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Pre-Spring Starters: Dreams Do Come True
Posted by dedfischer on December 21st, 2009 under Football, Uncategorized
If I had been given one wish for this recruiting class, it would have been for Ruff to dart and bag the country’s #1 rated Juco DE. Scott Smith is that guy per Rivals and has signed with Tech as a spring enrollee proving what most of us knew already, that Jesus is a Red Raider. Former Tennessee DT Donald Langley signed as well and will enter the mix with Pearlie Graves to replace Richard Jones. Not bad for us, considering the options remaining at the high school level and the urgency of the matter. So where does that leave us heading into the spring?
Offense
QB – Taylor Potts (Sr) or Steven Sheffield (Sr) - My money is on Styx. Thank you very much, Mr. Roboto.
RB – Baron Batch (Sr)/Eric Stephens (So)/Harrison Jeffers (So) - I’ll take it.
WR - Torres (So)/Lewis (Sr) or Zouzalik (So) or Swindall (Jr)/Leong (Sr) - Eric Ward (Fr) is on deck to figure somewhere in the mix. Kadron Boone and Shawn Corker are good enough to play for the Florida Gators and The U. One of them might be too good to keep off the field at Tech. Of course, that won’t be a given with all the deep speed we have returning. Ha.
LT - Terry McDaniel (So) – Texas, OU, Texas A&M and OSU are all replacing starters at LT. They’re not even sure who the guys are yet. I feel damn fine here considering the opposition. We’re going to improve from Chris Olson.
LG - Lonnie Edwards (Jr) – No McCoy on the schedule. No Houston on the schedule. No Suh & Crick. Grinning from ear-to-ear.
C - Justin Keown (Jr) – Not quite as strong as Byrnes right now, but has quicker feet. He’s not a liability, which makes him a strength at the center position.
RG – Chris Olson (Sr) or Mickey Okafor (Jr) or Deveric Gallington (So) - Replacing Carter will be tough. Olson will be an upgrade in athleticism, but can get overwhelmed by bigger/stronger interior defenders. We can make things functional in the run game with angles and movement. Okafor has trouble getting anywhere past the line of scrimmage. Solid pass blocker. Gallington has the most talent, but least experience. Something will pan out. It always does.
RT – LaAdrian Waddle (So) or Chris Olson (Sr) - The job is Waddle’s to lose. Whichever right position Olson isn’t starting at will be the biggest question mark. If he’s not starting after spring, that’s a good sign because somebody beat him out and he’s quality.
Defense
SDE – Scott Smith (Jr) – I like his film, but I’m never sold completely until they show up. At 6’7″, 275 lbs, we found a guy with the size and strength to start immediately. I’m curious as to how fast he looks this spring. All in all, Smith was the best option in the country for what Ruff needed according to the folks who know a lot more than me. However, I’m a little bit mystified that he doesn’t hold a Bill Snyder offer.
NG - Colby Whitlock (Sr) – There are 14 All American centers being replaced by teams on our 2010 schedule. Most of those teams were abused by Whitlock with their best option from 2009. This should be fun.
DT – Pearlie Graves (Fr) or Donald Langley (Jr) - Both these guys came in with much better pedigrees than Richard Jones. We may find out Jones was of much better quality than what he was given credit. Graves and Langley are nice options from whom to choose. This is a win if either turns out equal to Jones.
WDE – Aundrey Barr (Fr) or Bront Bird (Sr) – Given the size of Smith, the option of taking on a 3-4 look with Bird in the game does exist. Barr could be Sadler’s next Sensai of sack. Matt Moore has mentioned Barr’s ability to beat his OTs off the corner in practice. I translate this intel as he’s probably the best option we have for a pass rusher. I was extremely impressed with his high school film. Can’t wait to see him in person at the Red/Black game.
NB/SLB – Will Ford? (So) or Bront Bird (Sr) - Rumblings of Ford moving to CB. We could see a lot of D.J. Johnson and Julius Howard here, if that’s the case. A nice option would be the ability to flip Ford and Johnson based on the matchups between CB and NB.
