I haven't gone through it at all yet. But, just thinking it through from a position group perspective... I can't think of a single group where I'd feel comfortable if I was a scUM fan. WR, maybe... but.. not really. D line is thin... DBs? I mean.. I can't name one, so... LBs? Again... who are these guys? QB... please. RB? Haven't had a solid RB in a decade.. and that guy was known for not fumbling more than anything else. I guess their O Line has one or two NFL talent level guys. Their Center.. but, I think he's gone, no?
He could enter the draft this year, but popular opinion is that he didn't have a good enough year for that to be a good move. Maybe less dancing and more lifting in the weight room?
They really just don't have much of a roster for a program that wants to compete on the national stage. Their recruiting accolades have been based largely on quantity vice quality.
QB is a huge question mark. McCaffrey is much more of a threat to run than Sheila ever was, which would probably make him a better fit for what Gattis wants to do, but his throwing has looked spotty on the few occasions he has played. Do they go the transfer route again with somebody like KJ Costello?
RB, well, I do think Charbonnet is pretty talented, but their track record for developing RBs over the last 10-12 years is pretty bad. And does anybody outside of the harbrau clan think Jaybaugh should be coaching RBs at a major program? Charbo and Haskins give them some experience, they conceivably get Evans back (though I've never been particularly impressed with him) and they bring in Corum who would be a nice change of pace to Charbo/Haskins. I think this is their best position group by quite a bit, but I don't see it as anything special at all.
WR, Tarik Black already entered the portal. Nico Collins is probably NFL ready and would likely be a 3rd round pick at worst. He's their best WR by a lot. DPJ has all the physical tools, but 3 years in, he's yet to put it together. I don't think he has much draft stock, so I think he'd likely come back with the hopes of a big SR year to boost his stock as their #1 receiver. Ronnie Bell is a player, but he's not a game-changer by any stretch. After that, there's a lot of *** types that they have to hope to hit on like they did with Bell.
TE, covered by Jax.
OL, they lose their three best players (Onwenu, Bredeson, Runyon) and are replacing them with a couple of **** kids. Their line play this year was decent, but that was with a very experienced line. A lot of attrition heading into next year, so it could very well be a struggle like it was in 2018 for them, when their line was pretty bad.
DL, Paye coming back is big for them, he's a decent player. Other than that, their recruiting gaffes are coming home to roost next year unless they score big with the transfer portal. They're undersized inside and have almost no depth. Their line got pushed around by any decent team this year, and I don't see where they improve.
LB, McGrone looks like he could be solid. They have to replace Uche (their best pass rusher) and Viper Hudson (who has been one of their better defenders for 3 years). Nobody amongst their backups really stands out. This could be an iffy position for them.
DB, Hill is gone. Ambry Thomas has a decision to make. If Thomas comes back, they could be mediocre. If he goes, things could be dire because they don't have much depth. Safeties lose slow-poke Metellus, which could be some addition by subtraction. Brad Hawkins returns, but he was very "meh." Their biggest recruit from last year, Daxton Hill presumably steps in for Metellus which should be an upgrade on talent alone.
That's a lot of question marks heading into year six. Their schedule looks a little easier, to me; though a couple of tough early season match ups would be better for them if they were in late-October or November. They open in Seattle against what may be a so-so UW team. They NEED to win that game. Then they get a tune-up against Ball State, then play Arky State who has been a solid program for a while now. Then they get Wiscy and ped aggy at home, they have to at least split those games. A lot will depend here on how the youngsters are playing/meshing. Travel to dead-ass Sparty and Minnesota...I think they beat sparty, the varmints are probably a coin toss. Then a fairly easy run of Purdue and Turtle at home and a trip to Piscataway. Should win all three. Get Indiana at home before coming to C-bus.
Hard to say how that shakes out with so many question marks still out there, but my gut tells me they're looking at a 9-3 ceiling...if a lot goes right. 9-3 in year six isn't good for what they're paying the harbrau. By year 3 or 4, an elite coach should have his program humming. Harbrau is still sputtering in year 5 and I don't see any reason for them to be optimistic about taking a significant leap in year 6.
Fuck 'em.
