTs move to C-USA, Jerrod Heards talent put them ...

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T here might not be a high schoolfootball player in Texas under abigger microscope this fall thanGuyer quarterback Jerrod Heard.

All Heard did as a junior a year ago waslead the Wildcats to a state championshipwhile putting together a series of tran-scendent performances, includingaccounting for seven touchdowns in a winover Georgetown in the Class 4A DivisionI state title game.

The fact Heard committed to Texasbefore that championship run beganincreases the attention he will receive thisseason.

The hype surrounding Heard is thestory of the year in the Denton area, onethat ties in well with the situation atNorth Texas.

UNT will play its first season inConference USA this fall after 12 years asthe only Texas school in the Sun Belt.

C-USA will have four teams from Texasin its new alignment, a group that willalso include Rice, UTSA and UTEP.

School officials believe joining theleague will increase the exposure the pro-gram will receive across the state.

The Denton Record-Chronicles sportsstaff examined how Heard, UNT and ahost of other players and programs arehandling moving into the spotlight thisyear for its annual football preview maga-zine.

Heard talked about maintaining focusheading into his senior season, one he willspend guiding the Wildcats, who enterthe season ranked No. 1 in the AssociatedPress Class 4A poll.

UNT head coach Dan McCarney andhis players spoke of capitalizing on theopportunity joining C-USA will present.

And those are just two of the examplesof teams and players who will be in thespotlight in the Denton area this season.

At Ryan, wide receivers Trent Willisand Xavier Gray will take on larger rolesas the Raiders aim for a deep run in theClass 5A playoffs.

Denton struggled last season, winningjust one district game, and will dependlargely on quarterback Cy Ward to handlethe attention and pressure that goes alongwith guiding a team aiming to break out.

Argyle will be the focus of statewide

attention just like Guyer. The Eagles havea shot at making a run at a Class 3A statetitle and feature four players who havecommitted to colleges that compete onthe Football Bowl Subdivision level.

The question is if all that talent willtranslate into a state title for the Eagleslike it did for Heard and the Wildcats lastseason.

There will be people across the statewatching to see how the Eagles fare, justlike they will be watching to see if Guyercan repeat and if UNT can capitalize onits move to C-USA.

Those storylines put those teams andplayers in the spotlight.

DRC Football August 29, 2013 5KICKOFF

FOOTBALL 2013In The SpotlightAbout the section

The Denton Record-Chronicles 2013 foot-ball preview magazine focuses on teamsand players stepping into the spotlight.North Texas is preparing for its first seasonin Conference USA, while Guyer is comingoff a dramatic run to the Class 4A DivisionI state championship. Quarterback JerrodHeard led Guyer to the title and has com-mitted to Texas, making him one of themost visible players in the state.

Section creditsThe football helmets on the high schoolteam pages are courtesy of Texas HighSchool Helmet Project. The cover of themagazine and the section introductionpages were designed by Jason Lee.

ContentsNorth Texas

C-USA rivalries give UNT boost . . . . . . .6-7Derek Thompson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-9Zach Orr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10, 13Extra points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Conference USA preview . . . . . . . . .15-16Brelan Chancellor . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17-18Ryan Boutwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19-20Brandin Byrd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21UNT roster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22Offensive line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23-24

Conference USA special sectionVisual tour of C-USA . . . . . . . . . . . .55-66

Denton ISD schoolsJerrod Heard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26-27Ryan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28-32Denton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33-37Guyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38-42

Area high schoolsArgyle climbing ranks of elite . . . . . .45-47Preseason all-area team . . . . . . . . .48-49Area district review/preview . . . . . . . . .51AP preseason poll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55Lake Dallas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67-70Argyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73-76Aubrey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79-83Krum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85-88Sanger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90-93Pilot Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94-97Ponder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98-101Liberty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102-105Calvary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108-110Weekly schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1132012 in review . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114-115

Section staffDirector of sports

Larry McBride . . . [email protected] editor

Brett Vito . . . . . . . . . [email protected]

Al Key . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected] Minton . . . . [email protected]

Staff writersAdam Boedeker . [email protected] Baby . . . . . . . . . [email protected] Hayslip . . . . [email protected]

Special contributorsJuston Braaton, Randy Cummings, Rich Luna,Adrian OHanlon III, Dave Rogers

ON THE COVERDenton Record-Chronicle

In The SpotlightInside: Ryan looks to contend Denton aims for improvement Argyle among 3A elite

UNTs move to C-USA, Jerrod Heards talent put them ...

Four of the Denton areas top players, clockwise from front, North Texasquarterback Derek Thompson, Denton quarterback Cy Ward, Ryan defen-sive lineman J.T. Williams and Guyer quarterback Jerrod Heard will facesituations where they will be in the spotlight this season. Thompson willguide UNTs offense in the Mean Greens first season in Conference USA.Denton will rely on Ward as it tries to improve as a program, whileWilliams will anchor Ryans defensive line as the Raiders aim to contendfor a Class 5A state title. Heard will be perhaps the most visible of thefour as the future Texas Longhorn tries to guide Guyer to a second con-secutive state championship.

BrettVito

SECTION OVERVIEW

Spotlightfocused onareas best

6 August 29, 2013 DRC Football COVER STORY

C-USA switch gives UNT bigger stageBy Brett VitoStaff Writer

There was nothing special about theplacard designating the table reserved forthe North Texas football teams contin-gent at Conference USA media day thissummer.

Head coach Dan McCarneys name andthat of linebacker Zach Orr were spelledout in black lettering on a white, blue andred sheet of paper along with the phrase2013 Football Kickoff and the C-USAlogo.

McCarney eyed that nondescript pieceof paper that represented so much forUNT before turning to Orr.

Conference USA, McCarney said. Itfeels good, doesnt it?

Orr didnt have to say anything. He justsmiled.

Seeing UNT listed as a member of a con-ference that also includes Rice, UTEP andUTSA, not to mention other regional rivalslike Louisiana Tech, felt terrific forMcCarney and Orr. The feeling is one sharedby those associated with the program.

Joining C-USA will offer UNT a host ofbenefits. None is more important thanthe opportunity to develop long-termrivalries with Texas schools that willincrease the exposure the programreceives across the state.

The opportunity to shine on the stagerivalries provide one so many otherschools take for granted was out ofreach over the last 12 years when UNTwas the lone Texas school in the Sun BeltConference.

We will be able to get some rivalriesgoing in Conference USA, saidMcCarney, who is entering his third sea-son at UNT. I asked, Who are NorthTexas rivals? when I interviewed for thejob. To this day, I still havent found outwho they really were before I got here. Ivenever coached at a place where we didnthave a traditional rival.

McCarney spent most of his coachingcareer on either side of the Iowa-IowaState rivalry and also worked as an assis-tant at Wisconsin and Florida. All havetraditional rivals.

Orr didnt have the opportunity to playin-state rivalry games often during thefirst three years of his college career. UNTplayed just three Texas programs thatcompete in the top division of collegefootball during his first three seasons with

the Mean Green. UNT lost each of thosegames, twice to Houston and once toRice.

More than once, Orr had to explain to afellow UNT student who the Mean Greenwas set to play the following Saturday.

That wont be the case when UNT hostsRice, UTEP and UTSA in consecutivegames beginning with a nationally tele-vised showdown with the Owls on Oct. 31.

Conference USA will be really good forNorth Texas because a lot of the teams weplayed in the Sun Belt no one had heard of,Orr said. Everyone knows who Rice is, whoTulsa is. Everyone has heard of LouisianaTech. Fans and recruits know who we areand who we are going to be playing.

Favorable factorsNothing matters more in Texas college

football than games against in-state rivals. SMU and TCU began playing in 1915

and developed what has at times been a

fierce rivalry now known as the Battle forthe Iron Skillet.

When Texas A&M left the Big 12 for theSEC before the 2012 season, the movefostered statewide debate because itended several long-standing in-staterivalries, none more important than an

annual showdown with Texas that wasfirst played in 1894.

State representative Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City, filed a bill in the Texaslegislature earlier this year that wouldrequire the schools to play annually.

Developing Texas rivalries with just afraction of the passion the Texas-TexasA&M showdowns created would make ahuge difference for UNT.

The focus on football in Texas and itsnew in-state rivalries should help UNTmore than anything in terms of reachingthat goal, but two other factors will alsoplay vital roles the familiarity fans andplayers have with one another and theclose proximity of the four Texas teams inthe league.

UNT has yet to play a C-USA game andhas already felt the impact.

There is no doubt interest has picked

Denton Record-Chronicle/David MintonNorth Texas athletic director Rick Villarreal speaks at a press conference on May 4, 2012, announcing that UNT will joinConference USA. UNT officially joined the league this summer and will play its first C-USA football game this fall. Theswitch to C-USA from the Sun Belt is expected to bolster UNTs program, largely because the league includes threeother Texas schools Rice, UTEP and UTSA.

A closer lookFor a closer look at Conference USA, theleagues lineup and references to it at NorthTexas, see Pages 55-66.

