There’s a preview coming today, but not until later in the morning. For now, while I plug away – and since we’re more than 20 teams down – let’s update the current F.B.S. all-name team. If you hadn’t noticed, the all-name nominee is a new addition to the second-to-last section in this year’s previews. The rules are simple: only one nominee per team. I’ll continue adding players regardless of position through the first 62 teams, I guess, before beginning to search for players who match positions of need. I can already tell that it’s going to be harder to fill spots at quarterback, kicker and punter; looking back, it might have been a better idea to list quarterback Duke DeLancellotti with Texas State instead of safety Brixx Hawthorne.
But still… Brixx. Sounds like a Swedish toy company. Or a cereal that contains 200 percent of your daily allowance of fiber. Or an inexpensive but ultimately worthless automobile built somewhere in Eastern Europe. Or…
With 21 teams down, we’re just shy of a full two-deep, if we had players at each position. With 25 spots to be filled – 12 on offense with two receivers, a fullback and a tight end; 11 on defense, though I guess going with four linebackers is an option; and a kicker and punter – the end result would average out to roughly five players per position. That’s if every position ends up having an equal amount, which they won’t. Here’s the current list, with the current starter underlined when a position has more than one option:
Quarterback
Driphus Jackson, Rice
Running back
Brandon Bourbon, Kansas
Fullback
None
Wide receiver
Efeoghene Scott-Emuakpor, Ball State
Wide receiver
Wilson Van Hooser, Tulane
Tight end
Rob Blanchflower, Massachusetts
Charles Love III, Indiana
Harley Scioneaux, Louisiana-Monroe
Offensive tackle
Carlton Falconer, Florida Atlantic
Offensive guard
None
Center
None
Offensive guard
None
Offensive tackle
Brander Craighead, UTEP
Defensive end
Maxx Forde, Idaho
KevinJo Atkins, New Mexico
Defensive tackle
Dajour Morris, Akron
Defensive tackle
None
Defensive end
Jose Casanova, U.A.B.
Linebacker
Bronterrious Jakes, Memphis
Linebacker
Wonderful Monds, Buffalo
Linebacker
Golden Ekeanyanwu, Colorado State
Cornerback
Xavier Archangel, Texas-San Antonio
Safety
Brixx Hawthorne, Texas State
Safety
Juno Prudhomm, Middle Tennessee State
Cornerback
Sir’Vegias Steele, South Alabama
Justice Sarcedo, U.N.L.V.
Kicker
None
Punter
None
While the head coach and staff of assistants on the all-name team remain to be decided, it’s probably a safe bet that the squad will be led by Bronco Mendenhall. Major Applewhite would be a shoo-in for offensive coordinator, but even if he’s listed as the co-coordinator in Austin, I don’t think he qualifies. He will be the running backs coach, however.