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Top portal needs — opinions?

Should be our “lightest” haul of the Mario era IMO.

Absolute NEEDS:

QB
WR - About to lose Marion, Daniels, Johnson, and probably 1+ more to portal in addition to Ray Ray. Getting a stud on the outside to match with Toney, and I’m honestly good with rolling with what we have outside of that but I could 1000% see them grabbing a few veterans for depth just like Tony Johnson.
Edge - Need a dude here IMO
DT3/4 - John Walker would be perfect but he probably goes to UF.
LB x2
Nickel
Safety

Should aim for starter material types at all of those spots. Now of course we could add depth at all spots, and obviously if we get some surprise departures this could change. I’d like a high level RB, TE, and OG as well but I’m not expecting the staff to feel the same, especially at RB unless Fletcher leaves.

JMO 🤷🏾‍♂️
 
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htownkidd said:
Should be our “lightest” haul of the Mario era IMO.

Absolute NEEDS:

QB
WR - About to lose Marion, Daniels, Johnson, and probably 1+ more to portal in addition to Ray Ray. Getting a stud on the outside to match with Toney, and I’m honestly good with rolling with what we have outside of that but I could 1000% see them grabbing a few veterans for depth just like Tony Johnson.
Edge - Need a dude here IMO
DT3/4 - John Walker would be perfect but he probably goes to UF.
LB x2
Nickel
Safety

Should aim for starter material types at all of those spots. Now of course we could add depth at all spots, and obviously if we get some surprise departures this could change. I’d like a high level RB, TE, and OG as well but I’m not expecting the staff to feel the same, especially at RB unless Fletcher leaves.

JMO 🤷🏾‍♂️
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This.
 
htownkidd said:
Should be our “lightest” haul of the Mario era IMO.

Absolute NEEDS:

QB
WR - About to lose Marion, Daniels, Johnson, and probably 1+ more to portal in addition to Ray Ray. Getting a stud on the outside to match with Toney, and I’m honestly good with rolling with what we have outside of that but I could 1000% see them grabbing a few veterans for depth just like Tony Johnson.
Edge - Need a dude here IMO
DT3/4 - John Walker would be perfect but he probably goes to UF.
LB x2
Nickel
Safety

Should aim for starter material types at all of those spots. Now of course we could add depth at all spots, and obviously if we get some surprise departures this could change. I’d like a high level RB, TE, and OG as well but I’m not expecting the staff to feel the same, especially at RB unless Fletcher leaves.

JMO 🤷🏾‍♂️
Click to expand...
We gotta add kicker to the must add category. I also think an interior OL and big time rb are also pretty important
 
QB1
WR1- a big name to pair with Toney
TE - big blocking TE, I’d let Lofton walk and put the pass catcher TE on the shoulders of the young guys. If they ain’t it then he needs to look at moving on from the TE coach.
OL - starting quality OT. Not sold on Cantwell being able to step right in and start. IMO #61 had both the strength but also skill from playing at IMG. Don’t think Cantwell went against talent like that every day.
OL - preferably a center and maybe another depth piece
DT - probably 2. 1 starter quality and 1 depth piece
LB - bring in as many as you can and see what sticks.
Nickel and probably another safety for depth
Kicker
 
Memnon said:
One P4/G5 starter & a FCS backup for insurance in case the presumed starter gets hurt, or isn't that good.
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I would rather go with just a QB1 from the portal and play Nickle or Coleman if that our starter goes down. I understand that means we most likely don't make the playoffs. But I don't think a QB2 from the portal gets us there either, so we should just run with our homegrown guys.
 
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We played a lot of Frosh this year who will get more playing time next year and we have a strong class this year coming in.

QB
LB - 2
DT
WR

OL- We have the bodies there, just need to get them ready.
 
grover said:
I would rather go with just a QB1 from the portal and play Nickle or Coleman if that our starter goes down. I understand that means we most likely don't make the playoffs. But I don't think a QB2 from the portal gets us there either, so we should just run with our homegrown guys.
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Must have missed Ole Miss's season this year.
 
🤣 we've gone from Mario has gotta deliver wins and get us into the CFP to as long as we develop young talent the season doesn't really matter..
Never ever change CIS
 
Memnon said:
- 2 QB's

- XWR

- C

- Strongside EDGE Rusher

- DT depth

- Mike LB

- Nickelback

- Rover Safety
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I 100% agree with this with 1 exception - I'd add a Do-it-all TE1. I'd also add a Depth Portal RB... But alll that is because I'd 100% move Lofton to HB and Fletcher should declare for draft imo. And then it depends if Brown stays but I don't think he would....

