Almost all your time here at Millikin University, you’re going to be worried about grades. You take notes like it’s your job, spend countless hours in the library or Scovill trying to do homework and study hoping that by the end of the semester you will have respectable grades to go home to Mom and Dad with.
Technically, the only thing athletic programs are “graded” on are wins and losses, which is just too easy. Here are some grades for the football team on their upcoming season.
Offense:
Passing B-: This was originally a C- while watching them the other day. Sophomore Nick Pippin took most of the snaps and looked like he hadn’t thrown a ball all summer. He was throwing too high, too far in front or behind, and leading his receivers’ right into some hard hitting defenders. As time went on though, Pippin found his stride and began hitting guys downfield like nothing. He completed two touchdown passes of over 50 yards, one to Sophomore Taylor Sanders for 59 yards, and another to Brady Cufaude for 75 yards. Give Pippin some time in the pocket, and this kid can tear apart a defense.
Rushing A: one name that every team in the CCIW should fear… Sean Dunning! Calling him a beast isn’t even a compliment to him anymore. When he gets the ball, it’s like defenses run the other way. In the scrimmage against Eureka College, Dunning broke for a 24-yard run and was literally inches from a touchdown before being pushed out by the only defender that touched him that play. The play was called back though due to a hold on the outside. Running the same play, Dunning took the ball thirty yards and maybe had someone grab a shoelace. The kid is not only good as an early down back, but as a short yardage man as well. Defensive Lines and Linebackers are going to remember the Big Blue 25 for a while. Justin Brooks also got some touches in the scrimmage and shows that he will make great contributions rushing behind Dunning, along with catching some balls from Pippin out of the back field.
Line A-: This is mostly due to the success of the running game, but don’t let that be the only variable contributing to their grade. The guys Millikin have up front are massive! Pippin has all the time in the world to make a throw, and they open up holes big enough for President Obama’s motorcade to get through. If the line can stay healthy this season, a lot of the team’s success will come from them.
Overall Offensive Grade B+: This offense will be able to put up points, and in a hurry. Millikin used to be a mostly running team, but they have everything working for them now. Teams are going to have a lot of film to watch to try and figure the Big Blue.
Defense:
Line B+: Let’s just call the boys up front fast! Led by Junior Wesley Beach, this line is going to disrupt a lot of offenses this year. Adam Rosner and Casey Bierman came out firing on all cylinders as well getting into the back field and rushing the quarterback on more than half of his drop backs. They run downhill and the ends are able to seal off the outside quick enough that teams are going to have to try and run up the middle. Quarterbacks also won’t get much time to get a throw off which will hopefully allow some botched plays and turnovers in favor of Millikin.
Linebackers C+: If coach Etherton decides to load the box with eight guys and blitz every play, then these guys are good. The linebacking crew had a lot of miscues in their scrimmage. When dropping back into coverage some of them looked lost, which lead to big plays for the opponents. Tackling is also a weakness for this crew. Guys are trying to go for the big hit instead of wrapping up and sticking with fundamentals. That being said, the line backers have very good speed, show great promise when blitzing off the edge, and they can only get better from here. Now they are a C+, but by the end of the year they could be much higher.
Secondary B-: One of the biggest surprises of the team was the secondary. With 3 new guys backing up the defense, it seemed like the Big Blue would struggle there this season. There is still a whole season to play, but the cornerbacks and safeties show that they will be able to keep up with veteran receiving corps in the CCIW. Freshman Jowanis Edwards had some great knockdowns, and some close interceptions against Eureka. It sometimes looked like the offense had a quicker first step than him, but he has the ability to catch up and make plays. Freshman Mykal Neal and Sophomore Zachary Vergara will also get a lot of playing time and show that they will contribute as well.
Total Defensive Grade B-: Tackling, Tackling, Tackling! The defense needs to go back to their JFL fundamental days and remember to wrap up the offensive guys. A lot of shoulder bumps and not wrapping will lead to big plays against this defense. They have the ability and speed to shut down even the best teams in the CCIW if they can just stay away from the big plays from the offense.
Special Teams N/A: Only one special teams play was run in the Eureka scrimmage, which got an A+ from everyone in the press box. Sophomore Jake Gates ran between two blockers and was able to block a punt. If every defensive special teams play could go like that then Millikin could probably go 10-0 this year. On the other side, there should be a lot of speed from the return men this year which will hopefully give the Big Blue some good field position.
Now these grades won’t go into any sort of transcript for the football team. There’s no GPA for Coach Etherton or his players this season, but it does show that the Big Blue Nation is hoping for another good year. Millikin has the talent to compete with anyone in the CCIW, which has three teams in the Top 25 according to d3football.com. With the amount of work Coach Etherton and his staff put in with their players, there is no reason that this couldn’t be an A-grade team by the time their “final” game rolls around.