I'm certain there will be mistakes in here, but here's a stab at our scholarship situation. If all of the following return (they won't, and while I have guesses I don't know which ones, but I've noted 7 that are more questionable to return than others), we have 91 scholarship players versus our limit of 85. So we need net -6 transfers before the start of the season, and that likely limits our ability to bring in very many pieces from outside, particularly at areas of need (LB, LB, LB, and DT stand out to me). Please correct anything that you believe to be incorrect.
Updated Count: 91
QB (6): Hartman, Kern, Mitch Griffis, Marucci, Edwards, Brett Griffis
RB (6): Claiborne, Ellison, Turner, Cooley, Towns, Carney
WR (12): AT Perry, Donavan Greene, Ke'Shawn Williams, Taylor Morin, Jahmal Banks, Wesley Grimes, Christian Greene, Dez Williams, Horatio Fields, Zavier Simpson (Sch?), Jackson Hensley (Sch?), Jaydn Girard
TE (5): Whiteheart, Michael Frogge, Trey Boll, Cameron Hite, Gavin Ellis
OL (17): Zach Tom (Q), JeVionte Nash, Maginn, Nya, Jurgens, Gordon, Spencer Clapp (Q), Petitbon, CJ Elmonius, Zach Vaughan, Christian Forbes, George Sell, Matt Gulbin, Nick Sharpe, Jaydon Collins, Erik Russell, Derrell Johnson
Special Teams (3): Ivan Mora, Matt Dennis, Jacob Zuhr
DL (16):
DE (8): Bothroyd, Jacory Johns, Jasheen Davis, Kendron Wayman, Isaiah Chaney, BJ Williams, Eli Hall, Jon Saklad (WO?), Royce Francis (Q)
DT (8): Tyler Williams, Kevin Pointer, Kobie Turner, Dion Bergan (Q), Will Smart (Q), Justin Williams, Bernard Gooden, Jalen Swindell
LB (9): Ryan Smenda, Chase Monroe (Q), Chase Jones, Dylan Hazen, Jaylen Hudson, Zach Ranson, Josh Sosanya, Quincy Bryant, Tommy Bebie
DB (17): Coby Davis, Nasir Greer, Zion Keith, Chelan Garnes, Gavin Holmes, Caelen Carson, Malik Mustapha, Nick Anderson, JJ Roberts, Isaiah Wingfield (Q), KJ Trujillo, AJ Williams, Evan Slocum, DaShawn Jones, Zamari Stephenson, Andre Hodge, Jamare Glasker
Assumed moving on: Roberson, Sciba, Vilain, CBS, Terrance Davis
Assumed to be on scholarship in above count (they showed up on recruiting service/class ranks and showed offers from other schools -- but questioned below): Hensley and Simpson
Assumed to be a walk-on in my count (didn't see on any recruiting sites, but question below on status): Jonathan Saklad, Carter Broers
Observations:
1. LB appears to be the weakest position. We haven't recruited a ton there, and 3 of the 9 listed (with 1 additional question mark to return as well) were recruited as DB at least according to recruiting sites. These include Zach Ranson, Josh Sosanya, and Quincy Bryant -- all of which are currently undersized at 212-222 pounds. This year's recruit Tommy Bebie at 200 is also presently undersized. Let's see what another year in the weight room does -- we need a couple to make a leap.
2. Losing full sized and ready-to-play DTs like Fox and Kamara will hurt. Tyler Williams returning is huge for that reason. Update: big get with Kobie Turner as our one incoming transfer thus far. Top 4 of Turner, Pointer, Williams, Bergan would probably be decent, would like to see one more option develop.
3. We are deep/experienced everywhere else. QB, WR, OL look like the three most likely positions to see a transfer, just given how many options we have at those spots.
Added Pointer and Turner, added notes to a few others. Thanks for the feedback, keep it coming.
