- Jun 11, 2014
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A lot of talk moving forward will be about next year. So why not look at the roster and see how we sit. Class will be as of 2019.
QB – Franks (RJR), Trask (RJR), Jones (SO?), Jones (FR)
If Jones takes over for Franks in the off season, I would expect Franks to transfer. I think a lot of that will depend on how much PT Jones gets this season and how well he responds to coaching. EJ could be a SO or a RSFR, but I expect that his RS is about to get burned.
Trask is going nowhere and will be a backup. Jalon Jones should be getting plenty of reps to get him ready to be the backup. Toney and Jayin Jackson can be emergency backups.
Even if Franks stays, this will be an improved group (not saying a lot). I think there is a good chance that Mullen gives Franks the reigns again, but plays EJ much more next year, but so much will depend on how EJ responds this year and the offseason.
RB – Scarlett (RSSR), Perine (SR), Davis (Jr), Pierce (SO), Clement (SO)
So the big question is whether of not Scarlett and Perine stay, and honestly there is no reason for either to stay. That would leave injury prone Davis, Pierce, and Clement as an unknown. We need a RB commit pretty bad in this class. Maybe two. Pierce and Davis have enough talent, Clement is an unknown. Lemons just couldn’t see 5 inches past his face.
WR – Jefferson (RSSR), Hammond (SR), Swain (SR), Cleveland (SR), Toney (RSJR), Wells (RSJR), Green (JR), Grimes (JR), Copeland (RSFR), Jaylin Jackson (RSFR), Marks (FR), Weston (FR)
I don’t expect any draft declarations, but you never know. I could see a transfer or two, but the big news is no Dre Massey, unless he gets a medical RS, which I haven’t seen discussion. The big concern here is what happens in 2020? I think we need one more legit WR in this class. Marks may be a sleeper, but Weston is a complete unknown. Will be a team strength in 2019.
TE – Krull (RSJR), Gamble (RSSO), Pitts (SO), Lang (RSFR)
We shoudn’t be any worse off next year. Have to wonder where Lang will end up. Probably need a TE in this class. Not sure if any of these guys can go inline and block. I think Gamble is a willing blocking, but not sure about size.
OL – Taylor (SR), Banks (RSSR), McCoy (RSSR), Buchanan (RSSR), Forsythe (RSJR), Heggie (RSJR), Delance (RSJR), TJ Moore (RSSO), Gouraige (RSFR), Bleich (RSFR), McDowell (RSFR), Harrod (FR), Simonds (FR), White (FR), Wilson (FR)
One of the more controversial groups heading into next season. A lot will be lost to graduation, and Taylor may decide to bolt for the NFL. Nothing about this OL makes me feel good right now. If Taylor stays, then you return him and Buchanan on the line, and Buchanan hasn’t exactly been a prize. Hopefully Heggie gets and stay healthy. At that point you hope that Delance and Moore are physically ready to step up. I really hope that Bleich can be ready skill wise, since he already appears ready physically. Good news is that numbers look to be up. Expect at least one more in this class and possibly a transfer. This is a young group that needs to hit the weights hard.
DL – Ancrum (RSSR), Shuler (RSSR), Zuniga (RSSR), Dunlap (SR), Clayton (SR), Polite (SR), Conliffe (JR), Slaton (JR), Campbell (JR), Carter (RSSO), Langham (RSFR), Diabate (FR), Humphries (FR)
Another controversial group. Will Polite and/or Zuniga declare? Will Clayton stay (does it matter)? Assuming Polite and Zuniga leave, we should have a competent DL, but anything beyond that will require some guys to step up. This class needs a lot more upfront before signing day.
LB – Johnson (RSSR), Jackson (RSSR), Reese (SR), Moon (RSJR), Joseph (JR), Brunson (RSSO), Smith (RSSO), Houston (RSSO), Miller (RSSO), Chatfield (RSFR), Black (FR), Hopper (FR), Pierre (FR)
No one is lost to graduation, take that how you will. We should see some improvement here for no other reason than physical development and a year in the system. We have some talented young guys that I hope can see the field. Some upperclassman have already hit their ceiling. There is there possibility that young guys could step up and take some roles. Class is pretty well filled out, but some discussion if we’ll take another.
DB – Gardner (SR), Taylor (SR), Lenton (RSJR), Davis (JR), Stiner (JR), Stewart (JR), Henderson (JR), Wilson (JR), Edwards (JR), McWilliams (RSJR), Dean (SO), Burney (SO), Reese (RSFR), Huggins (RSFR), Whittemore (FR), Kimborough (FR), Hill (FR)
Potentially a great unit next year. Gardner could leave earlier which would create a big void. We will return two of the best CB’s in college football. Stewart has been great recently at S. If Dean can make the transition to S, that would be huge. I think Burney will be able to contribute and Davis is a capable backup. I’m not really sure why Reese is listed at DB, but he must have some great athleticism or a hybrid position?
I’d like to see another quality CB in this class a S wouldn’t hurt. As much talent as we’ll have on the one’s, there is a lot of waste here too.
ST – McPherson (SO), Townsend (RSSR)
Should be one of the best kicking tandems in college football.
Overall, Mullen is having to rebuild the talent on this roster. We need consistent Top 10 classes just so we can start processing guys out. Top 7 classes should be required for next year and beyond. Probably just too late this year unless we can pull Sanders, Thibodeaux and Steele.
