2025 Spring practice thread

[mat1992]

 

[TigerFan54]

Who will challenge Sean Brown at QB?

[mat1992]

1 hour ago, TigerFan54 said:

Who will challenge Sean Brown at QB?

Maybe the freshman Winston Watkins. They will bring in a transfer after the spring 

[ScottRII]

I had touched on this in my comment on your Spring ball post, Carlos also comes to mind. Bringing in Carlos seemed to shake things up certainly, but not in the best of ways from what I saw. Winston Watkins has untapped potential that I would like to see, stands tall in that pocket. Sean Brown has a great arm and is another year in the program, had some nice moments last year. Nathan Kent, offers slight dual threat, is now six seasons in the program I believe which is remarkable in this day and age. Maybe his experience has an elevated level from 2023. Between those three and a couple others, I’d like to see these coaches work and develop the QB they think can best lead this team of a lot of newcomers. That’s just me though. It is an interesting topic because if they nail the correct QB, it could get them over that hump and back into the playoffs finally. Thanks for letting me share. Go Tigers

[mat1992]

7 minutes ago, ScottRII said:

I had touched on this in my comment on your Spring ball post, Carlos also comes to mind. Bringing in Carlos seemed to shake things up certainly, but not in the best of ways from what I saw. Winston Watkins has untapped potential that I would like to see, stands tall in that pocket. Sean Brown has a great arm and is another year in the program, had some nice moments last year. Nathan Kent, offers slight dual threat, is now six seasons in the program I believe which is remarkable in this day and age. Maybe his experience has an elevated level from 2023. Between those three and a couple others, I’d like to see these coaches work and develop the QB they think can best lead this team of a lot of newcomers. That’s just me though. It is an interesting topic because if they nail the correct QB, it could get them over that hump and back into the playoffs finally. Thanks for letting me share. Go Tigers

Great comments. Football is kind of in the middle of the league right now and while I keep pushing transfers, developing a quarterback is crucial to success. Nothings against Brown and Kent, but they are not going to reinvent the wheel. Brown doesn’t have a lot of pocket presence and it’s impossible to keep a clean pocket 100% of the time. I prefer a dual threat qb but I’m not sure we have one.

[ScottRII]

Hard to argue with any of the points you made. I remember when Tom came in, that certainly worked out. Much different circumstances of course. I did some research and when coach Pete was at UNF, he did have a really good QB who could move a bit and that was a big reason why that offense was so successful. The Tigers certainly could use that element as well. I think it’s fair to say, based off what we’ve seen, neither returning QB reinvents the wheel. I’m not as sure about Brown (I am more of a local guy) but I do know Kent was 1st team all Metro as a junior in HS. Player of the decade as well for the 2010’s. Winston Watkins also has some impressive and more so intriguing accolades. Maybe the younger QB makes more sense this time around, closer to those days of dominating at the QB position. I would love to see what Watkins is capable of, especially in the pocket and under the right system. Sean Brown did a really nice job on a lot of 3rd downs last year, intermediate throws especially, that Villanova game he showed really solid arm talent. For right now it seems like it may come down to Kent and Brown though so I took a dive into some numbers (it’s early March I’m missing football) Going back to 2023, Kent did have 300+ yards rushing, 4 YPC. He also only took 15 sacks, 2024 season QBs took 26 sacks. Kent was responsible for 7 total turn overs in 2023, 2024 14 total turn overs at the QB position. Like we saw in the North Dakota State game last year, even the slightest threat of a running QB can help deep in the redzone especially. I remember a drive in 2023, Kent threw a beautiful TD pass, they went for two, he buried the throw. That’s where he needs to get better from what I saw. Consistency from throw to throw. I think Sean edged him out in that sense last year, he had almost 64% completion compared to Kent at 58% in 2023. All in all, Maybe I am a little bias towards the local guys like I said, and we’re definitely in agreement on the Tigers needing at least somewhat of a mobile QB. For me personally Nathan Kent is the QB I’ll have my eyes on if he gets in there. Considering he’s probably 23/24 years old now, 6th season, maybe he has another level of ability with all of this experience. He and Brown could stand to put on a few pounds. If one of them does not individually elevate, I feel like we’ll be looking at another similar .500 season. Hopefully one of them emerges and the Tigers get back to the playoffs! I do feel like this team has a lot of turn over from the past two seasons, who meshes well with the new guys will be crucial as well of course. 
 

