On Campus
By Jeff Kirik and Bob Jarzomski Erie Times-News staff bloggers
Erie Times-News staff writer Bob Jarzomski and sports editor Jeff Kirik team up to bring you On Campus,   Read more about this blog.
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Posts tagged ‘NFL’
Posted: September 12th, 2012

Let us recap Week 2, shall we?

Game of the week: No. 7 Georgia at Missouri

Final score: Bulldogs 41, Tigers 20

Pregame rant: Sheldon Richardson set it off by describing Georgia as playing “old-man football” following the Bulldogs’ 45-23 win against Buffalo.

“I watched that game. I turned it off, too,” said Richardson in a story by the Columbia Tribune. “It’s like watching Big Ten football. It’s old-man football.”

That’s big words, big fella.

Post-game commentary: The ‘Dawgs welcomed the Tigers into the SEC with a harsh dose of “grown-man football” as Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray called it. Georgia forced three turnovers and scored the game’s last 24 points to prevail.

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Posted: September 4th, 2012

Let us recap Week 1, shall we?

Game of the week: No. 24 Boise State Broncos at No. 13 Michigan State Spartans

Final score: Spartans 17, Broncos 13.

Pregame rant: Since stunning Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, the Broncos have been giant killers. They’ve recently had signature victories against Texas Christian (2010 Fiesta Bowl), Virginia Tech (2010 opener) and Georgia (2011 opener).

What do all four of those wins have in common? They were on a neutral field.  With quarterback Kellen Moore now gone, can’t wait to see how Boise State does in East Lansing against the Spartans, who were 7-0 at home last season.

Post-game commentary: This game shows just how important a quarterback is to a mid-major. Last season, Moore wins that game for the Broncos. Junior Joe Southwick was just 15-of-31 for 169 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.

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Posted: November 2nd, 2011

Khayree Connors-McChristian is Gannon's second-leading tackler behind senior defensive tackle Randy Colling, an NFL prospect./Photo by Jack Hanrahan/Erie Times-News.

With two games left in the 2011 season, Gannon junior strong safety Khayree Connors-McChristian has tried not to think about it too much.

But it’s hard not to. And this is a good thing.

Last season, Connors-McChristian had a season-ending injury (broken right forearm) in Week 3 against Millersville.

This season, he switched from free safety to the “Superman” or strong safety position and has stayed healthy all season.

“Actually I just thought about that yesterday and I didn’t want to think about it too much because I still have two more games left, but this whole season I’ve been healthy,” he said. “Thank the Lord. Thank God. I’ve built my relationship up stronger with him and it’s benefited me in numerous ways.”

Connors-McChrstian has also been productive.

The 5-foot, 11-inch, 190-pound Connors-McChristian, a Sicklerville, N.J. native, is second on the team in tackles with 66 total stops. He has six tackles for loss, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

“Just being out there and playing every snap for Gannon University football is a blessing,” he said. “I’m just happy. I’m just happy and healthy. I’m trying to play the whole season and see what it feels like.”

Posted: October 1st, 2011

Mercyhurst College senior linebacker Ian Wild (17) forced Gannon's Joe Sobucki to fumble in today's PSAC West game./Photo by Jack Hanrahan of the Erie Times-News.

The Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills each had a scout in the press box for today’s Gannon-Mercyhurst College game at Tullio Field.

Gannon won 30-27.

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a scout there as well. The Titans are playing at Cleveland against the Browns on Sunday.

The three NFL teams were checking out Gannon senior defensive tackle Randy Colling, Mercyhurst senior linebacker Ian Wild and Mercyhurst senior receiver Trevor Kennedy.

Here’s how each did today.

Colling – 4 tackles (1 sack, 2 stops for loss).

Wild – 14 total tackles (11 solo stops, 4 stops for loss), forced fumble, blocked punt (that lead to a return for a touchdown).

Kennedy – 10 catches, 157 yards, 2 touchdowns. Two punt returns for 53 yards. Four kickoff returns for 85 yards.

Colling’s fumble recovery set up Gannon’s final touchdown drive, Wild was simply all over the place and even caught a touchdown.

As for Kennedy, he now has 10 touchdown catches for the season. He had 11 in 13 games last season.

Posted: September 30th, 2011

Senior defensive tackle Randy Colling has 30 total tackles in four games for Gannon this season./ETN file photo.

Every time an NFL scout comes to see Gannon senior defensive tackle Randy Colling play, his teammates get a chance to show they may be good enough to get a look from a pro team.

“It’s amazing,” said Gannon cornerback Ta’Von Bailey, a 6-foot, 175-pound freshman from Lanham, Md.  “We try not to focus on it. I’m a freshman so I try not to focus on that, but we see NFL scouts, we want to take that next step in practice.”

