Good idea but it might be better to wait until the week of the CFP Championship. My thinking is this RT spot and a DL are most important going forward verses any other portal needs. The coaching staff is more likely to fill these spots from better teams, i.e. in New Year's bowls or the playoffs, or from P4 schools with coaching changes. Whether we get another kid from Louisville or a lineman from UNC or even an SEC school, these two spots need to be a plug and play type player. Not saying the RT has to start, waiting to see if Manuel is ready, but a RT would be great especially if he has two or more years left. All that to say, this new thread might have a whole new outlook in mid January.
As a former offensive lineman, I can say, without ANY hesitation that any team that has a stout offensive line will always blow other teams away. That line will KEEP your offense on the field and wear down the opponent's defense. One can have a decent QB, decent RBs and decent WRs...and that offensive line will still absolutely control the whole game. Even if our defense is just decent, that offensive line will always always keep moving the chains and not allow the opponent to get their offense on the field. Now, when we have a top level QB, RBs, Tight Ends and Receivers... Watch out!
I agree the group is unsettled and wouldn't tun down a top portal CB. I do think there's enough talent in place to be a very good group. Another poster listed them in a semi pecking order going into spring: CB: Denson, Foster, Johnson, Grimsley, Moore*, McClain*, Davis and Hanks A lot of quality options there.
Makes sense. It would be nice to get some clarity with Manuel at RT. I agree with the DL needs. One more big edge and a NT type would complete the DL.
Right on- Billy needs to stop calling that play where he has the freshmen QB throw the ball to the other team!
Got this 4-deep from TOS as it looks heading into January. We'll see how it shakes out before spring: * Fr., ^ walkon. LT: Barber, Westphal, Dice*, Medlock* LG: Harris, Portnjagin, Macoll, Homa^ OC: Slaughter, Kearney, Zandamela, Stevens^ RG: George, Lovett, Waites, P Louis* RT: Manuel, Jones, Wangoy, Faircloth^
Back to the OP: Great assessment Donzo, you really outdid yourself on the position breakdowns, I couldn't agree more. This is the most uniformly talented and well-dispersed influx of young talent we've seen in forever. I don't care what Will Miles' stats and proprietary formulas say about DM vs BN in terms of talent acquisition. We haven't seen a young roster this promising since Zook/Meyer, with Billy's highest rated haul yet on the way. I can't wait to see what happens to recruiting if we finish well in the portal this year and then kick some pretty serious butt in '25. Fingers crossed on an OC. We could be scary good by the time we take the bus ride to Jax - especially with an undistracted HC and a first-rate OC that HC really trusts.
High school. With rehab he wasn’t ready to play until that SC on Oct 14th last season. I edited my original post as I forgot he played some last year (redshirted). Thanks for reminding me.
QB: We will be better with a quality backup, a freshman newcomer and our walk on that started a game. RB: 4 deep - then the 3 freshman WR: no need to talk about this TE: 2 starters coming back but Jackson may be the star we have been wanting since Pitts left OL: LT: Barber, Westphal, Dice*, Medlock* LG: Harris, Portnjagin, Macoll, Homa^ OC: Slaughter, Kearney, Zandamela, Stevens^ RG: George, Lovett, Waites, P Louis* RT: Manuel, Jones, Wangoy, Faircloth^ DL: Good line but we need a couple of starting DTs. I like the idea of someone like Pup Howard coming off the edge on rush dows. LB: Deep - and that doesn't include the 2 stud freshman coming in CB: "Replacing Marshall will be no easy task" This is funny! We got better when he went out. Dijohn (?) played great this year. Who will replace Bridges? Denson at star is fine. Who will back him up? I'm thinking Hayward. S: We are fine here. I would like to see Asa Turner come back.
ok..He is a true freshman. A scintilla below 6’8”, at 325, he is a hoss. Caden Jones is almost the exact same dimensions. Westphal starts next year/ Manuel is a mystery. He has the experience and size. Is he a solution? Who knows? Waites is not the answer..all agreed. Kearney at guard/ center and Zandamela at guard/ center are the two who allegedly have “the magic.” Do THEY? One last favorite topic..Hansen at tight end. He is 1/4” below 6’8” and 270. He is a stellar blocker. Yet somehow we seem to downgrade him because he is not a KC CHIEFS Kelce, catching 10 passes per game over the middle.
Good info, TY. So he does have a history with ACLs. The kid can play. Hopefully he can overcome the ACL issues.
