by davidmcain » Tue Mar 02, 2021 3:13 am
TRAINING CAMPS / REDSHIRTS 2021
We saw positive results from the vast majority of our players this year with some particularly big gains, and only one negative performer. The standouts were SS Michael Russell (+12), DE Nathan Hendricks (+10), and G Anthony Snyder (+10). DE Benton Oh (-4) was the only disappointment. At this stage Hendricks and Snyder have probably earned starting roles, vehicle Russell figured to be a starter in his final year of school.
We opted to cut 3 players who we felt would never make it here, and redshirted 9 more:
(So) QB William Crawford 74
(Fr) T Ralph Jack 65
(So) WR Gilbert Dye 76
(So) WR Billy Reedy 76
(So) LB Phillip Bowie 74
(So) LB Robert Briones 74
(So) DT Richard Wood 76
(Fr) DE Donald Wright 62
(Fr) FS Randall Peoples 70
Lastly, we opted to move SS Genaro Juarez down to LB. At 85 OVR, and great size at 6-2, 214, Coach McFadden suggested he move down to the middle rather than seeing out his last year of eligibility backing up Michael Russell. CB Roy Nguyen, a fourth year senior also moved to FS, due to an excess of quality CB’s and no real talent further back.
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PROJECTED LINEUPS / RECRUITING PREVIEW
QB - Jimmie Stevens 78 (RS JR)
HB - Daniel Qualls 84 (RS SR)
FB - Adan Johnson 69 (FR)
WR - Samuel Roque 80 (RS JR)
WR - Nicholas Henke 80 (SR)
TE - Russell Drury 84 (RS SR)
T - Lucas Gooding 77 (JR)
G - Sidney Breen 82 (SR)
C - Matthew Harvey 71 (RS FR)
G - Anthony Snyder 80 (RS JR)
T - Jeremy Lerma 77 (JR)
SLWR - Patrick Lozano 81 (SR)
In general our linemen seem to be slightly better at run blocking. Our QB lacks any great level of ability, so we will focus on our running game at this stage, and utilise our Tight Ends for some shorter passes. With 5 strong Running Backs, we will utilise a committee approach
DT - Mark Corcoran 80 (SR)
DT - James Elliott 80 (SR)
DT - David Shiveley 80 (SR)
OLB - Craig Partin 77 (RS SO)
LB - Sherman Handley 79 (RS JR)
LB - Hong Paulsen 78 (RS SO)
OLB - Genaro Juarez 85 (RS SR)
CB - Michael Johnston 87 (RS SR)
CB - James Oswalt 84 (SR)
FS - Roy Nguyen 80 (SR)
SS - Michael Russell 86 (RS SR)
EDGE - Nathan Hendricks 79 (JR)
EDGE - Kevin Mercedo 78 (JR)
NCB - Elliott Nieto 82 (SR)
Our front seven probably give us the flexibility to use either 3-4 or 4-3. The DT’s are more Nose Tackle type players, whilst the DE’s probably won’t be elite pass rushers. Our linebackers seem mediocre. The strength of the unit lies in the secondary, so hopefully the front 7 can generate some pressure on the opposition QB’s, and allow our corners and safeties to make interceptions and break up passes downfield.
KR/PR - Larry Payne 83 (RS SR)
K - Armand Dupree 84 (RS SO)
P - Derrick Mahoney 82 (RS JR)
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We have 23 scholarships available for next season, and we need help everywhere other than special teams. Of the 29 key players listed above, we will be losing 15 next year. At this stage, we will be targeting the following:
OFF: QB, HB(3), FB, TE(2), WR(3), T(2), G, C
DEF: DT(2), DE, LB, CB(4), SS
The board wants us to target high upside players. I think 3 stars is probably our ceiling at this stage, so if we could get maybe 15 x 3 stars, and 8 x 2 stars, we can be happy. Our focus will be on the Carolina’s, and perhaps some coastal players from further south (Jacksonville/Savannah), as well as the Virginia coast, and possibly Delaware.