D4 Wednesday, June 5, 2019 |TimesDaily

ON THE FRINGE ANALYSIS: Cantlay’spastshows why Pickingthe 2020 class thefutureispromising forcollege football hall By Ralph D. Russo The Associated Press

Aglance at the list of candidates eligible for selection to the College DOUG FERGUSON Football Hall of Fame is likelytoproducethe fol- DUBLIN, Ohio lowing reaction: How is othe victor go that guy not in yet? the social media win- T requests. ners Rashaan Salaam, This proved far more Carson Palmer and Eric difficult for Patrick Cantlay Crouch are still waiting. than his 64 at Muirfield Vil- The late , lage, the lowest final round Jack Nicklaus, left, presents Patrick Cantlaywiththe trophyafter an anchor on some of byawinner in44years of Miami’s best teams in the Cantlaywon the Memorial tournament SundayinDublin,Ohio. [JAY In this Nov. 23,2001, photo, Nebraskaquarterback Eric Crouch the Memorial and aperfor- late 1980s, is not in the LAPRETE/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS] rollsout to pass during the thirdquarter against Colorado in a mance that suggested his Hall of Fame —almost 30 Big-12 NCAA game in Boulder, Colo. [ASSOCIATED move to No. 8inthe world low amateur in the 2011 U.S. yearsafter his death. victory —later that year. PRESS FILE PHOTO] was about more than any Cantlay, who had won Open at Congressional, his Eric Dickerson, half mathematical formula. the week before in Colom- first tournament against the of SMU’sfamed Pony tackle Aaron Taylor and Marcus Harris, WR, Cantlay looked at the bia on the Web.com Tour, best in the world. The fol- Express backfield, is not Oklahoma safety Roy Wyoming : Harriswas the phone as the PGA Tour was two months away lowing week, he set aPGA in yet. Williams. There is also a star of Joe Tiller’s spread social media team tried to from one swing that nearly Tour record for amateurs Can that be right? character clause, which is offenses in the mid-1990s, explain what it wanted —a ended his career, apain he with a60inthe second The National Foot- abit nebulous. puttingupreceivingnum- short video saying what described as aknife in his round of the Travelers ball Foundation, which The AP’s picks for the bers that still hold up to this victory meant to him. back. That was the start of Championship. He was low administers Hall of Fame class of 2020 includes 12 today’s prolific passing He stretched his arm and back trouble so severe there amateur at the Masters in selection,emailed on major-college football stats. struggled to get the right was no guarantee he would 2012. He made the cut at the Monday aballot to its players, one from outside SteveMcNair, QB, Alcorn angle while still being able ever return. U.S. Open again at Olympic more than 12,000 mem- the highest-level of Divi- State: The late Air McNair to start the video. Finally, He was 20 when he Club (Spieth was low ama- bersand current hall of sion Iand two coaches. finishedthird in the Heis- atour employee held it for turned pro. He was 25 for his teur that year). famers that includes 76 Jerome Brown, DT,Miami: man voting playing in him. Cantlay smiled and official rookie season in 2017 Much like Spieth, he had a former major-college Two other Hurricanes are the SWAC in 1994, an said all the right things. on the PGA Tour. Trying knack for delivering. stars, another nearly 100 on the ballot in lineback- unthinkableachievement “First selfie?” someone to manage his schedule It was atournament former players who played ers Ray Lewis and Dan today. cracked as he walked off the after not having competed Cantlay did not win that outside the highest level of Morgan. Brown, who died Corey Moore, DE, Vir- stage. for two straight years, might be the most revealing. Division Iand ahandful in acar wreck in 1992, was ginia Tech: Moore wasto Cantlay rolled his eyes. Cantlay played 11 times After the stabbing pain he of coaches. The complete aforce on the mid-1980s the Hokies’ defense what He doesn’t do social and still made it to the Tour felt at Colonial in 2013, he list.Members can vote ‘Canes and is long overdue teammate Michael Vick media. Cantlay appears to Championship. didn’t play for three months for up to 12 players and for induction. was to the offense in 1999. beanti-social on the golf “If he had the full year as his status on the Web. two coaches. Results of Keith Byars, RB, Ohio Leslie O’Neal, DE, Okla- course, which is misleading. this year, Iwould imag- com Tour money list kept the voting are given to State: An all-around back homa State: Wrecked In the absence of cam- ine he’d have been on the dropping. Cantlay tried to the NFF’s honors court, in the mid-1980s, well Big Eight offenses in the eras and microphones, Presidents Cup team, no play two more events to stay headed by two-time before spread offenses 1980s. the 27-year-old from question,” Spieth said at the in the top 25 to earn aPGA Heisman winner Archie and positionless foot- , DE, Geor- California