Just focusing on the defense since that's the original intent of the thread:
DB -- I understand why we would feel comfortable with our DB room assuming we retain all the key pieces. I get we recruited well there the past two cycles, and young players can step in at DB and have an instant impact. S
LB --
HUGE if Toure returns (
@DMoney no Chase Smith waiver? He, too, was injured a lot). I'd still like one more because Toure and Bobby Washington have a history of injury, and all of our LBs have been nicked up at some point. Hetherman is a LB specialist, so I'll defer to him on the position group's CFP readiness. But as a casual observer, the two deep looks weak. Washington, Bonner and Wylie have zero production. Pruitt flashed a bit but is a hybrid not every down OLB. CFP winners don't use freshmen LBs.
DL -- We need at least 2 DL (I'd personally take 3). Should be 2 DTs or 1 DE and 1 DT, depending on if Blount stays at DE or moves to DT full time. Again, we're fine for starters. But we rotate a lot based on run versus passing downs so you need a reliable 2-deep. And you need to account for injury. We were super lucky this season, with only Lowe out long-term. You can't expect that in 2026. CFP winners don't use freshmen DL.
