mat1992

http://towsontigers.com/news/2017/7/19/womens-lacrosse-sachs-joins-tigers-for-the-2018-lacrosse-season.aspx

Any other questions about the roster, I'll address them next Tuesday with RA at the CAA Football press conference.

I'm sure they'll bring in another punter to compete with Toomey. He was serviceable in the spring but it would have been nice to have Finnegan.

It's not going to happen but it's a nice PR thing to say. Both programs need to improve their teams and attendance first. Then Towson needs to market the program better. The entire program, not just football.

http://towsontigers.com/news/2017/7/18/football-towson-morgan-state-hold-battle-for-greater-baltimore-press-conference.aspx http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/football/bs-sp-towson-morgan-state-football-series-0719-story.html

I should have put Scott there because they will probably list him as a No. 2 back to start. However, I think there will be another option (hint). As for Reece, yeah, weight issues probably will either keep him a run-only nose guard and they might use Zain and Clifton or Cummings up front but I think that whole line is up for grabs. There's really not one guy that deserves to start based off last year's performance.

There's always a player or two that RA tries to hide (so I try to not expose it unless it's on the net). No experience and a lot of potential so who knows where and how he will fit.

Not a lot of major changes. I'd think Gallahan might start in the slot and I'd have the Rutgers transfer or even Richardson (move Leatherbury to outside). But again, things may change during summer camp so the depth chart at the beginning (which they won't release), won't mean a lot. I'd like to see them give some of the true freshmen a chance to play if they are ready, like Myles Wright at tight end. There should be a handful of true freshmen that can play right away.

Ok, I did this on the previous site after the spring, but that info is now gone. Also added WR John Tsimis, a transfer from Rutgers. RB DeShaun Wethington not on the roster but could return next season. This is not my preferred depth chart, but who I think will line up at the start of camp. Totally guessed about the fullback position. That appears to be really up in the air. *redshirt freshman, #true freshman, $ transfer QB Morgan Mahalak, *Ryan Stover, *Tristan Harris RB Shane Simpson, David Bryant, James Scott, #Adrian Platt WR Trey Kilgore, #Jabari Allen, Ryan Rutkowski WR Brent Richardson, $Shane Leatherbury, Ryan Broyles WR Sam Gallahan, John Tsimis, Morgan Scroggins TE Joe Green, Zach Herron, Ellis Knudson FB Jordan Waite, $Sal Jeppi C *Nico Russolillo (6-1, 303), Nick Carnesale (6-1, 285), RG $Zane Ventimiglia (6-3, 310), Carnesale LG Antonio Harris (6-4, 315), $D'Mitri Francis (6-4, 330), Brendan Cassels (6-3, 285) LT *Andrew Garnett (6-5, 315), Harris, Francis RT Matt Kauffman (6-5, 310), Francis, Harris Defense DE Malik Tyne (6-2, 240), *Bryce Carter (6-3, 235) NG Reese Burnett, *Tommy Dangogo (6-2, 300) DT Zain Harps Upshur (6-1, 290), Clifton Jones (6-2, 280) DE Kanyia Anderson (6-2, 260), D'Sean Cummings (6-2, 260) OLB Chris Tedder (6-0, 220), #Abdoulaye Konate (5-11, 220) OLB Keon Paye (6-0, 215), #Dymelle Parker (6-2, 220) MLB Diondre Wallace (6-0, 250), Robert Heyward (5-10, 215) SS $Mitch Boals (5-11, 185), $Troy Vincent (5-10, 200) FS Monte Fenner (6-0, 190), *Christian Johnson (6-2, 200) CB Lyrics Klugh, *Jamal Watson CB Justus Pettus-Dixon, Tyron McDade P Pat Toomey K Aidan O'Neill KR Shane Simpson, Lyrics Klugh PR Simpson, Klugh

Most practices are closed to the public. As for McNeill, he's a little bigger but he's kind of the same player he was last season. Streaky, pretty good defensively and even-keeled. This is his fourth season so he know what's to expect. I don't expect him to change his role this season. If he's making shots, he deserves more time, especially if Morsell is struggling. If they press more, he will certainly play a pivotal role.

