Desin Moves to Receiver
8/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Montana State's quarterback corps thinned by one on Monday, but the receiving crew gained depth when freshman Mark Desin moved from throwing passes to catching them.
"Mark has moved to wide-out," said MSU coach Mike Kramer, "which helps our depth as we await the return from injury of Donnell Wheaton and the arrival of (junior college transfer) Kyle Wimberly. We hope to be able to redshirt Mark this year, but this move gives us two quality scholarship players (Desin and Jamelle Banks) and four very solid walk-ons at receiver." Desin came to MSU as a record-setting quarterback from Billings Senior, but his athleticism translates well to pass-catching, Kramer said.
Wimberly, who committed to the Bobcat program over the summer, arrives in the next week when he meets his junior college academic requirements. Wheaton has battled a hamstring injury throughout camp, and could be out another 10 days, Kramer said.
Desin lands at the slot position behind returning sophomore Mike Brown, who did not catch a pass as a freshman last year, starting one game. "Mike has been ensconced as a starting receiver in each of his seasons in the program during fall camp only to be supplanted, so we'll have to see if he continues to perform," Kramer said. "Donnell Wheaton is the starter, but until he is healthy there is opportunity for younger players."
Kramer indicated that redshirt freshman Derek Green and sophomore transfer Dion Toliver have seen action at the slot. A third youngster, Tyler Lulay, has also battled a hamstring injury. Desin is Brown's backup in the slot while Wheaton recovers. Mike Jefferson is penciled in as the starter at the X receiver position, while Toliver and Josh Lewis battle for starting honors at the Z.
The move of Desin to receiver does more than give the Bobcats more bodies, Kramer said. "For the first time since we've been here, this really gives us a strong core of talented, young receivers. We'll lean on Mike (Jefferson) and Donnell, our seniors, but behind them is a group of willing young players who are going to have a major impact on this program."
* * * *
Mike Kramer liked the energy his team brought to MSU's first full-contact practice on Monday. "For the first day in full pads beyond (the NCAA-mandated) acclimation, we were good," Kramer said. "We played fast. But these are pretty technical things we're asking the kids to do, and when you add fatigue you get mistakes. We made enough mental mistakes (Monday) morning to lose every game we play, but we learn from those situations. We get better. That's what makes (fall training camp) fun."
* * * *
While Kramer passed out kudos about Monday's work, he didn't stop with the players. In fact, he didn't even start there. "I thought we had a very well-coached practice (Monday) morning," he said, "the best practice our coaches have had through six."
* * * *
In addition to Mark Desin, three true freshmen find themselves on the Bobcat two-deep after six days of practice.
Mike Person (Glendive) is second at right tackle. Aaron Mason (Vista, CA) is second with Isaiah Taito, behind Evin Groves, at running back. Greg Palmer (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) is second at one cornerback position.
"We still intend to redshirt those players that we can," Kramer said, "but those three guys don't just add to our depth in terms of numbers. They are contributing positively to our depth. We will take a long look at each of them."
"Mark has moved to wide-out," said MSU coach Mike Kramer, "which helps our depth as we await the return from injury of Donnell Wheaton and the arrival of (junior college transfer) Kyle Wimberly. We hope to be able to redshirt Mark this year, but this move gives us two quality scholarship players (Desin and Jamelle Banks) and four very solid walk-ons at receiver." Desin came to MSU as a record-setting quarterback from Billings Senior, but his athleticism translates well to pass-catching, Kramer said.
Wimberly, who committed to the Bobcat program over the summer, arrives in the next week when he meets his junior college academic requirements. Wheaton has battled a hamstring injury throughout camp, and could be out another 10 days, Kramer said.
Desin lands at the slot position behind returning sophomore Mike Brown, who did not catch a pass as a freshman last year, starting one game. "Mike has been ensconced as a starting receiver in each of his seasons in the program during fall camp only to be supplanted, so we'll have to see if he continues to perform," Kramer said. "Donnell Wheaton is the starter, but until he is healthy there is opportunity for younger players."
Kramer indicated that redshirt freshman Derek Green and sophomore transfer Dion Toliver have seen action at the slot. A third youngster, Tyler Lulay, has also battled a hamstring injury. Desin is Brown's backup in the slot while Wheaton recovers. Mike Jefferson is penciled in as the starter at the X receiver position, while Toliver and Josh Lewis battle for starting honors at the Z.
The move of Desin to receiver does more than give the Bobcats more bodies, Kramer said. "For the first time since we've been here, this really gives us a strong core of talented, young receivers. We'll lean on Mike (Jefferson) and Donnell, our seniors, but behind them is a group of willing young players who are going to have a major impact on this program."
* * * *
Mike Kramer liked the energy his team brought to MSU's first full-contact practice on Monday. "For the first day in full pads beyond (the NCAA-mandated) acclimation, we were good," Kramer said. "We played fast. But these are pretty technical things we're asking the kids to do, and when you add fatigue you get mistakes. We made enough mental mistakes (Monday) morning to lose every game we play, but we learn from those situations. We get better. That's what makes (fall training camp) fun."
* * * *
While Kramer passed out kudos about Monday's work, he didn't stop with the players. In fact, he didn't even start there. "I thought we had a very well-coached practice (Monday) morning," he said, "the best practice our coaches have had through six."
* * * *
In addition to Mark Desin, three true freshmen find themselves on the Bobcat two-deep after six days of practice.
Mike Person (Glendive) is second at right tackle. Aaron Mason (Vista, CA) is second with Isaiah Taito, behind Evin Groves, at running back. Greg Palmer (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) is second at one cornerback position.
"We still intend to redshirt those players that we can," Kramer said, "but those three guys don't just add to our depth in terms of numbers. They are contributing positively to our depth. We will take a long look at each of them."
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