Also I think we are unlikely to get a 2nd Qb, but I would be down with expectation that Emory and Judd portal out. However I think if it came down to Portal QB2 or Nickel, I'd just ride with Nickel tbh. Ultimately unlike most I truly don't think Qb2 is all that important. I'd be fine with Nickel as our QB2 all year imo.

And in terms of Priority I'd probably go:
1. QB1
2. C
3. LB1
4. TE1
5. Outside WR
6. Safety
7. SDE
8. DT Depth
9. Nickel (though I think with how many quality CBs we have we should be able to figure out a guy on roster here).
10. RB3
11. LB2
12. QB2
 
htownkidd said:
Should be our “lightest” haul of the Mario era IMO.

Absolute NEEDS:

QB
WR - About to lose Marion, Daniels, Johnson, and probably 1+ more to portal in addition to Ray Ray. Getting a stud on the outside to match with Toney, and I’m honestly good with rolling with what we have outside of that but I could 1000% see them grabbing a few veterans for depth just like Tony Johnson.
Edge - Need a dude here IMO
DT3/4 - John Walker would be perfect but he probably goes to UF.
LB x2
Nickel
Safety

Should aim for starter material types at all of those spots. Now of course we could add depth at all spots, and obviously if we get some surprise departures this could change. I’d like a high level RB, TE, and OG as well but I’m not expecting the staff to feel the same, especially at RB unless Fletcher leaves.

JMO 🤷🏾‍♂️
Click to expand...
Center. I'd love to go get Lew. And then SJ will get reps in offseas as he recovers. and he should be ready by Summer
 
Calinative said:
I 100% agree with this with 1 exception - I'd add a Do-it-all TE1. I'd also add a Depth Portal RB... But alll that is because I'd 100% move Lofton to HB and Fletcher should declare for draft imo. And then it depends if Brown stays but I don't think he would....

Also I think we are unlikely to get a 2nd Qb, but I would be down with expectation that Emory and Judd portal out. However I think if it came down to Portal QB2 or Nickel, I'd just ride with Nickel tbh. Ultimately unlike most I truly don't think Qb2 is all that important. I'd be fine with Nickel as our QB2 all year imo.

And in terms of Priority I'd probably go:
1. QB1
2. C
3. LB1
4. TE1
5. Outside WR
6. Safety
7. SDE
8. DT Depth
9. Nickel (though I think with how many quality CBs we have we should be able to figure out a guy on roster here).
10. RB3
11. LB2
12. QB2
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Screenshot_20251214_134050_ESPN.jpg


QB2 ^^^

Screenshot_20251214_134322_ESPN.jpg


QB2^^^



Screenshot_20251214_134850_ESPN.jpg


QB2^^^



Screenshot_20251214_135346_ESPN.jpg


QB2^^^

Ole Miss & TTech don't make it into the playoffs without a good QB2. The idea that if your starter goes down that you should just mail the season in is the old way of thinking. In the Portal era, you can absolutely 1,000% have a viable backup QB2 that can still help you win games if the starter goes down or isn't good.


As for everything else, I didn't add TE on my list because we have Gilbert, Schott, both Carver brothers, with Briggs & Gavin Mueller coming in. One of those TE's has to emerge to be a starter.

Lofton isn't a RB, he's not fast enough or shifty enough. He's a TE2/3 H-Back/Fullback. A short yardage area red-zone package guy.

I wish Fletch would declare, but if he did he'd at best be a 6th or 7th rounder, with a high probability of being an UDFA. He'll likely be given an inventivized NIL deal to come back.

You take a Nickelback from the Portal, it's the most pivotal position on this Defense & leaving that job to a young Corner who isn't used to playing that position is asking for a drastic drop off in production at that spot.

There's a reason the staff took Keionte Scott for that position, you need a smart player that can anticipate & react instantaneously given the responsibilities they have in this Defense. You don’t want a guy out there thinking & 2nd guessing his reads.
 
Memnon said:
Ole Miss & TTech don't make it into the playoffs without a good QB2. The idea that if your starter goes down that you should just mail the season in is the old way of thinking. In the Portal era, you can absolutely 1,000% have a viable backup QB2 that can still help win games if the starter goes down or isn't good.


As for everything else, I didn't add TE on my list because we have Gilbert, Schott, both Carver brothers, with Briggs & Gavin Mueller coming in. One of those TE's has to emerge to be a starter.

Lofton isn't a RB, he's not fast enough or shifty enough. He's a TE2/3 H-Back/Fullback. A short yardage area red-zone package guy.

I wish Fletch would declare, but if he did he'd at best be a 6th or 7th rounder, with a high probability of being an UDFA. He'll likely be given an inventivized NIL deal to come back.

