A player's second year is often when we can see if they are going to be special. These were the players who Broke out as sophomores over the last 6 seasons: Jimmie Ward '11, T-Lee Lewis '12 Boomer Mays '13, Drew Hare '14, Shawun Lurry '15, 'Max Sharping '16.

What sophomore do you have breaking-out in 2017?

I voted for Jordan Steckler since he'll be starting at left guard. Trequon Smith has already broken out in my opinion.

Going out on a whim here hoping he got his sh*t together and going with Spencer Tears


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(07-17-2017 01:58 PM)NIU32 Wrote:  Going out on a whim here hoping he got his sh*t together and going with Spencer Tears


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Agree. If he's focused he's going to be a force.

I'm in the Pugh camp with Roberts a close second. The only concern I have with Pugh is his weight. I think he's only gained 2 or 3 pounds since HS. He'd be my far and away favorite if he was pushing 225/230. We will see what the fall roster lists him at. Roberts being a former TE is a good athlete and has a chance to make a big impact at tackle.

I was really high on Spencer Tears, but my fear is that he suffers from Laytwan Porterism. Hard to really jump on any of these names with possible exception of Pugh

The "others" I didn't list was due to what I feel will be less opportunity. I like Quitting Wynne a lot at D-end, but depending which side he's on, Corcoran's not coming off the field much. And it may be the combo of Sanders/Smith at the other end. Also, Ben Leroy may take over at D-tackle by years end, but the C.C. transfers might get first crack at that spot early on.

On the O-line I'm still holding out hope for Vincent Hughes, but as of now he looks like a back-up. Hopefully it's a case of Roberts being that awesome and not Hughes being that mediocre.

(07-17-2017 01:08 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  I voted for Jordan Steckler since he'll be starting at left guard. Trequon Smith has already broken out in my opinion.

81 do you have a link to a depth chart? You seem to be clued in.

(07-17-2017 09:54 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  

(07-17-2017 01:08 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  I voted for Jordan Steckler since he'll be starting at left guard. Trequon Smith has already broken out in my opinion.

81 do you have a link to a depth chart? You seem to be clued in.

No I do not, just paying attention to what was going on this spring. The first offensive line left to right was Scharping, Steckler, Shively, Dale Brown and/or Brayden Patton, Ryan Roberts. Roberts was competing with Isaac Hawn at right tackle but in his post-Huskie Bowl remarks Coach Carey said Roberts earned the spot. Maybe Hawn will get in the competition at right guard.

QB is currently a three man race between Graham, Santa and Childers.

Huff will be the first tailback for sure. It remains to be seen who else gets carries, probably Mister and Marcus Jones, maybe others.

Wimann and Harmston are probably your first two tight ends, backed up by Brinkman and Crawford.

Wideouts almost by default will be Blake, Beebe, Saffold, DJ Brown, Wesley, Tears. I'm guessing some freshmen get in the mix out of necessity.

Corcoran and Sanders will start at D end with William Lee and someone else at tackle. Coach Carey said Jack Heflin worked some with the ones this spring. I would expect Leroy and the two JUCO guys Webster and Nwachukwu to also be in the mix at tackle.

Bobby Jones, Kyle Pugh and Juwaun Johnson should start at linebacker backed up by Schwab, Deveaux and Jones Davis.

Lurry, Olootu, Smalls and Embry at Corner and Allen, Trequan Smith, Foster and Buirge at Safety.

(07-17-2017 10:31 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  

(07-17-2017 09:54 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  

(07-17-2017 01:08 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  I voted for Jordan Steckler since he'll be starting at left guard. Trequon Smith has already broken out in my opinion.

81 do you have a link to a depth chart? You seem to be clued in.

No I do not, just paying attention to what was going on this spring. The first offensive line left to right was Scharping, Steckler, Shively, Dale Brown and/or Brayden Patton, Ryan Roberts. Roberts was competing with Isaac Hawn at right tackle but in his post-Huskie Bowl remarks Coach Carey said Roberts earned the spot. Maybe Hawn will get in the competition at right guard.

