Football | 4/11/2016 3:26:00 AM
ABILENE – Shortly after the 2015 season came to an end, ACU head football coach
Ken Collums looked forward to the 2016 season and thought his team would have a chance for a rebound season, in large part because the offensive line figured to be the strength of the team.
He was expecting the return of two-time all-Southland Conference left tackle
Codey Funk, along with center
Austin Hisler,
Chance Rieken,
Dakota Laws and the healthy return of
Riley Mayfield, who missed the entire 2015 season after suffering an off-season knee injury. He also knew he returned
Colton King, who started in place of Mayfield, as well as
Frank Kee, who transferred from TCU and moved over to the offensive line where he had been a standout in junior college.
Those plans, however, have taken a serious hit in recent days as the Wildcats lost Funk to NCAA eligibility issues and then lost Kee late last week when the Arlington native decided he was going to quit playing football and transfer to Texas-Arlington where he will not participate in intercollegiate athletics. The Wildcats also lost reserve offensive lineman
Cole Baughman to "retirement" because of concussions.
"Those two losses definitely hurt," Collums said. "We've know about Codey for some time, but losing Frank takes away a key backup and depletes our depth even further. We'll get it figured out and move on and get ready for the season, but it's definitely a blow."
Kee had been working with the first team in spring practice when he decided to quit football, leaving a large hole on the offensive line. The biggest positive for the Wildcats, though, is the return of Mayfield, who is back at his right tackle spot with Laws moving out to left tackle to take Funk's place. Mayfield was released for full contact before spring drills began, and he's been "very good," according to Collums.
With those two losses, Collums said he and his coaching staff will probably have to find two junior college or NCAA Division I transfer offensive linemen this summer who can, hopefully, make an impact on the team in 2016.
The Wildcats also lost one of their February junior college signees when safety Trayvone Blake quit and returned to his home in Florida just as spring ball was starting. That means the coaching staff will also be looking for a safety and, potentially, a cornerback this spring and summer for the 2016 season.
Despite the disappointment in the losses, Collums has seen improvement during spring football practices, which will conclude with Friday's spring scrimmage at Shotwell Stadium.
"Our guys are in much better shape at this point of the spring than they've been in the last several years," he said. "We're stronger than we've been, and that gives them confidence. Getting stronger and working hard in the weight room starts with the approach the strength coach takes, and this case,
Jeff Bourque is very serious about getting these guys ready to play 11 games. He's relentless in his approach, and that's how we want our guys to play. Those guys need him. He's tough on them, but they're seeing the results of their hard work."
Defensively, the Wildcats are being led by linebackers
Sam Denmark and
Bryson Gates, who is having his best spring as a Wildcat. Denmark – a first team all-Southland Conference selection last year – led FCS football in tackles with 138, and is being counted to deliver that kind of production again in 2016. However, he could have help on the outside this year from Gates, the type of athletic playmaker the Wildcats haven't had at that spot in years.
"Bryson is healthier than he's been since he got here, and he's finally starting to understand his role and what we need him to do," Collums said. "He's on the verge of being the kind of playmaker we envisioned him becoming when we recruited him."
Collums also singled out defensive tackle
LaMarcus Allen and reigning Southland Conference Freshman of the Year
Jabari Butler (cornerback) as having "really good springs."
ACU FOOTBALL NOTESBesides Kee and Blake leaving the team, the Wildcats also lost running back
Randy Gober and defensive tackle
Trent Andrews. … Gober and Andrews both transferred to Oklahoma Baptist. … Funk has transferred to Pittsburg State (Kan.) in the NCAA Division II Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Funk's issue at ACU wasn't in the classroom, but rather that his NCAA "clock" for Division I athletes ran out, forcing him to play his final season at a sub-Division I program. … The Wildcats also lost last year's placekicker,
Zach Lehr, to academic issues. … Collums said the Wildcats will add a placekicker this spring, but that
Nik Grau – who missed the final 10 games of 2015 before undergoing off-season back surgery – is going to attempt to kick again in 2016. … Cornerback
Keith Barnett – who blew out his knee in the final scrimmage before the start of the 2015 regular season – has been held out of spring training as he recovers from that injury. … Also being held out is wide receiver
Carl Whitley, who suffered a severe knee injury in the Wildcats' final home game and had off-season surgery.
