Bulldog cornerback Marcus McCauley was named to the Bronco Nagurski Trophy Watch List announced by the Football Writers Association of America. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the best defensive player in college football. It has been a staple of the FWAA's awards since 1993. Nevada CB Joe Garcia and Boise State LB Korey Hall were the only other WAC players named to the list.
McCauley is poised to have a big senior season. The early departure of Richard Marshall puts the focus soley on the senior from Sacramento. The former one star prospect was recruited as a safety out of high school. However, Pat Hill saw him as cornerback and McCauley has become one of the premier ones in the country. He will be expected to shut down the opposing team's top receiver, game after game, and will be the leader of the secondary.
Fresno State's only true weak spot on defense is the cornerback position opposite McCauley. Hill has said he is confident in Elgin Simmons or Damon Jenkins' ability to fill Marshall's spot. But he has not ruled out the possibility of incoming true freshmen Damion Owens or A.J. Jefferson getting the nod over Simmons or Jenkins. This situation puts even more pressure on the talented McCauley. In my opinion, McCauley has a legitimate shot to become the school's only second AP all-American cornerback. James Williams was the first. He was named 3rd team AP all-American in 1989.
4 comments:
MDG you know I am the biggest McCauley supporter alive. I have been propping this guy as our best corner for two years now. Last year when everyone focused on Marshall I felt McCauley was under the radar because other teams did not throw to his side of the field often. The only reason Marshall had more tackles and such had to do with the fact that the other team attacked his side far more than #17.
If anyone can remember the last time McCauley was beat deep down field please remind me. He runs a 4.3 40 and will be given the assignment of covering the other team's best receivers this season. If he performs how he has in the past there is no doubt in my mind that McCauley will be the best corner taken in the 2007 draft.
The only time I remember seeing McCauley look "silly" was on Reggie Bush's 65 yard run in the first half, right after Marcus Riley left game with his knee injury.
Well with all due respect I cant really remember many guys who didnt look silly when Bush ran the ball. I think Bush made the entire Fresno State defense look silly. Once Riley was out the run stopper was gone and it became very apparent that Fresno was going to have some problems with USC and whoever the hell else followed. At least we know McCauley hits hard, is usually on time with his hits, and does not get burnt down the field on passes often. That to me is a great corner.
This just shows how much credence you can put into those recruiting evaluation done by everyone and thier mothers and how much you should commend coach Hill and his staff on finding supposed one star athletes such as McCauley,Carr,Mankins and all the others who have gone thru this program since coach Hill came here. Marcus is a great corner who will start right away for whichever team drafts him next year. Not too many balls went his way last year but I think marcus is going to get real lonely on his side of the field this year cuz i don't see anything going his way at all this year.
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