September 16, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

Unlikely pair in backfield

by Rick Eymer

Anthony Kimble came to Stanford as a highly-regarded wide receiver out of Baton Rouge while Nick Frank entered as un undersized nose tackle out of New Orleans.

These days the two players form an unlikely combination in the Cardinal backfield, not the least of which is their contribution to an improved running game.

They both changed positions for the good of the team last spring, and they also share a common bond because of Hurricane Katrina (see separate story).

Neither could have foreseen their current roles after productive high school careers, and neither could have guessed how connected they would become as Stanford (1-0) prepares for its home opener against UC Davis on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Last week, against Navy, Kimble rushed for 59 carries and caught three passes for another 28 yards and Frank led Stanford with six catches for 45 yards to go with three rushing yards on four carries. Both players scored their first collegiate touchdown.

Their respective position changes last spring was prompted because of a lack of depth at both spots. During spring practice, they were regarded more like insurance policies than actual dividends.

Frank was prominently mentioned in the spring outlook as a player who could vie for starting time right away at fullback. Kimble barely got a mention as a wide receiver prospect.

Both leapt over returning starters to earn the No. 1 spot at their respective positions. Kimble moved up swiftly, due, in part, to injuries to J.R. Lemon.

"It's been a surprise but I think everyone has been working hard," Kimble said. "We're all good at different things. I guess I just stepped up."

It helped that Kimble was primarily a running back in high school, and that he was moved to receiver because of his speed.

Kimble learned he was returning to running back the day after the spring game. He had spent all spring working as a wide receiver.

"When you look at the playbook, you mostly study your own position though you are aware of what other guys are supposed to be doing," he said. "I felt like I was getting comfortable as a wide receiver but I'm also pretty comfortable in the backfield. I had a lot of stuff to learn with the system, but so did everybody. I feel like we're all progressing."

While Kimble was always an offensive talent, Frank spent most of his life on defense.

"I've been a defensive guy for quite a while," Frank said. "I was a goal line tight end in high school, and maybe lined up that way five times. At age five I was a running back but as I got older I became a lineman."

Frank saw action in 21 of Stanford's 22 games the previous two years, recording 17 tackles, including three for losses and two quarterback sacks. Despite the partial success, Frank was aware of his own limitations.

"My family knew I wasn't suited to playing nose tackle in Division I football," he said. "It was hard for me to take on a double team and I battled to keep my weight up. My strength was my quickness."

Defensive line coach Dave Tipton, the elder statesman of all assistant coaches in the Pac-10 with 17 years at Stanford, originally suggested the move.

"He thought he was undersized for the defensive line but he was a tough player," Stanford coach Walt Harris said. "(Tipton) thought fullback would be a nice position for him. He didn't do as much running as we wanted but we think he's going to be a fine football player."

So there was Frank, lining up at fullback for the first time ever on the first day of spring camp.

"It was a little step into the unknown," Frank said. "At first, when I got the playbook it was a little overwhelming. But I slowly got comfortable with the plays until they have become second nature. It's so fresh for me and as I settle in, it's become relatively simple. There's a lot about it which is just reacting."

Frank continues to struggle with running passing routes but that didn't stop him from being the Cardinal's top receiver against the Midshipmen. It also helps that the fullback is an integral part of the West Coast Offense both in establishing the run and in the short passing game.

Frank was able to turn his defensive prowess into an offensive asset in hitting holes as the lead blocker, or getting to the outside on plays like Gerren Crochet's 46-yard touchdown run against Navy.

"Blocking is still a part of it and you have to understand what the play is trying to do," Frank said. "It's not always about dominating a guy. There are times when it's just you and the linebacker and the best man wins. That's the raw football part of it. That's real easy for me even when I didn't have a great hold of plays. I think being able to do that helped me stay in the mix."

Even though he was confident in his pass receiving skills, he never expected to catch so many passes in a game.

"I knew I would be able to catch the ball, I didn't know they would throw it to me," he said. "I certainly never rushed the ball before. Growing up, I played anything with a ball. I was dirty and played in the mud. It was just what we did. I was usually a receiver or quarterback so I guess I developed by just playing."

NOTES: Gunn grad Thomas Blake (6-4, 225) is a redshirt freshman defensive end for the Aggies. He has two tackles in his first two games, one for a loss and the other a quarterback sack . . . Stanford coach Walt Harris believes in "all that spirit stuff," and tries to involve the school band in activities. On Stanford's band: "I have not met those people yet." . . . Stanford and UC Davis will be meeting for the second time ever, though the two schools met for a scrimmage in 2003. Stanford beat the Aggies, 59-0, in 1932 . . . Cardinal assistant coach Nathaniel Hackett is a UC Davis grad . . . Stanford kicker Michael Sgroi has made seven of his 10 career field goal attempts from 40 yards or longer . . . T.J. Rushing needs 39 more kickoff return yards to become the seventh player in school history to gain 1,000 career yards.

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