Who will hit the portal?

I can't remember the time we had multiple decent offensive of lineman returning, and we actually had a veteran offensive line that we felt good about.

 

If we have a couple receivers step up, or grab another Dike or Badger (or both), then our offense should be set. It will be interesting to see CBN's offense run optimally. We'll see if his "playcalling" looks a little bit better with all of the pieces in place. If not, the calls for hiring an OC will become deafening.

 

It is hard not to imagine very good things will result with the offensive line seemingly ready to come back intact. Still have not heard back from Barber, but so far so good.

QB - Check with Lagway, but need a decent backup for depth.
Running Back Room - Check. (loaded)
Recievers - Need help, one or two Portal wide recievers (Slot is fine), with what is coming back, and ..... Check
Tight End - Big Hayden is coming back, very interested if Amir gets PT. Amir could be a secret weapon.

OC - Smooty, I have my doubts, Billy has resisted this for three years, I suspect he will sink or swim,
based on his own playcalling. I doubt he relinquishes it to someone else.

 

Agree with everything above, except the OC. I don't have a prediction one way or the other, as I wouldn't be surprised if he does or doesn't. Also, the topic has been beat to death here... lol.

My prediction is that the offense will look a lot better next year and Billy's playcalling will be less of an issue than it has been, but some people here will still be calling for him to hire an OC (which still might be justified) even if it improves a decent amount.

 

We need the Badger type that goes up and gets the ball. We are loaded with short shifty guys.

 

The 6'4 Virgil guy from Miami (OH) looks to fill that part if he chooses to elevate his future career catching from DJ.

I am saying that with full chest - if you are a WR your future earnings will be affected positively if you can catch passes from DJ.

EDIT: Dang, Texas Tech bound

 

TJ Searcy is on the portal, not goood.

 

Would be sad to see TJ leave.
The Portal is out of control.

 

Really had high hopes for the 2023 Dline class. Now only James is left.

 

This has been expected for a few weeks. I like him, but Idk, we’ll see how things shake out

 

On

I believe Once DJ settles in it will be beautiful. RPO and play action will have defenses reeling.

 

Returning depth is just gonna be an issue in today's college football.

A projected 5-man monster rotation at edge is now a 3-man rotation. As a player, if you see yourself as the 4th or 5th guy in that rotation, it’s going to be appealing listening to other schools who are telling you are going to be their guy.

Attrition has really hurt edge so far. Not only Pyburn/Searcy from the rotation, deep depth has lost three players too. Gonna need a few players from the portal. I’m thinking one Sr. type ready to play in the rotation and a couple prospects for position depth.

 

Barber is returning. I like this Oline with Lagway and our backs.

 

I assume staff will get it sorted but recruiting seems more hollow than ever now. Seems the norm now is to have a "contract year' on the field and leverage it with the portal by your junior year. Earlier than that for many at other schools this year.

 

Disappointing. It just didn't seem to click as well as everyone expected. I wish him well.

 

It didn't click for Banks either until it finally did the second half of this year. It's not the end of the world but this idea that a lineman didn't pan out after only 2 years is a new mindset due to the transient nature of rosters and fans tendencies to try and explain it as no biggie. Pyburn got derailed by injury and he never pressured the qb but he finally became a great run stopper and played his assignments. No point in crying about it but I already miss seeing players develop for at least 3 years before we call them boom or bust. Especially in the trenches.

 

tough at a place like UF too because we rotate OFTEN so it may be harder for other linemen to get into a groove.

 

Searcy loss is ehhh. I would have liked if he stayed because we recruited him and would have been cool to see him grow, but I am not going to pretend he was a hawk coming off the edge. You can find better in the portal for sure.

 

FTR, I didn't mean to imply that he was a bust, at all. Whether he left because he wanted to leverage himself into a starting role immediately and knew it wouldn't happen at UF, or he just wanted more NIL dough like JP, or he wasn't meshing with the staff/program, is known but to him and Billy Napier. How things eventually turn out is known to no one. Again, I wish him well and I have no well-informed thoughts on his future - one way or another.