Thanks again for your response! I am trying to get on here more often. Not many authentic places to talk Towson Tigers. 

[mat1992]

Personally, I’d like to see more of Watkins. He’s a local kid with great size at 6-6 230, can sling it and is athletic. He just doesn’t have the experience. The new OC will have a look at all three live and I hear he likes the freshman from Florida. 
 

Also need a veteran running back with some size.

[mat1992]

Well, that was an exciting spring (not). Didn't see today's game as it started at 9am. Big off-season as they need a QB, RB, DT, EDGE, S, LB.

 

[mat1992]

So as a wrap up, I'll attempt to put together a very rough 2025 depth chart with Flo Staehler gone and Rodney Roane gone but hemming and hawing about whether to return. I think some of the talented freshmen arriving or who played in the spring will be in the two deep.

*-freshman **-redshirt freshman

QB S. Brown

N. Kent, W. Watkins, *Andrew Indorf

 

RB Ike Daniels

**Kahseim Phillips, Trey Engram, *Kemarrion Battles (5-10, 190), *JaVon Ford II (5-11, 195).  (yes, they need an experienced transfer)

 

WR John Dunmore, Zay Perkins, Jaceon Doss, Lukkas Londono

Sam Reynolds, **Jacob Zollar, **Cleveland Charlton (note: Julius Dorsey, a 6-3 big target from City is coming in as a freshman in the summer along with Jareel Calhoun from NJ and Cody Szymansky from NH)

 

TE CJ Schaefer, Bryce Butler (Ohio transfer)

**Jordan Stallworth, **Luke Baldwin

 

OL 

LT Dan Volpe (6-6, 320), Sahli Bhullar (6-6, 305) 

LG Jaelin Montgomery (6-3, 310), Joden Nelson (6-4, 295)

C KJ Brooks (6-3, 300), Ian Markham-Miller (6-3, 310)

RG Jean Germain (6-6, 335)

RT **Mike Williams (6-6, 310, Fla Transfer), T'Khi Alexander (6-6, 290)

Nelson and Markham-Miller can play enter and guard. Notes: Mekhi Cousar (6-6, 315) from St. Frances is a 3* recruit who could be in the ix.  

DL 

**JR Stegall (6-3, 295), Shamir Boyd (6-2, 290), **Aaron Clark (6-0, 300) 

Expect several transfers here (have a 6-4 FBS commit but can't publicly mention his name) and 3* Calvert Hall and Maryland commit *Asaiah-Allan Hamond (6-6, 280) to play right away. 

LB  (If Rodney Roane is gone)

OLB Shamar Graham (6-1, 225, Va. Union transfer), CJ McClendon (6-1, 200)

ILB Will Middelton (5-11, 215), Branson Peters (6-1, 220), Alfred Thomas (6-1, 225)

(Notes: Depth is lacking here and they could certainly use a transfer or two) Some talented freshmen are coming in. Three-star LB *Chris Koffi (6-1, 225) from Quince Orchard and three-star Seth Chestnut (6-1, 225) from Florida.

Safety

Xavier Terry, Jasin Shiggs

*Kyron Grayson (6-0, 175)

CB

Myles Brodie, Zakaa Brown/Emiril Gant

(Notes: Coach Shinnick has shown that he'll play true freshmen in the secondary. Kavon McKinney (6-1, 165) from Sanford, Fla., Grayson from St. Peter's Prep (NJ), Khemani Williams (6-1, 185) from Orlando, NE Oklahoma A&M transfer Meeko Lodge (6-3, 200) and Cordell Jefferson (6-2, 175) from St. Frances could all be in the mix in the fall.)

 

[mat1992]

Another one bites the dust