June 21, 2006

Editor's Note: This preview of Texas State's cornerback position is the first in a series of insights into the 2006 Texas State football season. Generally, a new feature will run each Wednesday prior to the start of preseason camp.

SAN MARCOS - Jamarqus O'Neal and Walter Musgrove tend to loom the width of the playing field apart from one another. Together, they are the bookends of a secondary that should be a strong suit for Texas State this fall.

O'Neal earned a starting spot for the Bobcats at left cornerback last year as a junior college transfer. Musgrove made the move from the KAT back position look easy, starting all 11 regular-season games in 2005 before a shoulder injury sidelined him for the playoffs. Along with senior safeties Gary Shepard and Epsilon Williams and returning junior Daniel Varvel, they form one of the team's most experienced starting units.

"With having an older secondary, including older, more experienced players at the corners, I think this group should be the leaders of this team," said Texas State cornerbacks coach Jason Washington. "We talk about it each and every day. We talk about them being the first ones in line or the first ones to speak up. We want them to be those guys that are running from drill to drill and busting their tail each and every play."

Collectively, O'Neal and Musgrove bring that attitude to the Bobcat football program each and every day.

"At the cornerback positions we have guys who are going to be pretty special," Washington said. "They are both smart, hardworking kids who have great heads on their shoulders. I'm excited to watch them play and I am excited to coach them."

O'Neal signed with Texas State from Trinity Valley Community College where he was an All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference selection. Last year as a junior he was on the capturing side of five turnovers. He intercepted a team-leading three passes and also had two fumble recoveries. The Orange native was in on 23 tackles and was second on the squad with nine pass breakups.

"Jamarqus blossomed as the year went along," Washington said, reflecting on the 2005 season. "It was fun to watch his progression through the season. He became a key component of our defense.

"He is a guy, that if he continues to improve and brings the mindset he currently has to the field every day, he can be as good as he wants to be. He can be a very special player."

Across the field from O'Neal, Musgrove brings the credentials of a veteran player mature beyond his years. In addition to being an All-Southland Conference First Team pick as a junior, the Duncanville native has already earned his undergraduate degree. He will be a graduate student in the classroom this fall and a fifth-year senior on the playing field.

"Walter is the type of player Texas State can rely on 90 or 100 plays a game," Washington said. "He always gives his all. He has all the attributes and tools to play the boundary corner - he is physical, has a good mindset and is technique sound."

Last year Musgrove was in on 49 tackles in 11 regular-season games. He had six pass break ups and was credited with a quarterback sack. Look for the Bobcat defense to put him in a variety of situations that will allow him to help the Bobcats be all they can be in 2006.

"At the cornerback positions we have guys who are going to be pretty special. They are both smart, hardworking kids who have great heads on their shoulders. I'm excited to watch them play and I am excited to coach them." Jason Washington, Texas State Assistant Coach

Whether on the field, in the weight room or in the classroom, Musgrove has led by example.

"He's the kind of leader you can count on for others to look up to when things are good or when they may be bad," Washington said. "He is just a phenomenal person. His work habits helped him tremendously in his transition last year to cornerback. It was amazing to watch him grow from the season opener against Delta State to the Sam Houston State game."

Ultimately, it was the shoulder injury in the Sam Houston State game which will end up being a moment in Musgrove's career that will be a life saver. A follow-up x-ray following the injury led to the discovery of a mass in Musgrove's upper chest. Testing proved the mass to be Hodgkin's disease.

Musgrove's strong faith quickly led him to an understanding that his injury the night the Bobcats won a Southland Conference title was a blessing.

"We may have never known about the cancer," Washington said.

There were no indicators of the cancer growing in Musgrove's body and earlier this year he began chemo treatments which have set the senior on a course toward a full recovery.

Despite the bi-weekly chemo treatments, Musgrove continues to be a fixture with the program as he readies for his senior season. He was held out of contact drills but was on the practice field all he could. He has been in the weight room with his teammates and on the playing field of Bobcat Stadium going head-to-head with Texas State's receivers.

"Walter is the type of guy you have to stay on his tail and not allow him to do more than he should," Washington said, looking back on spring drills. "He has that self-drive about himself that he is going to get himself prepared and ready to go. He's self-motivated. He motivates me and is an inspiration."

Look for both Musgrove and O'Neal to be the motivators for a new crop of corners joining the Texas State squad this season.

Reedley College transfer Jervoress Crenshaw and Cisco Junior College transfer Morgan Taylor could both come in and be backups at the cornerback positions.

"Jervoress is a cover corner who will come up and stick you if he has the opportunity," Washington said. "His playing time is going to depend on how he picks up our system. Having been a wide receiver out of high school, he brings an inside knowledge of wide receivers to the cornerback position."

Washington summed up Taylor as "having a lot of raw ability."

"You can tell Morgan has a lot of athletic ability which he has not utilized to the fullest," he said. "He is a student of the game just like Walter and Jamarqus and could also be a special player."

Texas State's season opener comes Sept. 2 when the Bobcats play host to Tarleton State. Season tickets are currently on sale through the athletic ticket office located in Strahan Administrative Annex or by calling (877) 798-CATS.

BOBCAT TRACKS: Tickets remain available for Thursday night's benefit barbeque to assist the financial needs of Musgrove as well as Texas State track and field standout James Ortiz who was seriously injured in a traffic accident earlier this month. The barbeque brisket dinner will be served on the East Concourse of Bobcat Stadium from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and is being catered by Rudy's Country Store and Barbeque. Tickets are available from Texas State student-athletes for $8 per dinner and $30 for a whole brisket. Tickets will also be available at the gate Thursday evening.

In conjunction with Thursday's benefit dinner, Dr. Victor Rodriguez, who retired in 1994 after serving 12 years as the superintendent of the San Antonio School District, will be autographing copies of his inspirational book The Bell Ringer Thursday at Bobcat Stadium. Copies of the book will be available for $20 with proceeds also going toward the fund raiser. Rodriguez was a track and cross country runner on scholarship at both Victoria Junior College and the University of North Texas.