USCe OT Josiah Thompson visiting

Hes a no brainer add to the OL Room from an athleticism and body frame standpoint.

Lot of bad tape at SC but also played in a lot of games. Looks like he had to get adjusted to his weight...he must of put on over 30+ pounds from getting to SC. His coach at the start of last year say he showed up at sc at 265. So he essentially played that whole frshman year undersized ala another sc native and former cane OT Zion Nelson.
Need to gain about 20 he’s a little small for us lol
 
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If you like PFF grades at all, this dude sucked absolute **** 2 years in a row.

He has 827 total career pass blocking snaps and has allowed 68 pressures (8.22%), 52 hurries, and 13 sacks (1.57%), 9 penalties on 1,462 total snaps.
2025 - 49.2 Overall Grade, 52.2 Run Block Grade, 48.5 Pass Block Grade
2024 - 49.3 Overall Grade, 48.1 Run Block Grade, 51.5 Pass Blcok Grade

Mauigoa has 1577 total pass block snaps allowing 56 pressures (3.55%), 41 hurries, and 8 sacks (0.51%), 11 penalties on 1,524 total snaps.
Bell has 884 total pass block snaps allowing 33 pressures (3.73%), 27 hurries, and 3 sacks (0.34%), 21 penalties on 2,760 total snaps.

Unless this dude is coming in to sit on the bench for a year, which can make sense. Because maybe the expectation is Kinsler leaves, Bell returns, Samson and McCoy are the OGs, and This guy can sit behind Bell for a year and develop. Because otherwise we are probably putting a lot of hope Ervin is ready asap if needed. AND just in case we'd have him for Cantwell in case he surprisingly isn't ready right away.

If he's coming in to start, I really don't like it. If it's coming in to be on the bench, take a redshirt, and then have 2 years eligibility after Bell leaves, it could make sense since he's got the size, and I'd assume the athleticism....
 
If you like PFF grades at all, this dude sucked absolute **** 2 years in a row.

He has 827 total career pass blocking snaps and has allowed 68 pressures (8.22%), 52 hurries, and 13 sacks (1.57%), 9 penalties on 1,462 total snaps.
2025 - 49.2 Overall Grade, 52.2 Run Block Grade, 48.5 Pass Block Grade
2024 - 49.3 Overall Grade, 48.1 Run Block Grade, 51.5 Pass Blcok Grade

Mauigoa has 1577 total pass block snaps allowing 56 pressures (3.55%), 41 hurries, and 8 sacks (0.51%), 11 penalties on 1,524 total snaps.
Bell has 884 total pass block snaps allowing 33 pressures (3.73%), 27 hurries, and 3 sacks (0.34%), 21 penalties on 2,760 total snaps.

Unless this dude is coming in to sit on the bench for a year, which can make sense. Because maybe the expectation is Kinsler leaves, Bell returns, Samson and McCoy are the OGs, and This guy can sit behind Bell for a year and develop. Because otherwise we are probably putting a lot of hope Ervin is ready asap if needed. AND just in case we'd have him for Cantwell in case he surprisingly isn't ready right away.

If he's coming in to start, I really don't like it. If it's coming in to be on the bench, take a redshirt, and then have 2 years eligibility after Bell leaves, it could make sense since he's got the size, and I'd assume the athleticism....
this kid has started 2 full years in the sec he isnt transferring to not play.

He is essentially Samson that actually played before time because SC didnt have aline like ours.
 
the ot market looks like sh*t and we recruited him before.

2 years LT experience albeit sh*ttt but go rummage through the current portal and tell me who you like at OT.
Don't take an OT. Why take a **** OT to start him, knowing he's bad.
Whats the point in paying Kinsler/McCoy/Samson?
All we heard is how they love McCoy and the staff thinks he's a more natural OT....

Like is this only if Bell leaves? Cause that's the only chance this makes ANY sense whatsoever. And even if he does leave I wouldn't say going to a guy who has 2 years of very below average play isn't a good thing.

I don't think it'd be that crazy to have Kinsler portal and he comes and sits a year because he wants to be developed to a 1st rounder in 2 years and all the film he just put up has him undrafted, regardless how many starts he has
 
If Mario and mirabel want him so be it… I’ll blindly take their judgment over fans on a message board

Bells tape was very meh at that juco level but you saw the freakish size and bet on it. If he’s coachable bet on the traits and see what he brings… wouldn’t guarantee him anything but competition, quality coaching, and a chance to start. Plus he’s gonna get paid ain’t like he’ll come for free
 
If Mario and mirabel want him so be it… I’ll blindly take their judgment over fans on a message board

Bells tape was very meh at that juco level but you saw the freakish size and bet on it. If he’s coachable bet on the traits and see what he brings… wouldn’t guarantee him anything but competition, quality coaching, and a chance to start. Plus he’s gonna get paid ain’t like he’ll come for free
He didn't come in to start.
 
Cantwell will probably be good. But he will be a freshman. I don’t hate bringing in a guy with some experience and letting the coaches do their thing.

Always need depth. And I’d rather take a guy from a P4 S&C program and letting him work. If he comes in and doesn’t play and transfers next year so be it.
 
