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| Tuesday, September 12 Kent State showing Flashes of potential By George Porter Special to ESPN.com | |||||
| Kent Golden Flashes 1999 record: 2-9 (2-6 MAC) Coach: Dean Pees Returning starters: 15 (7 offense, 8 defense) Outlook Kent is not ready as a program to compete for East title, but they will definitely play the spoiler to a lot of teams. First year quarterback Zach Williams is a very different quarterback than last season's starter Jose Davis, who was second on the team in rushing. Williams, more of a drop back passer, struggled this spring and has little game experience. If he doesn't get off to a good start, Ryan Cartwright could see the field. Junior RB Chante Murphy should ease the pressure on the young quarterbacks. Murphy has a breakout season last year, rushing for 676 yards, and should make a run at 1,000 this season. The line returns four of five starters and Jurron Kelly is a talented receiver. The defense has to cut down on the number of big plays it allowed in 1999. The front seven will be solid returning senior linebacker Matt Rayl and his 103 tackles on last year. The secondary will definitely struggle with the lost of team leader in interceptions Geoff Betts. Sophomore cornerback Nashville Dyer is the only returning starter to a secondary that will certainly have its troubles this season. Keep an eye on ... RB Chante Murphy. Murphy had back-to-back 100 yards games last season against Pittsburgh and Bowling Green and that's the type of production the Golden Flashes are expecting out him this season. It's a good season if ... The Golden Flashes come out of the Purdue game with any confidence after facing Heisman favorite Drew Brees. Kent needs its defense to be better and getting shredded by Brees one week after facing a very good passing Pittsburgh team might be tough for Kent to overcome. |
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