Much has been said about the Bowling Green football program’s jump from mediocrity in college football to the top 25 and beyond.
In the past four years, the Falcons have been on national television nine times, won 27 games, two bowl games and it’s paying off, literally.
Four-year starter Scott Mruczkowski was drafted in the seventh round of the NFL Draft and is now headed to San Diego to play for the Chargers as the only Falcon drafted in the 2005 NFL Draft.
But that was only the beginning for BG.
Monday, three more Falcons were inked to NFL deals.
Cole Magner signed with Atlanta, moving him even farther from home and even closer to Michael Vick.
Shaun Suisham took his golden toe to the steel city as he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
And last but not least, defensive back Keon Newson headed for the arches in St. Louis and signed up with the Rams.
The four signees are just another measure of how Bowling Green is quickly climbing the college football ladder.
After a 2002 season saw the Falcons start the season 8-0 and climb as high as No. 16 in the college football rankings before finishing the season 9-3, the Falcons had wide out Robert Redd sign a free agent contract.
Then, after a Motor City Bowl title and a No. 23 final ranking in 2003, the Falcons had quarterback Josh Harris drafted and corner back Janssen Patton signed as an undrafted free agent.
That makes this year’s four signees and draftees all the more impressive. It also makes one think that maybe the pattern will continue and next year the Falcons will have eight players sign NFL contracts.
While that is probably the stupidest idea I’ll come up with in this story, the current pattern does show that BG’s talent level is consistently increasing, and it appears the trend will not slow soon.
Next year’s team will reload with the same kind of talent.
There are a pair of linemen that appear capable of stepping into Mruczkowski’s all-MAC roll and, in a way, already have. Freshman Kory Lichtensteiger and junior Rob Warren were each All-MAC selections last year.
Magner took his BG record 215 career receptions with him to Atlanta. But the Falcons still have a pair of knockout receivers in Steve Sanders and Chuck Sharon. Sanders had a break out season with 984 yards and eight touchdowns last season, while every touchdown Sharon scores from here on out will add to his BG record 28 touchdowns catches.
Newson, the Falcons’ top defensive play maker a year ago, leaves behind a defensive backfield with three returning starters.
The only question is which one will step up and become the secondary’s big time play maker.
Suisham appears to be the most irreplaceable, but only because he has been kicking the ball for so long. He has been the kicker the last four years and has used that time to make an NCAA record 226 extra points. But Joe Timchenko appears to have the ability to be a big time kicker. In his few opportunities, he hasn’t disappointed. Last year against Southeast Missouri, he hit a 40-yard field goal, and in the 2005 spring game, he hit all seven of his extra point attempts on top of hitting a 36 yarder.
While it’s sad to see BG greats like Newson, Mruczkowski, Magner and Suisham leave, it is becoming easier and easier for the team to replace their stars.
