I don't know what the starting lineups will be next year or the year after - but I have a good idea. Next year will be a pivotal year for us and the future of the FB program. So lets take a look at who "might" start in 2014 and how many years of eligibilty they bring to the table after 2014. I assume none of these players will redshirt next year.

Possible starters on offense -

Position - player-------------------Years of experience left
QB - Evans/Burgess------------------------3/4
RB - Flanders/Dickerson/Langer-------------3/2/2
WR - Garrett/Lucas/Atkinson---------------2/3/3
TE - Wilson--------------------------------3
OT - Walton-------------------------------1***
OG - Boyd/Wallace-------------------------4/3
OC - Foxworth-----------------------------3
OG - Belcher/Gladd-------------------------3/2
OT - Stafford------------------------------2

*So if that is correct, the offense will have approximately 10 returning starters for the 2015 CFB season. The only projected starter lost would be Walton. So if our offense can show some signs of life next year and even exceed expectations, the future looks very bright. But the questions still have to be answered.

Defense Later.

Yeah, our new coach should have a good starting point in 2015!!!!!

This year we will be missing our great LBer, Shawn Jackson, who was the best defensive playmaker we've had in the couple of decades imo. But he's just one player out of 11. The only other playermaker we lose to graduation that might be in that conversation would be Dewitt Jennings, a steady utility player and leader.

Our unexpected loss of MN, was devastating last year to the team, but should become an advantage this time around. And as far as the defensive coaching staff is concerned, it is and has been exceptional imo.

So here are the "possible/probable" starters and some of the more experienced and talented backups.

Postion-Player------------------Experience Remaining

DE - Todd*/Rahmings-------------------1/3
DE - Alexander*/Hummingbird------------2/1
DT - Brubaker*/Phillips------------------3/3
DT - Luetjen*/Uwaezuoke---------------3/3
LB - Osborne*/Asiegbu------------------1/2
MLB-Martin*/Hanks/---------------------2/4
LB - Snider/ Sizelove--------------------1/1
CB - Dobbins*/Barrow/Williams-----------1/3/3
CB - Walker*/Celistan-------------------3/3
SS - Mudoh*/McDaniel/Thomas----------2/1/3
FS - Nelson**/Bean---------------------1/4

* - Returning Starter
** - Starter in 2012

We have 10 starters returning if you count MN (who would surely have started last year wo the academic glitch) in the group. Experience on defense trumps everything. We are pretty good here and it can win games if the offense just doesn't collapse like last year.

IMO

I agree our defense may be good in 2014, & even better in 2015.

A couple of player notes : Conner Sherwood (RS-SO) had a good spring & may start @ LB. CJ Gooden (RS-FR) had a very good spring & is now a 2nd team LB.

Unfortunately, CB Darnell Walker Jr. may not be back. One consolation : Dobbins & Barrow are both very good CBs & Kerwin Thomas (RS-FR) looked very good @ CB this spring.

(05-09-2014 09:28 AM)Tulsafanzz Wrote:  I agree our defense may be good in 2014, & even better in 2015.

A couple of player notes : Conner Sherwood (RS-SO) had a good spring & may start @ LB. CJ Gooden (RS-FR) had a very good spring & is now a 2nd team LB.

Unfortunately, CB Darnell Walker Jr. may not be back. One consolation : Dobbins & Barrow are both very good CBs & Kerwin Thomas (RS-FR) looked very good @ CB this spring.

Yes I read that on rivals about Walker. I'm very disappointed.

Yes we are very deep in the secondary, but in this game, you're never talented enough.

I don't know what kind of rules BB has, but it seems obvious that some of the players can't abide by them. Maybe BB should tweek his rules a little since this is the 20th century. I could understand with Damaris with the kind of charges against him and since TG recruited him, but it just seems like we lose players every year to this kind of thing. Either the rules are the problem or his recruiting IMO. One of his main strengths was supposed to be that he knew the players and their parents so well, especially the local ones here wanted to recruit.

I know when I was playing, there were some great folks who'll be my friends forever and then there were some that needed a lot of counselling or even a few that needed a "watcher" to keep them in line.

This is college, not HS, and a kid can't always be sent home for a minor infraction or a conference with mommy in the principals office.

Again, this is 2nd hand info, but BB can't overrule certain violations, like this situation. I definitely agree that we (TU & BB) need to have team rules that are similar to our conference mates. I'm not sure if we do or don't today.