QB is currently a three man race between Graham, Santa and Childers.

Huff will be the first tailback for sure. It remains to be seen who else gets carries, probably Mister and Marcus Jones, maybe others.

Wimann and Harmston are probably your first two tight ends, backed up by Brinkman and Crawford.

Wideouts almost by default will be Blake, Beebe, Saffold, DJ Brown, Wesley, Tears. I'm guessing some freshmen get in the mix out of necessity.

Corcoran and Sanders will start at D end with William Lee and someone else at tackle. Coach Carey said Jack Heflin worked some with the ones this spring. I would expect Leroy and the two JUCO guys Webster and Nwachukwu to also be in the mix at tackle.

Bobby Jones, Kyle Pugh and Juwaun Johnson should start at linebacker backed up by Schwab, Deveaux and Jones Davis.

Lurry, Olootu, Smalls and Embry at Corner and Allen, Trequan Smith, Foster and Buirge at Safety.

It's been awhile since we have not had many or any big playmaker options on offense. Probably last time was injury riddled season at end of Novak era. That's why at QB you just have to go with the more dynamic player. I just think it would be a big mistake to have Graham competing for a starting job

81, were you the one who mentioned there would be a surprise at QB? I'm wondering if this means we'll see Tommy Mister in the wildcat. Also, someone mentioned we'll see some two back sets. We have a really good crop of running backs so a two back formation seems like a great way to fully utilize the talent.

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(07-17-2017 11:38 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(07-17-2017 10:31 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  

(07-17-2017 09:54 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  

(07-17-2017 01:08 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  I voted for Jordan Steckler since he'll be starting at left guard. Trequon Smith has already broken out in my opinion.

81 do you have a link to a depth chart? You seem to be clued in.

No I do not, just paying attention to what was going on this spring. The first offensive line left to right was Scharping, Steckler, Shively, Dale Brown and/or Brayden Patton, Ryan Roberts. Roberts was competing with Isaac Hawn at right tackle but in his post-Huskie Bowl remarks Coach Carey said Roberts earned the spot. Maybe Hawn will get in the competition at right guard.

QB is currently a three man race between Graham, Santa and Childers.

Huff will be the first tailback for sure. It remains to be seen who else gets carries, probably Mister and Marcus Jones, maybe others.

Wimann and Harmston are probably your first two tight ends, backed up by Brinkman and Crawford.

Wideouts almost by default will be Blake, Beebe, Saffold, DJ Brown, Wesley, Tears. I'm guessing some freshmen get in the mix out of necessity.

Corcoran and Sanders will start at D end with William Lee and someone else at tackle. Coach Carey said Jack Heflin worked some with the ones this spring. I would expect Leroy and the two JUCO guys Webster and Nwachukwu to also be in the mix at tackle.

Bobby Jones, Kyle Pugh and Juwaun Johnson should start at linebacker backed up by Schwab, Deveaux and Jones Davis.

Lurry, Olootu, Smalls and Embry at Corner and Allen, Trequan Smith, Foster and Buirge at Safety.

It's been awhile since we have not had many or any big playmaker options on offense. Probably last time was injury riddled season at end of Novak era. That's why at QB you just have to go with the more dynamic player. I just think it would be a big mistake to have Graham competing for a starting job

It is pretty odd if you think about it...we are so used to having a gambreaker or two at WR with NFL talent. This is probably the first roster in a long time without it. With that said, Beebe, Ezra and DJ in the slot is pretty potent. Blake, Wesley and Tears on the outside is serviceable. It will be interesting to see how creative we get with the TE, because we lack a big bodied playmaker outside so do we split Them out and use them like the NFL teams have been.

Huff, Mister and Jones...there is enough there to be excited about. We've seen Huff rip huge gamebreaking plays.

