Good stuff re: Penn State LBs, S&G... :crazy:
Dorian Bell would have quite an uphill battle if he wanted to start as a freshman at Penn State, however I believe he likely does end up at tOSU and will likely start as a freshman. You'll likely lose your entire 'starting' LB corp in '08 because of the LB with the foot injury [Terry?] likely starting, JL, and whatever other senior gets stuck in there. Penn State will presumably have 2 senior LBs, Sean Lee & Tyrell Sales. Presumably, because Sales is likely to split time if not lose his starting outside spot all together. So guys are going to be seeing time this year at LB, and a true sophomore in Chris Colasanti will be manning the middle with Lee staying outside.
Michael Mauti 4* Louisiana true freshman
Michael Zordich 4* Ohio true freshman
Mike Yancich 4* Pennsylvania true freshman
Brandon Beachum 4* Ohio true freshman [if RB/FB doesn't work out...he'll get his shot at RB as a change of pace/situational rusher in '08]
Chris Colasanti 4* Michigan true sophomore
Nathan Stupar 4* Pennsylvania redshirt freshman
Andrew Dailey 4* Ohio redshirt freshman
Navarro Bowman 4* Maryland redshirt sophomore
Bani Gbadyu 4* Maryland redshirt sophomore
Jerome Hayes 4* New Jersey redshirt Junior [DE, recovering from torn ACL against Wisconsin '07 - could and likely will move to OLB as a senior in '09]
That is NINE FOUR STAR LINEBACKERS...SEVEN if you don't include Hayes on the DL as a true Junior/rs Junior '08 or Brandon Beachum.
That isn't including 4* Sean Lee who is a starter. 4* Tyrell Sales who is likely going to split time. tOSU is going to be starting 3 senior LBs, were going to be starting 1 senior LB full time while RETAINING NINE FOUR STAR LINEBACKERS who are expected to be nothing other than LBs while at Penn State. Your depth at LB is not superior to Penn State's in anyway, with the exception of one 5* LB you've gotten and the other 5* JUCO LB you've had in the past. Add 2 or 3 more LBs not named Dorian Bell for Penn State in '09 and it is easy to see why Bell doesn't want to wait his turn. Dan Mason, Glenn Carson, Carlo Calabrese, Jelani Jenkins, Telvion Clark, Mike Privott, Gerald Hodges, Brandon Killebrew, Jerod Askew...there are many LB prospects out there.
Sorry for taking the focus off of Dorian Bell. He is obviously a great player, but he is a player who believes he is ready to start as a freshman...he knows how to read a depth chart and anyone who looks at all three LB positions and the players who have yet to even get on the field knows it is going to be a dogfight. Colasanti is a lock to start and will likely emerge in the middle, Bani Gbadyu and/or Navarro Bowman are likely to split time with Tyrell Sales so by the time the '08 season is over LBs will have emerged; tOSU will be replacing all three starting LBs and in '08 it will largely be dominated by senior starters.