Davion Pierson has been sidelined all season with a concussion, but the defensive tackle attended meetings Sunday and might play Saturday against Texas Tech, coach Gary Patterson said Tuesday.
“He’s finally coming out of it,” Patterson said.
There was optimism that Pierson would play last week against SMU, but dizziness in the middle of the week prevented that.
“He’s worked out and done things, and hopefully he’ll do a little bit, and hopefully he’ll get a chance to play this week,” Patterson said.
Pierson is the Frogs’ most experienced player with 37 games and 31 starts entering the season. He would be a boon for a defense that’s missing seven other starters or rotation players.
“Just Davion coming back to the defensive line group is a big positive,” Patterson said. “Just having an older guy back there to give us some leadership on the field, even though he probably won’t be able to play a full game.”
Patterson said Pierson and defensive end Mike Tuaua, arrested Monday and suspended the past two weeks, provided “our motivation” that has been missing the past two games.
“Mike was a guy that was our motivation,” Patterson said. “He was one of our senior leaders, as far as motivation.”
Redshirt possibilities
Patterson said sophomore cornerback Ranthony Texada, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against SMU, can use a medical redshirt because it happened within the first three games.
“Whether he still wants to play three more years is something he’ll have to decide when it gets to that point,” Patterson said.
Patterson said medical redshirts are also available for linebacker Sammy Douglas, defensive end James McFarland, safety Kenny Iloka and receiver Deante’ Gray — in addition to Tuaua.
“What you gained out of all this is next year,” Patterson said. “You have young players who have experience, and so you have a more veteran football team.”
Quiet Boykin
It’s possible that Heisman Trophy candidate Trevone Boykin will no longer speak with reporters mid-week. He’s afraid he doesn’t play as well when he does.
“He said, ‘Coach, I don’t want to talk. I don’t play well when I go to this thing,’” Patterson said of the weekly press conference. “He said, ‘I’m going to go to class. I’m going to do my thing. I’m going to go on. I need to get back to just being the quarterback.’”
Boykin spoke to reporters in the pre-camp press conference Aug. 4, and he has commented after every game.
Get down
Patterson said Boykin didn’t do much in Sunday’s practice because he was “pretty beat up” from the SMU game.
“Not anything significant, but enough that he needed to go soak in the tub,” Patterson said.
Patterson said the coaching staff will emphasize to Boykin this week that he needs to avoid hits as much as possible.
“He needs to get down; too many flips,” Patterson said. “We just need to get down. You get X amount, you need to get down. We need to live or die a different down.”
Boykin is the team’s second-leading rusher with 32 carries for 148 yards. He has been sacked four times.
“He’s finally coming out of it,” Patterson said.
There was optimism that Pierson would play last week against SMU, but dizziness in the middle of the week prevented that.
“He’s worked out and done things, and hopefully he’ll do a little bit, and hopefully he’ll get a chance to play this week,” Patterson said.
Pierson is the Frogs’ most experienced player with 37 games and 31 starts entering the season. He would be a boon for a defense that’s missing seven other starters or rotation players.
“Just Davion coming back to the defensive line group is a big positive,” Patterson said. “Just having an older guy back there to give us some leadership on the field, even though he probably won’t be able to play a full game.”
Patterson said Pierson and defensive end Mike Tuaua, arrested Monday and suspended the past two weeks, provided “our motivation” that has been missing the past two games.
“Mike was a guy that was our motivation,” Patterson said. “He was one of our senior leaders, as far as motivation.”
Redshirt possibilities
Patterson said sophomore cornerback Ranthony Texada, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against SMU, can use a medical redshirt because it happened within the first three games.
“Whether he still wants to play three more years is something he’ll have to decide when it gets to that point,” Patterson said.
Patterson said medical redshirts are also available for linebacker Sammy Douglas, defensive end James McFarland, safety Kenny Iloka and receiver Deante’ Gray — in addition to Tuaua.
“What you gained out of all this is next year,” Patterson said. “You have young players who have experience, and so you have a more veteran football team.”
Quiet Boykin
It’s possible that Heisman Trophy candidate Trevone Boykin will no longer speak with reporters mid-week. He’s afraid he doesn’t play as well when he does.
“He said, ‘Coach, I don’t want to talk. I don’t play well when I go to this thing,’” Patterson said of the weekly press conference. “He said, ‘I’m going to go to class. I’m going to do my thing. I’m going to go on. I need to get back to just being the quarterback.’”
Boykin spoke to reporters in the pre-camp press conference Aug. 4, and he has commented after every game.
Get down
Patterson said Boykin didn’t do much in Sunday’s practice because he was “pretty beat up” from the SMU game.
“Not anything significant, but enough that he needed to go soak in the tub,” Patterson said.
Patterson said the coaching staff will emphasize to Boykin this week that he needs to avoid hits as much as possible.
“He needs to get down; too many flips,” Patterson said. “We just need to get down. You get X amount, you need to get down. We need to live or die a different down.”
Boykin is the team’s second-leading rusher with 32 carries for 148 yards. He has been sacked four times.
