(06-15-2021 11:56 AM)robertfoshizzle Wrote: It's been a fun process watching CLF build our program. The team has gotten better each year, and on paper, we have our best roster ever in 2021. With the expanded playoff, I could realistically see Fickell's process playing out like this over time (including previous seasons to show the progress):
2017: Rebuild the culture from the Tuberville dumpster fire and begin recruiting the right guys.
2018: Vastly improved team that won 11 games and a bowl game. Recruiting in Ohio has been established.
2019: Make it to the conference championship game. Even better recruiting. Another P5 bowl victory.
2020: Win the conference championship game and make the NY6 bowl. Best recruiting class ever.
2021: Win conference again and either win NY6 bowl or make the CFP. Another strong recruiting class.
2022: Build off 2021 momentum in recruiting and start inching recruiting rankings towards the top 25. Win another conference championship, or have a 10-win season worst-case after losing a lot of upperclassmen, but having young guys ready to step in.
2023: Win the conference and make the first 12-team CFP. Recruiting continues to trend upwards.
2024: Make the CFP again and win a game. Secure first top-25 recruiting class in school history.
2025 and beyond: Multiple top 25 recruiting classes and CFP appearances. Eventually, we have the depth of talent where a special QB could take us to the CFP semifinals. Do that, and recruiting trends upwards again. Rinse and repeat...
I think 2022 is a going to be a rough one for us with all of the losses we're going to sustain. I could see it being more of an 8-5/9-4 season truthfully, although, the schedule does seem tasty in the OOC (Indiana at home and a VERY winnable game at Arkansas).
I mean, here are our losses after this season (* denotes likely draft entrant):
Offense:
Desmond Ridder, Alec Pierce, Josh Whyle*, Leonard Taylor, Michael Young, Jerome Ford*, Vincent McConnell, and Cole Smith
Essentially, we are likely going to be replacing every skill position player and our most tenured OLman, though the rest of the OL should be more than solid in 2022
Defense:
Myjai Sanders, Curtis Brooks, Marcus Brown, Malik Vann, Darrian Beavers, Joel Dublanko, Coby Bryant, Ja'von Hicks, Brian Cook, and Ahmad Gardner*
For those taking notes, that's at least 3/4 DL, 2/3 LBs and our entire base defensive backfield....yeeeesh.