Okay, since we're on a bye week, I decided to give the 2017 team a look. If we're going to maintain our current status as a ACC power, we need to reload.
Offense:
QB - L. Jackson, jr
RB - J.Smith, sr
RB - L.Scott, sr
WR - T.Samuel, jr
WR - R. Bonnafon, sr
WR - J. Smith, jr
TE - M. Crum, jr
OL - K. Thomas, jr
OL - G. Christian, jr
C - R. Bell, so
OL - L. McNeil, jr
OL - C. Jones, so
That would be four returning starters but Samuel, Jalen and Jeremy Smith all have started before or have played a lot of football. The only inexperienced players will be Bell and Jones on the OL.
Deffense
DE - D. Bailey, sr
DE - D. Richardson, sr
DT - K. Shortridge, sr
OLB - J. Hearnes, sr
OLB - T. Young, sr
ILB - S. Thomas, sr
ILB - J. Greenyard, so
CB - S. Wiggins, sr
CB - J. Alexander, jr
S - D. Smith, so
S - C. Williams, sr
That would be seven returning starters but Young was a starter before his injury so it's like having eight starters back. There really isn't any inexperienced players as Shortridge, Greenyard and D. Smith all have played.
The Cards have plenty of experience and young talented depth on both sides of the ball.
Offense - WR - S. Dawkins, so
WR - C. Yamonoha, fr
WR - K. Wakefield, fr
WR - D. Peete, jr
WR - D. Fitzpatrick, fr
RB - M. Williams, sr
QB - J. Pass, fr
Defense - DL - G. Robinson, so
DL - C. Williams, sr
LB - I. Stewart, jr
LB - A. Cabon, so
LB - T. Peterson, fr
CB - Z. Cannon, sr
CB - R. Walker, sr
CB - T. Washington, sr
S - P. Blue, fr
S - L. Iacopo. sr
S - K. Pass. so
And the current class of commitments have several players who may see immediate playing time. The only real need is both lines. The DL especially. I see we got a commitment today from a 3 star guy. Petrino needs to get some 4 star linemen and this program will be contenders for a long while.
I think despite the obvious big losses this year, the team should be in the top 10 pre-season. There's no telling who will come out of nowhere and be a star. Just look at Alexander this year. I think getting Young back and Hearns sticking around for his senior year are key to this being another stout defense. Lamar still has plenty of weapons around him. Things are looking great for 2017.
Now back to 2016.
Cards big over Duke, 55-21
Offense:
QB - L. Jackson, jr
RB - J.Smith, sr
RB - L.Scott, sr
WR - T.Samuel, jr
WR - R. Bonnafon, sr
WR - J. Smith, jr
TE - M. Crum, jr
OL - K. Thomas, jr
OL - G. Christian, jr
C - R. Bell, so
OL - L. McNeil, jr
OL - C. Jones, so
That would be four returning starters but Samuel, Jalen and Jeremy Smith all have started before or have played a lot of football. The only inexperienced players will be Bell and Jones on the OL.
Deffense
DE - D. Bailey, sr
DE - D. Richardson, sr
DT - K. Shortridge, sr
OLB - J. Hearnes, sr
OLB - T. Young, sr
ILB - S. Thomas, sr
ILB - J. Greenyard, so
CB - S. Wiggins, sr
CB - J. Alexander, jr
S - D. Smith, so
S - C. Williams, sr
That would be seven returning starters but Young was a starter before his injury so it's like having eight starters back. There really isn't any inexperienced players as Shortridge, Greenyard and D. Smith all have played.
The Cards have plenty of experience and young talented depth on both sides of the ball.
Offense - WR - S. Dawkins, so
WR - C. Yamonoha, fr
WR - K. Wakefield, fr
WR - D. Peete, jr
WR - D. Fitzpatrick, fr
RB - M. Williams, sr
QB - J. Pass, fr
Defense - DL - G. Robinson, so
DL - C. Williams, sr
LB - I. Stewart, jr
LB - A. Cabon, so
LB - T. Peterson, fr
CB - Z. Cannon, sr
CB - R. Walker, sr
CB - T. Washington, sr
S - P. Blue, fr
S - L. Iacopo. sr
S - K. Pass. so
And the current class of commitments have several players who may see immediate playing time. The only real need is both lines. The DL especially. I see we got a commitment today from a 3 star guy. Petrino needs to get some 4 star linemen and this program will be contenders for a long while.
I think despite the obvious big losses this year, the team should be in the top 10 pre-season. There's no telling who will come out of nowhere and be a star. Just look at Alexander this year. I think getting Young back and Hearns sticking around for his senior year are key to this being another stout defense. Lamar still has plenty of weapons around him. Things are looking great for 2017.
Now back to 2016.
Cards big over Duke, 55-21