MLB – Brian Duncan (Sr) – He’s not going anywhere on running downs although we may see more of Sam Fehoko (Jr) in the passing game.
WLB - Daniel Cobb (Fr) or Dion Chidozie (Fr) or Brandon Mahoney (Fr) - Don Williams is concerned about replacing a 5’10″, 215-lb guy running a 4.9 forty because he has 37 career starts. I’m glad we have 3 options to choose from who all possess the frames to break the 4.7 mark at 225 lbs. We’re about to get a lot faster here. Doesn’t necessarily mean they will play any better than Marlon.
LCB – D.J. Johnson (So) or Will Ford (So) - I feel the same way about Jamar Wall as I do Marlon. Faster, but we’ll be lucky if we’re better. I think Ford stays on the inside for his ability as a run defender and Johnson ends up at his more natural position on the outside.
S – Cody Davis (So) - Words like solid and quality come to mind.
S – Frank Mitchem (Sr) – Words like decent and f***!!! playaction!!! come to mind. He’s not that bad, seriously. Nice run stuffer. I’m not scared of Brett Dewhurst (Jr) here either.
RCB - Laron Moore (Sr) - This guy played good a lot more often than he played bad last season.
Possible scenarios that wouldn’t surprise me:
Offense
- I don’t see any big surprises except the possible emergence of a freshman TBD deep threat after fall drills.
- We’ll know by the end of spring if Eric Ward has a chance at being that guy. I think Leach really likes him and will give Ward every opportunity to win a starting job from Leong or Swindall.
Defense
- Myles Wade (Jr) has a big spring and Whitlock slides over to DT.
- None of the freshman step up at WLB and Sam Fehoko is moved. Better than that would be Cobb emerging as the new Travis Lewis.
- S Terrance Bullitt (Fr) or CB Jarvis Phillips (Fr) end up splitting snaps with Frank Mitchem and Laron Moore.
- Tre’Vante Porter, Urell Johnson or Russell Polk don’t redshirt. Porter and Polk look like the early favorites based on film, but I won’t dismiss the Monte Kiffin/Bo Pelini offers to Johnson.
Tough to say how good we’ll be, but the competition for replacement is getting a lot more athletic. Your thoughts?
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dedfischer
Vasherized
Sailor Ripley
Robert
RockyTechHeckler
RRR
rickvigorous
ChicagoTTU
Andrew
HenryJames said:
December 21st, 2009 at 11:40 am
Scott Smith is a poor man’s Jake Ratliff.
RRR said:
December 21st, 2009 at 11:43 am
Hopefully the Rumph kid can get his grades and make it to campus in January. That would give you some true DE’s (Scott Smith, Aundrey Barr, Ryan Haliburton, Chris Knighton), some true DT’s (Colby Whitlock, Donald Langley, Chris Perry, Myles Wade, David Neill), and then some guys who can fit more the Rajon Henley mode from this year (Pearlie Graves, Lawrence Rumph, Kerry Hyder).
Throw ‘em all out there in the spring and see what shakes out. Then have a summer with Bennie and do it again in August.
I know we survived with just 3 DE this year, but they sure looked tired sometimes. I’d like a true 2-deep there, and I’d like something better than Victor Hunter backing up the DT spot.
Not banging on Hunter, he was a good Red Raider and switched positions his senior year to help the team and get on the field. I just want to upgrade.
RRR said:
December 21st, 2009 at 11:44 am
HJ, that’s a scary thought that exists in more TT minds than we’d care to admit.
dedfischer said:
December 21st, 2009 at 11:52 am
Don’t listen to HJ. He’s more athletic than that.
RRR said:
December 21st, 2009 at 11:55 am
I’d also like the RG spot settled in the Spring, although Moore’s known for shaking things up into late August. It might take that long for a Gallington to come around. Unless he loses some weight and gains some mobility, I’m concerned about Okafor playing here. I want a screen game next year.
