Position Breakdown 2011: Fullbacks / H-backs

Returning Lettermen: Austin Raphael
Newcomers: Malique Micenheimer
Lost: None

Austin Raphael: Ready to Go Out with a Bang
Sr, 6-2, 225
Jamestown (Sonora HS)

After years of trying to find the right position fit, Austin Raphael has settled in nicely at the fullback/H-back spot. Raphael absorbed the responsibilities and welcomed the role, becoming quite the team player. He caught 6 passes for 79 yards last season, including a touchdown at ole miss. The Bulldogs won’t need him much in the passing game, but if he can get open in a couple of crucial situations each game it will suit the offense perfectly. As is the case with most Fresno State fullbacks and tight ends, the main task is blocking and opening holes for the skill position guys.

Riley Barnes: A Barnes Burner
R-Fr, 6-3, 220
Tulare (Tulare Union HS)

Valley walk-on Riley Barnes has quickly ascended the depth chart and put in a serious battle for playing time. An impressive spring camp left coaches and fans thinking he could play an impact this season – and he may – but Barnes’ first couple of weeks were so-so. Not the type of performance he’d need to beat out veterans like Raphael for reps. That said, Barnes is more of a ‘tweener at the position and could also see time as a true tight end lining up on the line of scrimmage. The biggest concern with Barnes right now is his hands. He was inconsistent catching the ball from tight end and H-back in fall camp, but it’s obvious coaches expect a lot out of him with the attention and detail given to his assignments at practice.

Malique Micenhemier: More than Merely a Freshman
Fr, 6-1, 225
Stockton (McNair HS)

In one of the biggest moves of fall camp, true freshman Malique Micenheimer was moved from linebacker to fullback after Tapa Taumopeau’s season-ending injury. Micenhemier is a promising young linebacker, and one of the Bulldogs’ best looking recruits. He looked to have the potential to play linebacker as a true, but the move to fullback helps the Bulldogs at a position with far less depth. Micenheimer quickly got the comparisons to former ‘Dog great Lorenzo Neal because he’s also wearing No. 22, but it’s far too early for that. Neal was a premier ball carrier in college – something no fullback has been under Pat Hill. But Micenheimer did get a few carries in camp, and showed he can catch the ball out of the backfield and deliver blows. He’s a big, strong kid with a lot of promise at either position. And get this – he even took some first-team reps. It’s very likely he could play right away and also make an impact on special teams. Keep an eye on No. 22.

Position Rating:

Position Breakdown 2010: Fullbacks

Returning: Austin Raphael, Dylan Cruz, Ibe Nduka

Newcomers: Tim House

Lost: Reynard Camp

Austin Raphael: Offense likely won't be sans Raphael

Jr, 6'2", 225

Jamestown (Sonora HS)

It remains to be seen how Fresno State plans to use its fullbacks this season, but all signs point to not much in the passing game. No one on the depth chart has a single career reception, including Austin Raphael, who was converted from linebacker before last season and is the only player with game experience. Raphael doesn't have the pulverizing build of recent stud fullbacks Reynard Camp, Nathan Adams and Roshon Vercher, but the Bulldogs' offense is built more around speedy, shifty athletes who can spread the field nowadays. Raphael received essentially all first-team reps in fall camp.

DaCo on Raphael: Raphael is one of several fullbacks, who, because of Fresno State's evolving style of offense, will likely have a minimal role. Raphael's biggest potential for impact is as a mismatch in the flats against linebackers, because he does possess decent speed and skill with the ball. However, for those mismatches to come into play, he'll also have to establish himself as a valued run blocker.

FSDogs1 on Raphael: Despite his 0 career catches, Raphael is capable of being a last-read target for Ryan Colburn. But what will really determine how good he'll be at the position is how his impact blocking comes along. One thing is for sure -- he's improved from last season.

Dylan Cruz: All aboard the Cruz ship

R-Fr, 5'11", 225

Fontana (Redlands East Valley HS)

For now, Dylan Cruz is a young walk-on nobody knows about. But don't count on that being the case for long. He redshirted last season and has the prototypical power fullback build. Couple that with tailback-like footwork and a linebacker's explosiveness, and you've got a heck of a fullback prospect. That's what Cruz is. Fresno State has a history of turning walk-ons into difference makers at the position (Reynard Camp, Nathan Adams, Stephen Spach) and Cruz just might be the next in line. That said, if Austin Raphael remains the starter, and the Bulldogs don't plan for the fullback to be a big part of the offense, Raphael may be the only one to dress, given Fresno State's tight end position flexibility.

DaCo on Cruz: Simply put, Cruz is a tremendous athlete. Watching his reps in practice, it's easy to earmark him as the guy with the impressive physique and the agility of a running back. His potential as a bulldozer type is very much unproven though, even in his practice time. Still, Cruz is a hybrid-type player at the position, and is a legitimate prospect at fullback.

FSDogs1 on Cruz: Sign me up for the Dylan Cruz fan club. I've seen enough talent during his practice reps to be sold on his potential, but came away from fall camp wishing he would have been given more of a shot at a starting role.

Ibe Nduka: One guy you don't want to Nduk' it out with

R-Fr, 6'0", 220

Etiwanda (Etiwanda HS)

Though he's not yet up to par with the others competing for playing time, Ibe Nduka might have the most upside -- the most room to blossom. He was converted from defensive end during his redshirt season and has the powerful, compact frame, but doesn't yet hit the gaps with the same tenacity you'd want out of a starter.