is smart, honest TPC Boston that year. “He’s Tour card and missed the cut Griffin, which makes the ball. Afoot injury ruined gia: Before he was astaple and insightful with an extremely talented, and he’s in both, finishing 29th. final selections. his senior season, but he on ESPN’s “College occasional needle. On the going to work his way up His last chance was a To be considered, a still ranks among the best GameDay,” Pollack was a golfcourse, he has acold into the top 10 in the world, four-tournament series playermusthavebeen a Buckeyes. two-time SEC defensive focus with no apologies. He in my opinion.” with aspecial money list. first-team All-America Tim Couch, QB, Ken- player of the year. His pro knows how he comes across And here he is. Cantlay played the first by one of the organiza- tucky: An Air Raid pioneer career was cut short by a because when he arrived Predictions are never one and finished one shot tionsrecognized by the in the late 1990s, set 14 neck injury. at Muirfield Village on easy in golf —Cantlay behind Trevor Immelman. NCAA, such as the AP, SEC records in his career. , QB, Sunday, someone jokingly knows that better than It was enough to get his The Sporting News or Eric Crouch, QB, Indiana: Dual-threat quar- said, “It can’t be that bad, anyone —and so where card, and then he couldn’t Football WritersofAsso- Nebraska: The 2001 Heis- terbacks are everywhere can it?” he goes remains awork in play again for nearly nine ciationofAmerica. The man winner is adinosaur these days. Randle El was Cantlay could easily fit progress. It’s where he has months. sheer volume of college of sorts: an old-school one of the first,passing for the description of an old been that explains why his Cantlay has been through football players who meet optionquarterback who 7,469 yards and running soul on young shoulders — victory Sunday got so much alot, but he is still relatively this qualification makes it didn’t pass much. His for3,895, an FBS record except for his back. attention, even if it wasn’t new considering he had to impossible for the hall to career ended with ahum- for aquarterbackwhenhe It was astress fracture in worthy of the front of sports start over. induct worthy candidates bling loss to Miami in the graduated in 2001. his back that kept him out pages. “It really is my third year in atimely fashion. Play- Rose Bowl, but he left Rashaan Salaam, RB, Col- of golf for the better part of Anyone who saw Cantlay on tour,” he said. “It’s just ers become eligible 10 Nebraska with59rushing orado: The greatestplayer three years —two straight play in Ohio eight years taken me seven years to do years after their college touchdowns,anNCAA from maybethe greatest years without playing one ago would have expected a it.” careersend and when record for aquarterback era of Colorado football. tournament —and kept him performance like this. He ended that first full they are done playing at that time. The late 1994 Heisman from the pace set by others His time at Muirfield year with avictory in Las professionally. Eric Dickerson, RB, SMU: Trophy winner killed him- from his own age group. Village was short. Cantlay Vegas, and Cantlay was There are some unwrit- Playing for the last major- self in 2016. Jordan Spieth saw it received the Jack Nicklaus mildly irritated that more ten rules. No more than college program to receive coming. Award as the best player wins didn’t follow. one player from aschool the NCAA death penalty Coaches Neither of them had PGA in college —asafreshman “Being out for so long and per class. Generally, haskeptDickerson out, Larry Blakeney: Troy Tour status when Spieth at UCLA —and posed for to come back and play really theNFF avoidshaving but it is time to honor one was an FCS playoff regu- and Cantlay were paired photos with Nicklaus, then well and win within ayear ... aschool represented in of the best running backs lar under Blakeney, and together inthe opening two got ready for U.S. Open Ididn’t think it would take two straight classes. That ever. then won three Sun Belt rounds of the 2013 Puerto qualifying at the sectional me this long,” he said. “But eliminatesabunchofplay- Jumbo Elliott, OT, Conference titles when it Rico Open. Spieth got him site filled with PGA Tour I’ve played alot of really ers whose schools were Michigan: The two-time moved up to FBS. byone shot each round and players. Cantlay was the good golf, alot of really represented last year such All-American was one of Darryl Rogers: Took San went on to tie for second, only amateur to get one of solid golf. And so Ithink I as Palmer, Texas defen- the first memorably mas- Jose State to anational the important step that led the 16 spots. was closer than it seems. So sive tackle , sive tackles at 6-foot-7 ranking and won the Big to aPGA Tour card —and Two weeks later, he was maybe this one will do it.” Notre Dame offensive and 300 pounds. Ten at Michigan State.

