Update on David Stone

DMoney
DMoney
1 min read

Comments (499)

This is what worries me. Once they see you in practice with other good cfb players (this isn’t HS) they now know what they have. If they feel like you are a regular *** player they will let you walk to the portal. You think OSU is going to let an elite player go into the portal? They will fight for them
It’s even worse when they play for IMG. The entire line is d1 prospects. Makes them look even more dominant
 
I try not to be this negative but I’ve been hinting at this. My optimism still says we get some good guys. But all you have to look at is the consistent roster imbalance and overpayments across the roster. One day it will get better *deep sigh*
What position group are you actually saying is out of whack?

- Qb seems accurate pay wise.
- Rb no idea
- OLine I can't imagine is really cause it's not like we have that many highly rated guys. Maybe Samson. Which sure you can let him walk, but everyone would also freak out about that when we lose both OTs next yr. I'm sure our Tackles and Cooper are making a lot. But like Cece and Cooper should be, so... And paying OLine is a good idea
- DL is likely the highest paid unit on the team I'd imagine. Our edge group imo is great. DT is likely high with Blay and Scott, which should be no surprise. I mean maybe Moten could be overpaid? But imagine us losing him and needing 2 DTs? Lol. Regardless DLine should be by far most expensive unit on defense.
- Lb this is probably the position I can see the being the most out of whack and worst return on investment. Would agree if this is what you are talking about about
- I think we are probably now spending a lot on DB. We have 5 starting Calibur dbs now. Likely another in Damari that staff loves. Maybe he's overpaid given he hasn't done anything. The freshman are freshman and won't be relied upon... I mean most want us to pay to get Haulcy, so clearly many don't care we already are likely spending an outsized proportion on dbs....

I'd say from outside looking in the two biggest ****ups on roster NIL management is WR and LB. Lb because none of the young guys have produced or are apparently ready to step up. WR because WR probably should be top 4-5 paid position yet we only have like 6 guys which is a big problem.
 
What position group are you actually saying is out of whack?

- Qb seems accurate pay wise.
- Rb no idea
- OLine I can't imagine is really cause it's not like we have that many highly rated guys. Maybe Samson. Which sure you can let him walk, but everyone would also freak out about that when we lose both OTs next yr. I'm sure our Tackles and Cooper are making a lot. But like Cece and Cooper should be, so... And paying OLine is a good idea
- DL is likely the highest paid unit on the team I'd imagine. Our edge group imo is great. DT is likely high with Blay and Scott, which should be no surprise. I mean maybe Moten could be overpaid? But imagine us losing him and needing 2 DTs? Lol. Regardless DLine should be by far most expensive unit on defense.
- Lb this is probably the position I can see the being the most out of whack and worst return on investment. Would agree if this is what you are talking about about
- I think we are probably now spending a lot on DB. We have 5 starting Calibur dbs now. Likely another in Damari that staff loves. Maybe he's overpaid given he hasn't done anything. The freshman are freshman and won't be relied upon... I mean most want us to pay to get Haulcy, so clearly many don't care we already are likely spending an outsized proportion on dbs....

I'd say from outside looking in the two biggest ****ups on roster NIL management is WR and LB. Lb because none of the young guys have produced or are apparently ready to step up. WR because WR probably should be top 4-5 paid position yet we only have like 6 guys which is a big problem.
So if you go around the ncaa and poll the top 10-15 programs what they pay their rosters, what we pay is seriously out of whack. It’s helped us “win” a bunch of recruitments. Your assessment is otherwise spot on. Every team has holes, my fear is we have an inverse of last years. Very good defense, and slow and prodding offense behind a solid but not elite OL.
 
Nope no the goal at all. But winning a power 4 conference championship with Corey Flagg as your best linebacker isn’t quite doable no matter how good of a coach you are. The only real shot he had at winning the conference was last year period thanks to the gapping hole left in our team by Manny and his sht recruiting.
Has Mario really improved the LBs over Flagg? It is one of our biggest weaknesses.Totally misread how bad the defense was in 2024, to the point we literally had the same guys getting dominated with no answers from USF until the final game...

