BEREA — Joshua Cribbs is following his Kent State Golden Flashes to their first College World Series. And he’s looking for company.
Cribbs, a proud alumnus, is chartering a bus to take fans to Omaha, Neb. Interested fans can go to teamcribbs.com for details.
“I’m going to do my part in making sure those guys have a fan base out there cheering for them,” he said Tuesday after practice at organized team activities. “This is a lifetime opportunity.
“I love that they’re giving us something to cheer for, especially during this offseason.”
Cribbs, a Browns receiver and special teamer, was getting a massage when Kent State beat Oregon on a walk-off hit Monday in the decisive game of the Super Regionals.
“I jumped off the table,” Cribbs said. “I felt like I was at the game. I was jumping around. I grabbed my phone, tweeting.
“T.J. (Ward, safety) went to Oregon, I was like, ‘We beat them seagulls,’ messing with him. I can’t get enough. They’re going to the big show. That’s what it’s all about.”
Cribbs said he was so nervous he had to stop watching the game at one point.
“They had me on pins and needles,” he said. “I turned back from the game, they were getting me too stressed out while I was getting stretched and massaged. It was too tense. Then when (Oregon) came back, I couldn’t look. It was epic.
“They’ve always had an elite team and it’s about time they started getting recognized for it.”
Cribbs said baseball was his first sport.
“It runs deep with me,” he said. “I’m going to be supporting them to the end.”
Safety Usama Young also went to Kent State.
“He said he was getting a bus,” Young said of Cribbs. “I said, ‘Make sure you’ve got room for me.’ I’m going to support.”
Crazy for Cameron
Second-year tight end Jordan Cameron has created positive buzz with his offseason work. He had six catches for 33 yards in eight games last year, getting two starts in two-tight end sets.
“I’m only comparing training camp to an offseason, but he’s one of the players in my mind at his position that’s made the biggest jump in my eyes,” coach Pat Shurmur said. “I see a guy that didn’t play much football before he got here. He competed and really showed the world that he had some skill and ability, and now in this offseason he’s gotten his body stronger. He looks more explosive. I think he’s done a pretty good job out here running routes.”
Cameron was a fourth-round pick.
All about the Benjamin
Rookie receiver Travis Benjamin, a fourth-round pick, made two nice catches from quarterback Seneca Wallace — a deep in route and a 50-yarder downfield in coverage.
“I think we’ve seen where he can catch the ball in the deep part of the field,” Shurmur said. “It’s nice to be able to run fast, but as you’re far away from the quarterback, being able to track the ball is something that you need to be able to do, and I think he can do that.
“He is a good route runner. We can’t bump and run in these camps, so I can’t see him against press coverage, but from what I can tell he has the quickness to separate. We’ll know more about all that once we get into training camp.”
Benjamin has elite speed and said he once clocked 4.26 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
“Knowing my speed I know I could mostly run past anybody, so I just work on the little things, coming in and out of my breaks and focusing more on the ball,” he said. “I’m in the film room more. I’m outside and they coach me on everything I do and make sure that I’m precise with everything.”
Benjamin could be a factor in the return game, but struggled catching punts Tuesday.
Cooper’s town
Rookie receiver Josh Cooper, undrafted out of Oklahoma State, has opened eyes during the last month of practices. He will be in competition for a roster spot during training camp.
“I’m very impressed with what I’ve seen from him,” Shurmur said. “I think he generally gets it.
“He understands how to uncover in the slot area. There is something to that because you are surrounded by lots of guys, and to understand leverage and how to get open is a skill and a talent. He showed that. He catches the ball well and once he catches the ball he understands how to get yardage, so those are all attributes that are important for a receiver.”
Cooper was college teammates with quarterback Brandon Weeden and they will work out together in the break before training camp.
The Thunder rolls
Weeden lives in Oklahoma and is a huge fan of the Oklahoma City Thunder. So his pick for the NBA Finals wasn’t a surprise.
“Thunder in six,” he said.
Weeden was informed the Thunder has a lot of fans in Cleveland, because it’s facing LeBron James.
“I heard a lot of that yesterday at the golf outing,” he said.
Extra points
- OTAs will run through Friday, then the veterans will be on their own until training camp in late July. The rookies will remain in town through June.
- Kicker Phil Dawson didn’t attend practice, as expected. He attended the mandatory minicamp last week, but skipped the rest of the offseason practices to remain with his family in Texas.
- Several players went to Cedar Point after practice.
- Defensive back Johnson Bademosi and offensive lineman Jeff Shugarts, both rookie free agents, practiced for the first time since rookie minicamp. Neither was eligible to practice until their schools, Stanford and Ohio State, were done for the year.
- Veteran Oniel Cousins worked ahead of rookie Mitchell Schwartz at right tackle with the starters. Schwartz had been with the first team the last several practices.
- Offensive lineman Stanley Daniels returned to practice after missing time at the minicamp with an undisclosed injury. Defensive lineman Brian Schaefering (sports hernia surgery) and fullback Eddie Williams (back) remained sidelined.
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.
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