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Wildcats have options on offense

Thomason photo courtesy UNH athletics

By ALLEN LESSELS

DURHAM – Running back Myles Thomason was the University of New Hampshire football team’s go-to guy on offense last season to the tune of 94.5 all-purpose yards per game.

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He led the Wildcats with 736 yards rushing at 3.6 per carry with four rushing scores and caught 30 passes for 233 yards and another TD. He also was the team’s leading punt returner, averaging 12.9 yards on 18 returns.

Thomason is back for his final season to reprise his role and first-year head coach Sean Goldrich and the offense are also looking forward to seeing just what they have in a mix of newcomers and returning Wildcats at the skill positions.

UNH opens the season Friday night at UAlbany in a Coastal Athletic Association league contest at 7.

“I want to be the glue guy and I want to fit in and do everything I can to bring the team success,” the 5-foot-9, 189-pound Thomason said during the team’s Media Day. “Whether that’s being a leader vocally and physically, whether that’s scoring touchdowns or protecting so the receivers can get open and make their plays on the edge, or punt returning. I want to do anything they ask me to do to drive us forward.”

Denzell Gibson, 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds, returns in the backfield as well and Josh Fillion, who caught a team-high 55 passes (for 614 yards and two scores) are familiar weapons.

Joquez Smith, a 5-foot-8 and 190-pound running back from Temple, and wide receivers Ja’Carree Kelly, 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds, from Delaware and Ty Carlson, 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds from the College of DuPage are among several transfers who could make immediate impacts.

Smith was a sometimes starter at Temple and was named to the Doak Walker list recognizing the top running backs in the country prior to last season. He was in the running back rotation at the start of the season before missing several games and eventually redshirting.

“We’re really excited about Joquez,” Goldrich said. “He’s really shown some flashes in practice and will be a nice counterpart to Myles.”

Over parts of three seasons, Smith rushed 115 times for 480 yards and a pair of touchdowns at Temple.

Kelly followed Goldrich from Delaware. He was third on the team with 34 catches last year for 327 yards and a touchdown and the year before had 17 catches for 171 yards and a score.

“Ja’Carree’s the type of guy when you put him in space and get him the ball he can really be an explosive playmaker for us,” Goldrich said. “I think a lot of guys in the locker room have fed off of his ability to separate and go attack the day.”

Carlson caught 31 passes for 607 yards and five touchdowns last year at College of DuPage in Illinois and helped his team to an 8-2 record and the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III national championship.

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