Is anyone else a little bit concerned about the lack of a DT in this class? I know we picked up a very strong walk-on as a DT last year, but is DT not an annual need? With Miller playing DE, we really have recruited no scholarship DTs the last two years. I think we need another WR and a DT before we are done. Any thoughts?
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Good point. Jake Saunders' torn ACL certainly does not help clarify the matter. You generally expect a full recovery but it's not certain. Kuhar's ACL tear pretty much ended his career when he just seemed to be coming along.
The mitigating factor here is some perceived flexibility with the younger guys to move in/out based on the situation. Still, given that Wyatt, Oxley and Thompson are all juniors, I agree with you that we need to add a DT in this class, and not just someone who can grow into a DT.
The mitigating factor here is some perceived flexibility with the younger guys to move in/out based on the situation. Still, given that Wyatt, Oxley and Thompson are all juniors, I agree with you that we need to add a DT in this class, and not just someone who can grow into a DT.
Can never recruit too many linemen. I had posited before that S. Miller would eventually shift to DT in a year or two (to make room for Brown, Kent, O'Rourke) but given how he's performed this year, perhaps not.
We've got Thompson, A Miller, Wyatt, Saunders, and possibly trevor Kent to play inside. I think we'll be fine.
Two of those guys have one more season. Another is recovering from an ACL tear. Kent has been a TE/DE in high school and looks a bit light right now for the interior.
I think he is going to put on a lot weight based on his frame. He is a little taller than I'd like for an interior guy but I think that is ultimately where he ends up playing for us.
This is a pretty small class. Is there a target on the list that can fill the role of DT?
Offer was pulled. He committed to BGSU, I think.
Sykes was the other guy. Ended up at Harvard. He was a better prospect IMO.
Josh Walker is another guy we offered, along with 40+ others. He is stout and very strong.
He decommitted from Arizona in September. I guess he's in play. He attends IMG so maybe there is a shred of hope.
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Hasn't Walker committed and decommitted from at least two schools so far? If so, I doubt FItz has much interest in that type of kid.
We seem to have some very promising DEs in the pipeline, My guess is a coupe of them grow into DTs
Yes. But with just one more year. 2019 is when DT looks thin at best. Kent should be given a chance to grow into a LOT. Didn't recruit one of those this year either. He'Bert is ideally an OG.
GOUNUII
I was thinking the same thing about Kent also potentially ending up at OT. If that is potentially in the cards I hope the move is made quickly and I also hope they bring someone in to coach the position who could help Kent learn the position from scratch. I have no confidence that the current position coach could teach Kent the fundamentals of the position. Short of that, I'd prefer him on the DL.
You guys should consider the possibility that we could be done with this class. With Xavier Washington, Solomon Vault and Keith Watkins possibly returning next year instead of graduating as expected, it's possible that we don't have any more scholarships left to give in this class. That would be fine by me as I'd much rather have those three guys back and healthy for their final season than add a few more recruits to this class that are likely several years away from contributing. If those three guys come back and Thorson chooses to stay, next year's team once again has a chance at competing for a Big Ten Championship.
If Fitz ever wins national coach of the year, then Cushing and probably Springer will not have been on the staff that season. Not gonna happen next year...
Boy, I hope you are right. I generally have a lot of trust in your comments, but it seems like we lose a lot this year, especially on defense. Of course, JJTBC is gone from the offense, and while we have other competent backs, we will miss him and his toughness. On defense, I believe we lose Lancaster, Igwebuike, McShepard, Walsh, and a few other DBs. These guys are not easily replaced.
I think we’ll be fine at RB, CB and DL. LB will be improved next year. Safety will be the biggest concern...glad McGee will be back and Pace has gotten some experience. Some unproven guys will need to step up (Whillock or Hiller; a true freshman perhaps?).