Mario had multiple opportunities to flip the roster, but was incomplete every time. Multiple blowouts in 2022 were not due to Manny, never kneel torpedoing 2023 was not Manny, losing 3 of our last 4 games in 2024, including blowing a 21-0 lead with the playoffs on the line -- also, not Manny.
 
So if you go around the ncaa and poll the top 10-15 programs what they pay their rosters, what we pay is seriously out of whack. It’s helped us “win” a bunch of recruitments. Your assessment is otherwise spot on. Every team has holes, my fear is we have an inverse of last years. Very good defense, and slow and prodding offense behind a solid but not elite OL.

We had to overpay we’ve sucked for 23 to 24 years now, plus we play in the ACC
 
Has Mario really improved the LBs over Flagg? It is one of our biggest weaknesses.Totally misread how bad the defense was in 2024, to the point we literally had the same guys getting dominated with no answers from USF until the final game...

Mario had multiple opportunities to flip the roster, but was incomplete every time. Multiple blowouts in 2022 were not due to Manny, never kneel torpedoing 2023 was not Manny, losing 3 of our last 4 games in 2024, including blowing a 21-0 lead with the playoffs on the line -- also, not Manny.

You have to feel good about Mirabal telling the press that last year was the most painful season he’s ever gone through. I just don’t think they’ll rest until they get the guys they need to out of the portal and keep the ones they wanna keep from entering the portal. But, until we see the end results, historically you are of course 100% right
 
Has Mario really improved the LBs over Flagg? It is one of our biggest weaknesses.Totally misread how bad the defense was in 2024, to the point we literally had the same guys getting dominated with no answers from USF until the final game...

Mario had multiple opportunities to flip the roster, but was incomplete every time. Multiple blowouts in 2022 were not due to Manny, never kneel torpedoing 2023 was not Manny, losing 3 of our last 4 games in 2024, including blowing a 21-0 lead with the playoffs on the line -- also, not Manny.
So the linebackers that Mario has brought in are the same as Mannys!?! Are you serious? The speed and athleticism at the position night and day better. It isn’t even close.

And the players on the team didn’t have anything to do with all those games you’re speaking of? The team was so bad that taking a knee against GT doesn’t get us anywhere near the ACC championship. And I almost forgot TVD who has still yet to complete a full college season and has transferred AGAIN had nothing to do with those results.

And what about Horton dropping a walk in touchdown against Syracuse. How about Restrepo fumbling the ball again in a big moment right after he had just fumbled in a similar fashion in the game before. That’s 14 points in a game we lose by 4. But nope MARIO coached them to drop the ball and fumble. Where is the player accountability when we lose games? Does that sht even exist on this board?!
 
You have to feel good about Mirabal telling the press that last year was the most painful season he’s ever gone through. I just don’t think they’ll rest until they get the guys they need to out of the portal and keep the ones they wanna keep from entering the portal. But, until we see the end results, historically you are of course 100% right
Plenty of time to complete the roster. That said, Mirabal is the same guy that said if the OL is ever a weakness he would chew his own arm off or something tough and physical ... and then our OL was swiss cheese after he only brought in Sagapolu and Denis ... when everyone on this board knew it would be a weak spot and those two weren't enough. So, while I agree, we have time, the Mario/Mirabal regime also has been a day late and a dollar short 3 straight seasons...

Let's lock up the roster and win games.
 
So the linebackers that Mario has brought in are the same as Mannys!?! Are you serious? The speed and athleticism at the position night and day better. It isn’t even close.

And the players on the team didn’t have anything to do with all those games you’re speaking of? The team was so bad that taking a knee against GT doesn’t get us anywhere near the ACC championship. And I almost forgot TVD who has still yet to complete a full college season and has transferred AGAIN had nothing to do with those results.

And what about Horton dropping a walk in touchdown against Syracuse. How about Restrepo fumbling the ball again in a big moment right after he had just fumbled in a similar fashion in the game before. That’s 14 points in a game we lose by 4. But nope MARIO coached them to drop the ball and fumble. Where is the player accountability when we lose games? Does that sht even exist on this board?!
So all on Manny and then the players. #nevermario

TVD? The same TVD that Mario walked in, hailed as the best QB in the country, and then held Mario hostage to be brought back instead of replaced? TVD 2022 was TVD and Manny. Bringing him back, and getting held over a barrel to do so was 100% on Mario.
 