C-USA

See C-USA MOVE on 7

DRC Football August 29, 2013 7COVER STORY

up, UNT athletic director Rick Villarrealsaid. The No. 1 thing people say whenthey walk up to me is that they are excitedabout the new conference. Even peoplewho have not been coming to games, theyknow who Rice is.

There is a good chance fans who followUNT know someone who attended Rice,UTEP or UTSA or have a connection to acoach or player at one of those schools.

Many UNT fans will look across atUTEPs sideline this fall at ApogeeStadium and see former Mean Greenassistant coach Spencer Leftwich. TheMiners offensive line coach was a key partof UNTs staff during a run that saw theMean Green win four straight Sun Belttitles from 2001-04. Some might evenremember Leftwichs son Mack runningaround after games on the turf at FoutsField. Mack Leftwich is now a freshmanquarterback at UTEP.

Thats what I really like about the newleague, Rice head coach David Bailiffsaid. There are Texas schools in there.We have six home games and maybe agame at North Texas would be a seventhand a game at UTSA an eighth our fanscan get to.

Houston and San Antonio are within adays drive from Denton, which makes itpossible for fans of each team to travel toaway games. The close proximity of theschools should bolster the familiarityUNT fans develop with their new C-USArivals.

Fans of the four Texas teams in C-USAare not the only ones who will enjoy aheightened level of familiarity with oppo-nents in the league. Players on the fourTexas teams in the conference will also seethe difference, especially those at UNTwho have not had a chance to play otherschools in the state on a regular basis.

Texas ranks among the top states in thecountry when it comes to producing col-lege football players. UNT, Rice, UTEP andUTSA all recruit the state heavily, creatingsituations where players on C-USA teamshave known each other since high school.

Some will have the chance to play closeto their hometowns while starring for a C-USA team.

UNTs players have yet to reach thatpoint, but UTEP defensive linemanAdam Ayala has enjoyed the experiencethroughout his career.

I grew up close to Houston, so thatgame was always big for me when they

were in the league, Ayala said of a teamthat left C-USA after last season. I lookforward to playing the other in-stateschools. Those games are always impor-tant to me.

The high school playoffs and recruitingprocess in Texas also create familiarityamong players. The top recruits in thestate are often members of teams thatadvance deep into the postseason, givingthem a chance to square off with statetitles on the line.

Texas recruits also keep track of wherethe other top players in the state are head-ed, which fosters a sense of familiarityamong them that continues at the collegelevel.

We look forward to those games againstTexas teams, UNT senior tight end DanielPrior said. We were recruited at the sametime as their players. I was recruited byRice. That makes it interesting.

What still needs to happenWhere C-USA falls short in some

instances in terms of rivalries is a lack ofhistory among the programs in theleague.

That is especially true when it comes toUNT.

The Mean Green will play UTSA for thefirst time on Nov. 23. UNT has playedRice twice since 2008, but just threetimes overall.

UNT and UTEP first played in 1951and have played 21 games, the last ofthem in 1980. More than 33 years willhave passed since their last meeting whenthe teams play on Nov. 9 at Apogee.

McCarney and Villarreal spoke aboutthe possibility of the Texas schools in C-USA creating a series of traveling trophiesto help spark interest in those games andbegin establishing the history they some-times lack.

There is the opportunity for a lot of

these games to turn into rivalries, UTSAquarterback Eric Soza said. It can be asituation where everyone is competitiveand you mark down on your calendarteams like North Texas.

UNT hasnt beaten a Texas rival thatplays on the Football Bowl Subdivisionlevel since a 24-6 win over SMU in thesecond week of the 2006 season, partlybecause it hasnt had many opportunities.UNT is 1-5 against opponents from Texassince then, with its only win coming lastyear against Texas Southern, a FootballChampionship Subdivision team.

SMU came back to beat UNT 45-31 in2007, Houston beat UNT handily in eachof the last two years and Rice edged theMean Green 32-31 in 2010.

What really stuck with UNT fans,though, was a 77-20 drubbing by Rice in2008.

McCarney and other C-USA coachesbelieve the in-state rivalries in the leaguewill be a whole lot more competitive thanthat game in the long run. UTSA, which isentering just its third season in programhistory, will catch up with the other TexasC-USA schools, while UNT and UTEPwill also benefit.

Rice has been the best team in recentyears among the four Texas teams thatwill be in C-USA, but Bailiff said he antic-ipates the other Texas schools in theleague being competitive to the point thegames between the four teams are hotlycontested.

The more competitive games that areplayed, the more history will be created,adding another element to the games C-USAs Texas teams play.

Benefits of rivalriesThe potential benefits of having Texas

rivals for UNT are apparent when onelooks at the history of the Mean Greensprogram and those of the leagues other

Texas members.You will see when UTEP comes to

UNT that theres a big group of UTEPpeople here in Dallas, C-USA commis-sioner Britton Banowsky said. You willlook over at the stadium and say, Whathappened? Where did they come from?

The importance of games against Texasrivals to C-USAs members from withinthe state is reflected in the attendance atthose games. Of the 10 highest attendedon-campus games in UNT history, sixwere for games the Mean Green playedagainst a Texas rival.

UNT drew 28,075 fans for the firstgame in Apogee in 2011, a showdownwith Houston, which was a member of C-USA at the time.

Rices 32-31 win over UNT in 2010drew a crowd of 23,743 that ranks sixth inprogram history for a home game.

Another key benefit of moving to C-USA for UNT will come in recruiting,where the Mean Greens staff will have achance to sell the proximity of rival schoolsand facing familiar Texas opponents tohigh school players across the state.

UNT should benefit more than any ofthe other three Texas C-USA schools fromthe move. Rice, UTEP and UTSA werealready facing in-state schools on a regu-lar basis.

McCarney has focused UNTs effortssquarely in Texas and has started to seethe benefit while landing some solid in-state recruits.

A total of nine high school seniors fromTexas have committed to UNT since theschool announced the move to C-USA,including highly regarded Flower Moundtackle Chris Miles.

Staying close to home was very impor-tant to me, Miles said. I like my parentsbeing able to come and watch me play.

UNTs coaches believe the opportunityto play close to home is important to a lotof players across the state. McCarney andhis assistants had to convince players tocome to the school and play in a leaguewithout another Texas team during itsstay in the Sun Belt.

UNT will have a whole lot more to sellnow with the budding rivalries betweenthe teams in C-USA listed on the MeanGreens table placard at media day. Thatsimple piece of paper brought home thereality of what lies ahead for Orr andMcCarney.

Everywhere I have been, rivalries bringout the best in people, McCarney said.Its the emotion, the excitement and theopportunity to win a game that means somuch to everyone.

From Page 7

C-USA move The impact of Texas rivalries on attendance

Attendance Opponent Date1. 29,437 Baylor Sept. 6, 20032. 28,315 Baylor Aug. 31, 20003. 28,075 Houston Sept. 10, 20114. 26,012 Navy Nov. 10, 20075. 25,231 SMU Sept. 9, 20066. 23,743 Rice Sept. 11, 20107. 23,647 Army Nov. 21, 20098. 23,112 Tulsa Sept. 17, 20059. 22,837 TCU Sept. 1, 200110. 22,785 Tulsa Sept. 22, 2008

NORTH TEXASSix of the top 10 home games in North Texas history in terms of attendance came in show-downs with Texas foes. UNT drew a crowd of 23,743 in the 2010 season for its game againstRice, its new C-USA rival. UNTs Lance Dunbar (below) rushed for 105 yards in a 32-31 loss.

8 August 29, 2013 DRC Football NORTH TEXAS

Mothers tough love guided Thompson

Denton Record-Chronicle/David MintonDerek Thompson spent his childhood hanging around with his mothers high school girls basketballteams during her 17-year coaching career. Wendy Thompson was tough on her players and tough onher son, which helped prepare him for a turbulent career at North Texas.

By Brett VitoStaff Writer

Derek Thompson was lying flat on his back in the NorthTexas locker room at Michie Stadium his left leg brokenand wrapped in a cast, his season over before it really beganwhen his mother walked in.

Wendy Thompson traveled all the way from Glen Rose toWest Point, N.Y., to see her son make the first start of his col-legiate career against Army in 2010 and startled everyone inthe room with what she had to say.

The first thing she said wasnt, Are you OK? or How areyou feeling? Derek Thompson said. It was, You had areceiver open.

A smile spread across Derek Thompsons face as hedescribed the exchange, one that illustrates a relationshipthat shaped the UNT quarterback, who will start for a thirdstraight year when the Mean Green faces Idaho in its seasonopener on Saturday.

Wendy Thompson spent 17 years coaching girls high schoolbasketball and is just as tough on her son as she was her play-ers in Glen Rose, a town with a population of 2,500 located62 miles southwest of Fort Worth.

She used to wear me out, Derek Thompson said. She did-nt give me any slack and was always pushing me. She pushedme around until I was in junior high. Shes tough.

That approach paid off for Wendy Thompson during acareer highlighted by a trip to the state tournament in 1997when she was the head coach at Henrietta Midway.

Derek Thompson went along for the ride. Wendy Thompson remembers her son imitating players

while toddling around the court in diapers. He was a fixtureat practice and was like a little brother to his mothers players.

