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I've done this post a couple times before, and I still find it's useful to look at classes from a two-year perspective when examining hits, misses, and needs for the future. You can find the one I did last year here: https://www.canesinsight.com/thread/canes-recruiting/116987 if somebody wants to look at a THREE-year haul lol.
Anyway here's the 2018 version -
QB - Perry, Weldon, Williams - Grade - A
Perry is our QB of the future...unless Williams is. Both have tremendous upside and have more raw talent than any QB we've had on the roster in a very long time. Really can't argue with the results here as Richt got his QB each of the last two years. Let's get 1 more in 2019.
RB - Dallas, Burns, Lingard, Davis - Grade A
The development of Travis Homer as a legitimate #1 RB and the emergence of Deejay Dallas as a real backfield threat were pleasant surprises in 2017. Lingard is a top-5 RB nationally and has been the Ambassador for this class since Day 1. I love Davis' game. Burns is who we thought he was so far but I love our stable going forward. I'd like us to take 1 RB in 2019.
WR - Njoku, Harley, Thomas, Pope, Hightower, Wiggins, Ezzard - Grade - A+
An embarrassment of riches here. I mean, somebody show me a better 2-year haul I dare you. Really nothing more to say here. Killer job by Dugans and Co. I can see us only taking 2-3 WRs next year if they're the "right" 2-3.
TE - Polendy, Jordan, Mallory - Grade - A
I wanted us to land 2 TEs in 2018 and boy howdy did we nail it. Jordan and Mallory are arguably the two best TEs in the nation. I'd like us to get 1-2 more next year.
OL - Donaldson, Herbert, Gaynor, Dykstra, Hillery, Scaife, Campbell, Reed - Grade - A
Another outstanding 2-year group here. Donaldson is a man-child, and I'm really high on Herbert and Gaynor especially (even with some early growing pains.) Scaife can play with anybody in the country and Reed is nasty at OG. I'd like another 3-4 OL for 2019 because, always.
DE - Johnson, Garvin, Rousseau, Joyner - Grade - C+
This is a tough one. With DJ gone we have a real depth problem all of a sudden at DE. I do really like Rousseau.
Garvin of course is a beast but we need numbers. Look for 3-4 DE in 2019
DT - Ford, Odenigbo (transfer), Silvera, Miller - Grade - B
Nesta alone keeps this group in the B range at minimum IMO - he's that important to the 2-year grade at this position. I know Kul loves Jon Ford and I'm excited to see what happens with him going forward. Miller is underrated - anyone who's seen his film will tell you (@Hurricane Vision). The early departure of Norton and McIntosh made this position a real need sadly, and we did "well" here, if not elite-ly (not a word.) Odenigbo is at best a wait-and-see rental. Let's try and get 2-3 DTs in 2019.
LB - Jennings, Wilder, Steed, Joyner- Grade - C
We took 1 LB in Joyner this year. think that was a mistake. I hope we pursue at least 3 in 2019.
CB - Bandy, Dean, Blades, Bethel, Ivey - Grade - B-
I was really tempted to grade this group lower based solely on who we "missed" on the last two years, but you can't argue that guys like Bandy, Ivey, and Blades aren't talented. Yes, we need to start pulling in those blue-chippers here like we have been at WR, but this group on its own is pretty darn good. We still need 3-4 more CBs in 2019. Again.
S - Carter, Smith, Frierson, Hall - Grade - A-
I love, LOVE Frierson and Hall. Frierson might start at CB but I think he will make big money as a FS. Smith really started to come on as a box safety last year and I still love Carter as a headhunter. I see us taking another safety or 2 next year as well.