Plenty of time to complete the roster. That said, Mirabal is the same guy that said if the OL is ever a weakness he would chew his own arm off or something tough and physical ... and then our OL was swiss cheese after he only brought in Sagapolu and Denis ... when everyone on this board knew it would be a weak spot and those two weren't enough. So, while I agree, we have time, the Mario/Mirabal regime also has been a day late and a dollar short 3 straight seasons...

Let's lock up the roster and win games.
I don't think people realize what a dumpster fire the last guy left. roster management was awful, too many holes to fill in 2-3 years, the staff filled most rooms in year 3, but not DB's.
 
Has Mario really improved the LBs over Flagg? It is one of our biggest weaknesses.Totally misread how bad the defense was in 2024, to the point we literally had the same guys getting dominated with no answers from USF until the final game...

Mario had multiple opportunities to flip the roster, but was incomplete every time. Multiple blowouts in 2022 were not due to Manny, never kneel torpedoing 2023 was not Manny, losing 3 of our last 4 games in 2024, including blowing a 21-0 lead with the playoffs on the line -- also, not Manny.
Good question which prompted me to go back and compare our LBs from the 2021 roster vs. the upcoming 2025 roster as of today (assuming we will grab another LB from the portal before the start of the season).

2021 Roster LBs:
Keontra Smith - 94
Waynmon Steed - 90
Zach McCloud - 94
Ryan Ragone - Unranked
Corey Flagg - 83
BJ Jennings - 84
Tirek Austin Cave - 88
Sam Brooks - 87
Avery Huff - 93
Deshawn Troutman - 85
Tyler Johnson - 90

2025 Roster LBs:
Wesley Bissainthe - 93
Popo Aguirre - 90
Jaylin Alderman - 87 (as a Transfer)
Malik Bryant - 90
Adarius Hayes - 91
Cam Pruitt - 90
Bobby Washington - 89
Kellen Wiley Jr - 91
Ezekiel Marcelin - 89

The only one who overlaps from Manny’s tenure is Chase Smith so we will consider him a push.

I think we can all agree that not a single one of Manny’s LBs from the 2021 team had any business on a P4 Top 25 roster save for maybe Zach.

The rest were jags or guys who played out of position.

Mario still has a ways to go with the LB room, but let’s not act like the guys we have now are no better than what we had four years ago.
 
It’s even worse when they play for IMG. The entire line is d1 prospects. Makes them look even more dominant
Yea everything is basically one on ones cause of the talent disparity
 
Good question which prompted me to go back and compare our LBs from the 2021 roster vs. the upcoming 2025 roster as of today (assuming we will grab another LB from the portal before the start of the season).

2021 Roster LBs:
Keontra Smith - 94
Waynmon Steed - 90
Zach McCloud - 94
Ryan Ragone - Unranked
Corey Flagg - 83
BJ Jennings - 84
Tirek Austin Cave - 88
Sam Brooks - 87
Avery Huff - 93
Deshawn Troutman - 85
Tyler Johnson - 90

2025 Roster LBs:
Wesley Bissainthe - 93
Popo Aguirre - 90
Jaylin Alderman - 87 (as a Transfer)
Malik Bryant - 90
Adarius Hayes - 91
Cam Pruitt - 90
Bobby Washington - 89
Kellen Wiley Jr - 91
Ezekiel Marcelin - 89

The only one who overlaps from Manny’s tenure is Chase Smith so we will consider him a push.

I think we can all agree that not a single one of Manny’s LBs from the 2021 team had any business on a P4 Top 25 roster save for maybe Zach.

The rest were jags or guys who played out of position.

Mario still has a ways to go with the LB room, but let’s not act like the guys we have now are no better than what we had four years ago.
When was recruiting LB's this difficult? lol Wasn't Miami a hot bed for LB recruiting?
 
Him only being in play for OU out of SEC schools means we should focus all our records on him. Watson is having all the SEC schools target him
From my understanding, the Sec doesn't allow in conference transfers.
 
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