I had about seven or eight girlfriends when she was coach-ing, Thompson said. All the high school girls loved me backwhen I was 10.

What Derek Thompson didnt know at the time was thelessons he learned while following his mothers teams formeda foundation that has helped him throughout a turbulentcareer at UNT.

The broken tibia Thompson suffered against Army was justone twist along the way. Thompson has played for three headcoaches and been beaten out for the starting job on more thanone occasion. He wasnt officially named UNTs starter for itsgame against the Vandals until Monday afternoon.

Thompsons coaches and teammates say he has maintaineda quiet confidence throughout his career despite those set-backs. He didnt get too high when he led UNT to a win overLouisiana-Lafayette in a nationally televised game last sea-son, or too low after throwing a key interception in a loss toWestern Kentucky five weeks later.

Thompson has kept on working no matter the circum-stances and earned his teammates and coaches respect whiledisplaying the work ethic he picked up from his mother.

As a result, Thompson has carved out a niche in UNTfootball history by racking up yards and touchdowns whilemoving into the top 10 in program history in just about every

See THOMPSON on 9

DRC Football August 29, 2013 9NORTH TEXAS

statistical category for quarterbacks.That niche could easily grow into a

legacy this fall if Thompson leads UNT toits first winning season since 2004. If hedoes that, Thompson could be remem-bered for helping turn the programaround.

Wendy Thompson expects nothing less.I want him to be great, to have good

games and raise the level of play for thewhole team, she said. I want him to be aleader and a role model and take his teamto a bowl game. I want him to be able toput the team on his shoulders.

The formative yearsDerek Thompson was part mascot, part

team manager for his mothers teamsgrowing up.

He went everywhere with me, WendyThompson said. He rode the bus togames and was our water boy at practice.

What Wendy Thompson soon realizedwas that her son was learning while hewas watching, even at a young age.

One of Wendy Thompsons fondestmemories of her son is watching himwander out on the court after a game, pre-tend to put a whistle in his mouth andthrow a ball up in the air as if it was theopening tip of a basketball game.

As Derek Thompson grew older, thelessons became more important.

None were bigger than those thathelped him develop the fortitude heneeded to handle the responsibility hewould take on later in life as a collegequarterback.

What she really helped me with is themental aspect of it and the toughness thatyou have to have to play a big-time posi-tion, Derek Thompson said. She taughtme to keep an even keel and rememberwhere you came from.

Thompson essentially came fromnowhere to become arguably the mostimportant player on UNTs roster.

Thompson didnt believe he had achance to play college football until hissophomore year of high school when for-mer Stephenville assistant coach TommyDunn arrived in Glen Rose.

Dunn saw right away that Thompsonhad the physical abilities to be a collegequarterback. He realized his new quarter-back was the total package later on whenhe got to know Thompson and saw thetraits he picked up from his mother.

Wendy Thompson quit coaching after

her sons freshman season in high schoolso she could follow his career.

Wendy made my job a lot easier withDerek, Dunn said. She was really on himabout his academics. If he ever had a lack-adaisical attitude toward it, she wouldcome down hard. It filtered over to athlet-ics. I never had to worry about the way Icoached him because his parents weresupportive. He was very tough, not justphysically but also mentally, because ofhis mom.

The guidance Wendy Thompson pro-vided helped her son develop into a col-lege prospect. Derek Thompson was nothighly recruited but caught the eye of for-mer UNT head coach Todd Dodge.

Thompson committed to UNT eventhough Dodge signed his son, RileyDodge, a high school All-American, theprevious year.

We told Derek when he committed toNorth Texas that he would be behindRiley, Wendy Thompson said. He knewthat he would not have to be as good asRiley, he would have to be better. It wasup to him and how hard he worked if hewould play.

Carving out a roleNothing has been easy for Thompson

since he arrived at UNT.Thompson was buried on the depth

chart throughout his freshman season in2009 before both Dodge, the starter formost of the year, and backup NathanTune were lost to injury in the final gameof the season against Arkansas State.

Thompson came off the bench to leadUNT on a late drive he capped with a 19-yard touchdown pass in a 30-26 loss.

Tune won the starting job the followingyear but dislocated his hip in the fourthquarter of a tight game with Rice. UNTagain yanked Thompson off the bench.He threw four passes in a 32-31 loss.

Thompson started a week later againstArmy and lasted just into the secondquarter before defensive lineman JarrettMackey leveled him and broke his leg.

Thompson was granted a medical red-shirt and has come back to start for UNTthe last two seasons.

Along the way, UNT changed coachestwice from Dodge to Mike Canales,who served on an interim basis afterDodge was fired in 2010, to current UNThead coach Dan McCarney.

Those changes only added to the tur-moil Thompson has endured whilethrowing for 4,551 yards and 26 touch-downs, totals that rank sixth and seventh,respectively, in school history.

He is about as composed as anyonewho has been though this type of situa-tion could be, said Canales, who wasUNTs offensive coordinator under Dodgeand holds the same role on McCarneysstaff. He doesnt let much faze him interms of the ups and downs of his career.I applaud him for how hes handled it. Idont know many kids out there whowould have been able to handle the situa-tion. It shows his maturity and character.

Thompson has faced his share of adver-sity despite starting in each of the last twoseasons.

UNT has finished 5-7 and 4-8 duringthat time. Thats an improvement overprevious years, but not where the MeanGreen has aimed to end either season.

Thompson endured a tough off-seasonafter throwing an interception JonathanDowling returned for a touchdown to sparkWestern Kentucky in a 25-24 win in theMean Greens season finale. TheHilltoppers rallied from a 24-10 fourth-quarter deficit to knock off UNT and scoredtwice after Thompsons interception, but itwas the Mean Greens quarterback whotook much of the blame for the loss.

He took it as a personal challenge,

UNT wide receiver Brelan Chancellorsaid of Thompson rallying from that set-back. Everyone took the WesternKentucky game hard. We all believe weshould have won.

Thompson said he felt like the doubtssome UNT fans have about his abilitiesgrew after that game, especially afterMcCarney declared the quarterback jobopen for competition heading into springpractice.

Highly regarded Kansas transfer BrockBerglund had arrived by that point andjoined a competition that also includedbackup Andrew McNulty. FreshmanDajon Williams entered the fray in fallworkouts and made a quick impression.

Thompson never wavered. He contin-ued to work and won the job.

I never lost confidence in myself,Thompson said. When people doubt me,it adds fuel to my fire.

The way Thompson has fought to hangon to the starting job in the face of thosedoubts has impressed McCarney, who hascome to respect him as a person and acompetitor.

Derek has always been able to hold hishead high, McCarney said. Hes mental-ly tough and cares deeply about doingthings the right way so he can lead thisprogram to success.

Those traits not the yards or thetouchdowns are what matter most toWendy and Terry Thompson, Dereksfather.

I am very proud of the way he has han-dled it, Terry Thompson said. The wayhe has come back is part of who he is.

UNTs coaches have gotten to knowDerek Thompsons family and come tounderstand the influences that helpedshape their quarterback. They have nodoubt the years Thompson spent on thebench with his mother in Glen Roseplayed a vital role in developing his talentand drive.

Wendy Thompson is a regular at UNTswomens clinic, where the teams coachingstaff interacts with female fans.

You talk about being a competitor andathleticism, McCarney said. We laughabout it. I tell Derek the best athlete in thefamily is his mom. Its fun to see. Shedoesnt want to get beaten in anything.

Derek Thompson didnt either whilefacing the challenges of a tough off-seasonwhen his future as UNTs starter was indoubt. That competitive streak is the rea-son he will have the opportunity to putthe lessons his mother taught him intopractice during one final season as UNTsstarting quarterback.

From Page 8

ThompsonCareer stats

The following is a look at where quarterbackDerek Thompsons ranks in North Texas his-tory with the leader in each category:

Completion percentage1. Riley Dodge 2008-10 64.74. Derek Thompson 2009-pres. 57.9

Passing efficiency1. Scott Hall 2000-04 132.265. Derek Thompson 2009-pres. 121.97

Passing yards1. Mitch Maher 1991-94 8,5196. Derek Thompson 2009-pres. 4,551

Touchdown passes1. Steve Ramsey 1967-69 697. Derek Thompson 2009-pres. 26

THOMPSON

Denton Record-Chronicle/David Minton


H3


North Texas head coach DanMcCarney doesnt even want to thinkabout the 2014 season at least not thepart about taking the field at ApogeeStadium without Zach Orr.

The senior linebacker has been UNTsdefensive anchor, a team captain and anexample for his teammates sinceMcCarney took over as the Mean Greenshead coach before the 2011 season.

We need to cherish having one of thespecial guys who has ever played in aNorth Texas uniform, McCarney said.He is one of the most special young menI have ever been around and thats astrong statement. He has character, com-petiveness, toughness, pride, doesnt wantto get beat and wants to win every snapand every series.

Those traits have made Orr one of thebest players in recent UNT history, notto mention a key part of the MeanGreens hopes to post a breakout seasonthis fall.

