Oliver Schober continues to impress.
The Wyoming true freshman middle linebacker from Munich, Germany, not only could see the field on defense but may be doing the kickoff duties as well.
“One thing I know you didn’t see (last season) was the ball kicked into the end zone. Oliver went out there (Friday) and kicked seven of them six yards deep in the end zone,” coach Dave Christensen told a large group of people at UW’s media day Saturday afternoon.
“We now have have a starting kicker. The best news is, and most teams in America have this, is the guy that kicks off grabs his tee and runs off the field. Oliver leads the charge down field. It will be interesting to see No. 35 that is 240 pounds kick the ball and go down and make the tackle.”
There is a lot more about Schober than his kicking ability. See my story on him in Sunday’s Wyoming Tribune Eagle and Laramie Boomerang. www.wyomingnews.com and www.laramieboomerang.com
_____________________________________________________________________________
Christensen said he thought Saturday’s thrid practice of fall camp was the best practice at any time since he became the coach back in December 2008. The team practiced in shoulder pads and helmets. The first practice in full pads is Monday morning.
Senior right guard Jack Tennant was out with a calf strain, but Christensen didn’t seem concerned. Tennant is the starter heading into fall camp. I wrote a feature on him following the first day of fall camp. I hope the Gagliardi jinx hasn’t struck already.
Junior John Hutchins practiced at right guard with the No. 1 offense Saturday.
Christensen expects some true freshmen to play this season, but other than Schober right now, he isn’t ready to say who. One who might pla is offensive tackle Justin DiRe, who already is with the No. 2 offense on the right side.
In terms of some of the position battles, senior Keith Lewis remains the starter at one of the outside linebacker spots while redshirt freshman Devyn Harris is No. 2. Junior Alex Stover and sophomore Mike Purcell have taken most of the reps at defensive tackle.
True freshman Nehemie Kankolongo took most of the snaps with the ones at running back over sophomore and last year’s leading rusher Alvester Alexander. However, Alexander did get some snaps with the ones Saturday.
_______________________________________________________________________________
On a side note, Josh Dees, the son of former UW men’s basketball coach Benny Dees, got married in Laramie Saturday. Dees also was a walk-on for the Cowboys’ men’s basketball team for former coach Steve McClain.
I also got a Twitter message from former UW basketball player Brandon Ewing. He told me he played in Israel last season in a “real good league.” He currently is spending most of his time in Chicago and Atlanta.