While waiting for recruiting news to heat up & passing the summer doldrums…How is the roster looking? These are my decidedly inexpert impressions. Yours?
QB: The biggest question, the hope is consistency in reads, timing and touch will more than offset the loss of a generationally talented but unpolished AR.
RB: Much improved via the portal and 2023 class.
WR: Improved by the 2023 class, but how impactful can the freshmen be? The emergence and development of Douglas etc. is the big question.
TE: BN’s offense hasn’t ever targeted the TE a ton but relies on them heavily for blocking. I hope/expect he’d use receiving talent if say Boardingham shines. Hard to say what losing Zipperer will cost or how Boardingham, Odom etc. will perform as receivers or blockers. And they’ve been injured a lot the last 2 springs. No idea.
OL: Lost a ton, gained a ton - literally. If the new group gels, they could be better. I’m counting on the coaches to have them ready to be as good or better.
DL: The additions by portal and 2023 class plus McClellan’s development make this a much deeper and better group. Much better.
LB: The additions by portal and 2023 class plus James’ development make this a much deeper and better group. Much better.
CB: Nice mix of veteran talent and new blood. A bit better as they continue to grow. They should benefit from the front 7’s improvement.
S: Young, but much more talented and faster. It can’t be any worse. It’s kind of like my golf game. I’ve strived to become inconsistent rather than consistently terrible. Plus everyone around them will be better, which will reduce their exposure.
P/K: Same guys, a bit older and hopefully a bit better. Crawshaw has a great leg. Mihalek is pretty good, Smack looked sketchy in the O&B game. Slightly better.