“I don’t know who’s going to get the start,” Guidry said, referencing two receivers. “It really doesn’t matter.”
Guidry is not preoccupied with titles. The depth chart serves an inherent purpose to clear some muddled positions, but Guidry made it clear he would not rely on its contents when deciding rotations for the team’s first few games.
The chart itself yielded few surprises Monday. Its biggest omissions — suspended defensive back Dominique Hill and injured defensive tackle Anthony Yruegas — were expected.
Quarterback James Tabary and running back Ryan Ross were expected starters. So was Isaiah Golden who is still slimmer than Guidry would like, but will be a “full go” against Tarleton State.
Nick Edwards and Parker Orgeron were the two receivers Guidry referenced. Orgeron, though not listed as “the starter,” will find himself running with the first-team often, especially given Edwards’ litany of fall camp injuries.
It becomes more complex on special teams, where two kickers remain engaged in increasing competition and a position change has Guidry rethinking some return men.
Trent Manuel is listed as the starting kicker, but Alabama transfer Gunnar Raborn — listed as the backup — will be afforded opportunities Saturday.
“We’re still evaluating,” Guidry said. “One thing about kickers is, you really don’t know until the lights come on. They could be practice guys all you want, but there’s pressure when the lights are on and it means something. But I feel good with all our kickers now, I really do. I think they’re all doing a good job and there’s competition. And I think that’s why the level’s risen a little bit.”
Khalil Thomas’ conversion to cornerback hasn’t completely stripped him of his kickoff return duties, but does have Guidry cognizant of his lack of depth in the secondary.
Thomas, listed as the team’s starting kickoff returner, will take the opening kickoff in every game, Guidry said, but then the situation becomes cloudy. To shield Thomas against possible injury, Guidry will create a rotation with backup running back Justin Pratt and starting receiver Darious Crawley.
“Those three guys we feel like we need to get the ball in their hand,” Guidry said. “Sometimes, putting defensive backs back there, they get a chance to get hit on a little bit. We’re counting on Khalil to be a starting corner for us the whole game. There’s not many corners you have, wide receivers there’s five or six, corners there’s not that many.”
Neither Tabary nor Ross is immune. Guidry said the team is preparing “two or three” quarterbacks for a Tarleton State defense that surrendered 559.6 yards per game last season. The first-year coach already committed to giving backup Grant Ashcraft a first-half series (it will likely come in the second quarter) and hinted Monday that third-stringer Joe Lissard could see time if the season-opener’s score necessitates it.
Ross, meanwhile, will play “about 65 percent” of the snaps, Guidry said. Those other formations will include Pratt, a diminutive scat back listed as the backup, lining with bulkier backs Dylan Long and Lewayne Ross functioning as fullbacks.
Lewayne Ross and Long’s names? Nowhere to be found on the two-deep.
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