Checked out a two-hour+ practice at the old Towson Center. It really doesn't matter if they practice in Burdick, where there still is a lot of construction, the TC or SECU, basketball is basketball. But when it's at the Towson Center, nostalgia goes through my mind. I remember sitting in the bleachers upstairs watching Kurk Lee and Devin Boyd in 1989. I was coming from a junior college setting, watching guys like Jay Bias and Terrence Jacobs (who would come in 1990-91) play for a great Allegany Community College team to checking out legit D1 basketball. Pat Skerry is the fifth coach I've covered after Terry Truax, Mike Jaskulski, Michael Hunt and Pat Kennedy. That's a lot considering coaches like Dick Filbert, Phil Albert, Gordy Combs, Mike Gottlieb, Roger Erricker, Frank O., and others have lasted 20+ years. Towson has not really gone through a lot of coaching changes in most sports since I arrived in the fall of 1989-except in men's basketball. Skerry is about to enter his seventh season, which should make him third after Truax and Vince Angotti in terms of longevity, at least in the modern era and that would make him the second-longest tenured coach in D1. Enough of the nostalgia. Let's get to the team. They are gearing up for another Canada trip (Skerry's second) in about two and a half weeks. Deshaun Moreman (hip) will sit it out though he's close to being ready and was shooting on the side. We spoke after practice, though my app only caught a few minutes, so most of the talk I'll have to paraphrase. https://goravens.ca/events/2017-18-mbb-vs-towson-aug-717ncaa-can-shootout/ Here's one Skerry quote "We still want to spend time on skill work and strength and conditioning. We'd like to turn the ball over less and have less fouling. There are three ways to score: 1)Free throws. 2)Layups/Off rebounds. 3)Shooting. We did two very well. One of them we didn't (shooting). We're playing a little bit differently (more pressing)." Everybody wants to know about the freshmen and I'll just say be patient. Last year, I had no idea if Justin Gorham was going to contribute and it took him time, but he finally started playing more at the end of the season. He also started at 205 pounds and lost his father in pre-season. Ended up at 220 and is now 234. Confidence is a lot higher and if he gets to around 240, I can see him fill in at center and power forward. He could even start but Eddie Keith (now at 237) is likely to start at the 4 this season as the team will go smaller and quicker. Another guy who I thought would have an impact was Zane Martin. It also took him some time but he's arguably the team's best scorer, up there with Morsell. Just needs to continue to work on his handle and shot, which isn't bad. He can also play some point guard if needed. The freshmen all have their attributes. Travis Ingram is very fast with the ball and super athletic. He's also very thin. Ok shooter. Could thrive in the press but with all the pick and rolls in today's game, a thin guard often gets eaten up by bigs. Because he's not really a point guard, he's a candidate to redshirt but it's way too early for that. Let's see how he plays in practice and Canada. I like Jeff Prophete, though he had some issues defensively in the scrimmage and has a weird-looking shot. He definitely can get in the lane and we need a backup point guard (though Van Rolle is much-improved. The walk-on might play some this season). It will be interesting to see how he progresses because he definitely has the size (6-2, 190) I like Quentin Drayton, the 6-5 wing from Bowie. He has a nice soft shot and pretty good size at 6-5, 190 (has added 10+ pounds already). Needs work on his handle and defense. But with Morsell and McNeill, there's not a lot of room at the 3. With an emphasis on better shooting, I could certainly see him getting some PT this season. Starr looks a little better and leaner at the point. He needs to be a little more aggressive because let's face it, the team will need to replace the scoring (and rebounding) of Moto and John Davis. I don't know who the backup is going to be. Could be Prophete, Martin or Rolle. That's what Canada is there for along with preseason practice in September. Alex Thomas is a big key. They need him to be more aggressive this season. More rebounds, more points and more tenacity. Also needs to stay on the floor and not foul. This is why it's going to be very important that Dennis Tunstall and Gorham play a lot of key minutes this season. I see Thomas as a guy who faces the basket better and can shoot the 3 (a bit). His back to the basket moves need to be more polished and done with more authority. Tunstall is still thin at 213 and he just doesn't seem to have the frame to get more than 220. I think he'll have to play some center but that's only in certain matchups. He's better suited for power forward and being used during the press. But he's so athletic and long, they have to find at least 15mpg for him. We also chatted about recruiting and with four ships left, Skerry expects to sign another point guard as well as a possible juco and grad transfer for next season. With four seniors leaving, he'd like two more players that can start along with Duquesne trasnfer Nakeye Sanders and then Martin, McNeill, or one of the three freshmen to come on. Plus I think Gorham is going to be a legit starter either this season or next. Still waiting on one more team to fill the schedule. Looks like they'll host Frostburg St. as part of one of the tournaments (assume it's the one in Florida).

https://www.pressboxonline.com/2017/07/17/former-towson-baseball-coach-mike-gottlieb-leaves-lasting-legacy

http://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/family-is-your-first-team-towson-s-staff-approach-creates-consistent-success/50091

I just think that with Josh Miller graduating after 2018, they just wanted another option. But Milller and Shane Brennan will likely battle it out in the fall. Maybe Canto is the wild card.

http://www.lowellsun.com/news/ci_29669660/6-foot-5-250-pound-canto-giant-goal

http://towsontigers.com/news/2017/6/5/football-announces-home-and-home-series-with-the-citadel.aspx

Maybe there's a connection with Mahalak. Also, Ambrose has been out there a lot lately. We have two juco guards, who either went to HS in Cali (Ventemiglia) or played JUCO there (D'Mitri Francis - San Jose City College).

I wouldn't playing those schools either but I would play them at home. Howard might be really good in a few years under Mike London so you better get them now.

Maybe they also like Brendan Sunday and.Drew Laundry

Yes.

There was no change on the Towson website. I don't follow women's golf so that slipped by me.

They never post the men's lacrosse recruits. I have to go to Laxpower.com to find them so I think it's a spring sport thing. I would think the coaches would want to have a story on their recruits but it's a little different in hoops and football, where it's more publicized. But with nothing going on in the summer, it would be nice if they did a story on recruits for each spring program. Have the coach comment on each, just as they would do in their media guide.

As mentioned in the above post, WBB, MGolf, WTennis, FH, Baseball. I have not noticed a change in women's golf.

Five? WBB, field hockey, baseball, men's golf, and oh, just noticed, women's tennis.

JB is under the weather so he's not playing. Maybe he'll go to somebody's training camp for somebody or play overseas again. Tough decision because he's a longshot.