MikeyCanez
Sophomore
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2018
- Messages
- 566
I am bored. I also didn't include special teams but Borregales and Joyce are awesome, it is an underrated luxury not to have to worry about these positions:
1. Edge
This group gets extra credit because Reuben Bain is clearly the best player on this team. But if Mesidor and Nyjalik Kelly can come back 100% healthy and Jaden Wayne can continue developing, we should be comfortably four-deep here and that is before you start including incoming guys like Lightfoot and Pickett. I still wouldn't mind adding a truly proven pass rusher like Scourton from Purdue. But assuming this group stays healthy, they should be fun to watch.
2. Wide Receiver
Colbie Young was criminally underrated and this room is absolutely missing a proven big-bodied talent on the outside. But Restrepo is a machine and Jacolby George is even more talented that Restrepo, assuming he can get his act together. Even though I'd like another big body, I do think Isaiah Horton showed real flashes, especially down the field, and has a real chance to replace Young's production if everything goes right. Add in a healthy mix of Ray Ray, Robby Washington, Trader and Ny Carr, and whomever plays quarterback next season will have a ton of talented options next season.
Still would like to add another big frame though!
3. Offensive Line
Francis Mauigoa is probably the second-best player on this team. ****, he might even be a better pro prospect than Bain. Anez Cooper is going to be an All-ACC player this year, mark my words, and Jalen Rivers coming back means that he has a chance at those honors as well. After that, I feel like this room has more depth across the board than it has had in the past decade. I don't know much about Zach Carpenter but he has plenty of size and experience, Matt McCoy and Ryan Rodriguez showed a some potential, Okunlola and Kinsler are unproven but obviously talented and then there are a couple big freshmen who can sit and learn behind all these guys. If there is one room that Mario has clearly overhauled, this is obviously it.
4. Running Backs
I'll miss Don Chaney and Kevin Riley, we hardly knew ye, but this room still feels loaded. Mark Fletcher is the bell cow and I hope his injury is minor. Ajay Allen feels a bit underrated and still has three years of eligibility left. Needless to say, we are all hoping Trevonte Citizen is healthy and able to live up to his considerable potential while Chris Johnson has tantalizing home run potential and I've got big hopes for that kid next season. Jordan Lyle will probably need to add some muscle and learn how to pass block, but running back is the easiest position to transition to out of high school and he is probably a good enough runner to play immediately if he wasn't all the way down the depth chart.
5. Linebacker
Francisco Mauigoa is probably the third-best player on the team and he was an absolute difference-maker this season. It is huge that he is coming back next season. KJ Cloyd has a chance to be much-improved with another year in Guidry's system and I still love Bissainthe, I just worry that he is too small to truly become a star at linebacker. After that there is a lot of unproven but exciting talent. I want to believe that Aguirre (good on special teams) and Pulliam will be difference-makers next season and I still like Bobby Washington, bowl game antics aside. Adarius Hayes looked massive at the UA game today and could play right away if he is actually that big. I don't know what to think about Malik Bryant but he strikes me as someone that is going to hit the portal if he is buried on the depth chart in the spring.
6. Tight End
It is tough to grade this position because we barely saw them this season. But there is talent to like. Can't blame Jaleel Skinner for transferring, especially if we aren't going to throw passes to tight ends. Cam McCormick is a blocker and nothing more. I'd like to think that Elijah Arroyo can live up to his hefty potential after another year removed from his ACL injury, but who knows. Riley Williams played a lot this season and it would be great if he took the next step as a pass-catcher next season. By all accounts, Elijah Lofton is an excellent football player and will make a difference on special teams at the very least. He doesn't have prototypical size for the position, but maybe he can evolve into a jack of all trades, just probably not next season.
Of course none of this matters because we will all forget this position exists every Saturday next Fall.
7. Cornerback
Things are super-thin here after Davonte Brown transferred and we need to add (probably) two guys here who can play right away. Daryl Porter Jr. was sort of awesome and keeping Damari Brown out of the portal was a big win as he is definitely at least trustable next season opposite Porter Jr. We heard all about the noise Jadais Richard was making last spring and then never saw him in meaningful snaps this season, so I don't know what to think there. Beyond that, I don't think anyone on the roster can be relied upon. We know a little about Jaden Harris and I guess he is promising although also maybe a safety? I don't know anything about Stafford and we didn't recruit the position very well sooooo there is a lot of opportunity?
8. Safety
Man are gonna miss Kinchens and Williams here or what? Markeith Williams actually looked like one of our more active defenders in the bowl game and the Vandy transfer, Savion Riley is fine, I guess. I feel a lot better if Zaquan Patterson can be an impact player right from the jump because there is much upside to Brian Balom and Kaleb Spencer has good size but obviously the jury is still out there. Ryan Mack could turn in to a nice surprise but the rest of the recruiting class at this position are three-star projects that cannot be seeing the field if we are trying to win 10 games next season. I would hate to waste a spot on just another experienced body at this position when there is young talent. But if there is a true difference-maker out there, couldn't hurt to make him an offer and shore up this position.
9. Quarterback
This position is truly Mario's Achilles Heel. I know I'll catch **** for it but I do wish we hadn't run Van Dyke off so quickly. Maybe he was truly broken and he will likely benefit from a change of scenery. He wasn't good this season but turnover problems are fixable and experience in big moments is hard to replace. Everyone loves Emory and he was passable in some truly tough spots, but he strikes me as a project still. Jacurri Brown was actually pretty good in the bowl game given the circumstances and he still deserves an offense that features him a bit more as a runner. But I worry that a full season of Brown means lots of interceptions like his egregious one against Rutgers and the fact that he didn't play at all before that bowl game.
