Freshman Sal Battles knows his way around the football field. It is knowing where Kent State football coach Doug Martin wants him that seems to be the problem.

In just his second collegiate practice, Battles could be seen working with the wide receivers, running backs, quarterbacks and even special teams Tuesday.

They got me playing so many positions, it’s just a lot to learn,” Battles said.

“It’s pretty cool coming out and just doing everything,” he said. “I am just trying to get on the field and play.”

He shouldn’t have much of a problem. The Youngstown East graduate earned First Team All Ohio honors as well as Offensive Player of the Year for Northeast Ohio. During his high school career he passed for 3,078 yards and rushed for 3,165 yards. He also had 74 touchdowns.

“Coaches are just talking to me and seeing I could a lot of things with the returning game and a bunch of stuff like that,” Battles said. “He just has me out there just seeing where I can play.”

Konz continues to impress

I’m already hard-pressed to find another tight end in the MAC who possesses the skills that Jameson Konz brings to the position. The converted linebacker made the position look so simple Tuesday.

He is just a natural on offense. Konz looked bored as balls were fired at him from a Jugs machine five yards away. He didn’t seem flinch or drop any balls. The majority of the receivers rock back or seem surprised when the ball came.

During one-on-one drills starting linebacker Cedrick Maxwell guarded the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Konz. Maxwell had no chance. Although Maxwell is known as a speedy, athletic linebacker, Konz, who is known as the fastest player on the team, blew by him play after play.

That is not to pick on Maxwell at all. He would start on just about every other Mid-American Conference team. If Konz is able to make that easy work of Maxwell, then how many linebackers are really going to be able to guard him this season? Not many.

Good Sign

One of the biggest problems that has plagued Kent State and many mid-major teams, over the years is a lack of depth. Since Doug Martin’s arrival the overall depth of the team has gotten better and better.

Martin is recruiting better. The players he is bringing in are better. The results on the field have just not shown up yet. They would have won a lot last year if they hadn’t struggled through four quarterbacks.

One sign of this new found depth is the ability to finally move Konz over to offense were he belongs. Konz, a senior, was a stand out wide receiver at Lake High School before coming to Kent State. When Konz arrived on campus the Flashes were so thin defensively that the coaching staff was forced to put him to defense where he could help immediately.

Although he earned three letters as a linebacker and recorded 90 career tackles, once the season begins everyone will see just how fluid he is leaping for balls. He just looks fluid and comfortable on offense.

Not alone

Konz is not the only player who is switching form offense to defense this season. Former defensive lineman Lester Troutman is also playing tight end this season.

Fifth-year senior Prishod Koonce will also be on offense for the first time this season. Starting linebacker Derek Burrell said Koonce, 6-foot-3, 295 pounds, brings a tougher mentality to the offensive line this season.

More depth

All four of last year’s quarterbacks are back on the field and healthy for this season. It has to be an added bonus that this is the first year Edelman has been healthy for spring and summer practices. He looks as if he has added a few more pounds of muscle. I expect a big year out of Edelman as he plays his senior year with a chip on his shoulder.

Giorgio still has the prettiest throw on the team and will get at least one series a half in each game, Martin said at media day.

A few more faces are also joining the quartet. Battles lined up at center some as did freshman Matt Hurdle. Physically Hurdle looks like a left-handed Giorgio clone without the pretty throwing motion. He seems more athletic over all though. He will be red shirted barring another repeat of last year’s disaster.

Ready for hitting

I’ll go more in depth Friday when the Flashes put the pads on and starting hitting each other around a bit. See ya’ then.

While there is still no word yet on the Tyree Evans scenario, I wanted to take a minute to clarify a statement on my last post about Antonio Gates and Josh Cribbs.

The previous Evans post was written on the fly with me working through my thoughts on the situation as I wrote. While I wrote "legal troubles" that is not entirely what I meant. The thought that I was truly trying to convey is that many athletes have come to Kent State, and many other Mid-major schools, with off-field baggage. Evans would not be the first. Kent State has taken the risk before.

Both Cribbs and gates struggled academically at times throughout their respective careers at Kent State. Gates originally went to Michigan State to play both football and basketball, but the relationship soured when then football coach Nick Saban wanted him to focus more on football. Gates landed at Eastern Michigan where he ran into grade troubles. Two JUCO schools later he ended up at Kent State as a last ditch opportunity for himself (hence the connection in my head to the Evans scenario).

Cribbs also battled some grade issues that scared away bigger programs. He also had a desire to play quarterback, which many schools were not willing to do. His legal issues did not come until he was at Kent State when he was arrested for marijuana. Yet it was not after, it was during his career with the Flashes.

The name that is perhaps the closest example to Evans may be former safety Abe Elam. Before landing at Kent State, Elam was kicked out of Notre Dame after sexual battery charges in 2002. He did not cause any problems at KSU. I think he is a much better example than the two names I mentioned previously.

Evans brings a unique scenario and a lot of question marks with him if he comes to campus. Last year the Flashes attempted to bring in a similar player, formerly of Purdue, named Korey Spates and it blew up in their face. After disrespecting Jim Christian and not participating in summer workouts he was quickly removed from the team. A guy by the name of Al Fisher was then found to replace him at the last minute.

Is Evans the next Korey Spates? Or is he the next Abe Elam, who now starts for the New York Jets? If he comes, only time can tell.

Updating Knight

It appears as if former Kent State forward Isaac Knight may be joining NAIA power Walsh University. The Cavaliers are in rebuilding mode down in North Canton after St. Vincent St. Mary High School standouts Brandon Weems and Corey Jones graduated last year. If he is accepted, Knight could give some quality minutes and help that program a lot.

recruiting for 09

While the 2008-2009 team is still yet to take the court, it is never to early to start thinking about the future. Chicago prep star D.J. Cooper has been offered a scholarship by Kent State, according to this article. He is a 5-foot-9 point guard.

The Flashes have also offered scholarships to 6-foot-6 185 pound small forward Marquis Horne of Princeton high school in Cincinnati and Another point guard, Ja'Rob McCallum of Marion, Ind.

A familiar face to the Kent State football program is once again patrolling the sidelines in Portage County – Albeit in the blue and red of the Hiram College Terriers.

Jim Corrigal, who coached the Flashes from 1994-1997, recently joined the coaching staff at the division III school. He will be an assistant coach and coach the defensive ends.

The three-time All Mid-American Conference and All-American Linebacker/ defensive tackle graduated from Kent State in 1970 with a Bachelor’s degree in history and government.

Directly preceding the great Jack Lambert, Corrigal was the first Kent State player to have his jersey retired as well as the first KSU player to earn All-conference honors three consecutive years. He was also the first Kent State player to be named captain two consecutive years.

On Oct. 11, 1969 Corrigal recorded 24 tackles against Western Michigan, which was then a record. Lambert set the bar even higher in 1972, recording 29 tackles against Toledo.

During his four-year coaching tenure with the Flashes he won eight games and lost 35 with one tie. Six of the eight wins came within Mid-American Conference play. Corrigal also served as assistant Athletic Director from 1990-1993. He has also coached at Akron, North Carolina State and Miami (Ohio).