Both teams entered this contest with miserable winless records, but they battled each other hard in a driving rain, nonetheless. There were two fine QBs in this one: Sophomore Russell Hill (6'0", 200) of Idaho State (who had a lousy game tonight) and Junior Florida-transfer Bryan Waggener (6'3", 235) of UNC who had a great game. Both of these guys (especially Waggener) bear watching into the future. This one was over by the mid-second quarter as the score was already 27-9. Three safeties were committed in this game. Hill threw 4 picks, and they were all critical blunders which led to points for the Bears and the 0-6 record for ISU Bengals. The star of the game offensively was a fire hydrant junior running back named D.C. (cause that's where he's from) Wilson. The 5'7", 200 pound speedster had a 75-yard TD run to highlight the explosives for the evening. The defensive star of the game goes to the Bengals LB Ryan Phipps (Sr., 5'11.3", 225).

SCOUTING SUMMARY:

College: Northern Colorado Conference: Big Sky Columnist: Steve Martin

Cory Fauver 7 5' 9.0" 185 4.50 WR 2009: Gives good effort. Returns punts. Only thrown to twice and one was uncatchable. Not enough data to comment on his overall receiving skills. GRADE: Incomplete

Ryan Chesla 9 6' 4.2" 244 4.85 TE 2009: Nice size. Dangerous receiver. Good hands. Not the FT run-blocking TE (That's #89), but he gives decent effort when asked to block. Needs to become a dual threat and get stronger. Is released from the line on 75% of the plays. GRADE: Neutral

Cristian Sarmento 22 6' 0.9" 220 4.70 LB 2009: Hardworking little MLB who is getting a few looks. Not sure why. Didn't impress me that much in this one. Made a few tackles, but nothing he did stood out. Maybe it was the slippery surface? For a guy his size playing at this level, he needed to really stand out. GRADE: Slightly negative

David Woods 21 5' 7.1" 215 4.55 HB 2009: UNC has three similar RBs who are all short and stout. Woods is the work horse of the group. Nice sharp cuts despite his build. Runs with authority between the tackles. Wonder if he is really 4.55...I'm guessing more like 4.65...Nice hands and is used in the passing game. Good little blocker too. GRADE: Slightly positive

Jacob Thornbrue 73 6' 5.3" 334 5.50 OT 2009: A giant guy who is playing LOG, and that is where he translates. Shoves rather than mauls. Decent short area quickness. A burly beast who lets no man pass in pass pro. Subbed out for in the second half, but came back. Stamina? Quick hands who wins the hand fighting. Doesn't seem to go for the jugular enough, but if you can light the fire, you might have something here. Glad I got to see him, and hope to see him again. GRADE: Slightly positive


College: Idaho State Conference: Big Sky Columnist: Steve Martin

D.J. Clark 2 6' 1.9" 200 4.63 S 2009: Short zone pass defender who looks like he might translate to be a solid cover-2 corner. Nice size and uses it well in jump ball situations. Bump tackler who is going to get himself killed (almost did tonight... Got a neck stinger when he bumped instead of wrapped.) Mature father. Wants it. Needs time with pro technique. Needs a weight room. GRADE: Neutral

Ken Cornist 32 5' 9.0" 215 4.63 HB 2009: Not his night, but should have been with the conditions. ISU fell behind too quickly and had to throw. Cornist was the former blocking back for Reggie Bush in HS, and he can do a lot of everything pretty well. Can catch and block. Tough runner between the tackles. Doesn't break as many tackles as you'd like to see him break. Wonder if there is another gear. Haven't seen it yet... GRADE: Slightly negative

Ryan Phipps 55 5' 11.3" 225 4.86 LB 2009: The more I see of this kid, the more he grows on me. Does nothing really special except make tackles. Isn't that kind of nice for a LB? The announcers were cliche-ingly saying he reminded them of Zach Thomas, but to me he is just like former WVU MLB "Straight A" Jay Henry, except he plays OLB for ISU. Henry failed to make it because he was a 4.80 MLB who couldn't cover enough ground. Phipps is not fast either, but he might make a roster some day as a backup ILB in a 3-4. I don't see OLB in his future, but I could be wrong. Oregon transfer who slides through linemen to make tackles. Gets low and lost to the OGs until it's too late. OK at the POA at this level, not sure about the next....GRADE: Slightly positive

Evan Dietrich-Smith 72 6' 3.3" 303 5.65 OT 2009: Another guy who continues to grow on me. Has the feet to play ROT in a pinch, but probably would be a zone-blocking OG at the next level. Arms are too short for any LOT consideration though that's where he plays now. Sustains his blocks. Once he gets you, you stay got. Gets out and runs pretty well. Nice collegiate back pedal--not sure it is long enough or quick enough for OT at the next level. GRADE: Positive

Rashaad Richards 28 6' 0.0" 190 4.55 S 2009: Defensive star of the game in the first half. This kid was everywhere making plays--(sad for the ISU defense overall, I know.) Boise State transfer who was dismissed from this Idaho State team this past week for disciplinary reasons. And that's a shame, because they needed him--at least physically. Strong ST tackler. Long enough in both ways to be effective in coverage. Free safety candidate who is smallish and will need to have his attitude thoroughly evaluated. Has some tools. GRADE: Slightly positive

Eddie Thompson 6 5' 11.0" 190 4.50 WR 2009: One of the best kept secrets on the west coast. Unfortunately, it seemed like Russell Hill forgot about him tonight too. Very, very good hands. Not quite Troy Brown, but a nice collegiate imitation. Finds the seams. Comes back. Makes the catch and goes. What I would give to see this kid playing for TTU. Productive enough and fast enough to warrant a late pick. GRADE: Neutral


OTHER NOTES:

Northern Colorado: Remember the name BRYAN WAGGENER. This QB is going to play on Sundays some day. He got out of dodge when Tebow took over, and you can tell he has big league ability. Very poised. Rolls nicely and delivers on the run. Inaccurate with his first pass then hit his next 6. Escapes pressure. Great pro size. Throws a very nice ball EVEN IN THE RAIN. Can run like a FB when called upon. Leadership. 2010 Future draft pick.

Junior HB D.C. Wilson (5'7", 200) has legit long speed. Not sure he can do enough to get a lot of looks next year, and his size and hands are suspect, but he has some moves, and speed.


ISU: None. Except, please keep an eye out with me for any news on Rashaad Richards being kicked off the team....Not sure if he can land somewhere else...Don't think so, as he's played 50% of the team's games already.