Bailey has 20 tackles and an interception in his first year with the Knights.

“We practice harder,” he continued. “It’s an NFL scout here. We play harder because an NFL scout is here. We should do that everyday, but it’s cool as a freshman to see NFL scouts at practice. It’s like, now I need to go out there and try to do good.”

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Posted: September 24th, 2011

Gannon senior defensive tackle Randy Colling posted two sacks in Saturday's 27-0 loss to No. 19-ranked Edinboro./Photo by Christopher Millette of the Erie Times-News

The Miami Dolphins had a scout at the Edinboro-Gannon game at Gannon today to see Knights defensive tackle Randy Colling.

The 6-foot, 5-inch, 320-pound Colling had eight total tackles, two sacks and 2.5 stops for loss in the 27-0 defeat for the Knights.

“I acted like he wasn’t even there,” Colling said. “You got to keep your head in the game, but it feels good. I feel like I played pretty good. Could have done better, but it’s not an individual game.”

People at the game were wondering how are NFL teams scouting Colling. Here’s an idea of what they’re looking for.

1. Can Colling consistently draw a double-team block?

2. Can he beat an 1-on-1 block with regularity? At the NCAA Division II level, he should do so on the regular. If he does it with ease at this level, then scouts will think he can at least hold his own as a pro.

3. Can he play on the outside? At 6-5, Colling is rangy enough to play a defensive end, but is he quick enough to do so?

4. Can he stunt to the inside or outside? This tests your ability to go lateral and push up field.

5. Can he pursue and chase down running backs from behind?

6. Is his motor always running even when he’s gassed?

All those areas were tested Saturday and for the most part, he did well. It’ll be interesting to see how many more scouts come see him play for the rest of the season.

Posted: September 23rd, 2011

Trevor Harris led Edinboro to a game-winning drive to edge Gannon.

Four hours, 30 minutes long.

Two lightning delays.

One classic finish.

On Sept. 26, 2009, Edinboro pulled out 22-20 victory at Gannon on a last second, 17-yard field goal by senior Alex Romanias to cap one of the wildest college football games in recent memory.

“I thought we were fortunate to win the football game,” Edinboro coach Scott Browning said. “Very fortunate.”

Below are three stories from the Erie Times-News about the game.

Lightning strikes twice for Edinboro
‘Boro’s win wet, weird and wild to the end
Loss to ‘Boro stings Gannon

Earlier this week, ETN sports reporter Duane Rankin asked players and coaches from both teams their memories of the game.

The first thing they remember is the weather.

The second? Trevor Harris.

First the weather.

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Posted: September 16th, 2011

This season, Edinboro junior tight end Shawn Walker has caught four passes for 51 yards./Photo by Christopher Millette of the Erie Times-News

At 6-foot-4, 247 pounds, Shawn Walker looks like an NFL tight end.

Coming out of General McLane High, he was recruited like he could become one as several Division I schools wanted him. Walker was an all-state player in two sports when the Lancers won the 2006 PIAA Class AAA football title and 2007 PIAA Class AAA basketball title.

However, Walker hasn’t put up the kind of numbers you’d figure  someone of his talent would. Heading into his junior season this year, Walker had just 32 catches for 336 yards and four touchdowns, but Edinboro coach Scott Browning said Walker is having a “fine career.”

Last season, Walker was a second-team All-PSAC West pick, but didn’t catch a touchdown. He didn’t catch a pass in this season’s opener, but had four for 51 yards last week against Merrimack.

Browning said he has three tight ends in Walker, redshirt freshman Blaine Iskula (6-5, 255) and junior Seth Hembree (6-7, 250) and no one has become the” front runner.” Iskula has four catches for 16 yards while Hembree has two catches for 35 yards this season.

Browning then talked about the team having talent at the other skilled positions, but someone of Walker’s talent should be catching more passes even if there is a bunch of talent around him right?

So how does Walker feel about all this? Erie Times-News sports reporter Duane Rankin visited him at Edinboro earlier this week to find out as Scots (2-0) play PSAC East foe Cheyney (1-1) at home Saturday at 1 p.m.

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Posted: August 22nd, 2011

Terrelle Pryor will get a shot with the Raiders./AP Photo.

4.36.

Al Davis was salivating.

The Oakland Raiders’ owner either saw or heard Terrelle Pryor ran a 4.36 40-yard dash in his “pro day” last week and had his mind made up.

The Raiders were going to draft the Ohio State quarterback in the supplemental draft. Earlier today, they took him in the third round, which means they lose that pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

Davis would draft a kicker if he ran a 4.5.

From this point forward, though, Pryor can determine if he’s going to be remembered for breaking NCAA rules and helping put Ohio State in the mess it’s in or something far more positive.

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Posted in: Big Ten, Football

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