Our LB starters will be great. Gallagher, a healthy Jango, K Jones and perhaps Mann will complement our two All B1G candidates in Hall and Fisher. Hopefully McIntyre is recovering well and add his speed on ST. Mueller may surprise us. Che too.
I feel sanguine too about secondary with Pace and McGee, along with hart age, Bullock, Tre, Jackson, RoCamp, Newsome, Mayo (needs to work on press technique as he's whiffing on jams), Whillock, etc.
We do need Saunders to make a full recovery. Sucks he loses a year of development to the ACL tear.
Our defense will be strong again.
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It's a good group of seniors but I really like the experience and talent we have coming back. Lancaster will be the most challenging to replace on defense but i do think we'll be better on the DL, especially if X Wash comes back. I think we'll be better at LB with Hall and Fisher coming back as All Big ten caliber players and Gallagher likely filling in more than capably for Walsh. We'll be better at CB with Hartage back, Campbell and Bullock coming back from injury and hopefully Watkins staying healthy. safety is the one area on defense which on paper we'll take a step back but I must say that I don't think Godwin has played very well this year and I am really excited about JR Pace's early play.
On offense, Jackson will be missed but I really think that Larkin is special and Moten can be part of a potent 1-2 punch. We have a lot coming back at WR/ TE. If Thorson comes back and takes the next step and if the OL can sustain its current level of play through next season, then I really think we have a chance to be special just like I thought we could be this year. I really think the pieces are in place if Thorson comes back.
Don't get the dislike for Springer-----yesterday he had guy
I don't share the disdain for Springer. Yesterday his guys were positioned to make some big gains; but Thorsen just missed on several and on others (Wilson) hitting the receivers in stride could have given us some big gainers. He had a few down years, but the talent those years was light years behind this year. Plus, I think he is a pretty good recruiter and has been responsible for some of our good "gets".
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The next class should be very exciting. NU is in the top 25 this season - to stay, I think - so NU gets weekly, national attention. And the Taj, etc. will be near completion. NU is looking good and can look even better with a bowl W.
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The next class should be very exciting. NU is in the top 25 this season - to stay, I think - so NU gets weekly, national attention. And the Taj, etc. will be near completion. NU is looking good and can look even better with a bowl W.
I would not be surprised if, at the last moment, we find an under the radar 2 star in Texas or Georgia, a la XWash, McGee, or Hartage.
More likely they wait to see whether any top-notch guys come free once the coaching carousel revs up. With Washington, Vault, and potentially Watkins coming back for unanticipated fifth years, it might be worthwhile to shift those scholarships to 2019 (which also allows a full year to recruit off of 2017’s results plus the Taj Fitz).
I believe two of our best recruits in this class are DB’s. Newsome and McDonald are going to be good. Bullock may also break out.
I would expect next year that our D ought to perform at the same level as this year D, perhaps even slightly better. Lot will depend on CB play. But, until and unless we make substantial improvement in the OL and find WRs (plural) who can get separation on a relatively regular basis, I see our O performing also at about the same level as this year. My concern is that if we had on our current roster any OLs who would likely be a substantial improvement over our current OLs (outside of Slater), they would have seen the filed. I think that the same is true (and, perhaps, even to a greater degree) as to current receivers. I know that McGowan (the WR from Georgia) was in the rotation early in the season and burned his shirt, but as best I know he has not played or rarely played since then. Skowrenek and Lees have shown some potential to me to be above average Big Ten receivers in 2018 or 2019 and Jalen Brown will be back, but I have not seen any of the other younger players display such skills.
I agree about Newsome and McDonald, particularly the latter. It would not surprise me if McDonald ends up pushing for playing time as a true freshman, I think he is that good. newsome will have a tougher time just because of the amount of experienced depth we have at the CB position if everyone comes back healthy. Hartage, Watkins, Bullock, Campbell, Williams, Mayo would all be ahead of Newsome.
Williams could get a shot at safety as well, especially if Watkins comes back. Has the build for it.
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