HenryJames said:
December 21st, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Where does Jackson Richards figure in?
dedfischer said:
December 21st, 2009 at 12:35 pm
On the scout team.
RRR said:
December 21st, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Red-shirting 4-star DE’s…never thought I’d see the day. But then, we red-shirted a 4-star DT last year. Times have really changed.
I can see the WR two-deep change a lot this off-season, or we might just replace Britton with Ward and roll out the same crew as this year.
dedfischer said:
December 21st, 2009 at 1:26 pm
If Ward/Boone/Corker were impact studs, I could see some major shuffling to get them on the right side of the field. More than likely Torres would either move inside or flop to take Leong’s spot. As it stands right now, Torres, Zouzalik and Lewis are our most dependable WR options. That leaves Swindall or Leong as the odd man out, if one of the freshman talents emerge.
Knostrathomas said:
December 21st, 2009 at 1:30 pm
I’m interested to see if we actually hit on any of the JCs. I don’t want to have another Sesay experience.
RRR said:
December 21st, 2009 at 2:43 pm
I’m with Knost right, kind of on the side of caution with the JUCO’s. Except for McKinner Dixon, we’ve never had a JUCO defensive player make an instant impact in the first year. That said, Scott Smith looks great on film and Donald Langley played at Tennessee. We really only need Smith to come in ready to start. Langley and Rumph can rotate with the other DT’s on the roster.
Vasherized said:
December 21st, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Those Okafors really know how to breed. Those dudes are all over Texas.
I can already tell Dion Chidozie is going to be my new favorite Tech player.
dedfischer said:
December 21st, 2009 at 3:23 pm
It’s always something with those Jucos, but every once in a while you find a Sharpe or Howard. Somewhere between those two is what I’m hoping for at a minimum. HJ thinks he plays too high, which is possible. However, since none of the OTs he will be facing in the Big 12 play low, then we’ll more than likely be fine.
Vasherized said:
December 21st, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Yeah they’re all stand up guys.
RRR said:
December 21st, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Classic, Vash. I don’t care what Trips Right says about you.
Tim said:
December 21st, 2009 at 7:38 pm
I agree you do have to be carefull placing too much faith in JUCO’s, especially given our most recent history. If Smith can come in with Daniel Howards motor at his size he’ll do well in Red and Black, if he just picks up half of Sharpes sacks next year I’ll consider him a hit.
While it would be nice to give Jackson Richards a year in the strength program before he hits the field, I feel like we are going to need a few plays out of him this year.
I would like to see Jarvis Phillips, Tra’vante Porter or a Urell Johnson step up and take the other cornerback role. Put D.J. Johnson in the nickel, and have Will Ford as a SLB/NB, bringing in Sam Fehoko as a situational SLB. I just don’t see how Julius Howard is an addition in any situation.
Would love to see Kardon Boone come in and claim Britton’s spot, his size and speed could be a game changer.
This program is getting the pieces together for an exciting year, win the bowl game, wrap up the recruiting year with V.J. Fehoko and let’s make a run in 2010.
Lighttning said:
December 22nd, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Do you think Russell Polk is going to be a good one? Personally i’m not impressed.
dedfischer said:
December 23rd, 2009 at 8:59 am
Yeah, he’ll be solid here at worst. He makes more good plays on film than any DB prospect we have committed. Physical guy who can be a difference maker in the run game. He’s the only one of our DB signees I see really reminding high school players with my talent why he’s a D-I prospect. Because he’s badder than we are. Good instincts, better speed than what we’re starting now. He makes some nice plays on the ball in centerfield. I’m more confident in that assessment after seeing a Bo Pelini offer. That guy knows how to find DB talent as well as anyone in the country. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a bad college DB prospect out of Carter. If you can start there, you’ve got some talent at a minimum.
career center jateng said:
November 7th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
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