DaCo on Nduka: The first day I saw Nduka, I muttered aloud that his build fit the fullback mold perfectly. One spring later, I had to figure out something else to mutter. Nduka is built powerfully and strong, pretty much ideal for a full-time battering ram. He's very much raw at the position, and hasn't quite grasped his new role (as a blocker) quite as quickly as hoped, though he still might be the best at it of this group.

FSDogs1 on Nduka: He's an intriguing prospect because of his build alone, but right now it's tough to tell how bad he wants to excel at the position.

Tim House: House finding a home at fullback

Fr, 6'3", 240

Oakdale (Oakdale HS)

Like Dylan Cruz, walk-on true freshman Tim House has tailback-type footwork and might be the fastest in the group. He's also the biggest. House's high school film shows he has running ability, which could evolve into a role for him down the road -- but not this season.

DaCo on House: The deeper you dig into this position, the more you realize the bodies and potential at fullback are there. House clearly brings a rare ability to run the ball effectively with power, but he has extremely limited experience sacrificing his body for the guy behind him. If House develops the confidence to steal this job down the road, he can offer great value to the offense.

FSDogs1 on House: Two years from now, the 'Dogs could be stocked at fullback with Tim House and Dylan Cruz. They are both under-the-radar prospects who could be strong suits later on.

Position Ratings:

Be the Hammer: san jose was full of nails, and we hear new mexico state has a bunch too

There are several players eligible for sledgehammer duties this week after a physically dominant performance in all three facets of the game against san jose state, including special teams. That's where this blog comes in.

Despite not being able to get up a Be the Hammer blog last week, the Bulldog Bounce board of execs did expect offensive lineman Andrew Jackson (who took the honors) to run out of the Dog House with the hammer, for his big-time momentum changer after blocking a hawaii field goal attempt.

It was just mere weeks ago when we at the Bounce were clamoring for more physical play, and there have been some very worthy candidates who have responded. Of course we can't ignore the fact that the recipient of this week's award has done his damage against the spartans, but it's still fun to watch our guys lay the wood, chest bump and celebrate off the field while their guys walk in an un-choreographed, zig-zag, drunk-type walk back to the sideline.

Unfortunately, video for this game appears to be nonexistent, so the entertainment -- if you'll allow for such a stretch -- of the Fresno State special teams squads playing puppeteer to the spartans will have to be solely expressed through words.

I've put up four Bulldogs as candidates for the hammer this week, which was as far as I could narrow it down, a problem I (and I'm sure Bulldogs coaches) love having.

For those in the know, it should come as no surprise that Anthony Harding will walk away as the hammer winner this week. Sorry for spoiling the surprise for the rest of you, but unless something has changed in the very recent past, Harding is your guy.

But alas, we also have a winner to announce. Here's the rundown on the 4 guys we've selected:

• Anthony Harding, RB - blocked punt: Just prior to the play, Bullogs coaches literally designed a plan of attack on the sidelines that they had not practiced nor discussed yet this season. This included bringing return man Marlon Moore up from his returner position to overload one side of the line, and assisted in getting Harding more space to get his hands on the kick. Blocked kicks are always big-time, and I personally love the fact that the best athletes relish the opportunity to make plays on special teams, Ryan Mathews included.

• Michael Harris, RB - Hit and tackle on kickoff coverage: Harris ran down the field, maintained his lane and came around the edge to tee off on the san jose state return man. I have a special place in my heart for a de-cleating tackle executed with perfect form.

• Vince Pascoe, TE - shield block in punt formation: I've been told Pascoe uses every ounce of his frame (which is undersized for a tight end), but the best proof of that came this past Saturday when Pascoe Uncle Phil-ed some poor spartan player. Standing next to Matt Hunt on one side of what turns into a 3-man wall, or shield to protect punter Robert Malone, Pascoe grabbed the foolish spartan (who had first run into Hunt), and proceeded to pick him up and toss him a yard off to the side, where the spartan player laid back on ground and feet in air.

• Austin Raphael, TE - KO hit on player with embarrassed teammates: I made reference to the stumbling drunk earlier in the blog, and that was only borderline exaggeration to central nervous system control this poor spartan player was left with after Raphael's hit. Had he been thirsting for a beer afterward and there was a fridge full of beer on the sidelines, part 2 of the youtube classic would have been born. Raphael ran down field and leveled this poor guy, who was left stumbling all alone to the sidelines with the rest of the field already cleared while teammates were nowhere to be found to help him find his way.

As you can see, fans at the game got their money's worth with these four plays alone, as the combination of athletic ability and Fresno State dominance was entertaining beyond explanation. For those same reasons, I've selected the winner of this week's Be the Hammer award to be:

Austin Raphael, TE, No. 41

** Be the Hammer is part of a line of Fresno State football related features that gives us the opportunity to further discuss the 'Dogs in more facets. This time, it's in regards to special teams.

Summer position changes

With Fresno State football fall camp mere weeks away, it was interesting to see guys getting work at new positions today at Valley Growers Field.

Most notably, perhaps, was Porter Hill working out at right tackle and getting lots of hands-on attention from starting center Joey Bernardi (who, along with quarterback Ryan Colburn, has been a de facto coach during voluntary workouts). Hill was a highly touted defensive tackle coming out of high school, but now is playing alongside his cousin Leslie Cooper on the offensive side.

Another interesting development is former linebacker Austin Raphael making the move to tight end. Raphael has seen bits and pieces of playing time at linebacker, but with younger talent coming in he might be better utilized at tight end -- as long as he can work on the hands.

The other transition is former Sanger High product Justin Webber moving from running back to safety -- not a huge surprise considering his was a 'tweener coming out of high school.