BlackandRed05
04-15-2007, 11:42 AM
Look for good things to come this season from Finley and the Longhorns.
The Lufkin Daily News
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Q: What's the status this year going into the fall 2007 season for Jermichael Finley?
A: Pretty darn good, says Cedric Golden, sports writer for the Austin American-Statesman who covers The University of Texas Longhorn football program for that newspaper. According to Golden, Finley has the tools to become one of the best UT tight ends ever to play for that program.
Golden said Finley's development as a sophomore hinges on fewer dropped passes and good offensive line play from this teammates on the O-line.
"Finley could be a first-rounder," Golden said. "After all, he's the luckiest college tight end in the country. His quarterback (Colt McCoy) was a freshman All-American last season. His receiver teammates form what could be the deepest unit in the country. And he's the unquestioned starter entering his sophomore season. Plus, his upside is about as huge as the expectations of Texas football fans. No freshman tight end in UT history had a better debut last year than Finley, who set school records for freshmen tight ends in catches (31), receiving yards (372) and touchdowns (3)."
Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis described Finley as really talented. "He's along the lines of David Thomas and Bo Scaife, a player who can stretch the field against a two-deep (zone)."
It didn't take Finley — 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds — long to realize that being a Texas Longhorn was far different than playing for the Diboll Lumberjacks (2002-05). It was easier then. He owns Diboll High School's career receiving records with 316 catches, 30 touchdowns and 2,217 receiving yards.
It may help, too, in the fact that Finley and McCoy are roommates at UT, meaning McCoy knows he can check off to Finley on just about any pass play, if needed. "With him being so diverse in what he can do, it can put the defense in a bind,'' McCoy said. "It will spread out even more when he's able to push it vertical down the field."
The Lufkin Daily News
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Q: What's the status this year going into the fall 2007 season for Jermichael Finley?
A: Pretty darn good, says Cedric Golden, sports writer for the Austin American-Statesman who covers The University of Texas Longhorn football program for that newspaper. According to Golden, Finley has the tools to become one of the best UT tight ends ever to play for that program.
Golden said Finley's development as a sophomore hinges on fewer dropped passes and good offensive line play from this teammates on the O-line.
"Finley could be a first-rounder," Golden said. "After all, he's the luckiest college tight end in the country. His quarterback (Colt McCoy) was a freshman All-American last season. His receiver teammates form what could be the deepest unit in the country. And he's the unquestioned starter entering his sophomore season. Plus, his upside is about as huge as the expectations of Texas football fans. No freshman tight end in UT history had a better debut last year than Finley, who set school records for freshmen tight ends in catches (31), receiving yards (372) and touchdowns (3)."
Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis described Finley as really talented. "He's along the lines of David Thomas and Bo Scaife, a player who can stretch the field against a two-deep (zone)."
It didn't take Finley — 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds — long to realize that being a Texas Longhorn was far different than playing for the Diboll Lumberjacks (2002-05). It was easier then. He owns Diboll High School's career receiving records with 316 catches, 30 touchdowns and 2,217 receiving yards.
It may help, too, in the fact that Finley and McCoy are roommates at UT, meaning McCoy knows he can check off to Finley on just about any pass play, if needed. "With him being so diverse in what he can do, it can put the defense in a bind,'' McCoy said. "It will spread out even more when he's able to push it vertical down the field."