I think we can safely say that the "Miles does not play freshmen" argument is officially gone. For better or for worse, a lot of freshmen saw the field today.
CB Mathieu S Reid RB Blue RB Ware CB Simon WR Boone WR Wright S Vinson Walk-on FB Connor Neighbors S Loston (Medical Hardship Waiver) Well the 4 I said would play did but off by a lot. Pretty surprising that 9 guys got playing time. Very good in one sense but some contributed to some bad plays like Blue on onside kick (Not sure if it was a bad call or not). Simon and Reid were both in on the 97 yard TD but I believe it was Morris Claiborne's man who got behind the defense.
I think Miles is building depth for next year, but holy crap - that's a lot of redshirt burning this early in the season, and a lot of risk with really young players in a very big venue. The flip side - if they stay in school and keep developing, there is a HUGE senior class bow wave building for the 2013 season.
Not anymore... That rules was changed a few years ago. Only chance is if one is hurt like Loston last year and the player qualifies for a medical hardship waiver. The injury would have to happen very early in the season though.
Simon did play. He was one of the chasers on the 97 yd, TD pass in the 4th qtr. True freshmen Mathieu, Reid and Simon rotated in and out during the comeback phase of the 4th. qtr. Add to that RS freshmen Lamin Barrow, Sam Montgomery, Michael Brockers, B Mingo, and I believe Kevin Minter is a RS freshman. J. Downs and Mo. Claiborne are true Sophomores. Anybody else? It was hard to keep up with the numbers. That was just on defense! We were playing babies!
I have the final list a few post above. Only person who could be added is Loston who is technically a True Freshman now after the medical hardship waiver but didn't add him because was not part of the 2010 class.
