Name: Terrence Talbott
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 172 lbs.
High school: Wayne High School in Huber Heights, OH
Position: Cornerback
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Prediction for 2010: Scarce playing time
The younger brother of defensive tackle recruit Terry Talbott, Terrence is a small-ish corner. Despite graduating in the same class, the brothers aren't twins - their birthdays are separated by about nine months. Terrence is an excellent athlete, with good speed and great leaping ability. I'm afraid that his athletic skills don't quite translate into being a great football player, though. There's just a little something missing.
But this team needs help in the defensive backfield, and Terrence might be a little further along than Courtney Avery at this point. There's been some indication from insiders that Terrence's upside is questionable, and his ceiling might be limited to special teams coverage. I have a feeling that his situation might be similar to that of sophomore defensive back Teric Jones, who played scarce minutes in 2009 because the coaches didn't want to burn Justin Turner's redshirt. In other words, the coaches would rather have the player with less upside (Jones, possibly Terrence Talbott) use up his eligibility in four years rather than devoting a scholarship to him for a fifth year.
We'll see what happens, but I'm guessing we'll see Terrence on the field against Massachusetts and/or against other teams against whom the score gets out of hand.
That's an interesting observation about Teric Jones vs. Justin Turner. I hope thats the case because Jones looked absolutely out of place on the field.
ReplyDeleteGiven the secondary depth, you might be right about Talbott's role in 2010. Yet, I think the more physically mature walk-ons and Teric Jones types can probably handle special teams duties. UMass might be a little early to make decisions about red-shirting, but I wouldn't be shocked.