CokeGreaterThanPepsi
New Fish
So this is a rough look at what I see from a roster standpoint (see attached GIF). Obviously we're a little over right now in this view as I've got us at 86 scholarships but as @Dennis_DeYoung has said elsewhere there is talk of up to 3 players that are likely leaving for one reason or another (Constantine, Lewis, Kirkland) so we shouldn't have any problem being at or under 85 when we need to be.
The highlighted/shaded players are the players that either are going to see their eligibility exhausted or players that I think could end up leaving early. For 2017, the players that I could see leaving early are Myles Gaskin, Trey Adams and/or Kaleb McGary, Greg Gaines and Vita Vea. Barring any early entries we have 15 seniors on the roster that could be leaving (2 of which are Constantine and Kirkland). Doing the math should put us with a class of about 18 players again ... which seems like the sweet point for us as it is the size of this year's class.
The roster composition may see some changes as players see position switches, etc. (i.e. Austin Joyner being moved from CB to S). But as you start looking out to our 2018 depth chart, the S depth could be very thin ... so I think that this could be a primary focus for us in this year's class.
If I was projecting out this year's class, I would say it will look as follows:
QB (1) - Jake Sirmon
RB (1 or 2)
WR (2 or 3) - Austin Osbourne
TE (1 or 2)
OL (3 or 4) - guaranteed to lose 2 OL, possible to lose 2 early
DL (2) - likely to lose 2 DL
LB (3 total) - losing 4 including Constantine - already have Jack Sirmon
CB (2 total) - possible we only go after 1 but I would recruit hard here for 1) Jimmy Lake eventually leaving, 2) we have a lot of young talent coming through that could see a lot of early entries in the future leaving us thin
S (2 total) - as mentioned, our depth will get thin here after 2018 as we lose 2 after this year and 2 more in 2018 assuming Rapp leaves after his junior year
The low end of everything gets you to 17 total.
Good chit teqqyboat. My thoughts:
QB - 1 and only 1
RB - 1 and only 1 (Harrison)
WR - 2 most likely, 3 if they only take one 1 TE
TE - 2 most likely, 1 if they take 3 WR
(So 4 WR/TE combined)
OL - 3 (Hard to imagine McGary leaving)
DL - 2
LB - 3
CB - 2 - excellent point about stocking up for an eventual lose of Lake. Same argument maybe applies to taking an extra WR? Though obviosly I hope Bush becomes OC, hard to hope the same for Lake since Kwat is so good at his jerb.
S - 2
That puts us at 18. I could see a little more attrition that usual this year possibly, especially as the Bush WR's lap some of the Pease guys, so 3 WR/2 TE in a 19 man class is an outside possibility.
I think there's a strong possibility that Gaskin also leaves and we take a 2nd RB like Demetrious Flowers.
I also don't see Trey Adams leaving early, although it wouldn't surprise me.
You have to think we'll take 3 DL in this cycle. The idea for taking an additional CB in preparation of Lake's departure, but we won't have much depth at DT.
Can't really argue with much of this. The Gaskin decision will be fascinating. On the one hand RB's his size have never been in much demand. On the other hand, it's not like his value is going to increase by coming back another year.
He could just do the Isaiah Thomas thing and jump knowing he won't be picked high (or maybe at all) but thinking he might as well give it a shot now.
Definitely agree that if he jumps (or Dotson transfers) they'll be taking two.
Milo Gaskins is an O'Dea kid. Gotta think that money isn't a huge driving force inwhether or not he leaves.
@CokeGreaterThanPepsi - he's your #prideoftheirish what do you say?
I think he'll go simply to get that paycheck as quickly as possible with as little wear and tear on his body. The RB position is just so much different from a draft perspective, so it is hard to tell.