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Player Spotlight: QB Riley Dodge, UNT Mean Green
By Daniel Freer | June 18, 2008
In most seasons, anyone seriously considering a true-freshman (especially a QB) as a “breakout player” would have been securely fastened in a straight-jacket and kept away from the general population.
At least at most websites but I am part owner of this thing so here we go.
However, it is rare for a highly-recruited high school QB to sign with (much less be able to locate on a map) a lower-level non-BCS program in a not-so-mid-major conference.
All while de -committing from the Texas Longhorns to do this.
Enter Riley Dodge , the incoming freshman QB at North Texas.
Dodge was a two-time Texas Class 5A Offensive Player of the Year while at Southlake Carroll HS. He arrives in Denton to run an offense named after him (sort of): Dodge Ball .
The “Dodge” in Dodge Ball is Riley’s father, North Texas head coach Todd Dodge. He arrived at UNT in 2007 to revive the Mean Green program. Whereas most of the QBs on the UNT roster have had a one season in the system, the younger Dodge has been in the system since wearing diapers. “Crib Notes” for the pass-happy offense probably had an additional meaning in the Dodge household.
The elder Dodge led Southlake Carroll to five Texas Class 5A titles running Dodge Ball, with one of those seasons QB’d by his son. In the 2006 season, the last time the two Dodge’s were together on the field, Southlake Carroll went undefeated and won the state title. The younger Dodge posted some wicked stats: 4184 passing yards, 54 TD passes, 1119 rushing yards, 13 rushing TDs . In 2007, Riley Dodge threw for 3445 yards and 39 TDs as a senior with fewer games played.
Dodge Ball is more than just a family affair. Before Riley was the starter at Southlake Carroll, another top college QB ran the show…current Missouri QB and top Heisman candidate Chase Daniel .
Although having your father as head coach is nice, it is no way guarantees that Riley will start. However, last season’s QBs Giovanni Vizza and Daniel Meager had up-and-down performances. Dodge in all likelihood will take over the job early in the 2008 season. It could even be by the August 30th opener at Kansas State.
Fortunately for Riley, UNT will feature one of the best WRs in the land in Casey Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald had a breakout season in 2007, with over 1300 receiving yards and 12 TDs . With another year in the system, other WRs should develop also. Keep an eye on Sam Dibrell , Brock Stickler , and Evan Walker as compliments to Fitzgerald. All these weapons on offense as well as the offensive system itself make Riley a fantasy sleeper for this season.
In the previous two seasons, Texas QB Colt McCoy and Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford have set numerous freshman passing records. By the time the 2008 season is over, many of those records could be held by Riley Dodge.
Topics: College Football, Daniel Freer, Player Spotlight, Quarterback, Sunbelt |
July 8th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
[...] X Factor for the UNT offense is Freshman QB Riley Dodge. Will Riley play as a true freshman or redshirt? Will Riley take over the starting job at QB? [...]