You take a Nickelback from the Portal, it's the most pivotal position on this Defense & leaving that job to a young Corner who isn't used to playing that position is asking for a drastic drop off in production at that spot.

There's a reason the staff took Keionte Scott for that position, you need a smart player that can anticipate & react instantaneously given the responsibilities they have in this Defense. You don’t want a guy out there thinking & 2nd guessing his reads.
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Yeah but I mean how is Nickel any different from a QB2 to Heinschel and Hammond? It's pretty much the exact same situation. It's not like I'm saying I'd want to role into next season with Emory and Judd as our QB2 again. I said I'd be down to take a QB2 from a guy moving up especially if/when we lose Emory and Judd. But I just don't agre that it's nearly as valuable of a add. Mostly because I'd say **** it I'd want Nickel to get in for any BIG multi-game injury to our QB1 next year anyways. The most value of a Qb2 add just for next year imo is if our Qb misses 1-2 games or just to fill in for the remainder of a game. I'd want to add someone like Austin Simmons mostly to have a true 3 way competition between him, Nickel, and Coleman the following year, not as much for the Qb2 role itself.

Lofton isn't fast or shifty enough for RB... but I mean if he lost weight I straight up don't think that'd be any different than Brown already provides. And I think he'd be a complete upgrade in the pass game over Fletcher too. Fletcher this year has been good but like I've always said h'es like a 100 carry max guy. We've mostly been aligned about Fletcher, so we will just have to see how that plays out. I just don't get why everyone is saying he won't be a top pick BUT WOULD command a big NIL deal. Like those two just don't make any sense to me at all.

I hope Schott, Gilbert, and Mueller are playing a lot next year. But with how much we ask of our TEs... Idgaf I'm fully on board getting one of top TEs in portal. If Lofton is just sticking at TE, I wouldn't press for portal TE as much, but again to me our team is just straight up better with Lofton in a hybrid role with more snaps at RB and geting a portal TE than just sticking with the same RB+TE grouping we have basically...

Nickel. Man I agree with you, but there is no way getting a top Nickel DB isn't going to make a lot of guys portal out. I just don't see how we can't find 4-5 High PT CBs out of this group. And we have *** depth at Safety.
 
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Calinative said:
Yeah but I mean how is Nickel any different from a QB2 to Heinschel and Hammond? It's pretty much the exact same situation. It's not like I'm saying I'd want to role into next season with Emory and Judd as our QB2 again. I said I'd be down to take a QB2 from a guy moving up especially if/when we lose Emory and Judd. But I just don't agre that it's nearly as valuable of a add. Mostly because I'd say **** it I'd want Nickel to get in for any BIG multi-game injury to our QB1 next year anyways. The most value of a Qb2 add just for next year imo is if our Qb misses 1-2 games or just to fill in for the remainder of a game. I'd want to add someone like Austin Simmons mostly to have a true 3 way competition between him, Nickel, and Coleman the following year, not as much for the Qb2 role itself.

Lofton isn't fast or shifty enough for RB... but I mean if he lost weight I straight up don't think that'd be any different than Brown already provides. And I think he'd be a complete upgrade in the pass game over Fletcher too. Fletcher this year has been good but like I've always said h'es like a 100 carry max guy. We've mostly been aligned about Fletcher, so we will just have to see how that plays out. I just don't get why everyone is saying he won't be a top pick BUT WOULD command a big NIL deal. Like those two just don't make any sense to me at all.

I hope Schott, Gilbert, and Mueller are playing a lot next year. But with how much we ask of our TEs... Idgaf I'm fully on board getting one of top TEs in portal. If Lofton is just sticking at TE, I wouldn't press for portal TE as much, but again to me our team is just straight up better with Lofton in a hybrid role with more snaps at RB and geting a portal TE than just sticking with the same RB+TE grouping we have basically...

Nickel. Man I agree with you, but there is no way getting a top Nickel DB isn't going to make a lot of guys portal out. I just don't see how we can't find 4-5 High PT CBs out of this group. And we have *** depth at Safety.
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Fletch would only command a big NIL deal from Miami because Mario loves him & has built the run game around him.


We have a surplus at Outside Corner, so even if we didn't Portal in someone, there will still likely be attrition with a few guys portaling out.

We also had multiple injuries at CB this season, you can never have too much CB depth. Plus, at least 3 or 4 of our Corners should be playing Safety anyway.

I'm not against bringing in a big time TE1, if a kid like Dorian Thomas hit the Portal I'd be all in on getting him. But other than him, there's not a lot of big play TE's that will be available. Most of the best TE's this season were Seniors & the Juniors will likely declare for the draft.
 