QB – Franks (RJR), Trask (RJR), Jones (SO?), Jones (FR)
If Jones takes over for Franks in the off season, I would expect Franks to transfer. I think a lot of that will depend on how much PT Jones gets this season and how well he responds to coaching. EJ could be a SO or a RSFR, but I expect that his RS is about to get burned.
Trask is going nowhere and will be a backup. Jalon Jones should be getting plenty of reps to get him ready to be the backup. Toney and Jayin Jackson can be emergency backups.
Even if Franks stays, this will be an improved group (not saying a lot). I think there is a good chance that Mullen gives Franks the reigns again, but plays EJ much more next year, but so much will depend on how EJ responds this year and the offseason.
RB – Scarlett (RSSR), Perine (SR), Davis (Jr), Pierce (SO), Clement (SO)
So the big question is whether of not Scarlett and Perine stay, and honestly there is no reason for either to stay. That would leave injury prone Davis, Pierce, and Clement as an unknown. We need a RB commit pretty bad in this class. Maybe two. Pierce and Davis have enough talent, Clement is an unknown. Lemons just couldn’t see 5 inches past his face.
WR – Jefferson (RSSR), Hammond (SR), Swain (SR), Cleveland (SR), Toney (RSJR), Wells (RSJR), Green (JR), Grimes (JR), Copeland (RSFR), Jaylin Jackson (RSFR), Marks (FR), Weston (FR)
I don’t expect any draft declarations, but you never know. I could see a transfer or two, but the big news is no Dre Massey, unless he gets a medical RS, which I haven’t seen discussion. The big concern here is what happens in 2020? I think we need one more legit WR in this class. Marks may be a sleeper, but Weston is a complete unknown. Will be a team strength in 2019.
TE – Krull (RSJR), Gamble (RSSO), Pitts (SO), Lang (RSFR)
We shoudn’t be any worse off next year. Have to wonder where Lang will end up. Probably need a TE in this class. Not sure if any of these guys can go inline and block. I think Gamble is a willing blocking, but not sure about size.
OL – Taylor (SR), Banks (RSSR), McCoy (RSSR), Buchanan (RSSR), Forsythe (RSJR), Heggie (RSJR), Delance (RSJR), TJ Moore (RSSO), Gouraige (RSFR), Bleich (RSFR), McDowell (RSFR), Harrod (FR), Simonds (FR), White (FR), Wilson (FR)
One of the more controversial groups heading into next season. A lot will be lost to graduation, and Taylor may decide to bolt for the NFL. Nothing about this OL makes me feel good right now. If Taylor stays, then you return him and Buchanan on the line, and Buchanan hasn’t exactly been a prize. Hopefully Heggie gets and stay healthy. At that point you hope that Delance and Moore are physically ready to step up. I really hope that Bleich can be ready skill wise, since he already appears ready physically. Good news is that numbers look to be up. Expect at least one more in this class and possibly a transfer. This is a young group that needs to hit the weights hard.
DL – Ancrum (RSSR), Shuler (RSSR), Zuniga (RSSR), Dunlap (SR), Clayton (SR), Polite (SR), Conliffe (JR), Slaton (JR), Campbell (JR), Carter (RSSO), Langham (RSFR), Diabate (FR), Humphries (FR)
Another controversial group. Will Polite and/or Zuniga declare? Will Clayton stay (does it matter)? Assuming Polite and Zuniga leave, we should have a competent DL, but anything beyond that will require some guys to step up. This class needs a lot more upfront before signing day.
LB – Johnson (RSSR), Jackson (RSSR), Reese (SR), Moon (RSJR), Joseph (JR), Brunson (RSSO), Smith (RSSO), Houston (RSSO), Miller (RSSO), Chatfield (RSFR), Black (FR), Hopper (FR), Pierre (FR)
No one is lost to graduation, take that how you will. We should see some improvement here for no other reason than physical development and a year in the system. We have some talented young guys that I hope can see the field. Some upperclassman have already hit their ceiling. There is there possibility that young guys could step up and take some roles. Class is pretty well filled out, but some discussion if we’ll take another.
DB – Gardner (SR), Taylor (SR), Lenton (RSJR), Davis (JR), Stiner (JR), Stewart (JR), Henderson (JR), Wilson (JR), Edwards (JR), McWilliams (RSJR), Dean (SO), Burney (SO), Reese (RSFR), Huggins (RSFR), Whittemore (FR), Kimborough (FR), Hill (FR)
Potentially a great unit next year. Gardner could leave earlier which would create a big void. We will return two of the best CB’s in college football. Stewart has been great recently at S. If Dean can make the transition to S, that would be huge. I think Burney will be able to contribute and Davis is a capable backup. I’m not really sure why Reese is listed at DB, but he must have some great athleticism or a hybrid position?
I’d like to see another quality CB in this class a S wouldn’t hurt. As much talent as we’ll have on the one’s, there is a lot of waste here too.
ST – McPherson (SO), Townsend (RSSR)
Should be one of the best kicking tandems in college football.
Overall, Mullen is having to rebuild the talent on this roster. We need consistent Top 10 classes just so we can start processing guys out. Top 7 classes should be required for next year and beyond. Probably just too late this year unless we can pull Sanders, Thibodeaux and Steele.
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