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Owl 'sleepers' ready to heed call
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Coach B on Travis Mason:   “He brings the uniqueness of a defensive personality.”   Coach Bailiff, speaking of Gary Anderson:  “I’m so glad he chose to rejoin us.  In the spring he ran straight track, and we’re just glad he’s out here”

By Mark Anderson

HOUSTON (Aug. 20) --  “Sleepers” is a term that this post-9/11 society has had to become familiar with.   So when Rice head coach David Bailiff was asked this week which of his players he’d so designate, based on the work thus far this fall, he smiled and said, “Sleepers?  Aren’t those dangerous?”

Sure thing,  a sleeper can be particularly dangerous because a sleeper comes out of nowhere to create havoc.  But on a football field, there are sleepers as well—talented players who have an opportunity to sneak up on opponents and create a particular disaster of their own kind.

And Rice has such players.  Some are freshmen that have not played a down of college ball.   Others are well into their college careers, but have not had the impact envisioned when they joined the program.

The 2007 Rice Owls have some sleepers on their roster.  Some names may surprise you—some won’t.  Each name was chosen because the player has demonstrated he has the ability to take his game to a higher level, making him dangerous if overlooked.

Here are eight players who we -- and a guy named Bailiff -- believe will be “sleepers” in 2007. 

“How about Gary?”

GARY ANDERSON JR., DB—Gary Anderson Jr. came to Rice with high hopes, but injuries made those high hopes only a dream until now.   He’s been on both sides of the ball several times.  But he seems to have found a home at defensive back, where his closing speed and reactions are best put to use.  There are times when he appears to be “beat,” on a pass play, only to close and have a disruptive force on the pass. 

Coach Bailiff first reaction was, “How about Grry?  Has that not been fun to watch him compete every day -- and get better too?”  The fact that Gary Anderson is being mentioned here is amazing when you consider thatat one time he had determined he’d leave the team.  But Coach Bailiff said, “I’m so glad he chose to rejoin us.   In the spring he ran straight track, and we’re just glad he’s out here.”  If he continues to make strides this preseason, look for Grry Anderson Jr. to make a solid contribution to the Owls in 2007.

“Unbelievable power”

WILLIE GARLEY, DB—Recruited out of Victoria as a linebacker, Garley was red-shirted last year.  During the preseason, Willie  has made the switch from linebacker to defensive back.  “Willie has just had a phenomenal camp,” Coach Bailiff said of him.    

In making the change from linebacker to defensive back, however, Garley has not lost his linebacker tenacity.   And that tenacity Coach Bailiff has noticed.   “He’s got unbelievable power at contact,” Coach told us.  “When he hits someone, you hear it all over the stadium.”  He has displayed an ability to lay a show-stopping hit on a tight end (as he did in full contact Saturday night).  His instincts and timing are highly developed.  Don’t be surprised to see this red-shirt freshman starting alongside Andrew Sendejo as a safety this season.

Catching the coaching staff’s eye

JUSTIN HILL, RB—Justin comes into camp as one of three freshmen running backs, and one of six RBs overall.  All Justin has done has come in and display what is best described by Rice offensive coordinator Tom Herman as a “slashing” style.  That slash makes many players miss Justin on the tackle, and he gets into the secondary quickly as a result.  Hill could emerge as a solid contributor to the offense by continuing to take advantage of the opportunities presented to him in preseason.

Coach Bailiff’s face lit up when Justin Hill’s name came up.  He quipped, “There is no doubt Justin is a freshman catching our eye.  He has max vision, good speed, good size, [and] is picking up the offense well. I think he’s going to be a really good player.”

“It’s going to be one of those great stories”

ROBERT CALHOUN, LB—Calhoun is a big linebacker who can lay out an opponent.  He has size, strength, and speed.  That speed, Coach Bailiff points out, is from another position Calhoun played as a prep star—running back.   “It’s hard to believe, but it’s one of those great stories where a running back who has speed is going to be a great linebacker,” Coach said.