Overall Two-Year Class Grade - A-
Our DB recruiting has been more than disappointing based on who we DIDN'T sign, but this is a really, really good couple of classes. I still don't know that they're "playoff" level classes but man they're pretty darn close. The offensive recruiting has been nothing short of brilliant the last two years, esp. at the skill positions. We need more elite-level numbers at DL and CB to make me feel comfortable that we're truly on the path. As such, my personal list of needs for 2019 is almost entirely on the defensive side of the ball:
1) DE
2) LB
3) CB
4) DT
5) OL (just because)
Anyway here's the 2018 version -
QB - Perry, Weldon, Williams - Grade - A
Perry is our QB of the future...unless Williams is. Both have tremendous upside and have more raw talent than any QB we've had on the roster in a very long time. Really can't argue with the results here as Richt got his QB each of the last two years. Let's get 1 more in 2019.
RB - Dallas, Burns, Lingard, Davis - Grade A
The development of Travis Homer as a legitimate #1 RB and the emergence of Deejay Dallas as a real backfield threat were pleasant surprises in 2017. Lingard is a top-5 RB nationally and has been the Ambassador for this class since Day 1. I love Davis' game. Burns is who we thought he was so far but I love our stable going forward. I'd like us to take 1 RB in 2019.
WR - Njoku, Harley, Thomas, Pope, Hightower, Wiggins, Ezzard - Grade - A+
An embarrassment of riches here. I mean, somebody show me a better 2-year haul I dare you. Really nothing more to say here. Killer job by Dugans and Co. I can see us only taking 2-3 WRs next year if they're the "right" 2-3.
TE - Polendy, Jordan, Mallory - Grade - A
I wanted us to land 2 TEs in 2018 and boy howdy did we nail it. Jordan and Mallory are arguably the two best TEs in the nation. I'd like us to get 1-2 more next year.
OL - Donaldson, Herbert, Gaynor, Dykstra, Hillery, Scaife, Campbell, Reed - Grade - A
Another outstanding 2-year group here. Donaldson is a man-child, and I'm really high on Herbert and Gaynor especially (even with some early growing pains.) Scaife can play with anybody in the country and Reed is nasty at OG. I'd like another 3-4 OL for 2019 because, always.
DE - Johnson, Garvin, Rousseau, Joyner - Grade - C+
This is a tough one. With DJ gone we have a real depth problem all of a sudden at DE. I do really like Rousseau.
Garvin of course is a beast but we need numbers. Look for 3-4 DE in 2019
DT - Ford, Odenigbo (transfer), Silvera, Miller - Grade - B
Nesta alone keeps this group in the B range at minimum IMO - he's that important to the 2-year grade at this position. I know Kul loves Jon Ford and I'm excited to see what happens with him going forward. Miller is underrated - anyone who's seen his film will tell you (@Hurricane Vision). The early departure of Norton and McIntosh made this position a real need sadly, and we did "well" here, if not elite-ly (not a word.) Odenigbo is at best a wait-and-see rental. Let's try and get 2-3 DTs in 2019.
LB - Jennings, Wilder, Steed, Joyner- Grade - C
We took 1 LB in Joyner this year. think that was a mistake. I hope we pursue at least 3 in 2019.
CB - Bandy, Dean, Blades, Bethel, Ivey - Grade - B-
I was really tempted to grade this group lower based solely on who we "missed" on the last two years, but you can't argue that guys like Bandy, Ivey, and Blades aren't talented. Yes, we need to start pulling in those blue-chippers here like we have been at WR, but this group on its own is pretty darn good. We still need 3-4 more CBs in 2019. Again.
S - Carter, Smith, Frierson, Hall - Grade - A-
I love, LOVE Frierson and Hall. Frierson might start at CB but I think he will make big money as a FS. Smith really started to come on as a box safety last year and I still love Carter as a headhunter. I see us taking another safety or 2 next year as well.
Overall Two-Year Class Grade - A-
Our DB recruiting has been more than disappointing based on who we DIDN'T sign, but this is a really, really good couple of classes. I still don't know that they're "playoff" level classes but man they're pretty darn close. The offensive recruiting has been nothing short of brilliant the last two years, esp. at the skill positions. We need more elite-level numbers at DL and CB to make me feel comfortable that we're truly on the path. As such, my personal list of needs for 2019 is almost entirely on the defensive side of the ball:
1) DE
2) LB
3) CB
4) DT
5) OL (just because)
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