Didn't Mario say that TVD was the best QB in the country? We can point to a lot of things in the program. But there is a person actually responsible for all of that stuff.
Historically it doesn't take this long for coaches to start winning games regardless of the disaster they inherited.
That excuse doesn't really ever work. The only acceptable version of that excuse is if Mario took over a program on probation. The problem is the coach we had when the team that was on probation won more games.
Let's go position by position. What did he inherit? What were his top ranked players.
note: strike through indicates inherited players who departed after 2022
Romello Brinson was the top ranked returning wide receiver, albeit with one year of experience. Michael Redding was the second ranked, followed by Jacolby George. Of the wide receivers listed, only Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George proved to be starters, while Colbie Young was raw and developing. Brinson and Smith would be gone in 2023.
The top ranked tight end was Jaleel Skinner, a complete rookie who ultimately did not develop as a pass catcher. Will Mallory was very capable though and was a strength during the season. The position would have been even stronger, but Arroyo was knocked out for the season after game 4.
The top ranked running back was of course Citizen, who after his unfortunate knee injury never played for us before transferring. Don Chaney spent the entire season recovering from his 2021 injury and did not return to action until Game 12. That left Knighton as the top back, who entered the season suspended and had fumble problems. Thad Franklin was ineffective, leaving only Henry Parish and walkon Luscious Staley as the only other half backs.
This was one of the weakest edition in recent memory. Three of the top four ranked offensive linemen were gone after 2022, and overall there were seven players who departed.
Top ranked Jake Garcia was considered the heir apparent a year ago for TVD, with conventional wisdom being that Van Dyke would depart for the NFL after the 2022 season. Instead Tyler proved ineffective in 2022 and was injured. Some of the ineffectiveness can be attributed to the subpar offensive line, some to the offensive scheme. Garcia was no better as Van Dyke's backup and true freshman Jacurri Brown was two years away from being a viable option.
Not a particularly deep room and Leonard Taylor was the only blue chip player on the roster. Mario's only signing was Lichenstein.
Two of the top three ranked players were true freshmen who barely played in 2022.
Manny had failed to successfully recruit starting caliber linebackers for years, and it showed in the position room that Mario inherited. True freshman Bissainthe played a lot and played well but there was not much behind him in 2022.
Avantae Williams would transfer out the following year.
This too was a position group that Manny had failed to recruit at adequate numbers for most of his tenure and it showed in 2022. Blades returned after missing the previous year. True freshman Rogers was the second ranked player, and he transferred out after one year.