The former DeSoto standout wasnamed to the preseason watch list for theRotary Lombardi Award that goes to thetop lineman or linebacker in the countryeach season.

Hes arguably UNTs top player, not tomention one of its key leaders.

If UNT is to snap a streak of eight con-secutive losing seasons, there is littledoubt Orr will have to play a big part,especially with the Mean Green making amove to a higher level of competition inConference USA after 12 years in the SunBelt.

We have a chance to turn it around,Orr said. We are comfortable with coachMac and his philosophy, plus we have abetter defense than we have had in a longtime.

Orr is a big reason why.Hes earned a spot on the All-Sun Belt

second team in each of the last two sea-sons, despite the fact UNT finished with alosing record each year.

Orr posted 108 tackles last season andmade key plays that helped UNT win nine

games over the last two years.His second-quarter interception was a

turning point in a 30-23 win over bowl-bound Louisiana-Lafayette last fall. UNTdidnt play particularly well three weekslater against South Alabama, but won 24-14 on a night Orr finished with a season-high 12 tackles.

Those performances are just one way tomeasure Orrs impact. His teammates saythe example he sets and the guidance heprovides off the field is just as important.

Orr has always been a leader for thisteam, defensive end Chad Polk said. Heis like a big brother on and off the field.He is so consistent. He performs at hisbest against every opponent.

Its that leadership ability that led Orrs

teammates to elect him a captain beforehis sophomore season.

Hes been a leader for UNT ever since.McCarney said that the true definition

of leadership is the ability to take playersfrom where they are and help them get towhere they need to be.

Orr has contributed in that regardwhile helping set the tone for a loadedsenior class looking to capitalize on its lastchance to play in a bowl game.

I feel really good about where thisteam is at, Orr said. You look at your fel-low seniors with Brelan Chancellor,Brandin Byrd, Will Wright, HilbertJackson, Richard Abbe and Derek

Quick factsConference: ConferenceUSA2012 record: 4-8 (3-5,Sun Belt)Coach: Dan McCarney(9-15 in two seasons at UNT, 65-100 in 14seasons overall)Returning starters: Eight on offense, eighton defenseKey players: LB Zach Orr, WR BrelanChancellor, OL Antonio Johnson, OL CyrilLemon, S Marcus Trice, LB Derek AkunneOffense: MultipleDefense: 4-3School enrollment: 36,111Stadium: Apogee Stadium

Orr returns to guide UNTs defense


NORTH TEXAS: INTHE SPOTLIGHT

There might not be a more important player on North Texas defense than middle linebacker Zach Orr. The senior hasearned a spot on the All-Sun Belt Conference second team in each of the last two seasons and finished with 108 tackles last year. UNT will need Orr to make critical plays and set the tone for its defense again this season.

MEAN GREEN

See ORR on 13

DRC Football August 29, 2013 11

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EXTRA POINTS Keys to a successful year

KEY NEWCOMERS Some of the most highly regarded play-

ers to join the North Texas program overthe last two years have transferred in fromother schools.

The way UNTs season unfolds willdepend largely on how those players per-form.

Wide receiver DariusTerrell (Texas), runningback Reggie Pegram(Purdue) and tight endChris Loving (BlinnCollege) will all play keyroles for UNTs offense,while safety Zed Evans(Louisville) and corner-back James Jones(Kilgore College) areexpected to be key con-tributors on UNTsdefense.

Its going to be crucialto our success what rolethose transfers can playand what they con-tribute, UNT offensivecoordinator MikeCanales said.

One of the MeanGreens problems a yearago was a lack of fire-power offensively in a season UNT aver-aged just 20.9 points a game.

Terrell and Pegram are expected to helpUNT become more potent offensively,while Evans and Jones should bolster adefensive secondary that was a weaknesslast year when the Mean Green allowed252.3 passing yards a game.

North Texas returns its top two tacklersfrom last season in linebackers Zach Orrand Derek Akunne and also has a thirdprojected starter who has extensive expe-rience in Will Wright.

The trio is expected to be the strengthof not only UNTs defense, but its entireroster as well.

That trio of linebackers, if they keepgoing like they have been, will be the bestgroup that I have had since I have been

here, UNT head coachDan McCarney said.

There is no indicationthat the trio will slowdown this fall.

Orr finished with ateam-high 108 tackleslast season, when he wasnamed to the All-Sun Belt Conferencesecond team for the second straight year.

Akunne has been somewhat over-

looked while playing next to Orr duringhis career but has been among UNTs bestplaymakers.

Akunne finished with 90 tackles in2012 to go along with two interceptionsand two sacks.

Wright finished with 21 tackles lastseason when he started three games.The senior should have a larger role thisyear with a group of veteran lineback-ers.

POSITION OF STRENGTH

POINT OF CONCERNNorth Texas struggled last season in the

Sun Belt and will face a higher level ofcompetition this year in C-USA.

How UNT handles that move up and atough nonconference schedule will deter-mine how its season unfolds.

The Mean Green won just three gamesagainst Football Bowl Subdivision teamslast season, with one of those wins com-ing against newcomer South Alabama.

The schedule is much tougher this yearwith games against national powerhouseGeorgia, which opens the year ranked No.5 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, notto mention Ball State and Ohio in non-conference play. Both Ball State and Ohioplayed in bowl games last season.

North Texas will open the season athome for the first time since 2001 whenIdaho visits Apogee Stadium on Saturday.

UNT head coach Dan McCarney des-perately wanted to open at home for thefirst time in his three-year tenure and thefirst time for the program since a 2001game against TCU.

The Mean Green will have that oppor-

tunity after the schoolagreed to pay Idaho a$410,000 guarantee.

We have our firsthome opener in 12 years,which is really impor-tant, McCarney said.We have a chance tohave a great crowd. The students are

excited about it. You can feel it.UNT needs to build on that excitement

with a win. A loss would be devastating and leave

the Mean Green facing a tough road torecovery with games against Ohio andBall State in the next two weeks, fol-lowed by a trip to national powerhouseGeorgia.

GAME OF THE YEAR

McCarney

Wright

Photos by David Minton/Denton Record-ChronicleSenior Zach Orr, right photo, and junior Dererk Akunne, left, photo, will anchor a group of linebackers that is expectedto be the strength of North Texas entire roster this fall. Orr led the team in 2012 with 108 tackles, while Akunne wassecond with 90. Will Wright, the third player in the Mean Greens lineup, is a senior who has also started in his career.

Terrell

Pegram

Evans

DRC Football August 29, 2013 15CONFERENCE USA PREVIEW

Coaches pollThe following is the preseason ConferenceUSA coaches poll. First-place votes are inparentheses.

WEST DIVISIONTeam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Points1. Tulsa (14). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 982. Rice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763. Louisiana Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 724. UTEP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 465. North Texas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 396. Tulane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317. Texas-San Antonio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

EAST DIVISIONTeam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Points1. East Carolina (11) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952. Marshall (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 823. Middle Tennessee (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . 704. UAB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 545. Southern Mississippi. . . . . . . . . . . . . 406. Florida Atlantic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287. Florida International . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

C-USAC-USA in midst of transition

All-conference teamThe following is the preseason All-Conference USA team as selected by theleagues head coaches.

Offensive Player of the YearRakeem Cato, Jr., QB, Marshall

Defensive Player of the YearPhillip Gaines, Sr., DB, Rice

Special Teams Player of the YearCairo Santos, Sr., K, Tulane

FIRST TEAMOFFENSE

QB Rakeem Cato, Jr., Marshall; RBVintavious Cooper, Sr., East Carolina; RBDarrin Reaves, Jr., UAB; OL Jake Alexander,Jr., Tulsa; OL Stetson Burnett, Sr., Tulsa; OLScott Inskeep, Jr., UTSA; OL Nate Richards,Sr., Rice; OL Matt Shepperd, Jr., LouisianaTech; OL Will Simmons, Sr., East Carolina;WR Justin Hardy, Jr., East Carolina; WRRyan Grant, Sr., Tulane; WR Tommy Shuler,Jr., Marshall; TE Gator Hoskins, Sr.,Marshall

DEFENSEDL Christian Covington, So., Rice; DL JustinEllis, Sr., Louisiana Tech; DL Greg Hickman,Sr., FIU; DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches,Southern Miss; LB Shawn Jackson, Sr.,Tulsa; LB Derrell Johnson, Sr., EastCarolina; LB Andre Kirk, Jr., Florida Atlantic;DB Kevin Byard, So., Middle Tennessee; DBLorenzo Doss, So., Tulane; DB PhillipGaines, Sr., Rice; DB Marco Nelson, Sr.,Tulsa

SPECIAL TEAMSK Cairo Santos, Sr., Tulane; P Tyler Williams,So., Marshall; KR Reggie Whatley, Jr., MiddleTennessee; PR Trey Watts, Sr., Tulsa

C-USA


There is an aura of mystery when itcomes to how the race for the ConferenceUSA title will unfold this fall in a time oftransition for the league.

Tulsa and Rice will start out as thefavorites in the West Division, while EastCarolina and Marshall are the cream ofthe crop in the East Division.

Or at least that is the expectation head-ing into a season with a 14-team lineupthat will be in place for only a year.

