We have some excellent NFL level talent among our skill players BUT championship football is played in the trenches.
What separates the great programs (Alabama, Clemson, LSU, Ohio State, and Oklahoma) from the mediocre to poor programs is found on the offensive and defensive lines.
So, what do we have?
26 scholarship linemen or 30.6% of available scholarships
OL - (15) 17.7% of available scholarships
(2) Seniors - 6'4" 295 Josh Burger; 6'6" 315 Zach Adams
(3) Juniors - 6'6" 310 Dawson Deaton; 6'6" 305 Casey Verhulst; 6'5" 310 Will Farrar
(5) Sophomores - 6'8" 315 Ethan Carde; 6'6" 315 Weston Wright; 6'6" 290 Troy Bradshaw; 6'3" 320 Demarcus Marshall; 6'4" 290 Clayton Franks
(5) Freshmen - 6'5" 290 Caleb Rogers; 6'6 300 Landon Peterson; 6'5" 275 Larry Moore; 6'7" 280 Jack Tucker; 6'6" 315 Jacoby Jackson
DL - (11) 12.9% of available scholarships
(0) Seniors -
(2) Juniors - 6'3" 275 Nelson Mbanasor; 6'2" 280 Devin Drew
(3) Sophomores - 6'0" 300 Jaylon Hutchings; 6'1" 290 Tony Bradford Jr; 6'6" 280 Tyree Wilson
(6) Freshmen - 6'4" 275 Philip Blidi; 6'3" 285 Gilbert Ibeneme; 6'3" 240 LB Moore; 6'6" 280 E'maurion Banks; 6'4" 250 Charles Esters III; 6'5" 235 Isaac Smith
I 100% agree with @codycc64 that we need to recruit HS OL and DL and develop them over 3-4 years.
While I am not happy with many aspects of Matt Wells tenure thus far, I will give him credit for signing young linemen with good offer sheets. I would like to see us replace OL coach Farmer and bring someone in who can actually develop the 10 young sophomores and freshmen on campus.
Overall, I am happy with our DL recruiting and feel that this will become a strength for us in the next year or two.
Dawson Deaton could be very big piece to the leadership puzzle should he choose to stay.
What separates the great programs (Alabama, Clemson, LSU, Ohio State, and Oklahoma) from the mediocre to poor programs is found on the offensive and defensive lines.
So, what do we have?
26 scholarship linemen or 30.6% of available scholarships
OL - (15) 17.7% of available scholarships
(2) Seniors - 6'4" 295 Josh Burger; 6'6" 315 Zach Adams
(3) Juniors - 6'6" 310 Dawson Deaton; 6'6" 305 Casey Verhulst; 6'5" 310 Will Farrar
(5) Sophomores - 6'8" 315 Ethan Carde; 6'6" 315 Weston Wright; 6'6" 290 Troy Bradshaw; 6'3" 320 Demarcus Marshall; 6'4" 290 Clayton Franks
(5) Freshmen - 6'5" 290 Caleb Rogers; 6'6 300 Landon Peterson; 6'5" 275 Larry Moore; 6'7" 280 Jack Tucker; 6'6" 315 Jacoby Jackson
DL - (11) 12.9% of available scholarships
(0) Seniors -
(2) Juniors - 6'3" 275 Nelson Mbanasor; 6'2" 280 Devin Drew
(3) Sophomores - 6'0" 300 Jaylon Hutchings; 6'1" 290 Tony Bradford Jr; 6'6" 280 Tyree Wilson
(6) Freshmen - 6'4" 275 Philip Blidi; 6'3" 285 Gilbert Ibeneme; 6'3" 240 LB Moore; 6'6" 280 E'maurion Banks; 6'4" 250 Charles Esters III; 6'5" 235 Isaac Smith
I 100% agree with @codycc64 that we need to recruit HS OL and DL and develop them over 3-4 years.
While I am not happy with many aspects of Matt Wells tenure thus far, I will give him credit for signing young linemen with good offer sheets. I would like to see us replace OL coach Farmer and bring someone in who can actually develop the 10 young sophomores and freshmen on campus.
Overall, I am happy with our DL recruiting and feel that this will become a strength for us in the next year or two.
Dawson Deaton could be very big piece to the leadership puzzle should he choose to stay.
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