Head football coach Paul Haynes got a rare bit of good news this week as starting quarterback Colin Reardon and second-stringer Nathan Strock may not be as limited as first believed after both were knocked out of last week’s game at Northern Illinois.
Reardon and Strock were both at practice when I watched Tuesday’s practice at Dix Stadium, although both were relegated to the sidelines. I could not get to the early evening practice on Wednesday, but I was told earlier in the day that Reardon was determined to try to practice.
During today’s noon radio show in the Kent State Student Center, Haynes confirmed that Reardon did do some light work yesterday. Strock was also able to do some running.
On Monday, Haynes was doubtful that either quarterback would be available for Saturday’s game against Massachusetts. Now he says Reardon and Strock would have to be considered questionable.
The assumption earlier in the week was that the coaching staff would choose between freshman George Bollas and sophomore Jack Williams as the starter and then give that selection the bulk of the reps in practice. That hasn’t been the case so far, though, and with Reardon and Strock not yet ruled out, we may be looking at a gameday decision as to how the Golden Flashes handle the quarterback situation.
The Flashes will get healthier on the defensive side of the football on Saturday as three key players return from injury. The depth returns to the defensive line as both sophomore end Terence Waugh and freshman tackle Jontey Byrd will be back in the rotation. Against a passing offense for UMass that ranks No. 2 in the MAC at 318.8 yards per game, the Flashes will also be thrilled to have cornerback Najee Murray back in the starting lineup.
Kent State will be particularly concerned with 6-foot-4 UMass wide receiver Tajae Sharpe, who committed to Kent State as a senior Piscataway Township High School in New Jersey before changing his mind and signing with the Minutemen. Sharpe leads the MAC with 113 receiving yards per game after catching 41 passes for 678 yards and four touchdowns in six games. The Flashes need to play physical at the line of scrimmage against a wide receiver with unusual size for the MAC, and having Murray back will help.
The Flashes will get healthier on the defensive side of the football on Saturday as three key players return from injury. The depth returns to the defensive line as both sophomore end Terence Waugh and freshman tackle Jontey Byrd will be back in the rotation. Against a passing offense for UMass that ranks No. 2 in the MAC at 318.8 yards per game, the Flashes will also be thrilled to have cornerback Najee Murray back in the starting lineup.
Kent State will be particularly concerned with 6-foot-4 UMass wide receiver Tajae Sharpe, who committed to Kent State as a senior Piscataway Township High School in New Jersey before changing his mind and signing with the Minutemen. Sharpe leads the MAC with 113 receiving yards per game after catching 41 passes for 678 yards and four touchdowns in six games. The Flashes need to play physical at the line of scrimmage against a wide receiver with unusual size for the MAC, and having Murray back will help.
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| Quarterbacks Nathan Strock, Colin Reardon and Jack Williams during pre-game at Virginia on Sep. 27 |
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