If we had an elite QB I would say we'd be plenty explosive. Of course we all know these next couple of seasons, we ride or die on the QB pony we pick. I have to pray that Childers is just up there grinding and getting better by the day...seems like the only one with the natural talent to be a difference maker.

(07-18-2017 05:26 AM)NIUTrekker Wrote:  81, were you the one who mentioned there would be a surprise at QB? I'm wondering if this means we'll see Tommy Mister in the wildcat. Also, someone mentioned we'll see some two back sets. We have a really good crop of running backs so a two back formation seems like a great way to fully utilize the talent.

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No that wasn't me. As far as I know it's a tight race between Graham, Santa and Childers.

That was Randy, I believe, and he made a comment about a possible transfer from Notre Dame.

(07-18-2017 07:12 AM)scottiep12 Wrote:  

(07-17-2017 11:38 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(07-17-2017 10:31 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  

(07-17-2017 09:54 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  

(07-17-2017 01:08 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  I voted for Jordan Steckler since he'll be starting at left guard. Trequon Smith has already broken out in my opinion.

81 do you have a link to a depth chart? You seem to be clued in.

No I do not, just paying attention to what was going on this spring. The first offensive line left to right was Scharping, Steckler, Shively, Dale Brown and/or Brayden Patton, Ryan Roberts. Roberts was competing with Isaac Hawn at right tackle but in his post-Huskie Bowl remarks Coach Carey said Roberts earned the spot. Maybe Hawn will get in the competition at right guard.

QB is currently a three man race between Graham, Santa and Childers.

Huff will be the first tailback for sure. It remains to be seen who else gets carries, probably Mister and Marcus Jones, maybe others.

Wimann and Harmston are probably your first two tight ends, backed up by Brinkman and Crawford.

Wideouts almost by default will be Blake, Beebe, Saffold, DJ Brown, Wesley, Tears. I'm guessing some freshmen get in the mix out of necessity.

Corcoran and Sanders will start at D end with William Lee and someone else at tackle. Coach Carey said Jack Heflin worked some with the ones this spring. I would expect Leroy and the two JUCO guys Webster and Nwachukwu to also be in the mix at tackle.

Bobby Jones, Kyle Pugh and Juwaun Johnson should start at linebacker backed up by Schwab, Deveaux and Jones Davis.

Lurry, Olootu, Smalls and Embry at Corner and Allen, Trequan Smith, Foster and Buirge at Safety.

It's been awhile since we have not had many or any big playmaker options on offense. Probably last time was injury riddled season at end of Novak era. That's why at QB you just have to go with the more dynamic player. I just think it would be a big mistake to have Graham competing for a starting job

It is pretty odd if you think about it...we are so used to having a gambreaker or two at WR with NFL talent. This is probably the first roster in a long time without it. With that said, Beebe, Ezra and DJ in the slot is pretty potent. Blake, Wesley and Tears on the outside is serviceable. It will be interesting to see how creative we get with the TE, because we lack a big bodied playmaker outside so do we split Them out and use them like the NFL teams have been.

Huff, Mister and Jones...there is enough there to be excited about. We've seen Huff rip huge gamebreaking plays.

If we had an elite QB I would say we'd be plenty explosive. Of course we all know these next couple of seasons, we ride or die on the QB pony we pick. I have to pray that Childers is just up there grinding and getting better by the day...seems like the only one with the natural talent to be a difference maker.

The WR group along with the LB have the most intrigue this fall. I like the WR group more than most because there are solid vets in Blake & Beebe. They aren't studs, but they have high floors and can produce. Tears and Wesley have big upside. So the potential is there to elevate this group up to a team strength. But it's yet to be seen. Brown and Saffold are good back ups. Parchment and Robinson are interesting at 6'3". There's enough proven players that the group won't suck, and enough to be encouraged that it may turn out pretty good. The TE situation only helps the entire situation. Not something very common in the past.