Brevin Jordan is the perfect mashup of talent and opportunity. We need a tight end to step up, and we're happy to feed the position. He's a crazy all-around talent. Richt has all but announced him the starter in interviews. Not always the best spot to put a freshman in, but it feels like it will be a disappointment if he doesn't have a productive year.
If Perry wins the job, it stands to reason he will produce. If we win the Atlantic again with him at QB, he'll be an AA. Of course, this award could also just go to a guy in a high-volume offense. Corral at Ole Miss?
Lingard certainly has the talent, but Homer is no bum, and it's fair to wonder how many carries they each get.
Same can be said of Hightower and Pope. Will they achieve a volume of targets necessary in a position group with Richards, Thomas, Cager, and Harley? I think not.
Scaife has a ton of talent too, but for a freshman to start in the trenches they either need to be a generational talent, or move into a talent vacuum. We have, with the addition of Boulware, 5 players capable of playing in the interior. I don't think he's a starter this year.
The same might apply to Nesta, but I think he has a clearer path to PT given all the DT question marks. Dude has looked like the best tackle in the land this season, and we don't know much of anything for sure about our depth chart. He's a real possibility.
If we land Campbell, his talent alone will force him on the field and may make him a candidate. Of the currently committed DBs, Gurvan Hall has, I think, the best opportunity this year. He's a chip off the Earl Thomas block, and the biggest thing our safety room lacks is range. If he gets to wear the turnover chain 5 or 6 times next year, he'll make some AA teams.
Brevin, Nesta, Gurvan, and N'Kosi seem to me the likeliest candidates.