Memnon said:
Fletch would only command a big NIL deal from Miami because Mario loves him & has built the run game around him.


We have a surplus at Outside Corner, so even if we didn't Portal in someone, there will still likely be attrition with a few guys portaling out.

We also had multiple injuries at CB this season, you can never have too much CB depth. Plus, at least 3 or 4 of our Corners should be playing Safety anyway.

I'm not against bringing in a big time TE1, if a kid like Dorian Thomas hit the Portal I'd be all in on getting him. But other than him, there's not a lot of big play TE's that will be available. Most of the best TE's this season were Seniors & the Juniors will likely declare for the draft.
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What we do at DB will be very interesting with the choices we make. Once again I think DB will end up being the deepest position group in the portal for like 3 years in a row. So I don't really think it'll be so much an issue of guys avaialble to us. I think there will be options. But we just have to make sure we retain the right guys ultimately. I don't want to lose Antione.

Personally I'd let Damari portal as I'd assume he'll try to renegotiate for the 3rd time and now he had a "good year". I'd prefer to roll into next season with OJ, Oconnor, Lucas, and Antione as our top 4 outside CBs. Ideally I'm with you're likely opinion of Lucas at Safety would ultimately be the more preferable path. But no way he moves after starting all season outside cb this year.

I'd really prefer Fitzgerald to be used as a pure single high safety type like how Kerby Joseph is used for lions. But he has been the backup nickel to Scott it seems so idk.

But like to me I really like Waters (and Dunnigan) and think he could play early. I think we prob should go get a 1 yr Nickel option, but man it'd be real dissapointing if all our young CBs aren't working their way in. And I already think our Safety depth is dog****... And we have already seen Fitzgerald at Nickel a lot and wouldn't at all be surprised to see Poyser there too... I just think Safety is the bigger hole currently cause I think we ultimately could be fine with one of our CBs sliding into nickel or either safety.... Safety though we'd just be ****ed for an injury..
 
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Memnon said:
Fletch would only command a big NIL deal from Miami because Mario loves him & has built the run game around him.


We have a surplus at Outside Corner, so even if we didn't Portal in someone, there will still likely be attrition with a few guys portaling out.

We also had multiple injuries at CB this season, you can never have too much CB depth. Plus, at least 3 or 4 of our Corners should be playing Safety anyway.

I'm not against bringing in a big time TE1, if a kid like Dorian Thomas hit the Portal I'd be all in on getting him. But other than him, there's not a lot of big play TE's that will be available. Most of the best TE's this season were Seniors & the Juniors will likely declare for the draft.
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Looking at potential TEs, purely based on their production this year... Yeah doesn't seem super stacked. But some guys.
- Dorian Thomas, New Mexico. 6'4" 239lbs. 1.84 y/rr. 26 1st downs. 4 TDs. 328 YAC. (good shout out here). 49.2 Runblock grade though
- Brody Foley, Tulsa. 6'6" 260lbs. 1.99 y/rr. 24 1st downs. 7 Tds. 304 YAC. 61.1 Runblock grade (I assume you think he declares tbh)
- Peter Clarke, Temple. 6'6" 265lbs. 2.66 y/rr. 24 1st downs. 6 tds
Those 3 are probably top 3 guys that could be available.

- Jeremiah Hasley, Duke. 6'3" 245lbs. 1.35 y/rr. 16 1st downs. 5 Tds. 248 YAC. 74.0 RunBlock grade.
This guy looks like the top graded TE in run blocking this year with a lot of Run block snaps... And did well in the pass game as well. But a bit undersized.... Could be an interesting add.

- Mason Williams, Ohio. 6'5" 258lbs. 1.63 y/rr. 15 1st downs. 3 TDs. 189 YAC. 64.1 RunBlock grade.
He also rated pretty well run blocking in the nation. And was a better receiver with better stats. This could be an under the radar guy that would be a good add

- Eli Finley, LaTech. 6'6" 246lbs. 1.93 y/rr. 17 1st downs. 223 YAC. 62.7 Runblock grade.
- Michael Masunas, MSU. 6'5" 259lbs. 2.13 y/rr. 13 1st downs. 3 tds
These are two good Receiving option with size.


then maybe
- Kaelen Chudzinski, Boston College. Obvious Miami connection. 6'3" 236lbs though. 2.25 y/rr. 13 1st downs. 4 tds.
- Tyler Fortenberry, ArkSt. 6'5" 240lbs. 0.81 y/rr. 21 1st downs. 2 Tds. 126 YAC. 50.8 RunBlock grade.
 
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