Second transfer in < a week...
Lets take a look at how their # 5 nationally 2017 class is doing:
WR- Donovan Peoples-Jones - Has been decent, but production has not lived up to #12 player in the country billing. He looked like NFL Braylon Edwards out there Saturday night, dropping passes.
DT- Aubrey Solomon - Appeared in 10 games over two seasons, totalling 19 tackles and 2 tfl. Transferred to Tennessee before the season where he has logged 17 tackles, 3 tfl and a sack in 7 games.
C- Cesar Ruiz - In his 3rd year as a starter, biggest claim to fame is a dancing video in the weight room.
DE- Luiji Vilain - Has appeared in 1 game in 3 years, logging 1 tackle.
LB- Drew Singleton - Played in 1 game over 2 seasons and didn't record a statistic. Transferred to Rutgers where he has 24 tackles, 1.5 tfl and a sack in 7 games.
CB- Ambry Thomas - Starting CB this year, has been decent. Has logged 31 tackles, 2.5 tfl, 3 int and 3 passes defended in 2.5 years. Most impactful play was a KR TD against ND in a losing effort in 2018.
LB- Jordan Anthony - has recorded 14 tackles and a sack in 6 games (10 tackles in 4 games this season) as a backup LB.
OT- Chuck Filiaga - Backup OT.
WR- Tarik Black - Has been decent when healthy, but played in just 6 games his first two years because of injuries. Has caught 33 passes for 425 yards and 2 TD across 13 games for his career.
QB- Dylan McCaffrey - QB savior v33. They appeared to be ready to turn their dumpster fire offense over to him in the second half of the Wiscy game, but he was concussed after a handful of plays and hasn't seen the field since. Over 13 games the past 1.5 seasons, he's 13-26 (50%), for 183 yards with 2 TD and 0 INT while gaining 162 yards on 21 rushes and 2 TDs. Odds on favorite to be their starter next season.
WR- Nico Collins - Arguably their best offensive weapon, has caught 60 passes for 1017 yards and 8 TD over 21 career games. Seems to be a legit talent, but they struggle to get him the ball outside of 2-3 arm punts a game.
WR- Oliver Martin - Caught 11 passes for 125 yards and a TD in 7 games before transferring to Iowa, where he's caught 5 passes for 28 yards and a TD in 3 games this season.
LB- Josh Ross - Was a starting LB before a foot injury sidelined him a couple of weeks back. Has totalled 76 tackles, 5.5 tfl and a sack in 20 games.
OL- James Hudson - played in 1 game before transferring to Cinci.
DE- Deron Irving Bey - Never saw any action before transferring to Central Michigan.
S- Jaylon Kelly-Powell - has played in 4 games across 3 seasons, recording 7 tackles.
RB- O'Maury Samuels - Logged 79 yards on 21 carries in 10 games over 2 seasons before being dismissed for a domestic violence incident and transferring back home to NM State.
DL- Donovan Jeter - Has logged 3 tackles in 3 games in 3 years.
OT- JaRaymond Hall - Transferred to Central Michigan before ever seeing the field.
CB- Benjamin St-Juste - Collected 3 tackles in 3 games over 2 seasons before transferring to Minnesota where (I believe) he is now a starting CB, with 12 tackles, 1.5 tfl and 4 passes defended in 4 games.
OT- Andrew Stueber - Has seen little action and is out this year with a torn ACL.
S- J'Marick Woods - Backup S, has 23 tackles in 12 games. Has entered THE PORTAL
S- Brad Hawkins - Converted WR is a starting S this season is 3rd on the team with 45 tackles. Hasn't done anything memorable and seems to be a weak-link in their secondary.
OT- Joel Honigford - Buried on their OL depth chart.
DT- Phillip Paea - has yet to register an official statistic midway through his 3rd year.
DE- Kwity Paye - Has been one of their best defenders this year, logging 31 tackles, 8 tfl and 4 sacks in 6 games. Looks like he might be a good one for them, but if he keeps playing at the level he is, could be NFL bound after this year.
FB/DT- Ben Mason - Has bounced between FB and DT. Famously fumbled at the goalline against Bucky. has totalled 87 yards and 7 TD on 37 carries as a FB, and 12 tackles on defense.
RB- Kurt Taylor - Never played a down for tsun, is currently at a JUCO in Iowa.
P - Brad Robbins - Was their punter as a freshman, but lost the job after averaging just 40.4 per punt.
That makes 10 transfers out of their 30 man class by my count. Of the 20 remaining, I'd say 8 are contributing or look like they will contribute, and at least 9 of the remaining kids look like dead weight.
The best part of that class is the WRs (DPJ, Black and Collins), though they lack the QB to get them the ball consistently. Paye looks like a player on their DL. Thomas is an okay CB. All 3 of those WRs could well be NFL bound, along with Paye. So, add in the disaster their 2018 class was and things could be getting even dicier in 2020 as (what's left of) the 2017 and 2018 classes begin making up their core of upper-classmen.
