Offense 1st team/2nd team/Sometimes 3rd team
QB D'Eriq King/Nkosi Perry
HB Cam'Ron Harris JR/Knighton (Burns will get more short yardage situations)
WR Jeremiah Payton/Wiggins (I think he passes Wiggins. Redding as third string)
WR Mark Pope JR/Worsham/Few
SLOT K. Smith/Mike Harley/Restrepo (Harley is not very good. Makes a play every few games. Solid backup. I think a true FR takes it)
TE Brevin Jordan/Mallory
LT Zion/Herbert (Zion shows improvement)
LG Campbell/Donaldson (Campbell takes it from the whale)
C Corey Gaynor/Traore
RG Jakai Clark/Reed
RT DJ Scaife/Rivers (I could see Rivers sliding inside but we need tackle depth)
Defense
SDE Gregory Rousseau/Harvey
DT Miller/Ford (Miller takes it if the coaches are smart)
DT Nesta Silvera/Blissett
WDE Quincy Roche/Phillips (our defensive ends will be scary)
SLB Brooks/Steed
MLB McCloud/Jennings/Joyner
STR/Will Frierson or Huff/K. Washington (out of necessity as backup or technically third string)
CB Al Blades/Christian Williams
CB Tecory Couch/Ivey/Dunson (I think Couch or Dunson surprise. Ivey had moments but also was horrific part of the time)
SS Gurvan Hall/K Smith
FS Bubba Bolden/Carter
nickel guy from time to time: Avantae W.
Specialist
K Jose Borregales RSR (Former 3 star)
P Louis Hedley RSR (Former 3 star, returning starter)
I think that is enough to go 10-2 with losses to UNC and VT. Maybe 11-2 (one of UNC/VT in ACC CG) with bowl game. King was a great get and Lashlee/Justice will be much better fits for personnel and philosophy. Special teams and kicking should be best overall in a long time. Schedule is awful, too.
True freshmen to play:
-Knighton
-Chaney
-K. Smith
-Redding
-Worsham or Restrepo (one of them)
-Rivers
-Austin-Cave (maybe)
-Avantae W.
-Dunson
-Maybe Harrell
Also (to reiterate):
-I think Couch starts at one cb spot
-Campbell takes guard job
-Zion improves from worst tackle to middle of the tackle pack in D1 (yay)
-Jordan wins Mackey award in new offense
-Maybe a potentially 'weird' OL with: Zion, Campbell, Clark at Center, Rivers at guard, and Scaife.
-Our defensive ends break some kind of UM sack record this year
-King/Lashlee improve us a lot but King is third best ACC qb behind Lawrence and Howell.