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Don't take an OT. Why take a **** OT to start him, knowing he's bad.
Whats the point in paying Kinsler/McCoy/Samson?
All we heard is how they love McCoy and the staff thinks he's a more natural OT....

Like is this only if Bell leaves? Cause that's the only chance this makes ANY sense whatsoever. And even if he does leave I wouldn't say going to a guy who has 2 years of very below average play isn't a good thing.

I don't think it'd be that crazy to have Kinsler portal and he comes and sits a year because he wants to be developed to a 1st rounder in 2 years and all the film he just put up has him undrafted, regardless how many starts he has
I'm counting Bell as Gone in my reference to this kid. Which is why he is a strong take against Bell and Kinsler or us losing another ol. I think our ol coaches are a bit better than usc and can coach him to a better player.

Matt Mccoy and Samson are starters on next years OL.

Kinsler has an "agent" etc i cant trust those types when it comes to it cause they are always being pulled somewhere.

This spring is really important for Bruno. He can solidify hisself as a two year starter draft pick or transfer out. Who knows.

5 star ot in the portal with 2 years experience in sec who takes you for first visit. I dont think you pass.

I would bring him in for a visit too.
 
He didn't come in to start.
He didn’t but who ended up starting by the end of the year… great coaching job by mirabel.

Some of the best oline coaches can fix reclamation projects… soutland does it all the time with the eagles. Projects and betting on traits and proper coaching/technique.

Mario has said it before mass kicks *** and at the end of the day you gotta have size to maul folks.. clean up the skill and you got something
 
He didn’t but who ended up starting by the end of the year… great coaching job by mirabel.

Some of the best oline coaches can fix reclamation projects… soutland does it all the time with the eagles. Projects and betting on traits and proper coaching/technique.

Mario has said it before mass kicks *** and at the end of the day you gotta have size to maul folks.. clean up the skill and you got something
Entirely different cost and expectations out of a guy being brought in to start and not.
A guy that has 2 years of tape being bad with the expectation and pay to start.... idk man better work out.
And regardless this would literally mean the staff doesn't trust one of McCoy/Kinsler... or even Samson, cause otherwise one of them would be the starting RT (Cantwell would be LT if Bell left).
 
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I'm counting Bell as Gone in my reference to this kid. Which is why he is a strong take against Bell and Kinsler or us losing another ol. I think our ol coaches are a bit better than usc and can coach him to a better player.

Matt Mccoy and Samson are starters on next years OL.

Kinsler has an "agent" etc i cant trust those types when it comes to it cause they are always being pulled somewhere.

This spring is really important for Bruno. He can solidify hisself as a two year starter draft pick or transfer out. Who knows.

5 star ot in the portal with 2 years experience in sec who takes you for first visit. I dont think you pass.

I would bring him in for a visit too.
If Bell left, Cantwell should be LT, McCoy or Kinsler should prob be RT and the loser of that comp is RG with Samson at LG.
Again, my problem would be getting this guy, it'd be paying him and expecting him to be starter. I just don't see it. When you have an elite player who starts 2 years, they generally don't suck if they're actually good players.

But hey maybe South Carolina is just that terribly coached or Sellers just ****ed over his Olineman that much. Regardless though his pass blocking grades aren't the only thing that's bad....

What I will agree is he's likely very obviously the best Athleticsm+Build among OTs in the portal.
 
Entirely different cost and expectations out of a guy being brought in to start and not.
A guy that has 2 years of tape being bad with the expectation and pay to start.... idk man better work out.
And regardless this would literally mean the staff doesn't trust one of McCoy/Kinsler... or even Samson, cause otherwise one of them would be the starting RT (Cantwell would be LT if Bell left).
I guess where you’re getting stuck on in this expectation he’s a locked in starter no matter what. You and I both don’t know that this is being communicated your just assuming…

But we’ve taken portal kids like Brantley, Marty, Tony Jefferson, etc… who came in for opportunity, coaching, pay of course and didn’t start.
 
I guess where you’re getting stuck on in this expectation he’s a locked in starter no matter what. You and I both don’t know that this is being communicated your just assuming…

But we’ve taken portal kids like Brantley, Marty, Tony Jefferson, etc… who came in for opportunity, coaching, pay of course and didn’t start.
I'm literally saying It makes sense as a guy intending to RS and then start the following year to try to rehab his draftability after 2 bad seasons who is built great and has athleticism.

But IF he's going to be paid a lot, the expectation that comes with that is obviously to start. period.
 
The player you sign, is not the player you will see on the field.

This is a 2 year OT thrown into the fire in the SEC. Typically oline show the most growth in year 3 (see samson). Its rare to get day 1 or year two studs on the oline, the Mauigoa's of the world are few and far apart.

Also, oline is a very trait based position (quick feet, long arms, strength). If he checks the boxes the coaches like, they have the confidence in reaching him the technique. And the success of a lineman also depends on his fellow lineman. And if the coach isn't teaching them how to communicate properly, they can be set up to fail.

All to say, just because he wasnt good as a sophomore at USCe, dont assume this is a bad take.
 
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