ECU, Tulsa and Tulane will leave at theend of the season for the AmericanAthletic Conference and will be replacedover the next two years by Charlotte, OldDominion and Western Kentucky.

C-USA officials and coaches say theturnover in the league makes projectingthe conference race difficult.

I dont know for sure how it will play outbecause there is not a history of competi-tion among the programs in some cases,C-USA commissioner Britton Banowskysaid. We will learn a lot. My sense is thatwe will have a lot of competitiveness inboth divisions. We will have some gamesthat will be great, great games. Some willbe the beginning of new rivalries. Some willbe the end of old rivalries.

Tulsa returns several of its top players,including quarterback Cody Green, run-ning back Trey Watts and wide receiverKeyarris Garrett. All played key roles in aseason-ending surge that saw the GoldenHurricane beat Central Florida in the C-USA title game and then knock off IowaState in the Liberty Bowl.

We have a lot of work ahead of us ifwere going to repeat as conference cham-pions, Tulsa head coach Bill Blankenshipsaid. We know just how good Rice andMarshall will be this season.

Tulsa is just one of several C-USAteams that finished 2012 on a high note.

Rice has 19 starters back from a teamthat capped its season with a win over AirForce in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Louisiana Tech returns just sevenstarters and has a new head coach in SkipHoltz, but finished 9-3 a year ago behindfreshman All-American running backKenneth Dixon. The Bulldogs have stock-piled quality young players and alsoadded quarterback Scotty Young, a for-mer Ryan standout who transferred infrom Texas Tech.

ECU, Marshall and Middle Tennesseeall received votes in the C-USA preseasonEast Division poll.

The Pirates return their key offensiveskill position players, including quarter-back Shane Carden, and are the preseasonfavorites. Marshall quarterback RakeemCato was the C-USA Most Valuable Playerin 2012, and will guide a team that couldchallenge the Pirates, while MTSU is com-ing off an 8-4 finish a year ago.

The Blue Raiders return 17 starters and

appear to be the Sun Belt team bestequipped to challenge right away in C-USA.

UNT was picked to finish fifth in C-USAs West Division and will enter theseason as an underdog determined toexceed expectations.

Can we get it turned [around]? UNThead coach Dan McCarney wondered thissummer. There are a lot of things that arein place for us to have a good football teamthis year, but we have a lot of work to do.

Courtesy Marshall Sports Information

Marshall quarterback Rakeem Cato was named the Preseason OffensivePlayer of the Year in Conference USA. Cato threw for 4,201 yards last seasonand is a key reason Marshall is among the favorites to win the C-USA title.

16 August 29, 2013 DRC Football CONFERENCE USA PREVIEW

West DivisionLOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS

Head coach: Skip Holtz (first season at Tech,88-71 in 14 seasons overall)Team: 30 lettermen, three offensive, four defen-sive starters return from a 9-3 team (4-2 WAC,third), 29 lettermen lost.Key player: Kenneth Dixonrushed for 1,194 yards and27 touchdowns and wasnamed a freshman All-American.Outlook: The end of Techsseason ranked among theworst finishes for a teamnationally. The Bulldogs were 9-1 and ranked19th before dropping their last two games andmissing out on a bowl bid. Tech then saw headcoach Sonny Dykes leave for Cal and lost 15starters to graduation. The Bulldogs will look torebuild around Dixon. Former Ryan standout andTexas Tech transfer Scotty Young heads into thefall as the Bulldogs quarterback.

RICE OWLSHead coach: David Bailiff (30-44 in seven sea-sons at Rice, 51-59 in 10 seasons overall)Team: 54 lettermen, nine offensive, 10 defensivestarters return from a 7-6 team (4-4 C-USA, tiedfor third in West Division), nine lettermen lost.Key player: Taylor McHargue rushed for 667yards, the top total amongC-USA quarterbacks, andthrew for 2,209 yards.Outlook: Rice is the teambest equipped to challengeTulsa in C-USAs WestDivision. The Owls lost justthree starters and beat AirForce 33-14 in the ArmedForces Bowl. Surviving atough early slate of games against Texas A&M,Kansas and Houston in the first three weeks ofthe season will be critical.

TULANE GREEN WAVEHead coach: Curtis Johnson (2-10 in one sea-son at Tulane)Team: 51 lettermen, eight offensive, eight defen-sive starters return from a 2-10 team (2-6 C-USA,tied for fifth in West Division), 17 lettermen lost.Key player: Ryan Grant isamong the top widereceivers in C-USA and iscoming off a junior seasonin which he caught 76 pass-es for 1,149 yards and sixtouchdowns.Outlook: Tulane returns 16starters and will look to takea step forward under Johnson, who had theGreen Wave playing at a higher level at the endof the season. Tulane beat SMU and UAB andlost games to UTEP, Rice and East Carolina byfive or fewer points in the final seven weeks.

TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANEHead coach: Bill Blakenship (19-8 in three sea-sons at Tulsa)Team: 41 lettermen, seven offensive, threedefensive starters return from an 11-3 team (7-1

C-USA, first in West Division), 15 lettermen lost.Key player: Cody Greenthrew for 2,592 yards and17 touchdowns as a junior.Outlook: Tulsa returns thecore of an offense that wasamong the most productivein C-USA. Running back TreyWatts (1,108 rushing yards)and wide receivers KeyarrisGarrett (67 receptions, 845 yards) and JordanJames (41 receptions, 568 yards) will be backto bolster an offense with Green at the helm.Tulsa will have to rebuild on defense aroundlinebacker Shawn Jackson, one of only threestarters returning.

UTEP MINERSHead coach: Sean Kugler (first season at UTEP)Team: 42 lettermen, seven offensive, four defen-sive starters return from an 3-9 team (2-6 C-USA,tied for fifth in West Division), 22 lettermen lost.Key player: Wide receiver Jordan Leslie led UTEPwith 51 receptions for 973 yards to go alongwith six touchdowns and willbe among the top widereceivers in C-USA.Outlook: Kugler takes over aprogram that has regressedsince an appearance in the2010 New Mexico Bowl andbottomed out in a 3-9 sea-son in 2012. Kugler, a for-mer UTEP and longtime NFL assistant, will lookto rebuild around an offense with seven return-ing starters, including Leslie and running backNathan Jeffery (897 rushing yards).

UTSA ROADRUNNERSHead coach: Larry Coker (12-10 in three sea-sons at UTSA, 72-25 in nine seasons overall)Team: 50 lettermen, 10 offensive, eight defen-sive starters return from an 8-4 team (3-3 WAC,fourth), nine lettermen lost.Key player: Eric Soza threw for 2,085 yards and20 touchdowns in 2012.Outlook: UTSA finished 8-4in just its second season,which could be consideredboth impressive and decep-tive. The Roadrunners didpick up wins over Idaho andNew Mexico State, bothlongtime FBS members, butalso bolstered their record with wins overDivision II programs Texas A&M-Commerce andNorthwestern Oklahoma State. UTSA will faceOklahoma State, Arizona, Houston and a full C-USA slate this year. UTSA will rely on 18 return-ing starters to lead the way.

East DivisionEAST CAROLINA PIRATES

Head coach: Ruffin McNeil(19-19 in four seasons atECU, 20-19 overall)Team: 49 lettermen, eightoffensive, eight defensivestarters return from an 8-5team (7-1 C-USA, tied forfirst in East Division), 18 let-

termen lost.Key player: Shane Carden threw for 3,116 yardsas a sophomore and will be among the topreturning quarterbacks in C-USA.Outlook: ECU returns several of its key offensiveplayers, including Carden, wide receiver JustinHardy (1,105 receiving yards) and VintaviousCooper (1,049 rushing yards) and should alsobe stout defensively. Eight starters return whoaccounted for 78 percent (766 out of 977) ofECUs tackles.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC OWLSHead coach: Carl Pelini (3-9 in one season atFAU)Team: 53 lettermen, seven offensive, eightdefensive starters return from a 3-9 team (2-6Sun Belt, tied for eighth), 17 lettermen lost.Key player: William Dukescaught 63 passes for 979yards and four touchdownslast season and is FAUs topoffensive threat.Outlook: FAU struggled in itsfirst season under Pelini,posting just two wins overFBS opponents Troy andWestern Kentucky. The Owlscould have a tough time improving dramaticallyon a three-win season this fall with games loom-ing at Auburn, Miami and South Florida in addi-tion to their C-USA slate.

FLORIDA INTERNATIONALPANTHERS

Head coach: Ron Turner (first season at FIU, 42-61 in eight seasons overall)Team: 45 lettermen, three offensive, threedefensive starters return from a 3-9 team (2-6Sun Belt, tied for eighth), 28lettermen lost.Key player: Jake Medlockfinished with 13 touchdownsand just two interceptionswhile throwing for 2,127yards as a sophomore.Outlook: In a somewhat baf-fling move, FIU fired MarioCristobal after last seasonand replaced him with Turner. Cristobal took overan FIU program that finished 0-12 in 2006 andled the Golden Panthers to back to-back bowlgames in 2010 and 2011 before the programfell off. Turner will have his work cut out for himwith just six starters returning.

MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD

Head coach: Doc Holliday (17-20 in three sea-sons at Marshall)Team: 54 lettermen, eightoffensive, seven defensivestarters return from a 5-7team (4-4 C-USA, tied forthird in East Division), 10lettermen lost.Key player: Rakeem Catothrew for 4,201 yards and37 touchdowns as a sopho-more and is C-USAsPreseason Offensive Player of the Year.Outlook: Marshall appears poised to challenge

for the C-USA East Division title and a bowlberth after a bitter season-ending 65-59 over-time loss to East Carolina in 2012 that pre-vented the Herd from becoming bowl-eligible.

MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS

Head coach: Rick Stockstill (43-44 in sevenseasons at MTSU)Team: 46 lettermen, nine offensive, eight defen-sive starters return from an 8-4 team (6-2 SunBelt, tied for second), 18 lettermen lost.Key player: Logan Kilgore threw for 2,571 yardsas a junior and has 5,342passing yards in his MTSUcareer.Outlook: MTSU was blasted45-0 by Arkansas State in aseason-ending showdown forthe Sun Belt title and waspassed over for a bowl biddespite finishing 8-4. MTSUwill have plenty of motivationafter that snub and a chance to reach a bowl thisseason when the Blue Raiders return 17 starters.

SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES

Head coach: Todd Monken (first season at USM)Team: 49 lettermen, four offensive, nine defen-sive starters return from an 0-12 team (0-8 C-USA, sixth in East Division), 22 lettermen lost.Key player: Senior Deron Wilson has startedevery game of his college career in the GoldenEagles secondary and has broken up 34 pass-es, a total that ranks second in program history.Outlook: USM is coming off one of the worstseasons in program history.The Golden Eagles finished12-2 in 2011 under LarryFedora, who left for NorthCarolina. The Golden Eaglesreplaced Fedora with SouthCarolina defensive coordina-tor Ellis Johnson andpromptly went 0-12. USMfired Johnson and hopes torebound under Todd Monken, who helped directOklahoma States high-powered attack as theCowboys offensive coordinator.

UAB BLAZERSHead coach: Garrick McGee (3-9 in one seasonat UAB)Team: 51 lettermen, eight offensive, eight defen-sive starters return from an 3-9 team (2-6 C-USA, fifth in East Division), 17 lettermen lost.Key player: Quarterback Austin Brown set a UABfreshman record with 2,673 passing yards to goalong with 15 touchdown passes in 2012.Outlook: UAB showed signs of life late in2012, beating SouthernMiss and Marshall in con-secutive games in the lastmonth of the season. TheBlazers return 16 startersand will look to build onthat surge behind Brown,who leads an offense thataveraged 28.2 points agame last season.

Brett Vito

Young

McHargue

Grant

Green

Leslie

Soza

Carden

Dukes

Medlock

Cato

Kilgore

Wilson

Brown


Brelan Chancellor believes he hassomething to prove heading into his sen-ior season at North Texas.

In that way, nothing much has changedfor a player who has produced in moreways than just about anyone else on theMean Greens roster.

Chancellor twice set the UNT single-season record for kick return yards, is allbut assured of clearing the 1,000-yardmark in career receiving yards this falland, barring injury, will finish his career

ranked among the topthree players in schoolhistory in all-purposeyards.

So just what is it thatChancellor feels like hehas to prove?

Ask the formerCopperas Cove standout and he will saythat he still has to show he belongs on acollege field.

Those doubts come with the territorywhen one is as small as Chancellor is at 5-9 and 183 pounds.

Ever since I was in little league, coach-es told me I was too small, Chancellorsaid. That is why I play with a chip on myshoulder. I always come out and try toprove something.

More often than not Chancellor hassucceeded in doing just that during hiscareer at UNT, which will need him toplay a huge role in its offense yet again ifthe Mean Green is to capitalize on theopportunity its first season in ConferenceUSA presents.

UNT wants to make a big impressionearly in its tenure in the league, and

Chancellor is a key part of the plan even though he isnt a particularly big guy.

The Mean Green will use Chancellor asa kick returner, slot receiver and in therunning game, giving him every opportu-nity to show his biggest asset the heartthat has helped him maximize his talent.

His heart is as big as someone who is 6-5, UNT offensive coordinator Mike Canalessaid. That is how I look at it. Hes got theheart of a giant, and that is how he plays.

Looking at where Chancellor stands in


Chancellor still out to prove value

Denton Record-Chronicle/David MintonNorth Texas wide receiver Brelan Chancellor hauls in a pass from Derek Thompson in front of Troy defensive back Bryan Willis last season at Apogee Stadium.Chancellor has left his mark on the program statistically over the course of his career, but still feels like he has something to prove in his senior season.

Small stature has led senior to play with chip on his shoulder throughout career

See CHANCELLOR on 18

Chancellor


UNT history and how the Mean Greenfared without him at the end of last sea-son shows his value.

Chancellor ranks sixth in UNT historywith 3,539 all-purpose yards and canmove into third place with another 297yards. At that point only Lance Dunbarand Patrick Cobbs would rank ahead ofhim.

Dunbar is UNTs all-time leading rush-er and plays for the Cowboys, while Cobbsplayed five seasons in the NFL, mostlywith the Miami Dolphins.

Chancellor is UNTs all-time leader inkickoff return yards with 2,368. He canalso crack the 1,000-yard mark in receivingyards this year he currently has 919 despite playing in a run-first offense andcatching just one pass his freshman year.

Chancellor came to UNT as a runningback and had to learn to play receiver.

I feel like Ive played well, but I haventreached my full potential yet, Chancellorsaid. There is always some way I can bebetter and separate myself from the rest.Im never satisfied.

That is especially true after the way last

season ended. Chancellor broke his col-larbone on the opening play of a loss toMiddle Tennessee in the eighth game ofthe season.

It hurt, Chancellor said. It was a bigdeal to me. I hate sitting out.

Losing Chancellor was just as big a deal

to UNT, which was never the same offen-sively without him.

UNT failed to reach the 20-point marktwice in the last four weeks of the seasonwithout Chancellor the first time in a37-19 loss to Arkansas State and againtwo weeks later a 42-16 loss to Louisiana-Monroe.

It was like losing an extremity, Canalessaid. I depended on him so much. I still

try to get him the ball as much as I can andneed to get it to him more.

Chancellors teammates certainly wontoppose that plan.

Every time Brelan steps on the field,hes a threat, UNT quarterback DerekThompson said. I know when defensivecoordinators are game-planning they aresaying watch out for No. 3. Hes a play-maker and can do a lot of things.

From Page 17

Chancellor Career statsThe following is a look at North Texas seniorwide receiver Brelan Chancellor:

Receiving Year Rec Yds Avg TDs2010 1 12 12.0 02011 37 457 12.4 32012 25 450 18.0 5Totals 63 919 14.6 8

RushingYear Att Yds Avg TDs2010 2 0 0 02011 4 46 11.5 02012 16 155 9.7 2Totals 22 201 9.1 2

Kick returnsYear Att Yds Avg TDs2010 33 923 28.0 22011 50 1,094 21.9 02012 18 351 19.5 0Totals 101 2,368 23.4 2

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Denton Record-Chronicle/David MintonNorth Texas wide receiver Brelan Chancellor breaks away from WesternKentucky defensive back Kiante Young during the 2011 season.

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Boutwell, McCarney believe in D-lineBy Brett VitoStaff Writer

There might not be a player on NorthTexas roster with a better perspective onwhat it will take for the Mean Greens defen-sive line to meet headcoach Dan McCarneyslofty expectations thanRyan Boutwell.

The senior has seem-ingly seen it all duringhis time with the MeanGreen playing tackleand end while helpingtutor a host of young players UNT willrely on heavily this season.

Both Boutwell and McCarney like whatthey have seen from those young playersand the group as a whole.

I like our defensive line a lot,McCarney said. We have more guys whocan play. They look different physically. Weare executing better and understand the

scheme better. I expect more production.UNTs hopes for a breakout season will

hinge in no small part on its defensivelines ability to meet those expectations.

McCarney described UNTs big-playproduction from its defensive front asnearly non-existent during his first twoseasons, something he says must changethis fall when Boutwell will once again bea key part of the Mean Greens plans.

Boutwell has started 20 games in threeseasons with UNT and helps set the tonefor a group that could be deeper than everwith his tenacious attitude. That approachhelped him finish with 28 tackles as asophomore before a series of setbacks including a torn pectoral muscle and aknee injury limited him last season.

The senior is healthy again and up to265 pounds for a final season when he willhelp guide a series of young players onwhat could be UNTs deepest line in years.

I love playing with these guys,Boutwell said. Most of them have been


North Texas defensive lineman Ryan Boutwell tackles Louisiana-Monroe quar-terback Kolton Browning during a game at Apogee Stadium in 2011. Boutwellshould be back in top form this season after injuries limited him in 2012.

Senior returns to formafter injury-riddled year

See D-LINE on 20

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here at least two years and have workedhard over the summer.

