QB: J. Dart, W. Howard, A. Simmons
Comment: This room is excellent as is. We don’t need to spend any portal resources here.
RB: Q. Judkins, K. Reescano, U. Bentley*, J. Griffin*
Comment: Bentley and Griffin have COVID years available to use. Proven depth will be an issue if Bentley leaves, so his decision could affect portal recruiting/need at this position.
TE: C. Prieskorn*. H. Wolfe, J. Conner
Comment: Even if Prieskorn returns, another dependable option is needed at this position.
WR: T. Harris* (also pending NFL feedback), J. Watkins*, D. Smith (praying academics are fine), A. Williams, C. Lee
Comment: The best case scenario is that this room is one playmaker/stud (portal) away from being elite. The worst case scenario is that we are needing to hit on 2-3 portal guys in order to field a viable receiving corps, if Harris and Watkins leave and Smith has any academic hurdles.
OL: M. Pettus, J. James*, C. Warren*, R. McIntyre*, E. Acker
Comment: We don’t rotate a ton of lineman in our offense. Thus, it would be ideal for James, Warren, and McIntyre to utilize their COVID year and return. Outside of those 3, only Acker and Pettus played meaningful snaps. If everyone returns, I would like to see the staff move Pettus to guard and pick up two legit tackles from the portal. Realistically, Pettus will stay at RT, and the staff will pick up a LT and LG similarly to last season.
Note: It has been alluded to that J. Williams may eventually enter the portal, so he was not included.
DE/Edge: C. Johnson*, J. Ivey*
Comment: If neither Johnson nor Ivey utilizes their COVID year, then it is imperative that the staff hits on 2-3 impact portal guys. Some talented Freshmen are on the way, but it will be too much to depend on them to contribute consistently from day one.
DT: J. Pegues*, Z. Harris, A. Stone, J. Harris*, J. Brown
Comment: This position group has a solid foundation. I believe another high level player is needed, though, as JJ was the only interior lineman who consistently caused backfield havoc ( 8 TFL’s and 3.5 sacks)
LB: S. Perkins, T. Dudley, K. Coleman*, L. Tennison
Comment: By the end of the year, Pete was utilizing a 4-man rotation. If Coleman uses his COVID year, I feel he would be better utilized as a rotational Edge/Jack in this scheme. Therefore, the staff at minimum needs to hit on 1 portal player if Perkins and Dudley are as advertised come next Fall.
CB: C. Graves
Comment: Prince and Walton were stalwarts at this position in 2023. The staff will need to hit on at least 2 portal transfers, as the two starters are gone along with D. Gaddie (I don’t see any eligibility left).
Safety: T. Washington, J. Saunders*
Comment: By the end of the year, Pete was primarily utilizing 3 safeties. With D. Anthony being out of eligibility, the staff will need to hit on at least one portal transfer as long as Saunders uses his COVID year.
**Ideally, some underclassmen will take a leap in the Spring; however, due to our limited rotations at certain positions, there are a lot of unknown commodities on the roster. Therefore, we have presumed holes in certain spots until proven otherwise.**
K: C. Davis*- No, resources are needed here for this upcoming year in the portal.
P: F. Masin*- I wouldn’t mind an upgrade here, but we have bigger areas of need to focus resources on currently.
Comment: This room is excellent as is. We don’t need to spend any portal resources here.
RB: Q. Judkins, K. Reescano, U. Bentley*, J. Griffin*
Comment: Bentley and Griffin have COVID years available to use. Proven depth will be an issue if Bentley leaves, so his decision could affect portal recruiting/need at this position.
TE: C. Prieskorn*. H. Wolfe, J. Conner
Comment: Even if Prieskorn returns, another dependable option is needed at this position.
WR: T. Harris* (also pending NFL feedback), J. Watkins*, D. Smith (praying academics are fine), A. Williams, C. Lee
Comment: The best case scenario is that this room is one playmaker/stud (portal) away from being elite. The worst case scenario is that we are needing to hit on 2-3 portal guys in order to field a viable receiving corps, if Harris and Watkins leave and Smith has any academic hurdles.
OL: M. Pettus, J. James*, C. Warren*, R. McIntyre*, E. Acker
Comment: We don’t rotate a ton of lineman in our offense. Thus, it would be ideal for James, Warren, and McIntyre to utilize their COVID year and return. Outside of those 3, only Acker and Pettus played meaningful snaps. If everyone returns, I would like to see the staff move Pettus to guard and pick up two legit tackles from the portal. Realistically, Pettus will stay at RT, and the staff will pick up a LT and LG similarly to last season.
Note: It has been alluded to that J. Williams may eventually enter the portal, so he was not included.
DE/Edge: C. Johnson*, J. Ivey*
Comment: If neither Johnson nor Ivey utilizes their COVID year, then it is imperative that the staff hits on 2-3 impact portal guys. Some talented Freshmen are on the way, but it will be too much to depend on them to contribute consistently from day one.
DT: J. Pegues*, Z. Harris, A. Stone, J. Harris*, J. Brown
Comment: This position group has a solid foundation. I believe another high level player is needed, though, as JJ was the only interior lineman who consistently caused backfield havoc ( 8 TFL’s and 3.5 sacks)
LB: S. Perkins, T. Dudley, K. Coleman*, L. Tennison
Comment: By the end of the year, Pete was utilizing a 4-man rotation. If Coleman uses his COVID year, I feel he would be better utilized as a rotational Edge/Jack in this scheme. Therefore, the staff at minimum needs to hit on 1 portal player if Perkins and Dudley are as advertised come next Fall.
CB: C. Graves
Comment: Prince and Walton were stalwarts at this position in 2023. The staff will need to hit on at least 2 portal transfers, as the two starters are gone along with D. Gaddie (I don’t see any eligibility left).
Safety: T. Washington, J. Saunders*
Comment: By the end of the year, Pete was primarily utilizing 3 safeties. With D. Anthony being out of eligibility, the staff will need to hit on at least one portal transfer as long as Saunders uses his COVID year.
**Ideally, some underclassmen will take a leap in the Spring; however, due to our limited rotations at certain positions, there are a lot of unknown commodities on the roster. Therefore, we have presumed holes in certain spots until proven otherwise.**
K: C. Davis*- No, resources are needed here for this upcoming year in the portal.
P: F. Masin*- I wouldn’t mind an upgrade here, but we have bigger areas of need to focus resources on currently.
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