Aug. 1, 2007

This is the sixth in an eight-part series previewing the Texas State Bobcats position by position.

SAN MARCOS - While Texas State coaches its cornerbacks to play both cornerback positions, the Bobcats return a tandem of players at the two positions whose abilities and skills compliment one another.

Jervoress Crenshaw started seven games for the Bobcats in 2006 and is penciled in as the starter at the field corner this season. Crenshaw was in on 38 tackles and broke up five passes last year. Morgan Taylor got some needed experience last year and was in on eight tackles. His ability to be physical makes him the perfect fit to play the boundary corner.

"I teach our guys to play both sides of the field - right or left can be the boundary or field side," said cornerbacks coach Greg Walls. "You may end up on the boundary side sometimes and on the field side at other times. We teach them to play both sides of the field and that way they are well-versed."

There are differences in playing each position.

"We want our boundary corner to be a more physical player. Because it is the shorter side of the field, he will have a shorter distance to cover," Walls said. "We want him to be more physical and more aggressive. He will be walked up more.

"The field corner has a lot more to cover so he has to be a little more rangy and of course, he has to be able to run."

At the field corner, Crenshaw returns with the starting experience mentioned above. While he brings experience, Walls said his athletic ability will give the Bobcats an opportunity to be competitive.

"Jervoress was on fire during the spring," Walls said. "He brings a lot of positive things to the table with his work ethic and his experience. I think he has the potential to be a tremendous player in this conference."

Walls said Taylor was already a good football player but continues to improve and compliments Crenshaw's style of play.

Behind the pair, Texas State has a first-year player Walls is excited about, Blinn Community College transfer Will Thompson. Despite credentials which include playing for a national championship team at Blinn and winning a Class 5A state title at Katy High School prior to that, Walls would just as soon keep the sophomore corner under wraps. But that may be a daunting task considering Thompson showed plenty of up-side before being injured his first spring at the Division I level.

"Will Thompson is a very good technician and a smart young man," Walls said. "He's very fast and a very good football player. He has the potential to be that guy we ask to come in and make big plays when needed. I think he is going to be a positive asset to the team."

With only Crenshaw returning with extensive experience, Walls said that learning to handle adversity will be important in August and early in the year.

"We have some guys who have not played at this level and others who have not received a lot of snaps at this level," Walls said. "It is just a matter of getting out there and understanding how to play a four-quarter game. It will be interesting to see how we will react in adverse situations late in a game."

Scoreboard Update
Rising over 50 feet in the air, the vertical beams which will support Texas State's new video board at Bobcat Stadium are now in place and Reynolds Sign has begun welding cross beams in place. When completed, the board will top out at 60 feet. The scoreboard itself will be 48 feet tall.

Click the link below for construction images of the new board.
Texas State Scoreboard Construction