2012 Toledo Spring Football Prospectus - University of Toledo ...

couple of transfers who sat out last year, and it gives us adefense with a lot of experience. We also have a wealth ofguys who are looking to make their mark in our program,guys who have had small windows of opportunity or guyswho have been chomping at the bit to have an opportunity.We saw it last year with Bernard Reedy, who had a greatspurt in the spring, or Adonis Thomas the year beforethat. This is the time of year you see players grow, yousee the fruit of all their labors start to pay off.Q: How difficult will it be to replace guys like (All-American wide receiver) Eric Page, (two-time All-MAC running back) Adonis Thomas, two four-yearstarting tackles in Mike VanDerMeulen and JohnMorookian?Campbell: Obviously, Eric and Adonis were two bigplayguys who could make plays when they got the ballin their hands. Somebody will have to assume the roleof playmaker this year, and I thinkwe have guys who can do that. ButI also think losing two veteran guyslike Mike and John at tackle is a bigchallenge for our team. Offensivetackle is certainly an area wherea couple young guys will have tostep up and play. Fortunately, weplayed a lot of guys on the offensiveline last year. Offensive line is alearned position and now it’s on theirshoulders and it will be fun to watchtheir development.Q: We can’t have a conversationabout the offense without talkingabout your two quarterbacks,Terrance Owens and Austin Dantin.It’s been a unique situation withboth players getting about equaltime last year. Do you see yourselfsticking with the two-quarterbacksystem?Campbell: The first thing I will say isthat I felt for the last two years that wehave actually had three quarterbacksQ & A With Matt CampbellMatt Campbell on David Fluellen(above): “For the last two years, Davidhas shown us what he brings to thetable. We feel he is a special componentto our running game. He has shown alot of savvy and given us glimpses ofwhat he is going to be...We are excitedto see him blossom in his role.”who were capable of playing. I think that the guy that getsforgotten sometimes is (sophomore) Dwight Macon. Wehave always said that going into each part of the season,we leave it up to competition to decide who is rising tothe challenge. The thing we’ve seen with Austin Dantinand Terrance Owens is that they both have been put intopressure situations and both have been successful. It willbe a joy to watch those two go to battle again. At the endof the day it makes our football team better and I thinkthose two understand that. I think that competition willcontinue through spring practice this year. But we’ve alsogot a guy like Dwight Macon who has shown us flashes ofwhat he can do. How does a Dwight Macon get into themix offensively? That’s going to be a challenge for ourstaff. Dwight has big play potential. I am really excitedto see how it all develops. I think our football team feedsoff of the competition, to be honest with you.Q: So is it fair to say you are not committed to anysystem or any player, you’re juststrictly letting the quarterbackscompete and seeing how that playsout?Campbell: Yeah, honestly that’show we have always done it. We leteverybody compete and the guys thathave won those competitions are theguys who play. I think that’s the onlyway to do it.Q: At another critical position,running back, you’re losing twoseniors —Adonis Thomas andMorgan Williams—who gainedalmost 5,000 yards between them intheir careers. Who are the runningbacks we should be keeping an eyeon this spring?Campbell: The first guy that Iwould mention is (junior) DavidFluellen. For the last two years,David has shown us what he bringsto the table. We feel he is a specialcomponent to our running game. He