This team returns a ton, but I'm thinking we'll see a few of the RS frosh make an impact this fall.
QB - tough group to crack, but hopefully Jake Z is healthy and ready to compete. Another year to get bigger and stronger...3rd on the depth chart probably.
RB - Same as above in terms of depth, but Sanders will take another step forward this year. Barkley is a freak but also works hard which will rub off on Sanders hopefully. He has a fight on his hand to get snaps with A Rob for that #2. Hopefully he adds a bit of mass this spring. He still had a few TD's last year for us and showed in the Iowa game that he can make a decent return. I think he gets more confident in year #2 and makes some big plays this fall.
OL - McGovern already is a starter and I expect him to be even better in year 2. Full year in the S&C will help there. Menet...early rumblings is maybe he gets a look at that C position or does he flip with McGovern. Big, freaky, athletic kid who may start this year. Between Bates, McGovern, and Menet...really solid interior for at least 2 years coming up. Fries almost had the shirt pulled and with Nelly recovering he may make a push for one of the T spots (RT I imgaine). Alex G was another pleasant surprise apparently and he too should be battling to make the 2 deep this fall hopefully. Really solid group brought in last year.
TE - Dalton was a bit lean, but the oppurtunity to move up the depth chart is there at TE if Bowers can't get healthy. Needs to get bigger, but should challenge to get in the 3 deep. He needs to see the field some this year hopefully as Mike G is gone next year.
WR - Darien is a big body who seems to move ok. Very tough group to crack the 2 deep, but he needs to be ready to step up by next year. I'm not expecting to see him much this fall so if he does, that is a pleasant surprise.
LB - Brown played as a true frosh and clearly wasn't physically or mentally ready yet. He doesn't not move like a 6-5 kid as he is very fluid, but he needs to add at least 10 pounds this offseason. He'll be in the 2 deep for sure and will see the field a ton next year. Biggest jump usually occurs between year 1 and 2 in most positions (OL is the exception IMO..2-3 years there). Toney was recruited at DE, but unless he really gets big in a hurry he may end up here. He had a good year on the scout team so we'll just have to see where he shakes out this spring and where he goes.
DE - Simmons and Joseph are two interesting young guys. Both were highly regarded and both are in a spot where the 2 starters are gone. We know how the DL rotates and I expect to see Simmons if not both making some noise this year. I'll be interested to see how much mass Simmons puts on as I anticipate he'll be 250+ this year which is plenty big enough for a RS frosh DE. Joseph was already a bit bigger, but it was pretty quiet on him last year.
DT - Shelton and Jordan had the luxury of shirting after the sky was falling at DT last year or so we were told by the resident experts here. Jordan is another Givens IMO as he is a bit smaller, but pretty explosive. I think he'll be pushing 285-290 by the fall, but there is a deep experienced group ahead of him. Same with Shelton who is already at 290 and maybe be gets near 300 this fall. Both will have another full year to grow and I expect a much bigger impact next year from these two.
CB - Z Mac is another guy where there was some smoke about lifting his shirt. Deep group ahead of him, but apparently he can really play. I think he'll play this fall at least on special teams and may seem some time at CB as that group is a bit older and some younger guys need to be ready to go.
Safety - Anthony Johnson is a big of an enigma. I can't see him at CB being 6-2, but he also was very thin coming out of HS so maybe he does stick there. Once in a while you get to scoop up some Ohio leftovers and they turn out to be pretty decent players. I'm not sure how ready he is to play if at all, but maybe he makes a push to get on some special teams units. I would imagine he needs one more year in the weight room to really be ready to compete, but you never know.
QB - tough group to crack, but hopefully Jake Z is healthy and ready to compete. Another year to get bigger and stronger...3rd on the depth chart probably.
RB - Same as above in terms of depth, but Sanders will take another step forward this year. Barkley is a freak but also works hard which will rub off on Sanders hopefully. He has a fight on his hand to get snaps with A Rob for that #2. Hopefully he adds a bit of mass this spring. He still had a few TD's last year for us and showed in the Iowa game that he can make a decent return. I think he gets more confident in year #2 and makes some big plays this fall.
OL - McGovern already is a starter and I expect him to be even better in year 2. Full year in the S&C will help there. Menet...early rumblings is maybe he gets a look at that C position or does he flip with McGovern. Big, freaky, athletic kid who may start this year. Between Bates, McGovern, and Menet...really solid interior for at least 2 years coming up. Fries almost had the shirt pulled and with Nelly recovering he may make a push for one of the T spots (RT I imgaine). Alex G was another pleasant surprise apparently and he too should be battling to make the 2 deep this fall hopefully. Really solid group brought in last year.
TE - Dalton was a bit lean, but the oppurtunity to move up the depth chart is there at TE if Bowers can't get healthy. Needs to get bigger, but should challenge to get in the 3 deep. He needs to see the field some this year hopefully as Mike G is gone next year.
WR - Darien is a big body who seems to move ok. Very tough group to crack the 2 deep, but he needs to be ready to step up by next year. I'm not expecting to see him much this fall so if he does, that is a pleasant surprise.
LB - Brown played as a true frosh and clearly wasn't physically or mentally ready yet. He doesn't not move like a 6-5 kid as he is very fluid, but he needs to add at least 10 pounds this offseason. He'll be in the 2 deep for sure and will see the field a ton next year. Biggest jump usually occurs between year 1 and 2 in most positions (OL is the exception IMO..2-3 years there). Toney was recruited at DE, but unless he really gets big in a hurry he may end up here. He had a good year on the scout team so we'll just have to see where he shakes out this spring and where he goes.
DE - Simmons and Joseph are two interesting young guys. Both were highly regarded and both are in a spot where the 2 starters are gone. We know how the DL rotates and I expect to see Simmons if not both making some noise this year. I'll be interested to see how much mass Simmons puts on as I anticipate he'll be 250+ this year which is plenty big enough for a RS frosh DE. Joseph was already a bit bigger, but it was pretty quiet on him last year.
DT - Shelton and Jordan had the luxury of shirting after the sky was falling at DT last year or so we were told by the resident experts here. Jordan is another Givens IMO as he is a bit smaller, but pretty explosive. I think he'll be pushing 285-290 by the fall, but there is a deep experienced group ahead of him. Same with Shelton who is already at 290 and maybe be gets near 300 this fall. Both will have another full year to grow and I expect a much bigger impact next year from these two.
CB - Z Mac is another guy where there was some smoke about lifting his shirt. Deep group ahead of him, but apparently he can really play. I think he'll play this fall at least on special teams and may seem some time at CB as that group is a bit older and some younger guys need to be ready to go.
Safety - Anthony Johnson is a big of an enigma. I can't see him at CB being 6-2, but he also was very thin coming out of HS so maybe he does stick there. Once in a while you get to scoop up some Ohio leftovers and they turn out to be pretty decent players. I'm not sure how ready he is to play if at all, but maybe he makes a push to get on some special teams units. I would imagine he needs one more year in the weight room to really be ready to compete, but you never know.
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