Ahh, that new player smell! A number of players with San Diego connections are set to rise to the forefront in the NFL for the first time this season, and there is also a scent of renewal among a number of local veterans whose careers had been facing hard times.
As of now, it looks like renewal is bigger than the fresh and new, but we'll start with the latter. The top dog among them appears to be RB Arian Foster, who appears ready to become the feature back of the Houston Texans. Foster is a Mission Bay High product who was the primary ball-carrier for Tennessee but never really became a star in Knoxville. QB Josh Johnson, the former USD superstar, will start this weekend for Tampa Bay because of an injury to starter Josh Freeman, and who knows what can happen with a big performance? The other major newcomer is Lance Louis, who left San Diego State under criminal investigation for an assault in a team meeting room but is now set to start at G for the Chicago Bears. Life can lead you on a strange path.
The big news, though, ought to come from the veterans who will find themselves finally ready to fulfill expectations, or are in new places with big shoes to fill. The most microscopes will focus on San Francisco QB Alex Smith, who has had four average or worse seasons since the 49ers took him first in the NFL draft. The 'niners look like a potential division champ, but need the Helix High alumnus to get them there. All reports out of SF the past year or so have said he's finally ready, but injuries have slowed his progress. Now, if the offensive line can keep him alive, we'll see if he's ready for stardom.
Kirk Morrison has moved from the middle of the Oakland Raiders defense to the center of the Jacksonville Jaguars stoppers, who seem much happier to have him than his hometown employers ever did. The SDSU product is set to start for a LB corps that includes former Aztecs Russell Allen -- a Vista High alum slated to be the top backup -- and Freddy Keiaho, the former Colt who is on injured-reserve with a concussion.
For the Chargers, former Aztec offensive lineman Brandyn Dombrowski is set to play a major role for a unit that will be watched closely this season, and ex-SDSU LB Antwan Applewhite will hope his ability to make plays finally gets noticed by coaches, who really need to get him on the field more often.
Former SDSU T Chester Pitts, the longtime Texans starter and Super Bowl TV commercial star, might start in place of injured Russell Okung for the Seahawks for a couple of weeks. That is even though Pitts missed all the exhibition games because of injury. Khalif Barnes of Mount Miguel High will be the Raiders main backup at LT. G Stephen Neal (San Diego High) returns to the Patriots line after being hurt last year.
OTHER LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCTS:
-- RB Reggie Bush of Helix High (New Orleans Saints)
-- LB Brandon Chillar of Carlsbad High (Green Bay Packers)
-- LB Travis Goethel of Vista High (Oakland Raiders)
-- CB Leon Hall of Vista High (Cincinnati Bengals)
-- WR Marcus Smith of Morse High (Baltimore Ravens)
-- WR Brett Swain of Carlsbad High and SDSU (Green Bay Packers)
-- LB Pisa Tinoisamoa of Vista High (Chicago Bears)
-- WR Roberto Wallace of Oceanside High and SDSU (Miami Dolphins)
-- RB Ricky Williams of Patrick Henry High (Miami Dolphins)
OTHER SAN DIEGO STATE PLAYERS
-- LB Heath Farwell (Minnesota Vikings)
-- RB Lynell Hamilton (New Orleans Saints)
-- WR Kassim Osgood (Jacksonville Jaguars)
-- WR Chaz Schilens (Oakland Raiders)
By the way, Hamilton is on IR and Schilens might miss the first couple of months with another injury. More fuel for the "why does SDSU suck?" mystery: 14 alumni will be on NFL opening weekend rosters in 2010, including the two IRs.
This list is after the weekend cut-down to the final 53-man rosters. The eyes can glaze over while researching this stuff, so let me know if I've missed someone.
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