The University at Buffalo could be without sophomore tailback Mario Henry this weekend when the Bulls travel to Ball State.
UB coach Turner Gill on Tuesday said Henry is doubtful but the coach declined to specify Henry?s injury. A source indicated that Henry hurt a knee. He was seen walking with crutches following the Bulls? loss Saturday to Baylor. Henry?s injury could mean more work for redshirt freshman tailback Brandon Thermilus, who will back up sophomore James Starks.
?I feel pretty good about Brandon,? Gill said. ?He?s the third guy we have at this particular time and if the opportunity presents itself, he will get more reps.?
The son of former Houston Oilers running back Alonzo Highsmith, Thermilus has rushed for 41 yards on 10 carries and has six receptions for 45 yards. At 6-foot-2, 242 pounds, Thermilus is probably one of the biggest tailbacks in college football.
?He?s gotten stronger, he?s gotten faster and he?s the bigger of the three guys,? Gill said. ?He?s not a change of direction guy, he?s more of a straight-line guy with speed. He?s the more powerful back of the three guys. . . . We?ve always felt good about where he?s at and what he can do for us.?
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Gill likes to break the season up into quarters of three games, so he was asked to assess the Bulls? first quarter when he finished 1-2 with a win over Temple and losses to Rutgers and Penn State.
?I would just say I?m pleased with the way we are progressing,? he said. ?Each and every ball game we?ve gotten better in certain areas.?
Gill, a mild-mannered coach, said he?s particularly pleased with how relentless the team has become.
?I want to see guys, in a sense, in a controlled environment of violence because that?s what football is,? he said. ?It?s a sport where you?re going to have some contact. I want collisions, I want to see physical play and I see that when I watch the tape. Guys are running around making plays and hitting people.?
UB coach Turner Gill on Tuesday said Henry is doubtful but the coach declined to specify Henry?s injury. A source indicated that Henry hurt a knee. He was seen walking with crutches following the Bulls? loss Saturday to Baylor. Henry?s injury could mean more work for redshirt freshman tailback Brandon Thermilus, who will back up sophomore James Starks.
?I feel pretty good about Brandon,? Gill said. ?He?s the third guy we have at this particular time and if the opportunity presents itself, he will get more reps.?
The son of former Houston Oilers running back Alonzo Highsmith, Thermilus has rushed for 41 yards on 10 carries and has six receptions for 45 yards. At 6-foot-2, 242 pounds, Thermilus is probably one of the biggest tailbacks in college football.
?He?s gotten stronger, he?s gotten faster and he?s the bigger of the three guys,? Gill said. ?He?s not a change of direction guy, he?s more of a straight-line guy with speed. He?s the more powerful back of the three guys. . . . We?ve always felt good about where he?s at and what he can do for us.?
? ? ?
Gill likes to break the season up into quarters of three games, so he was asked to assess the Bulls? first quarter when he finished 1-2 with a win over Temple and losses to Rutgers and Penn State.
?I would just say I?m pleased with the way we are progressing,? he said. ?Each and every ball game we?ve gotten better in certain areas.?
Gill, a mild-mannered coach, said he?s particularly pleased with how relentless the team has become.
?I want to see guys, in a sense, in a controlled environment of violence because that?s what football is,? he said. ?It?s a sport where you?re going to have some contact. I want collisions, I want to see physical play and I see that when I watch the tape. Guys are running around making plays and hitting people.?
