I want to see him get some rotation snaps at RG or LG. Kid is massive and a mauler. It would be nice to have 8-9 OL we can plug in as this season could be long. Plus, getting him more snaps will help next year even if he is simply your number 6-7 guy.
Bell should come back. He isn’t day 1 as of now. McCoy, Sampson, SJ, Cantwell, Bell, Kinsler, maybe a portal C as SJ looks tiny and we see lots of bear fronts. I’d give him Ryan’s role and keep him at FB in the T.
So far this season (some has been overload formation stuff)
LT: Bell 435 snaps, Samson 27 snaps, Plazz 12 snaps, McCoy 5 snaps
LG: McCoy 244 snaps, Samson 190 snaps, SJ 34 snaps, Anez 2 snaps, Bell 1 snap
C: Brockermeyer 437 snaps, Rodriguez 43 snaps
RG: Anez 426 snaps, Buchanan 43 snaps, McCoy 9 snaps, Samson 2 snaps,
RT: Cici 437 snaps, Kinsler 43 snaps,
I imagine the PLAN is very likely to just hold a fully open competition at LT and RG.
LT - Will be between Samson, McCoy, and Kinsler. I'd expect Samson to win the starting LT job. He's been the main backup at LT this year. I think it's possible Kinsler wins the job, but unlikely. This is probably the 2nd clearest outcome for next year. Plazz and Ervin likely backup LTs. IF we ended up going for a portal LT it's with the plan for McCoy and Samson to be the two starting OGs.
LG - Worst case scenario imo is McCoy is the Starting LG. He either proves he's better at LT than Samson in which case Samson just becomes LG starter, or he McCoy retains his starting LG job. Imo this is the clearest position of all for next year.
C - I think the likely plan is Rodriguez to just start. Unlike a few, I feel decently confident that Rodriguez still has eligibility left. 21 Redshirt, 22 Medical Redshirt (he missed the entire season due to injury), 23 played, 24 Medical Redshirt (injured for season in 1st game), 25 played. So he has really just played 2 seasons. IF he doesnt have any eligibility, Its basically a certainty we are hitting the Portal AGAIN for another Center. I don't think SJ is considered ready, which is why he's been the backup LG and not Center.
RG - This imo is a fully open competition. But the likely winner is going to be Kinsler. Though I do think Buchanan definitely is the 2nd most likely. It's Possible SJ is competitive here, but again I think he's going to need another year.
RT - There is maybe a 5% shot this isn't Cantwells job to lose. In that scenario, Kinsler is the starting RT. But It's goin to be Cantwell.