If you look at the players that Ole MIss signed each year to man the offensive line positions, it is more than just a talent evaluation problem, it's a numbers problem as well.
In 2012:
Robert Conyers
Pierce Burton
Darone Bailey
Ben Still
Two of those players where three star high school recruits. Pierce Burton was a Juco transfer and Darone Bailey was a Juco Transfer. While I recognize that it was a transition class, do we really think that signing four offensive linemen, two of them being a Juco player with only two years of eligibility, is the best way to set up offensive line success for the future?
In 2013 the Rebels signed the following:
Tunsil
Golson
Bolden
Davion Johnson
Again, the Rebels sign just four offensive linemen. Fortunately none of them were Juco players with only two years of eligibility, but there have been some problems here. Golson transferred out of the program. Bolden and Johnson have shown little evidence of being a contributor, and Tunsil is a three year player due to draft eligibility.
In 2014 the Rebels signed the following:
Sims
Rawlings
Cooper
Taylor
and Tyler Putnam
Fortunately the coaching staff decided to break their trend of signing only four offensive linemen. Cooper was a Juco player that contributed immediately and Taylor has proven to be a very good prospect so long as he isn't creating bodily harm to himself with non football contact. Sims and Rawlings seem to have a good future ahead of them. Putnam was a bust, but I'm not so sure they didn't anticipate that from the get go.
In 2015 the Rebels signed the following:
Austrian Robinson
Howard
Givens
Patterson
As someone on another board pointed out to me, Christian Morris was a player that transfer onto the team and wasn't listed in a signing class.
Also, if you compare that to what Alabama and LSU are doing with their signing classes, it isn't just about star players. They are signing 5 and 6 offensive linemen in a year if you count the TE's that they are converting to Tackle positions.
LSU signed 6 offensive linemen in 2015. Alabama signed 5 offensive linemen in 2015. Of those players only half of them were 4 star prospects. Five of those 11 players were just three star prospects. But, the important thing is that they have some room for error. If a three star guys never turns into an SEC talent, or if one of the four star guys has recurring back injuries etc... it doesn't put them in a bind. Meanwhile in Oxford, Hugh Freeze and staff in 2015 sign four players that were listed as offensive linemen, and one of those (Austrian Robinson) is playing on the defensive line.
So, for 2015 Ole Miss only has three offensive linemen signed. Javon Patterson, who is currently our best offensive lineman by far. Michael Howard, who was a 245 pound tackle that will take years to get ready for SEC play, and Alex Givens who may be a year or two before he can contribute. Already we are putting our selves in position for OL problems down the road.
In 2012:
Robert Conyers
Pierce Burton
Darone Bailey
Ben Still
Two of those players where three star high school recruits. Pierce Burton was a Juco transfer and Darone Bailey was a Juco Transfer. While I recognize that it was a transition class, do we really think that signing four offensive linemen, two of them being a Juco player with only two years of eligibility, is the best way to set up offensive line success for the future?
In 2013 the Rebels signed the following:
Tunsil
Golson
Bolden
Davion Johnson
Again, the Rebels sign just four offensive linemen. Fortunately none of them were Juco players with only two years of eligibility, but there have been some problems here. Golson transferred out of the program. Bolden and Johnson have shown little evidence of being a contributor, and Tunsil is a three year player due to draft eligibility.
In 2014 the Rebels signed the following:
Sims
Rawlings
Cooper
Taylor
and Tyler Putnam
Fortunately the coaching staff decided to break their trend of signing only four offensive linemen. Cooper was a Juco player that contributed immediately and Taylor has proven to be a very good prospect so long as he isn't creating bodily harm to himself with non football contact. Sims and Rawlings seem to have a good future ahead of them. Putnam was a bust, but I'm not so sure they didn't anticipate that from the get go.
In 2015 the Rebels signed the following:
Austrian Robinson
Howard
Givens
Patterson
As someone on another board pointed out to me, Christian Morris was a player that transfer onto the team and wasn't listed in a signing class.
Also, if you compare that to what Alabama and LSU are doing with their signing classes, it isn't just about star players. They are signing 5 and 6 offensive linemen in a year if you count the TE's that they are converting to Tackle positions.
LSU signed 6 offensive linemen in 2015. Alabama signed 5 offensive linemen in 2015. Of those players only half of them were 4 star prospects. Five of those 11 players were just three star prospects. But, the important thing is that they have some room for error. If a three star guys never turns into an SEC talent, or if one of the four star guys has recurring back injuries etc... it doesn't put them in a bind. Meanwhile in Oxford, Hugh Freeze and staff in 2015 sign four players that were listed as offensive linemen, and one of those (Austrian Robinson) is playing on the defensive line.
So, for 2015 Ole Miss only has three offensive linemen signed. Javon Patterson, who is currently our best offensive lineman by far. Michael Howard, who was a 245 pound tackle that will take years to get ready for SEC play, and Alex Givens who may be a year or two before he can contribute. Already we are putting our selves in position for OL problems down the road.
