RE: A-State Spring Football Practice
Things that need to happen this spring:
RB Brian Snead (6-1, 210) needs to become the elite player they expected when they signed him, and transfer Zac Wallace (6, 230) -who is big, fast, tough and has been impressive in workouts, needs to develop into their primary backup or starter if Snead falters.
While transfer QB J.T. Shrout (6-3, 212)- who does not arrive until May, is the most likely replacement for James Blackman, it would be a huge plus if talented freshmen Jaxon Daley (6-2, 215) and/or Jaylen Raynor (6, 198) gain the confidence of their coaches that they could back him up.
Their talented transfers on the OL come out of the spring as starters, not backups. AstAteNation Publisher Jeff Reed stated on the radio that their coaches hope they have added enough talent that their best lineman from 2022, Makilan Thomas , would be their 6th lineman in 2023.
Some player(s) emerge on the DL showing the toughness, strength and endurance that was missing from them as backups last year, and cost them so many games they were leading going into the fourth quarte-they were ahead in eight.
Transfer WR's Cortney Jackson (5-11, 179) and Corey Rucker (6-1, 212)- who must get a waver to be eligible, emerge as starters, and leaders.
Transfer CB's Donte Thompson (5-11, 180), Manny Stokes Jr (5-10, 165) and JoeJo Wallace (5-11, 180) push for starting jobs.
Freshman TE Miller McCrumby (6-4, 230) or transfer JC Kevin Diaz (6-3, 259), emerge as solid backups to Emmanual Stevenson (6-3, 241).
They can find players in the return game.
They can stay healthy.
Edited note: they need for their new coaches, and all their transfers to get up to speed fast. If that happens 2023 could be noticeably better than 2022.
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