First look at possible 2020 depth chart: Defense
We looked at offense during the holidays. So lets look at the presently known roster for the 2020 defense.
** Unable to play most or all of 2019 season (injury or eligibility)
#-signed in Dec 2019
Underline: multi-game starting experience
DT: A. Moultrie (R-JR), I. Forte (#JUCO, JR), M. Fairbanks (R-SO), M. Stanley (R-SR)
DT: T. Fair (SR), F. McWilliams (R-SO), T. Jones (#JUCO, JR), K. Penn (R-FR)
STAR: D. Turner (SR), **J. Street (R-SR), K. Griffin (R-JR)
SAM: J. Smith (JR), K. Sanders (#JUCO, JR), N. Eason (R-SO)
JACK: A. Wright (SO), T. Johnston (SR), T. McDonald (R-FR), #-T. Brown (#HS FR)
LB: K. Moll (SR), A. Merrick (#HS FR), D. Oliver (R-FR), W. Conner (R-FR)
LB: N. Wilder (R-JR), **J. Rayam (R-SO), L. Brasher (SR), LJ Smith (R-FR)
CB: ** B. Harris (R-SR), S. Thomas V (JR), K. Swoopes (SO), D. Miller (SO)
FS: W. Boler (R-JR), J. Key (R-SO), R. Revels (SO), A. Maddox (#HS FR)
SS: G. Cash (R-JR), D. Bynum (JR), D. Miller (SO), **D. Acfalle (R-SO)
CB: TD Marshall (R-SR), CD Daniels (JR), D. Miller (SO), X. Lanier (R-SO
So a few observations.
Nine starters return. Nine! And several positions have 2 players who started 5 or more games.
1. Forte and Jones replace Marino and Johnson at DT. Probably a bit of a downgrade vs Marino, but Im ready to see Forte play. Moultrie came on much stronger toward the end of the season. It would be nice to have him break out his JR year. Im curious as to whether Penn makes the rotation at DT This year. Or I wonder if they might shift Penn to offense as a more athletic guard, depending on who signs late.
2. Alex Wright will come back bigger, stronger and faster. Be afraid QBs. He will be a beast. johnston will continue to mystify us as the highest rated HS signee in program history, who seems to regress each year. Less than 10 tackles his JR season. Wonder what his story is?
3. SAM belongs to Smith. He might be CUSA defensive POY next year, if Moll doesnt win it. Sanders will be an intriguing backup out of JUCO. Both are basketball tall. N. Eason intrigues me as a basketball player converted to a pass rusher. I suspect he will be consistently dangerous by his JR season.
4. Moll and Wilder return and inside LB gets some much needed reinforcements. Depending on foot speed Merrick will likely play in the middle and could push Wilder by mid season. Jalen Rayam could be our next Kris Moll. I love Wilder and his unlikely walkon story, but he could not get there to make the boundary plays against App State. I feel the need for speed! Name that movie, OGs. Im curious when Will Conner sees the field, also. We might be very deep at MLB.
5. UAB will definitely run deep at CB. Harris returns as a former all conference corner. TD Marshall, Mr Pick Six, is back, as are CD Daniels, Starling Thomas, K Swoopes and whichever Miller twin is playing corner. All of those could play starting roles if needed, but Harris can be a shutdown corner if fully recovered. Swoopes is sneaky good. Lots of PBUs for the minutes he played. Bynum could play corner also, or safety.
6. Jarrion Street returns from injury. He had 8 tackles in the one game he played last year. He and Turner give us a powerful rotation at Star.
7. Safeties are good with Boler and Cash, but depth is uncertain. Id like to see Key step up because I like tall safeties. Lanier is very fast so he could be a tall safety also. Or a WR. Im guessing hands might be a barrier to WR. Revels was a tackling machine in HS but he needs to eat a lot of biscuits and gravy. Safety is the least certain position on the defense, IMHO.
Newcomers with impact? Forte and Sanders, maybe Jones and Merrick. Cant wait to see Rayam play.
Who do you think will step up and surprise in 2020? Merrick gets my vote.
Who will change positions? Penn is my guess. I also wonder ir any of the freshmen Olinemen we signed move over to defense. Maybe Fluornoy.
Who else do we need to sign on defense in Feb? I think we need a freshman corner, a JUCO safety, a freshman DT, a freshman DE and another very fast OLB. But we need talented FR WRs on offense more than we need defense.
What position group is stongest? I would say corner, folllowed by MLB and OLB.
Big picture summary. All position groups appear to be improved with respect to experience, talent and depth, perhaps the exception of defensive tackle. DT should be solid, but how disruptive they can be in the post-Marino era is TBD.
(This post was last modified: 01-07-2020 07:27 AM by Ranger1386c.)
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