The Atlanta Falcons were at Dix Stadium friday morning working out former Kent State cornerback Jack Williams. The Falcons General Manager, Thomas Dimitroff, head coach Mike Smith and an area scout were reportedly there for the workout.

Does the high representation really mean anything as far Jack's draft status?

"You never know because those people keep things close to the vest," Kent State coach Doug Martin said. "It seems like a lot of people have come to work him out. New England has come to work him out. Atlanta was here (Friday). He had a nice workout on Pro Day where he ran really well. I think Jack is going to get an opportunity."

Some prognosticators view Williams as a mid-to-late round pick.

Another Flash who is looking for a shot at the next level is defensive lineman Colin Farrell, who tied Kevin Hogan for a team-high five sacks. He also had 16 tackles for a loss.

"I think Colin will get a shot as a free agent somewhere much like Danny Muir," Martin said. "If you get on at the right place you'll get a chance to make it and I think he'll get an opprtunity."

Muir was an undrafted free agent out of Kent State who was picked up by the Green Bay Packers and is still on their roster.

Former Northern Illinois football coach Joe Novak, has made his presence felt lately on the sidelines of Dix Stadium.

The recently retired coach, who has become good friends with Kent State coach Doug Martin, has been here all week with a watchful eye over Martin's program. Novak will not be joining him on the sidelines any time soon, but is here to offer advice and insight into how to run a MAC football program. Martin called Novak one of the most humble men he has ever met.

"When he retired I called him and begged him to come and watch practice," Martin said. "Because I wanted to get a set of experienced eyes that had been in this league to watch our team and really assess our talent level. Our coaches. The way we practice; really kind of an overview as a head football coach of what he thought."

According to Martin, Novak has been impressed with the overall talent level at Kent State and the depth at quarterback. Novak also like the pace and tempo at which Kent State practices

Geno Ford's new basketball coaching staff is coming about quite well. Armon Gates is already in and from everything I have heard, Rob Senderoff isn't far behind. Senderoff is really a key for me. Sure, many people know him as the fall guy at Indiana. If you don't know about that you can read some about it here.

Anyways, Senderoff was at Kent State before hand. I do not know the man personally. I do not know if he is a dirty recruiter. I do not know if he is clean recruiter. All I know is Senderoff was responsible for bringing Mike Scott, Rodriquez Sherman and Chris Singletary to Kent State. Arguably three of the most important players on Kent State's roster last year.

If Senderoff can continue recruiting to players of that caliber to a MAC school then why wouldn't you want him on the staff? Unless he really is that dirty, which I am not ready to judge him for one year under Kelvin Sampson. Last I heard, the hire was up to University President Lester Lefton. hopefully it gets done soon enough.

Another interesting story is that of assistant coach Eric Haut. Haut played at Kent State. Haut likes it here, but he also likes coaching with Jim Christian. It is no secret that Christian would like to take Haut with him to TCU and I heard an offer is on the table. The decision could go either way.

Kent State basketball coach Geno Ford announced Tuesday the return of former Golden Flashes player Armon Gates as an assistant coach. Gates comes back to KSU after spending last season on the coaching staff at Western Kentucky.

"This is exciting for me to have a former player in the program, someone who understands what the tradition is all about," Ford said in a statement. "Armon was a very good player and is a guy who did everything right when he was here, on and off the floor. We want kids just like Armon. Our players will relate to him very well."

A MAC All-Academic selection at Kent State, Gates’ first season in the coaching profession was highly successful. After capturing the Sun Belt Tournament championship, the Hilltoppers earned a No. 12 seed in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the to the Sweet 16 before losing to UCLA.

"This is a great situation for me,” Gates said in a statement. "I will always appreciate coach Ford for giving me this opportunity, and I want to thank Kent State’s administration. They have welcomed me back with open arms."

Last year didn't quite end the way Kent State football coach Doug Martin would have liked. After coming up just shy of winning a MAC title for the first time since 1972, The Flashes started last season with promise by upsetting Iowa State.

Yet they ended the year battered and flawed. Kent State dropped the last seven games of the season and cycled through four different quarterbacks as the injury bug kept biting.

The gritty Julian Edelman kept on playing after tearing a tendon in his knee the second week of the season against Kentucky. It took a Broken fore arm during the eighth week of the season against Bowling Green to finally force him off the field.

Giorgio Morgan was next. Although blessed with a golden arm, Morgan was done after an impressive game and a half. A knee injury got him too, burning his redshirt in a lost season.

third stringer Anthony Magazu had a pesky ankle and the season had to be painfully played out with the immobile Jon Brown under center.

Yet this spring has been able to deliver some optimism for Martin. Although his quarterbacks aren't completely healed, they are all suited up for spring practice.

“We haven’t had our starting quarterback in spring ball for the last three years, so this is the first time we have had all the quarterbacks healthy (during spring ball),” Martin said. “That is going to help speed up; especially the process of our passing game.”

Edelman’s arm still isn’t back to 100 percent, yet being able to practice makes a difference. At this time last spring Edelman, a senior, was out of for spring with a shoulder injury and Morgan was still in Georgia finishing his senior year of high school.

The two provide completely different styles at the quarterback position and provide Martin with plenty of options heading into the season.

Morgan, at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, is a prototypical drop back passer with a gifted arm. The ball floats out of his hand in an effortless motion. In his two games last season Morgan was 23-36 for 273 yards and three touchdowns. Against eventual MAC champs Central Michigan, Morgan picked apart the defense and found eight different receivers. It was his first collegiate game.

Edelman does not possess the throwing ability that Morgan does, but what he lacks he makes up with shear grit and guile. When healthy Edelman gives teams fits with his running ability. His pinball style racked up 455 yards last season on the ground including 167 against Kentucky. He is also more than capable at throwing the ball when needed.

Magazu and Brown also are in the open competition at quarterback, but are more likely to provide depth behind Morgan and/or Edelman.
“It’s going to be an interesting competition,” Martin said. “We got four guys that are competing at the quarterback position that have all played in games so there is a lot of experience there. Hopefully if something happens to us like what happened last year we can overcome it.”

So far this spring the battle has been extremely healthy, although Kentsportsreport.com’s Steve Hare did report that Morgan did not participate in the Saturday scrimmage because he over slept. Martin made him run stairs and work with strength and conditioning coach Toby Jacobi instead.

It will be interesting to see how the quarterback situation plays out this season. Both Edelman and Morgan are too good to not see the field, so we will see what happens.

Over at the Kentsportsreport.com they are following spring football much closer than I am, so take a look.

It sounds like Kent State athletic director Laing Kennedy didn't waste much time getting the coaching search up and running. Just got word that a press conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. tomorrow to name a new head coach.

The Associated Press is reporting that top assistant Geno Ford will be named head coach.

I have also heard that former Kent State assistant (and Kelvin Sampson's fall guy in Indiana) Rob Senderhoff may be joining him on the bench.

Ford has coaching experience at Muskingum College and Shawnee State. He is also known as a MAC guy, who was Ohio's Mr. basketball following his senior season at Cambridge High School in 2003. Ford also starred at Ohio University from 1993-1997