ASU football 2011: A look at experience at the top of the depth chart
Appalachian State will return five starters on offense and seven on defense in 2011, from an FCS quarterfinalist team that finished 10-3.
Here is a look at projected starters in each position group heading into the season, with career starts (at that position only):
OFFENSE
Quarterback – DeAndre Presley, Sr. (15 career starts).
Running back – Travaris Cadet, Sr. (8*).
Wide receiver – Brian Quick, Sr. (22); Tony Washington, So. (3); Jamill Lott, So. (0) and Andrew Peacock, So. (0).
Tight end – Ben Jorden, Sr. (22).
Line – Orry Frye, Sr. (27*) and Matt Ruff, Sr. (27). Three other starters will most likely come from a group that includes Xan Thomas, Sr. (1); Kendall Lamm, Fr. (0); Ian Bernard, So. (0); Sherman Holt, Sr. (0); Graham Fisher, Fr. (0); Dylan Bostick, So. (0); and Regan Dufort, So. (0).
DEFENSE
Line – Dan Wylie, Sr. (8); Gordy Witte, Sr. (5); William Corbin, Fr. (0).
Rush end – John Rizor, Jr. (10) or Lanston Tanyi, Jr. (18).
Linebacker – Justin Wray, Jr. (10) or Tanyi; Jeremy Kimbrough, Jr. (6); and Brandon Greir, Jr. (9).
Safety – Troy Sanders, Jr. (1*) and Patrick Blalock, So. (2).
Cornerback – Ed Gainey, Sr. (35*) and Demetrius McCray, Jr. (3).
*Not included in games-started totals: Cadet also has one start at wide receiver, Frye has four starts at tight end, Gainey one start at free safety and Sanders 12 starts at cornerback.
NOTES: Of players not listed as No. 1 on the depth chart, safety Dominique McDuffie has 17 career starts as a safety and three at cornerback; linebacker Justin Lloyd has been a starter in 11 games; running back Cedric Baker has three career starts; and linebacker Demery Brewer has two starts at defensive end.
Of the position groups, only quarterback has 100 percent of games started last season returning. Presley started in all 13 games.
The two lowest percentages among the groups, in terms of returning players with starts last season, are wide receiver (41 percent) and offensive line (42 percent).