UNT is hoping that hard work helpsthe group make up for the production ofK.C. Obi. The end was the Mean Greensmost productive defensive lineman lastseason, when he finished with 5.5 sacksand 10.5 tackles behind the line of scrim-mage as a senior.

Senior defensive end Aaron Bellazinposted 5.0 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss in2012.

The rest of UNTs returning defensivelinemen managed just 3.5 sacks and 12.0tackles behind the line on the season.

The hope is that a host of players willhelp UNT improve on that total.

UNT will have end Brandon McCoyand tackles Richard Abbe, AlexanderLincoln and Austin Orr back in additionto some young players the Mean Green iscounting on to come through, includingends Daryl Mason and Chad Polk.McCarney said UNT could play nine to 10defensive linemen regularly.

We had a lot of linemen play last year

with Daryl Mason, myself and some otheryoung guys, Bellazin said. We have toshow what we have.

Having Boutwell at full strength shouldhelp UNTs cause.

No one plays harder than he does,McCarney said. He has to play with a lowcenter of gravity with his size. He has toplay quick and play relentlessly and hedoes all those things. Hes one of thoseseniors who deserve good things becauseof his commitment to this program.

Bellazin worked out with Boutwell allsummer and expects him to go out with aflourish.

Boutwell will make a difference,Bellazin said. He suffered with injurieslast season, but had a great off-season. Weworked out all summer. He is getting workat defensive tackle and is looking good.

Boutwell has helped guide UNTsdefensive linemen throughout fall work-outs. The work ethic they have shown hasmade an impression on their teammates.

I have confidence in all of those guys,UNT safety Marcus Trice said. They arefearless, relentless and wont take it whenpeople dont give maximum effort. Theywont take that from themselves or any-one else.

From Page 19

D-Line

Denton Record-Chronicle/David MintonNorth Texas defensive tackle Richard Abbe (97) wraps up South Alabama run-ning back Kendall Houston last season at Apogee Stadium.


Brandin Byrd has never been the centerof attention during his North Texascareer.

The senior running back spent two sea-sons playing behind Lance Dunbar, theschools all-time leading rusher who isnow with the Cowboys, and was over-looked last year when a flashier playeremerged in backup Antoinne Jimmerson.

Nothing much has changed this fall forByrd, who once againbeat out more heraldedplayers for the startingjob, including Purduetransfer Reggie Pegram.

Being overlooked isjust fine with Byrd, whowants nothing morethan to contribute againthis season.

I just go out and play and do whateverI can to help the team, Byrd said.Whatever happens with the rest of ithappens.

That approach describes Byrd, whosequiet contributions have made him a val-ued part of UNTs offense.

The former Copperas Cove standoutbroke free for an 85-yard touchdown runthat snapped a 14-14 tie and sent UNT onits way to a 24-14 win over SouthAlabama last season. Byrd finished with109 rushing yards against USA and post-ed three 100-yard games overall whileleading UNT with 875 yards.

Byrd has 1,127 rushing yards in hiscareer. A repeat of last years performancewould give him a place among the top 10players in UNT history in career rushingyards.

With the competition and depth that

we have at running back right now, itwould be easy to take a guy like him forgranted, UNT head coach DanMcCarney said. I dont.

Hes a good blocker, a good receiver,will run the ball hard and is a tough guy.

Byrd contributed in a variety of wayslast season. In addition to leading theteam in rushing, he caught 18 passes for92 yards and returned three kickoffs for28 yards.

Add those totals up, and Byrd led theteam with 995 all-purpose yards.

Tommy Perry joined UNTs staff as itsrunning backs coach after last season andquickly came to appreciate Byrds consis-tency and intelligence.

Byrds the kind of guy where if you see

him in the hallway before practice you cansay, Hey, on this play, why dont you leanon that safety who is going to come freeand then run right through his shoulder?That is all you have to tell him, Perry said.Then he goes out on the field and does it.There are not many guys who have boththat kind of intelligence and that kind oftalent.

UNT can always count on Byrd to be inthe right place in pass protection to pickup blitzes and contribute in the passinggame.

Being a well-rounded and intelligentplayer is something Byrd takes pride in.

The game is 80 percent mental, Byrdsaid. You can be a guy who is a heck of anathlete, but if you dont know what isgoing on out there, you are not going to betoo good. You have to be technicallysound.

Being technically sound is somethingthat doesnt grab a lot of attention, but itsvital to a teams success. Byrds teammatesare quick to point out all the ways he con-tributes that can sometimes be over-looked.

Byrd is steady and is a great leader,offensive lineman Antonio Johnson said.

We know we can count on him morethan 110 percent. I dont overlook himand neither do the guys on the team. Weappreciate him.

Byrd will start again this season andlead a talented group of running backs.

Jimmerson returns after missing thelast two games of the 2013 season with abroken shoulder blade. Pegram will playas will Rex Rollins, a speedy redshirtfreshman who will serve as a change-of-pace back.

Byrd doesnt want to come off thebench, McCarney said. He wants to bethe starter and go out there for that firstseries against Idaho. He has a quiet pres-ence and a quiet dignity about him, butyet he has this fierce competitivenessinside of him. He is a joy to coach everyday.

The consistency that Byrd has shownthroughout his career is a big reason why.Its something he takes pride in.

I try to let the game come to me and domy job so that I can help the team, Byrdsaid. Everyone has a strength to theirgame. One of my main ones is being con-sistent and knowing what to do.


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Byrds contributions often overlooked2012 statistics

Running back Brandin Byrd, shown below inNorth Texas spring game led the MeanGreen with 995 all-purpose yards in 2012.The following is a look at his contributions:

BYRD

Byrd Category Attempts Yards TDsRushing 205 875 4Receiving 18 92 0Kick returns 3 28 0Totals 226 995 4

No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr.1 Zed Evans DB 5-11 198 Jr.1 Turner Smiley WR 6-0 187 Fr.2 D.Q. Johnson DB 5-11 188 Sr.2 Reggie Pegram RB 5-9 221 Jr.3 Brelan Chancellor WR 5-9 186 Sr.3 Calvin Minor LB 6-3 207 Fr.4 Darvin Kidsy WR 6-0 174 Fr.4 Mark Lewis RB 5-10 210 RFr.5 David Busby DB 5-11 188 So.5 Andrew McNulty QB 6-1 210 So.6 Hilbert Jackson DB 6-1 185 Sr.6 Jordan Gill QB 6-0 184 RFr.7 Derek Thompson QB 6-4 218 Sr.7 Derek Akunne LB 6-0 244 Jr.8 Marcus Trice DB 5-8 193 Sr.8 Cooper Jones TE 6-4 243 So.9 Carlos Harris WR 5-8 172 So.9 Brandon Johnson WR 6-0 208 Jr.10 Derrick Teegarden WR 6-0 204 Jr.10 John Schilleci DB 6-0 193 Fr.11 Darius Terrell WR 6-3 212 Jr.11 Will Wright LB 6-2 221 Sr.12 Dajon Williams QB 6-3 199 Fr.13 James Jones DB 5-11 173 Jr.14 Erick Evans RB 5-9 190 Fr.14 Chris Loving TE 6-4 272 Jr.15 Mike Marshall DB 6-0 207 Jr.16 Brock Berglund QB 6-4 213 So.16 Chad Davis DB 5-10 180 Fr.17 Lynrick Pleasant WR 6-2 205 Sr.18 Jamal Marshall LB 6-3 210 So.18 Marcus Smith TE 6-4 255 So.19 Brandon Allen DB 6-0 183 So.19 Brady Brown WR 6-5 225 Sr.20 Andrew Tucker DB 6-0 199 Fr.20 Rex Rollins RB 6-1 197 RFr.21 Freddie Warner DB 5-10 189 Jr.21 Dimitri Wilhite RB 5-8 200 Jr.22 Antoinne Jimmerson RB 5-9 222 So.23 Zac Whitfield DB 5-9 190 So.24 Brandin Byrd RB 5-10 223 Sr.25 Bryan Monroe RB 5-8 187 Sr.26 Zach Paul K 5-9 185 So.27 Lairamie Lee DB 5-10 195 Jr.29 Brock Squier DB 5-9 195 RFr.30 Jarrian Roberts DE 6-2 238 RFr.31 Kenny Buyers DB 5-11 177 So.31 John Chelf WR 5-11 178 Jr.32 Fred Scott LB 5-11 235 Fr.32 Jamarcus Jarvis DB 5-10 212 RFr.34 Willie Hubbard WR 5-10 168 Jr.35 Zach Orr LB 6-1 240 Sr.36 Brandon Davis LB 6-0 215 So.37 Sheldon Wade DB 5-11 181 Jr.37 Zach Olen K 5-10 221 Sr.38 Brendan Campbell DB 6-2 201 Jr.40 Blake Macek P 5-9 186 RFr.41 Ricky Pratt DB 5-7 170 Jr.42 Chad Polk DE 6-0 223 So.44 Aaron Bellazin DE 6-2 265 Sr.45 Tarik Jefferson LB 6-0 214 Jr.47 Jake Smith LB 5-11 205 Jr.48 Wylie Reinhardt TE 6-4 275 Fr.