Can we get the Cam Ward hashtag going again?
1. Edge
This group gets extra credit because Reuben Bain is clearly the best player on this team. But if Mesidor and Nyjalik Kelly can come back 100% healthy and Jaden Wayne can continue developing, we should be comfortably four-deep here and that is before you start including incoming guys like Lightfoot and Pickett. I still wouldn't mind adding a truly proven pass rusher like Scourton from Purdue. But assuming this group stays healthy, they should be fun to watch.
2. Wide Receiver
Colbie Young was criminally underrated and this room is absolutely missing a proven big-bodied talent on the outside. But Restrepo is a machine and Jacolby George is even more talented that Restrepo, assuming he can get his act together. Even though I'd like another big body, I do think Isaiah Horton showed real flashes, especially down the field, and has a real chance to replace Young's production if everything goes right. Add in a healthy mix of Ray Ray, Robby Washington, Trader and Ny Carr, and whomever plays quarterback next season will have a ton of talented options next season.
Still would like to add another big frame though!
3. Offensive Line
Francis Mauigoa is probably the second-best player on this team. ****, he might even be a better pro prospect than Bain. Anez Cooper is going to be an All-ACC player this year, mark my words, and Jalen Rivers coming back means that he has a chance at those honors as well. After that, I feel like this room has more depth across the board than it has had in the past decade. I don't know much about Zach Carpenter but he has plenty of size and experience, Matt McCoy and Ryan Rodriguez showed a some potential, Okunlola and Kinsler are unproven but obviously talented and then there are a couple big freshmen who can sit and learn behind all these guys. If there is one room that Mario has clearly overhauled, this is obviously it.
4. Running Backs
I'll miss Don Chaney and Kevin Riley, we hardly knew ye, but this room still feels loaded. Mark Fletcher is the bell cow and I hope his injury is minor. Ajay Allen feels a bit underrated and still has three years of eligibility left. Needless to say, we are all hoping Trevonte Citizen is healthy and able to live up to his considerable potential while Chris Johnson has tantalizing home run potential and I've got big hopes for that kid next season. Jordan Lyle will probably need to add some muscle and learn how to pass block, but running back is the easiest position to transition to out of high school and he is probably a good enough runner to play immediately if he wasn't all the way down the depth chart.
5. Linebacker
Francisco Mauigoa is probably the third-best player on the team and he was an absolute difference-maker this season. It is huge that he is coming back next season. KJ Cloyd has a chance to be much-improved with another year in Guidry's system and I still love Bissainthe, I just worry that he is too small to truly become a star at linebacker. After that there is a lot of unproven but exciting talent. I want to believe that Aguirre (good on special teams) and Pulliam will be difference-makers next season and I still like Bobby Washington, bowl game antics aside. Adarius Hayes looked massive at the UA game today and could play right away if he is actually that big. I don't know what to think about Malik Bryant but he strikes me as someone that is going to hit the portal if he is buried on the depth chart in the spring.
6. Tight End
It is tough to grade this position because we barely saw them this season. But there is talent to like. Can't blame Jaleel Skinner for transferring, especially if we aren't going to throw passes to tight ends. Cam McCormick is a blocker and nothing more. I'd like to think that Elijah Arroyo can live up to his hefty potential after another year removed from his ACL injury, but who knows. Riley Williams played a lot this season and it would be great if he took the next step as a pass-catcher next season. By all accounts, Elijah Lofton is an excellent football player and will make a difference on special teams at the very least. He doesn't have prototypical size for the position, but maybe he can evolve into a jack of all trades, just probably not next season.
Of course none of this matters because we will all forget this position exists every Saturday next Fall.
7. Cornerback
Things are super-thin here after Davonte Brown transferred and we need to add (probably) two guys here who can play right away. Daryl Porter Jr. was sort of awesome and keeping Damari Brown out of the portal was a big win as he is definitely at least trustable next season opposite Porter Jr. We heard all about the noise Jadais Richard was making last spring and then never saw him in meaningful snaps this season, so I don't know what to think there. Beyond that, I don't think anyone on the roster can be relied upon. We know a little about Jaden Harris and I guess he is promising although also maybe a safety? I don't know anything about Stafford and we didn't recruit the position very well sooooo there is a lot of opportunity?
8. Safety
Man are gonna miss Kinchens and Williams here or what? Markeith Williams actually looked like one of our more active defenders in the bowl game and the Vandy transfer, Savion Riley is fine, I guess. I feel a lot better if Zaquan Patterson can be an impact player right from the jump because there is much upside to Brian Balom and Kaleb Spencer has good size but obviously the jury is still out there. Ryan Mack could turn in to a nice surprise but the rest of the recruiting class at this position are three-star projects that cannot be seeing the field if we are trying to win 10 games next season. I would hate to waste a spot on just another experienced body at this position when there is young talent. But if there is a true difference-maker out there, couldn't hurt to make him an offer and shore up this position.
9. Quarterback
This position is truly Mario's Achilles Heel. I know I'll catch **** for it but I do wish we hadn't run Van Dyke off so quickly. Maybe he was truly broken and he will likely benefit from a change of scenery. He wasn't good this season but turnover problems are fixable and experience in big moments is hard to replace. Everyone loves Emory and he was passable in some truly tough spots, but he strikes me as a project still. Jacurri Brown was actually pretty good in the bowl game given the circumstances and he still deserves an offense that features him a bit more as a runner. But I worry that a full season of Brown means lots of interceptions like his egregious one against Rutgers and the fact that he didn't play at all before that bowl game.
Can we get the Cam Ward hashtag going again?