M E R I D I A N     M A G A Z I N E

More LDS Football!
by Kelly L. Martinez

Meridian readers, once again, have been instrumental in keeping me apprised of LDS football players that I’ve missed in my research. This week, we identify some of those college football players that were missed last time around. In addition, we’ll take a quick look at the NFL to see how our fellow Saints in pro football are faring.

College Ranks

Backup quarterback Spencer Brinton (#7) has passed for 121 yards on 11-of-21 passing this season for No. 15 Michigan (8-2, 5-1). The Wolverines will host Wisconsin (6-5, 1-5) this Saturday, Nov. 16, in a Big Ten clash…Linebacker Chauncey Ako (#55) has made 73 tackles and 2.5 sacks for Boise State this season. Ranked No. 23 in the polls, the Broncos (9-1, 6-0) will host Louisiana Tech (3-6, 2-3) in a Western Athletic Conference game this Saturday…Defensive end Jonathan Mapu is currently a freshman at Tennessee and has decided to serve a mission. Part of the recruiting agreement with Tennessee was that he would be excused for two years and would be able to return to a scholarship after his mission. Mapu was the first player out of Hawaii that Tennessee has ever successfully recruited…Tight end Tyson Thompson (#80) has made seven catches for 120 yards for San Diego State this season. Thompson signed with BYU out of high school but found himself at Palomar J.C. in southern California after his mission and prior to transferring to SDSU. The Aztecs (3-7, 3-2) will host No. 17 Colorado State (8-2, 4-0) this Saturday, Nov. 16, in a key Mountain West Conference match up…Quarterback Jason Fife (#12) has had to fill some big shoes at the University of Oregon. Fife replaced Joey Harrington as the Ducks’ starting quarterback after Harrington was selected No. 3 in the 2002 NFL draft by Detroit. Fife has thrown for 2396 yards, 21 touchdowns, and has only been intercepted six times this season. No. 22 Oregon (7-3, 3-3) will host Pac-10 rival Washington (5-5, 2-4) this Saturday…

The Big Boys

Linebacker Rob Morris (#94) has started all nine games for Indianapolis this season and is third on the team in tackles with 33...Quarterback Ty Detmer (#14) has yet to log any statistics for Detroit this season…Defensive tackle Junior Ione (#92) has played in three games for Oakland this season and has registered one sack…Running back Luke Staley (#33) has yet to compile any numbers for Detroit this season…Defensive end Travis Hall (#98) is currently second on the Atlanta’s depth chart and has tallied 10 tackles and one sack this season…Quarterback Brandon Doman (#11) has yet to gather any stats this season and is presently third on the 49ers’ depth chart…Tight end Itula Mili (#89) has started six games for Seattle this season making 21 catches for 205 yards and two touchdowns…Defensive tackle Kyle Turley (#68) has started all nine games for New Orleans this season but has made only two tackles…Baltimore’s Todd Heap (#86) is the starting tight end and leads the team in receptions with 38 for 430 yards and four touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 21 yards in two carries…Tight end Brandon Manumaleuna (#86) has started seven games for St. Louis and has made five catches for 75 yards…Offensive tackle John Tait (#76) continues to play well for Kansas City. He has started all nine games this season…

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