Last year, Calhoun got lost in the personnel shuffle occasioned by the 3-3-5 defense employed by the former coaching regime, with Brian Raines and Marcus Rucker getting the playing time at outside linebackers.  With a new coaching staff comes new opportunity, and Calhoun, while not saying that, lets his actions speak for him.  “He gets better every day, and is really taking the job seriously,” Coach Bailiff said of Calhoun.  Because of a new defense and staff, Robert Calhoun has a real chance to surprise many this year.  One of those won’t be David Bailiff, though.  “We see him having a major impact this season,” the Rice head coached added.

“He’s on a mission”

JOHN WELCH, WR—John Welch almost seems like the forgotten man at times.  He has all the tools---decent size (5’11”), good speed, and the ability to run very clean routes.   He also has the knack of hanging onto the ball when taking a hard hit. 

Coach Bailiff smiled at the mention of John Welch as a possible sleeper.  “Who’d have thought?”  Coach said of Welch.  “But I’m just so proud of him because he he’s out here working.”  And Coach Bailiff makes a point about Welch that only a coach can make --“You can tell he’s on a mission.”  That would apply, one would hope,  across the board to every player on the field.  Bailiff says that Welch and his fellow Owl teammates are making an investment in the Rice football program.   But John Welch may start receiving dividends sooner than some because of his attitude and work ethic.

“We’re looking at him”

TAYLOR DUPREE—Taylor Dupree, out of Mesquite,   squared off against his current teammate Justin Hill, from Lake Dallas,  in last year’s high school playoffs, with each back scoring four TDs in that game.  Now, he competes with him every day in practice, hoping to catch the coaches’ eyes.

Coach Bailiff said he is very impressed with Dupree.  “He’s another big back that has great vision, got a great mind, [and] good speed,” Coach says of Dupree.  “Actually, we’re even looking at him. . . you saw him play a little receiver out here tonight, just because he is so talented.”  You might want to get familiar with his name, because Coach Baliff flatly said of Dupree, “We’re trying to find him a role.” 

“He has the ability to really make you miss”

TYLER SMITH, RB-KR—Tyler is the brother of last year’s leading rusher, Quinton Smith.  While only 5’7”, Tyler (shall we already start calling him “T”?) possesses remarkable gifts.  He is strong and very deceptive in his running style.

When asked to compare Tyler with the other two freshman backs, Coach Bailiff said, “He doesn’t have the size of the other two running backs.  But as far as his speed and slashing ability, where Justin can lower his shoulder Tyler has that abilitry to really make you miss.”  Tyler may not be a sleeper in many of the so-called “experts” eyes.  Don’t tell that to David Bailiff, however.  He says of Tyler, “He’s another one we’re really excited about.”

THE Sleeper of 2007

Up until now, there has been no ranking as far as who has the best shot to be the sleeper surprise of 2007.  But if we were to pick one player that has the ability to sneak up on everyone, there is only one person we can choose.

TRAVIS MASON, OL—Travis’ first two years with Rice are what you could call “non-descript.”  He seemed to be the invisible man for the Owls under the last two coaching regimes.  He may have been the invisible man before, but having bulked up and changing positions has made the coaching staff take note of Mason.

Coach Bailiff confirmed the change of positions was a positive step for Mason.  “I think it’s been a great move for us,” the Rice head coach said.   “You know, he was on the defensive line all spring, but we didn’t have enough numbers to move him.”  Coach Bailiff is obviously pleased with the progress Travis is making at his new position.  “He gets better every day,” Coach said.  “He’s over three hundered pounds, and he really is a good fit over there.”  But he pointed to one other thing about this move: “He brings the uniqueness of a defensive personality.”  Because Travis has played defense, he knows every move a defensive player will try to make on him—and that is an advantage.  He has also exhibited leadership by working hard, staying after practice, and listening to Coach Miller, Lute Barber, and others. 

“He’s going to have   a chance to be in the starting rotation,” Coach Blake Miller said of Mason.  “He’s a hard worker, he’s very enthusiastic, and offensive line is a very tough position.”  Coach Miller said that Mason “has caught onto some things, he’s very aggressive, and it’s very important for him to be successful.” 

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