Matt Weir / The Collegian

The only red shirts Carr, Rouse and Brown will dawn for ̢۪Dogs in 2009 will be on the field

Every year there are many players on a football team that are expected to have an impact on the outcome of the season.

And most players know they will be counted on even before fall camp.

Then there are freshmen with hopes to find their way on the field in their first college season, but aren̢۪t sure if the coaching staff will red-shirt them or not.

A redshirt ends a true freshman̢۪s season and allows them and the team to preserve their four years of playing eligibility for when they are more prepared to play.

Quarterback Derek Carr, linebacker Travis Brown, and running back Robbie Rouse are true freshmen that are looking to contribute. Each of them has certain skills that set them apart from the rest of the 2009 freshman class.

“I think they’ll contribute,â€Â head coach Pat Hill said. “I don’t know how much yet but all of them are ready to compete at this level. All the kids are physically ready but those three have really grabbed it mentally. They all have great instincts for the game.â€Â

Carr is locked in a battle with Ryan Colburn to see who will lead the ̢۪Dogs this season and hopes to make an impact in any way that the team needs.

“Whatever impact they need me to have, I don’t really feel that I need to come out here and do anything special,â€Â Carr said. “We got guys out here that can make plays at all-times.â€Â

If Carr does not win the starting job, he will be the backup and prepare the defense for the opponents during practice on the scout team.

“During practice I will give the defense the best look I can and definitely just help the team out in that way,â€Â Carr said.

On the defensive side of the ball, Brown looks to step up and make plays for the Bulldogs. Brown, the son of late defensive coordinator coach Dan Brown, hopes to have an impact on the special teams this year and may get on the field during series in certain down situations.

And if he gets some playing time, Brown is ready to hit.

“Whether it is on special teams or if I have to be on the sidelines rooting on my team, I will contribute in that way as well,â€Â Brown said. “I hope that I get to go out there and hit somebody though.â€Â

Brown̢۪s greatest strength may be his football IQ, because he has been around football his entire life.

Running back Robbie Rouse said that he would like to bring new spice to the team and contribute in various ways and is already getting comparisons to former Fresno State player Clifton Smith because of their similar stature and skill set.

Rouse feels that it is an honor to be compared to Smith so early in his career.

“I look at it as a privilege because he did great things here and continues to do great things,â€Â Rouse said.

Hill agreed, saying that Rouse is like Smith, just a little bit faster. Rouse feels that his greatest strengths are being able to hide behind his blockers, being only 5 feet 7 inches tall.

Brown, Carr, and Rouse may have big impacts this season, but any one of them could be red-shirted and spend their first year on the sideline.

But either way, the Bulldogs know that what they can expect in the future from the highly-touted freshmen.