ABILENE – With just 12 days left before the season-opening game against McMurry, ACU head football coach
Ken Collums said Monday he believes his team is "right on schedule" to be ready for that game on Sept. 1.
The Wildcats – picked to finish second in the Lone Star Conference in 2012 and ranked as high No. 10 in the nation entering the season – will host the Warhawks at 6 p.m. at Shotwell Stadium in the season-opener for both teams.
"You can see guys coming together on both sides of the ball, and I believe we're right where we need to be," Collums said. "Over the two weeks we've been out here we've seen a lot of good things, and we've seen guys progress the way we thought they would."
The Wildcats' biggest position concern is at center where none of the players who went through spring drills at the position were able to get a handle on the spot. That forced Collums and offensive line coach Sam Collins to look at other alternatives.
Right now, two-year starter at guard,
Josh Perez, is the starting center with
Logan Hoppenrath and
Colton Carnes working as the starting guards.
"The center spot is our biggest concern right now," Collums said. "We don't really have anyone right now who's very consistent. We've got guys who can play the position, but they just aren't there yet."
That position concern hasn't slowed the offense's development, though, as Collums has been pleased with that side of the ball.
"Offensively we've progressed like we should with a veteran quarterback (Mitchell Gale), an experienced running back (
Charcandrick West) and veteran receivers," Collums said. "Mitchell Gale is so good; he's really delivering the ball and doing things you just can't coach. There's not a guy out there I'd rather have over him leading our team."
West, backup running back Travis Tarver and sophomore transfer
Marcel Threat have also been sharp in the backfield, giving Collums – who was ACU's offensive coordinator the previous seven seasons – even more offensive options.
"Charcandrick and Travis have really played well throughout camp, and Marcel is rounding into shape and had a really good practice (Monday)," Collums said. "Charcandrick and Travis really have different styles. Charcandrick is obviously a really explosive guy; the kind of guy who can change field position in one play. Travis is really progressing nicely. The more he plays and matures the better he'll get. And Marcel is a really good player, too. He had some nice runs (Monday morning)."
Defensively, the Wildcats have some old faces in new places as
L.B. Suggs – a cornerback last season – has been moved to strong safety and right now is the starter ahead of sophomore
Angel Lopez. The other starters right now in the secondary are
Caleb Withrow and
Justin Stewart at cornerback and
Lynn Grady at free safety.
"Our cornerbacks have really played well, and they're going against good wide receivers every day in practice," Collums said. "All four of those guys who are starting in the secondary can play. They all move well enough to cover and they can tackle."
Transfer cornerback
Eric Frain is the backup behind Withrow at left cornerback, while true freshman
Keith Barnett of Converse Judson is the backup to Stewart at right cornerback.
Collums also likes his players and depth up front where new defensive coordinator
Darian Dulin has
Ryan Smith and
Nick Richardson starting at the two defensive end spots, sophomore
George Woods starting at tackle and transfer
Nick Finney starting at nose tackle.
Rob Boyd is behind Smith with
Brandon Dornak behind Richardson. Juan Hull is the backup behind Woods with transfer
Melvin Shead behind Finney.
"The defensive line is a strong point for us," he said. "Instead of just holding the point of attack, I really believe those guys will be able to create pressure and make a big diffeåçrence in games. We've got a lot of good depth, and I'm excited about that group."
Junior linebacker
Jesse Harper – who was granted a medical redshirt year after suffering a season-ending knee injury last season – is the starter at middle linebacker with
Chris Summers and
Justin Stephens flanking him at outside linebacker in the Wildcats' 4-3 alignment.
