Marshall is my pick at Pivot to get some reps...I think Wilson is going to be a great playmaker but may not be physically ready and will like be learning both the RB and Slot position (Drayton indicated this), so that will be hard for a true frosh to absorb. Marshall will focus on that one position, has a skillset we lack on offense, and is physically ready to go.
My other pick on offense is Corey Smith. He is going to have a hell of a challenge supplanting Thomas for time outside of D. Smith, Philly, and J. Hall, especially when considering how much UFM loves Vannett and Heureman (I could see sets where they are both on the field, which leaves only 2-3 receivers on the field at a time, 1 possibly being a RB). Finally, UFM might opt to have Fields out on the field as a 4th WR over Thomas and Corey. I think Corey is ready but the window just might not open until Philly and Fields graduate this year.
Bosa is my pick on defense. I know we have a talented DL but he also brings alot to the table and I think he gets in the rotation. He obviously has the strength and his athleticism is off the charts for a guy that is 6-5 or 6-6 and 270 lbs. Plus he played HS in a fairly complex scheme for STA and has had an NFL player (his dad) instructing him since he was little, so I think he will be able to grasp the defense enough to get in the rotation. At bare minimum, I think we could put him at DT on passing downs (along with Diesel) and put Spence and perhaps S. Miller/Marcus on the ends. Simply put though, I think Bosa is just too talented to keep off the field completely. Also, Bosa has a murderer's mentality on the field and is uber-competitive...put that all together and you have a frosh star.
I also think Vonn Bell will get some PT, even if just on special teams. We have a lot of experience at safety and frankly I thought Powell looked incredible at Star, so it will be a tougher hill for him to sled than other positions imo. However, I at least see him getting some PT to prep him as the heir apparent for Barnett's safety spot...he needs PT way more than a redshirt. I will hedge on this a little and say I am not convinced with either safety yet and their play still concerns me considerably...if we are having issues, I don't see either of UFM or Withers hesitating to put Bell out there, whether it is at Star or Safety.
My last pick on defense is Mitchell. At the very least, he is a kick coverage nightmare on film...a 6'5 230 lb. monster running a 4.4 down the field...who wants to be on the wedge that has to stop that? Also, while Grant has improved vastly and I am rooting for him to cement himself in that spot, I think MIKE and the SAM (currently Josh Perry) are up for grabs if a freshman comes in and blows the coaches away. Really, Trey Johnson could be a candidate here too, very smart player. However, I just think Mitchell has a unique skillset and plays with the killer mentality we want our Silver Bullets to play with. Personally, Mitchell is the guy I am most excited to see develop and is only slightly behind Bosa as my favorite recruit from 2013.
My explanations on those left out:
QB Barrett: Recovering from injury and three guys ahead of him...easy to do the math and redshirt.
RB Elliott: Obviously the talent is there but unless he can prove himself as some type of third down back (which I think he very well could and is physically ready to do so) we don't already have, I think a redshirt may be likely with Hyde, Smith, Dunn, and Ball all performing well. Plus I think he would have to fight with D. Wilson, Hall, and perhaps Ball for that role.
RB/WR D. Wilson: Tremendous talent who could see the field returning the ball or situationally in the slot...perhaps at RB some. I think he can come in and play with his talent but the question is whether he is physically able to (I think he can get in there in a limited capacity but will need to bulk up some as he goes along) and does he grasp the offense mentally. Personally, I could see the staff tailoring a limited role for him so he can just go out and be an athlete his first year.
WR J. Clark: Absolute blazer but there is a logjam at receiver and he will need time to work on his route running and receiving skills. I see a redshirt.
TE Baugh: Great talent but two great talents ahead of him and Thomas is carving out a niche as well. Plus I think Marcus needs to redistribute some of his weight and get some quality Micky time before he is set to go. After a redshirt year though, I see him getting some balls thrown his way.
OL Lisle, Gardner, Munger: The only one physically ready imo is Lisle...maybe Munger. I could see him cracking the two deep but in all reality, Elflein and Boren will be the guys to step in if need be inside and Baldwin and Farris are next up at tackle. I could see the staff getting Lisle some mop-up reps to prepare him though and I think that would be wise with all the guys we have graduating. Perhaps even get Munger in there if he is ready. The only thing these guys having working for them is that with 4 graduating seniors, there is a greater need for experience than redshirts.
DE Sprinkle, Lewis: Sprinkle needs some REAL Micky time to get his body ready and I haven't heard a peep about Lewis yet...so redshirts likely. Plus I think Marcus/J.T. Moore are more likely to be a LEO type on third downs.
DT Hill, Price: Hill is intriguing as a 1 tech but Hale is doing a great job there and Carter had a great spring + spring game, so he has plenty of competition...don't rule him out though because if the light clicks, he might be the most athletic DT on the team pound-for-pound. Price was listed as a guy physically ready to go by Meyer on NLOID...definitely don't count him out. I think you have Hale and Bennett almost cemented as starters, with Carter looking solid, plus the ability of Bosa or Diesel to slide down in situations. So what it comes down to is can they be one of the best 7-9 DL we have and earn a spot in the rotation. My gut says one of these guys will get some PT but not too significant.
LB: T. Johnson, D. Lee: T. Johnson I barely mentioned, so I want to say I could see him as a potential starter this season just as easily as Mitchell could be. At the least, I see him as a special teamer immediately. I see Lee ending up at LB and he really needs time to fill out and learn a completely new position. Has the body type to do kick/punt coverage though.
CB: Apple, Burrows, Conley: Apple really impressed me with his coverage skills but Grant and Reeves had great springs and also impressed me...plus they know the defense better. I could see Eli supplanting Griffin or Murray as one of the backups though and earning some PT...he just has the natural ability to do so. Burrows looks like he needs more time to adjust to the speed of the game and while physically ready, he needs to learn the defense. I could see him as a special teams guy though and getting here early will help his development. Conley is a guy who split time with two positions and will need to focus on one (might end up at WR here honestly). I think he is a great talent but also a likely redshirt since the other guys got a head start on him.
S: Thompson, Worley: Thompson is good down the road but with three seniors at safety in Barnett, Bryant, and Wood, plus Bell coming in with him, I just don't see any PT available there this year. Great candidate to redshirt and then impress his redshirt freshman year, much like Powell has done. Worley has Star written all over him imo but likely will not beat out Powell, Pittsburgh, or Boggard for a spot in the pecking order...either redshirts to bulk up or does kick/punt coverage.