49 Daryl Mason DE 6-3 253 Jr.50 Robert Lewis LB 6-0 220 Jr.50 Kaydon Kirby OL 6-3 313 RFr.52 Sed Ellis LB 6-3 189 Fr.53 Shawn McKinney OL 6-4 365 Jr.54 Blake Dunham DS 6-1 223 Jr.56 Malik Dilonga DE 6-4 251 RFr.57 Mason YBarbo OL 6-2 307 Jr.58 Tony Johnson DS 6-1 217 RFr.59 Cody Nelson OL 6-5 277 Fr.62 Cyril Lemon OL 6-3 304 Jr.63 Sid Moore DL 6-1 252 Fr.64 LaChris Anyiam OL 6-4 296 Sr.65 Micah Thompson OL 6-4 316 So.66 Michael Banogu OL 6-5 292 So.68 Eric Keena P 6-2 155 So.69 Trevor Melugin OL 6-2 299 Fr.70 Justin Manu OL 6-5 281 Jr.70 Sir Calvin Wallace DT 6-2 293 RFr.71 Antonio Johnson OL 6-5 294 Jr.72 Ryan Rentfro OL 6-4 298 RFr.73 Austin Burtnett OL 6-3 286 So.74 Cam Feldt OL 6-5 299 Jr.76 Harrison Sorge OL 6-5 304 Fr.77 Travis Ellard OL 6-3 290 So.78 Connor Trussell OL 6-5 287 RFr.79 Dominick Walker OL 6-5 278 Fr.80 Darnell Smith WR 6-1 203 Sr.82 Nick Schrapps WR 6-3 203 RFr.83 Carl Caldwell WR 5-10 176 Sr.84 Quenton Brown DE 6-4 235 Jr.85 Roderick Lancaster WR 6-2 205 RFr.86 Drew Miller TE 6-1 258 Sr.88 Tanner Smith TE 6-3 250 Jr.89 Daniel Prior TE 6-2 246 Sr.90 Ryan Boutwell DT 6-3 248 Sr.91 Austin Orr DE 6-4 272 So.92 LaJaylin Smith LB 6-0 221 So.93 Brandon McCoy DE 6-2 257 Sr.94 Mustafa Haboul DT 6-0 253 RFr.95 Alexander Lincoln DE 6-2 267 Jr.96 Cade Carter TE 6-3 230 Jr.97 Richard Abbe DT 6-4 320 Sr.98 Dutton Watson DT 6-3 273 RFr.98 Jarrod Lynn TE 6-0 233 So.99 Andy Flusche DE 6-3 230 Fr.


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MEAN GREEN RosterSchedule

Date Opponent TimeAug. 31 Idaho 6 p.m.Sept. 7 at Ohio 6 p.m.Sept. 14 Ball State 3 p.m.Sept. 21 at Georgia TBAOct. 5 at Tulane* 2:30 p.m.Oct. 12 Middle Tennessee* 6 p.m.Oct. 19 at Louisiana Tech* 2:30 p.m.Oct. 26 at Southern Miss* 6 p.m.Oct. 31 Rice* 6:30 p.m.Nov. 9 UTEP* 2:30 p.m.Nov. 23 UTSA* 2:30 p.m.Nov. 30 at Tulsa* TBA* Conference USA game

UNT

DRC Football August 29, 2013 23

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Cyril Lemon chuckled this fall at thethought of the appropriate nature of theweekly routine he and a few of his NorthTexas teammates follow.

Lemon, Antonio Johnson and MasonYBarbo all gather on Thursday nightsduring the season and settle on a place toeat out.

The bill can get hefty at times for thecore of the Mean Greens offensive line.The three juniors combine to tip thescales at well over 900 pounds and tip thescales of competition in UNTs favor moreoften than not on Saturdays because oftheir talent and the connection betweenthem those meals help foster.

Any time you have players who hangout off the field, it helps you on the field,Lemon said. We have become friends,not just teammates. We have each othersbacks off the field and on the field.

That connection was evident last sea-son, when UNT allowed just six sacksthe entire season. That total was the low-est in the nation, which was an impres-sive feat considering UNT played LSUand Kansas State on the road in additionto facing four other teams that played inbowl games.

There is a poster in the meeting roomUNTs offensive line uses at the MeanGreen Athletic Center commemoratingthe achievement.

UNT head coach Dan McCarney oftenrefers to the power of the unit when talk-ing about the group that seems a littleoverlooked when it comes to individualaccolades. Aaron Fortenberry, UNTssenior center who completed his careerlast season, was the only first- or second-team All-Sun Belt Conference selectionamong the Mean Greens offensive line-men last season.

None of UNTs trio of junior offensivelinemen was named to the preseasonAll-Conference USA team this fall,either.

Taken individually, UNTs trio of vet-eran linemen might not stand out. Putthem together and they are tough tobeat. Just like Lemon, YBarbo creditedthe connection they share after havingplayed together for years.

Lemon and YBarbo start at guard,while Johnson is a tackle.

Antonio and I had a friendship

immediately, YBarbo said. When Cyrilstarted playing as a true freshman, hewas right in there with us. That hashelped us. The closer you are, the moretrust you have with each other. Antonioand I dont have to say anything. Weknow what each other are going to do.Its second nature.

UNT quarterback Derek Thompsonsaid one can often find the members ofthe Mean Greens offensive line in thefilm room or on the field fine-tuningtheir game plan for the next week at 6a.m. on weekdays.

The group just goes about its businesswithout much fanfare or recognitionwhile keeping an even keel.

Connection trio shares sparks UNT lineA cornerstone trioUNT

Guards Mason YBarbo and Cyril Lemonand tackle Antonio Johnson form a coreof three juniors that will power the NorthTexas offensive line this season. The following is a look at the group:

Antonio Johnson, tackleThe 6-6, 311-poundtackle has started 23straight games in thefirst two seasons ofhis college career.The former Dibollstandout played bas-ketball in high schooland has shown quickness and solid foot-work for a player his size.

Mason YBarbo, guardA player known asBadger at UNTbecause of histenacity, YBarbo hasstarted 24 straightgames for the MeanGreen. YBarbo, whois listed at 6-2, 309,was named honorable mention All-SunBelt Conference last season.

Cyril Lemon, guardLemon has startedall 24 games of hiscollege career andearned honorablemention All-Sun BeltConference honors ineach of his first twoseasons. Lemon is amonstrous player at 6-3, 321, and is ter-rific in pass protection.

Denton Record-Chronicle/David MintonNorth Texas offensive lineman Mason YBarbo hoists up wide receiver BrelanChancellor (3) after Chancellor a touchdown last season at Apogee Stadium.

See O-LINE on 24


H3

Its a joy to be around those guys,McCarney said. Those three guys everysingle day are there with the same lookon their faces. They work their tails off,dont give in to adversity and dont carewho is on the schedule a team that is 9-1 or 1-9. You are still going to get the sameeffort and productivity out of those guyseither way.

McCarney and the members of thegroup give much of the credit to offensiveline coach Mike Simmonds, who playedfour years in the NFL.

No one appreciates what Simmondsand the core of UNTs offensive line hasaccomplished more than Thompson.

Theyre awesome, Thompson said.They do such a good job with blitz pick-ups and knowing what they are going todo. It was nice to know that I could dropback and see things down the field. Itcould be similar this year.

UNT is hoping that it will be.Fortenberry wont be easy to replace, butthe Mean Green still has Lemon, YBarboand Johnson to build around and areminder of what is possible hanging in

their meeting room. The poster com-memorating their six-sack season is spe-cial to each member of the trio.

We are very proud of only allowing sixsacks, YBarbo said. It was a big accom-plishment for us, something that isntdone very often. It meant a lot to us andour coaches, but at the same time this is anew year and a new line.

From Page 23

O-line Any time you haveplayers who hang outoff the field, it helpsyou on the field. We

have become friends,not just teammates.

We have each othersbacks off the fieldand on the field.

Cyril Lemon, North Texas offensive lineman on the

connection he shares with twoother junior starters

Denton Record-Chronicle/David MintonNorth Texas offensive lineman Cyril Lemon, bottom, blocks Arkansas Statesophomore linebacker Qushaun Lee, clearing the way for running backAntionne Jimmerson to cross the goal line last season at Apogee Stadium.

26 August 29, 2013 DRC Football COVER STORY

Heard in spotlight after dream yearBy Adam BoedekerStaff Writer

Guyer quarterback Jerrod Heardallowed weeks to pass before he wentback and watched the final game of hisjunior season.

The reason why might be hard for someto understand.

By this point, it is no secret Heard puton a transcendent performance in theClass 4A Division I state championshipgame, leading the Wildcats back from a16-point, second-half deficit and account-ed for seven touchdowns to give theWildcats their first state championship.

Many kids would have been clamoringto watch the televised broadcast of thegame to relive those memories. It tookHeard nearly a month.

It took me a while to go back andwatch it, Heard said. I dont know why. Ijust didnt want to watch it again. It was awhile before I actually turned it on andwatched it.

It gave me butterflies like I was aboutto go back out.

The question Heard and Guyer mustansw

Football 2013

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