TimesDaily Class 4A-7A All-Area complete game in game one of the state finals. TAYLOR P–Luke Daniel, Jr., Wilson: Part of atwo-headed From Page D1 Baseball Team monster with fellow junior Brycen Parrish, Daniel went C–Caleb McDougle, Jr., Muscle Shoals: Hit .406 with 7-1 with an ERA below 0.60 in helping Wilson reach the Taylor had to leave after eight doubles, two triples and two home runs second round. 100 pitches (he’s allowed INF –Carson Villalta, Jr., Brooks: Shortstop batted .382 P–Grant Taylor, So., Florence: Facing several of the 120 per start next year), and with 10 doubles, three triples and five home runs for state’s top teams, Taylor achieved a5-3 record and Hewitt-Trussville eventu- 4A state champion Lions 2.28 ERA and helped Florence win aplayoff series for allywon1-0onahomerunin INF –Conner Wynn, Sr., Wilson: Batted .453 with 13 the first time. the10th,eliminatingFlorence doubles, atriple, ahome run and 37 RBIs Second team from the postseason. INF –Jackson McCreless, So., Muscle Shoals: Hit .425 C–Sam Harris, Sr.,Hamilton But Taylor capped afine with nine doubles and two home runs as Trojans made INF–BenArnett, Jr.,Florence sophomoreyearwithhisbest the 6A playoffs INF–Carson Daniel, Jr.,Brooks work to date, and he is the INF –Brett Urban, Sr., Brooks: Led team with .430 bat- INF–BenLowman, Sr., Haleyville TimesDaily’s Class 4A-7A ting average and struck out only seven times INF–Brayden Buckner, So.,Deshler Pitcher of the Year. OF –Devin Buckhalter, Sr., Russellville: Hit .385 with 10 OF –Lawrence Sutton,Jr.,Lawrence County(Tenn.) TaylorandtheotherTimes- doubles, two triples and two home runs; was 17 for 17 OF –LakeSpurgeon,Sr., Brooks Dailyplayersoftheyearwillbe stealing bases OF –JacksonThompson,Jr.,Wilson honored at the annual Athlete OF –Brantley Holden, Sr., Florence: Hit .382 with eight DH –JacksonLindsey,So., Russellville of the Year banquet June 11 doubles and atriple; was hit by apitch program- DH –GrantWisdom, Jr., Deshler at the Florence-Lauderdale record 25 times UT –Blake Bennett, Sr.,Haleyville Coliseum where overallmale OF –NickWhitten, So., Deshler: Batted .391 with nine UT –Scott McAlpine,Sr., Haleyville andfemaleathletesoftheyear doubles and two homers as Tigers qualified for 4A P–CadeHenry,Jr., Florence and top athletic program will playoffs P–Brycen Parrish,Jr.,Wilson benamed. Honorable mention DH –John Miller Lawson, So., Haleyville: Batted .427 Florence’s Grant Taylor pitches as Bob Jones visits Florencefor high Though Florence couldn’t Brooks–Charlie Crowley, Preston Junkin, Peyton with nine doubles, two triples and four homers as school baseball. [JIM HANNON/TIMESDAILY] findthe offensetotake Haleyville reached 4A quarterfinals Plants advantage of Taylor’s work DH –Hayden Walton, Sr., Brooks: Hit .390 with five Central–ChristianWhite, Colby Holcombe Cullman, Hewitt-Trussville, others—willbeback to try to that night, inning by inning doubles, atriple and two home runs in addition to Deshler –RyanKelley,Parker Willingham Huntsville, Homewood, guide the Falcons to an even his potential over the next helping astrong Brooks pitching staff excel in playoffs Florence –Raleigh Claunch SpanishFort,FayetteCounty, deeper postseason run. two seasons of high school UT –Zeke Bishop, So., Florence: Batted .364 with 11 Haleyville –BrantsonLambert, JohnWhiteside Muscle Shoals, Spain Park, “I think me and Cade will baseballand beyond became doubles, atriple and four homers; hit series-clinching Hamilton –Eli Jackson, ChristianLoving James Clemens and Austin. have to step up as the 1and 2 clearer. single to beat Huntsville in first round of playoffs Lawrence County–LukeStofer Thepastspring was ayear and really set an example for Taylor was unsatisfied UT –Thorne Tapp, Sr., Brooks: Acapable outfielder Muscle Shoals –ChandlerMoon ofchangeforFlorence,which what we want to do this next with back-to-back outings as well as pitcher, Tapp didn’t rack up Ks but excelled Rogers –DevinGooch madeitsdebutinClass7Aand season,” Taylor said. “We midwaythroughtheyear,but at drawing weak contact. Aseason highlight was his Russellville –Hunter Briles endedupbeingitsfirstplayoff want to make arun for the he studied video and worked Wilson –Payton Graham appearance in three years. blue map. We have to set an with Florence’s pitching Significant change looms exampleandshowwhatwe’re coach at the time –David against Huntsville, and that tobe,”Taylorsaid.“It’supto given the competition Flor- again, as Langston and head about.” Langston –and sensed a set up his dominance against me how good Ican be.” ence faced. coach Steve Garrett resigned little improvement against Hewitt-Trussville. Taylor finished the year Taylor’s starts came after the season. —Contact Craig at Craig. Bob Jones. He felt better still “The Hewitt-Trussville with a5-3 record, one save against 7A state champ No matter who the new [email protected]. against Austin and in the outingreallyjustsignifiedthat and a2.28 ERA. Those num- McGill-Toolen,7Arunner- coach is, Taylor and starting Follow him on Twitter: first round of the playoffs Ican be just as good as Iwant bersareevenmoreimpressive upBobJones,6Astatechamp pitcherCadeHenry—among @TD_CraigThomas