Early Returns on Mario’s ‘22 Class…

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If this thread says anything, it shows positives IMO that Mario and staff is above average or even great at identifying and landing good players and developing them.

Hopefully the trend continues, which it seems like it will -

I mean look at the 2023 class: We're seeing an even bigger jump in impact players/studs (Bain, Kiko, Lee, Francis, Cohen, Fletcher, Ajay Allen, Jaden Davis, Deen, Cloyd

Other guys who are close: Ray Ray, Wayne, Emory, Chris Johnson, Damari, Riley Williams, Samson
 
Returns??

Nah, we are stuck with some of them like the ugly Christmas sweater from that weird aunt…
 
2022 Portal Class was very solid as well:

Starter/Impact Level (5): Porter Jr., Jackson (before Transferring), Parrish, Mesidor, Agude.

Solid Depth (2): Lichtenstein (has played well this year as a 3rd team DL rotation guy). Caleb Johnson

Got passed over by better players (4): Ladson, Sagapolu, Denis, Moultrie. Denis and Sagapolu were needed more last year before Mario brought in a real OL class

Again pretty solid - 7 out of 11 are impact starters or good caliber depth
Lol.
 
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Let’s just get into it, and people can draw their own conclusions. I know their second seasons haven’t quite wrapped up, but they’re basically 1.75 years into a college program (except Young), and two full off-seasons.

Cyrus Moss, 4* (#57 overall). Didn’t play last season, appeared in the Bethune game in garbage time. Has one tackle in his career.

Nyjalik Kelly, 4* (#87 overall). Impactful as a true freshman with 11 tackles and 4 sacks, imo took a step back this year when on the field, plus got injured. 8 tackles, no sacks. Wayne gunning for his spot in ‘24.

Jaleel Skinner, 4* (#100 overall). 9/129/1 in his true freshman campaign, for whatever reason got into the doghouse this year and has registered just one reception for 9 yards. Can’t block but isn’t put on the field in obvious passing situations regardless.

Chris Graves, 4* (#125 overall). Didn’t see the field at Miami, transferred to Ole Miss. Has appeared in four games in his redshirt freshman season (currently three consecutive weeks so looks like he’s moved up the depth chart), most recently forced a fumble on Saturday against A&M.

Tre’Vonte Citizen, 4* (#133 overall). Huge recruiting win over the Gators at the time, suffered a horrific knee injury and hasn’t seen the field yet despite allegedly being cleared for action by now.

Khamauri Rogers, 4* (#159 overall). Appeared in one game at Miami against Bethune, transferred to Mississippi St. Hasn’t played this season.

Wes Bissanthe, 4* (#206 overall). Played in 11 games as a true freshman in ‘22 with 30 tackles, has played in 8 this year with 25 tackles and a sack. Imo, hasn’t taken a sizable second-year leap and is splitting with Cloyd. Gets lost in coverage (NC State, again.). Better suited attacking downhill, still good things about his game and to build on.

Markeith Williams, 4* (#246 overall). Has appeared in four games this season (mop-up duty). Appeared in two last year.

Jacurri Brown, 4* (#263 overall). Thrown into the fire as a true freshman, 27/45 for 230 yards (5.1 yards per completion), 3 TDs and 3 INTs. Also ran for 54 times for 233 yards. Asked to redshirt because his intermediate passing game was atrocious.

Isaiah Horton, 4* (#372 overall). Has followed up his 1 reception for 9 yards in 2022 with 6 receptions for 109 yards and a TD in ‘23. 52-yard TD against A&M, 4 for 52 against UNC. Hasn’t registered a catch since.

Jaden Harris, 3* (#541 overall). Didn’t play in ‘22, has recorded six tackles in four games in ‘23.

Matthew McCoy, 3* (#736 overall). In the two-deep at OL, comes in frequently as a “TE” for the bro special. Good, promising player that projects to start in ‘24.

Ahmad Moten, 3* (#558 overall). Didn’t play in ‘22, registered one tackle against UNC. Has played sparingly.

Colbie Young, 3* (JUCO). Burst onto the scene against VT in ‘22, finished with 32/376/5. So far, improved on his inaugural season with the Hurricanes by putting up 36/470/4.

Anez Cooper, 3* (couldn’t find Nat’l #, but #235 OL): Stud. That’s it. Starter on the most successful unit on the team, projects to remain one in ‘24.
Now do the top 6 teams (at least 4) in the CFP. ****, look at FSU. What 1st or 2nd year players are contributing to their success that Norvell signed? What about Harbaugh, Day, or Kirby? I would be interested in seeing the results for comparison’s sake.
 
Returns??

Nah, we are stuck with some of them like the ugly Christmas sweater from that weird aunt…
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Can't figure out why we haven't fully scrapped Cam McCormick and just used McCoy in his place and then scrapped the 2 TE stuff in favor of getting Brashard more snaps in that same role as the 2nd TE. McCoy is a more effective blocker if that's all he's going to be used for and Brashard adds another element to your pass game even if you only leak him out into the flat or sit him down in the middle of the field and run an occasional deep seam.

Square peg/round hole approach to personnel just because of the position they play instead of getting the best players on the field. The TE room sucks and we continue to force 2-3 of them to play and one of them is 50% of himself at best right now. Playing just to play and have a certain identity that the HC thinks we need to have.
Agreed, it's very frustrating
 
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Skinner isn't going in on obvious passing downs because that's not how real football works. You don't reward kids by "throwing them a bone" when they're not doing the little things that's required of them (like blocking). Furthermore, this would tip off the defense.

With that being said, I'm not a fan of having talent like him sitting on the bench for the sake of having this "tough guy" identity on offense.

We currently have sooo much athleticism sitting on the pine while we have plodding a$s TE's on the field.
Care to comment on him always dropping the ball when he is actually in the game?

I will hang up and listen.
 
We used to be the standard and now litchenstein is good depth for us lol

As a 5th guy on the depth chart at DT I’d say he’s pretty good depth

Not sure what else is expected that deep into the position
 
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As a 5th guy on the depth chart at DT I’d say he’s pretty good depth

Not sure what else is expected that deep into the position
The word "good" has meaning. He provides nothing on the field.
 
Care to comment on him always dropping the ball when he is actually in the game?

I will hang up and listen.

Skinner is interesting. He’s one of the first names mentioned as a huge recruiting win… appears the same folks can’t develop him…

So we got a high star ranked recruit and he can’t see the field … not great…
 
Skinner is interesting. He’s one of the first names mentioned as a huge recruiting win… appears the same folks can’t develop him…

So we got a high star ranked recruit and he can’t see the field … not great…
Really that's your take?

Riley Williams is having no issues actually being a tight end and blocking.
 
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Skinner isn't going in on obvious passing downs because that's not how real football works. You don't reward kids by "throwing them a bone" when they're not doing the little things that's required of them (like blocking). Furthermore, this would tip off the defense.

With that being said, I'm not a fan of having talent like him sitting on the bench for the sake of having this "tough guy" identity on offense.

We currently have sooo much athleticism sitting on the pine while we have plodding a$s TE's on the field.
Naw we gonna keep running Cam's old *** out there because he gets it. He's got that Mario mentality. 🙄
 
Because the transformation has been complete for some time.

From championship program to conference check stealing weasels who go 5-7 to 7-5.
Craziest **** ever man lol, we had cfb on lock and basically just said meh yall can have it lol
 
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