'07 class who could see the playing field as true freshmen

If half our recruiting class has to play as true freshman that doesnt say much for our depth and previous recruiting classes does it? I dont think we see anywhere near that number play. I would guess more like 4 or 5 max. I know we have a need at tackle but is McCoy the only option we have? We are talking about the offensive line here. The toughest spot to learn in college for a freshman. I would hope we dont have to play freshman offensive lineman in the regular rotation. Mop up maybe, but thats it.

 

Playing & playing extensively are two different things. Generally, you have about 10 - 15 true freshman per year play, while maybe 3 or 4 make a significant impact.

Obviously, WR is one place where atleast one guy is going to see alot of action. My guess is Byrd will be our 3rd WR, since he's coming from JUCO & he's a bit more ready physically than Benton or Toliver. Toliver will see more action as our passing game comes together along the season.

I think Corley will see a fair amount of action based on how we rotate the DLine. Not sure about Blackwell this year since he's kind of a tweener at this point.

Francois & Jones will both see the field some, but I don't know if they can become significant contributors. Jones may be the starter by the second half of the season though.

 

Corley will see the field in passing situations... the wideouts will see the field if the Mitchells and Dixon don't develope as expected... Byrd will play because he only has 3 to play 2... Jones could win the starting spot opposite Steltz... Expect most of the ATHs to redshirt, since they will be making a position transition..

 

As a JUCO transfer and a Jr., Byrd's likely going to see playing time. And I would believe that either Benton (pending his grades are, in fact, in order) or Toliver would as well (pending he gain a few more lbs. over the summer).

I believe that you'll see two WR's from this class earn some playing time. Byrd and Benton or Tolliver, and the rest will redshirt. That would give us a WR unit of:

1. Doucet, Sr.
2. LaFell, RS-Soph.
3. Jared Mitchell, Soph.
4. Byrd, Jr.
5. Trindon Holiday, RS, Soph* (inserted in his special package formations)
6 & 7. Benton or Tolliver, Fresh/redshirt
8. Ricky Dixon, RS-Fresh
9. Chris Mitchell, RS-Fresh
10. Ron Brooks, redshirt

Our O-line should shape up as:

LT Ciron Black, RS-Soph.
G Will Arnold, Sr.
C Brett Helms, Jr.
G Herman Johnson, Jr.
RT Carnell Stewart, Sr. or Zhamal Thomas, RS-Fresh.

IMO, along the O-line, only the RT position, previously manned by Dyakowski is the only position in which does not return a starter or part-time starter from a year ago. Therefore, I'd imagine that back-up spots are going to be where the majority of competition will come from.

Look for our O-linemen of '07 to redshirt in the same manner that the '06 class did--a class that included highly-rated Zhamal Thomas.

I think our back ups for the Guard spots will be decided by RS-Fresh Matt Allen, RS-Fresh Steven Singleton and Jr. Andrew Decker (who, similar to Niswanger, is able to provide depth at center as well) and possibly Jr. Ryan Miller.

As for the tackle spots, Black, Thomas and Stewart are all pretty much guaranteed playing time. So the biggest need is at a back-up tackle. I guess McCoy has a ledgit shot at playing as a true-freshman as we really don't have many "true OT's". RS-Fresh Mark Snyder is a possibility for the #4 tackle spot, but he was a "raw project" coming in, so it's yet to be seen if he's polished himself enough with but a year in the program, or if he's still a bit away.

I believe Phelon Jones plays as a true Freshman.

With Chevis and Zenon returning as the starters, and Jai the likely Nickel back, Phelon would be a safe bet for the Dime formation--unless he's pushed out by one of the safeties--which is what Steltz did last season (by being a safety but playing dime corner).

I believe all 3 safety recruits play. Chad Jones, Francois AND Shomari Clemons. Though 2 of them could very well find themselves mainly on special teams, but I believe they will all, at some point, see game action on defense.

 

Doesn't Shomari Clemons project as a linebacker?

 

He may. I just haven't read that that's the projection. All I know is that he was listed as a safety, but be definately has the size and frame to be a good OLB, too, so I wouldn't be shocked if that turned out to be the case.

I say leave Clemons as a safety for now--at least until the summer because we don't know what is going to happen with Chad Jones and the MLB draft. So, if Jones gets drafted high enough, or is offered more money than he can refuse, then we need a big, strong safety (which both Jones and Clemons can be) to go along with more of a coverage safety (which Francois and Steltz seem more fit for).

 

Benton may not qualify.

Clemons is a LB.

We weren't able to find any plays to use Trindon as a WR under Jimbo. Maybe Crowton can come up with something, but his route running skills are not good & he's so short that our QBs have trouble finding him. I'd be suprised to see him line up at WR... ever.

There was some talk about one of our freshman WRs (one of the Mitchells) not being at that position next year.

We have yet to really see what type of WR LaFell is. He may be a guy that fits better into 4-5 WR sets, which could mean there would be room for a Mitchell or true freshman to step into the number 2 spot.