With the two SDSU commits now public, my guess it that we are done with portal activity in the early window. Could still look to add undergraduate transfers (such as West Virginia OT Lucas Austin), but they’d be joining for the Spring Quarter at this point. An outside chance we could try to shoehorn in one or two more grad transfers, but seems highly unlikely.
Right up front… Adding at least 9 players in the early window is a HUGE development. Kudos go out to Jackson and the rest of the administration in getting Admissions to play ball. We’d be pretty much screwed without the ability to add in this window vs. the spring.
Thought I’d take a shot at a depth chart, share some overall thoughts, and hopefully start some healthy discussion in what’s an otherwise very slow time of the year.
Depth Chart
QB: Stone/Lausch
RB: Porter/Himon OR Komolafe
TE: Lines/Welcing (but really a jumbled up mess and you gotta hope for a breakout somewhere)
WR: Wilde/Elingon
WR: Farrell/Johnson
WR: Covey/Ahumareze
LT: Tiernan/Keeler
LG: Oratokhai/Lovelace
C: Bailey/Carsello
RG: Beernsten/Birsa
RT: Gray/Keeler
DE: Kilbane/Hagerty
DT: Story/Pearson
DT: Bastone/Flakes
DE: Hubbard/Saka
LB: Uihlein/Brus
LB: Soares/Glover
LB: Karlaftis/Brus
CB: Fussell/Smith
SAF: Fitzgerald/Coffey
SAF: Walters/Wallace
CB: Adeyi/Turner
LS: Reardon
K: Akers
P: Dugandzic
Thoughts
Overall I doubt this squad will be competing for B1G titles, but the floor has been raised significantly. I still have concerns about OL depth and impact pass-catchers, but has all the makings of the “solid squad that plays excellent complimentary football and is a pain int he butt” kind of teams we saw under Fitz. Feels like a team that still might have to be fighting for bowl eligibility later in the year, but should be more competitive throughout the season.
Right up front… Adding at least 9 players in the early window is a HUGE development. Kudos go out to Jackson and the rest of the administration in getting Admissions to play ball. We’d be pretty much screwed without the ability to add in this window vs. the spring.
Thought I’d take a shot at a depth chart, share some overall thoughts, and hopefully start some healthy discussion in what’s an otherwise very slow time of the year.
Depth Chart
QB: Stone/Lausch
RB: Porter/Himon OR Komolafe
TE: Lines/Welcing (but really a jumbled up mess and you gotta hope for a breakout somewhere)
WR: Wilde/Elingon
WR: Farrell/Johnson
WR: Covey/Ahumareze
LT: Tiernan/Keeler
LG: Oratokhai/Lovelace
C: Bailey/Carsello
RG: Beernsten/Birsa
RT: Gray/Keeler
DE: Kilbane/Hagerty
DT: Story/Pearson
DT: Bastone/Flakes
DE: Hubbard/Saka
LB: Uihlein/Brus
LB: Soares/Glover
LB: Karlaftis/Brus
CB: Fussell/Smith
SAF: Fitzgerald/Coffey
SAF: Walters/Wallace
CB: Adeyi/Turner
LS: Reardon
K: Akers
P: Dugandzic
Thoughts
- Stepping back, there seemed to be a clear portal recruiting strategy: “get old,” quickly. And it seems to have worked, especially along the OL
- We could be starting up to 3 7th year players along the OL (Bailey, Beernsten, and Gray) and Tiernan has over 30 career starts
- That said, wouldn’t at all mind still adding UNLV/Buffalo C Hasz to kick Bailey to LG (where he spent his pre-NU career) and bring even more veteran experience (he’s got >40 career starts and started his career in 2019 at a JUCO)
- Stone and Porter have also played a ton of ball while Lines actually started 15 games for Arizona in 2021 and 2022
- The defensive front has also played a ton of football, difference is that they were all already in-house vs. brought in via the portal
- WR is the only spot without a ton of experience, but Wilde brings some and have to hope that Stone can “raise all ships”
- In addition to another OL mentioned above, I would be all for adding another veteran impact WR transfer in the spring window
- We could be starting up to 3 7th year players along the OL (Bailey, Beernsten, and Gray) and Tiernan has over 30 career starts
- The defense lacks “splash” players, but has a whole lot of veteran players who will be in their third year in the system
- I have Saka as a backup on the two-deep, but fully expect him to be heavier into the rotation while still filling his pass rush specialist role
- Pearson would be contingent on getting a JUCO waiver, which I understand to be in process; same with Lovelace
- Similarly Bailey’s return depends on a medical hardship waiver, which I also understand to be in process
- DBs are on the younger side, but I like their potential; Coffey would likely be the nickel, IMO
- Sounds like all the announced commitments will be on campus Monday for the start of Winter Quarter, which should help tremendously
Overall I doubt this squad will be competing for B1G titles, but the floor has been raised significantly. I still have concerns about OL depth and impact pass-catchers, but has all the makings of the “solid squad that plays excellent complimentary football and is a pain int he butt” kind of teams we saw under Fitz. Feels like a team that still might have to be fighting for bowl eligibility later in the year, but should be more competitive throughout the season.
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