I don’t think it’s filling a roster spot…I’d agree with you that numbers are fine.
I think the issue is talent, and the rumors that Citizen that doesn’t look the same. I’m not a huge Allen fan, I was excited when he came in but he didn’t impress me last year.
DE Nyjalik Kelly to portal
That one stings a little, had high hopes for him. But he supposedly wants to be a starter now. Flashed as a frosh, injuries as a sophomore. Was #18 on my up to date list.
Kaleb Spencer portal…Liked him when we recruited him but the fact we moved him from safety to LB, shows he was a step slow. Bit of a tweeter
Updated through 4/19…He and Citizen were in the future prospects category
JHH is a big portal loss…I had him in top group #9
More bad news…
Wayne (#23m second tier) joins JHH and Kelly.
I’m not a fan of any of these losses, and hopefully we can replenish
Any sense if there’s an issue with coach Taylor? I’d guess not. But lots of DL heading for the door. Maybe it’s just the luck of the draw this time around. Maybe the coaches need to do a better job of identifying prospects? And/or those who won’t bolt as rising sophomores? Who knows.
Miami signed a big DL class along with portal additions. This is what happens. There is no loyalty anymore.
Updated this list for 3 nice portal additions this weekend including a top 20ish portal player Martinez.
Fully pdated going into Summer…There is a chance UM still adds a DB portal, but I would say it is more than likely we don’t.
We are currently at 86 schollies, unless the long snapper isn’t on schools than we are at 85.
I still would be mildly shocked if more than 1 of Redding, Balom, Nelson on team for next year.
Current Position group grades imo…
QB A-
RB A-
WR A-
TE B
OL A-
DT B+
DE A
LB B+
CB B
S B (Including Powell here)
**Freshman are taken into account, but upperclassmen weighted more heavily…
I assume the Horton at 26 is the WR? no love to DT Horton?
No true freshmen on the list but given it was a full class of 27, the 41 player you listed are out of 58-59 total available players. Not the worst of ratios - especially since quite a few of the incoming frosh are suppose to be future studs
DT Horton is in the “unknowns/prospects” category
Yes, #26 is Horton, and in retrospect, may be a touch low for him, he’s shown he at least belongs.
Where are better early departures (portal or draft) would have ranked if they were still on the team (and all the others left, and all the current additions were part of the team)
Kinchens 5
LT 8
J.Will 11
TVD 16 (At times was group 1 during his career… wasn’t playing like group 1 2nd half of last season)
Flagg 35
Harvey 36
Chaney 18
Ladsen High End Jag
C Williams Jag
Skinner High End Jag
Moss Jag
B.Smith 18
Collins A. Unknowns
Dav Brown Jag
Parrish 21
Kelly 17
J.Brown 39
Citizen Unknowns
Spencer Unknowns
JHH 14
Wayne 27
Freeny Unknowns
Pulliam Unknowns
Gore 41
So we lost 4 group 1 players (5 if you want to put “good” TVD in that group)…And added 6 (EDITED from 5, forgot Samuel Brown) group 1 players…
I can’t remember exactly but I believe we increased the size of the 2nd group by either 3 or 4 players. (can’t remember what exactly I started with)
I wasn’t thrilled with the JHH loss but it has been wiped out by the Barrow addition.
The loss I wish we could have back is Nyjalik Kelly (runner-up Wayne, losing both sucked but it’s been solved short term with the addition of the two senior DE and we are recruiting the position very well for the future), and we really needed 1of the senior safety to stay.
I also think Don Chaney had a place on this team (or at least 1 or him, Citizen, Parrish with Chaney being my fav), but again that loss has been addressed/upgraded with the addition of Martinez who is one of the top 10 backs in CFB (maybe top 2-3 power backs)…And wouldn’t have minded seeing Brashard Smith on the team, but he supposedly had a few off field going things on and struggled constantly with picking up playbook and nuances of playing slot. So at least part of the under-utilization we always complained about was on him. Nice returner though.
There is currently a list up on 247 ranking UM’s top 50 players…If I get the extra time maybe we’ll compare any big differences.
I too always liked Brashard Smith and wondered why he was used so sparingly. I suppose he may have had unknown to us intractable behavioral issues, but there is no doubt about his football talent. It wouldn’t surprise me were Lashlee to get some good play out of Brashard.
Just updating…FYI Zion Nelson, Michael Redding, Brian Balom are no longer on the UM roster. Apparently graduating and moving on
At least 1 or 2 of those were expected. And all 3 are just fine.
I believe that puts us at 83 schoolies (if the long-snapper Napper is on scholly, I’m not sure) but will double check on that.
Other scholly possibilities are Luis Cristobal, Isaiah Taylor (two coaches sons, not sure if on official scholly), DB Miles Mooyung (been on team couple years, does official visits with recruits, gets meaningful practice reps with 3rd team)
I believe everything up to date in this thread…And I’m at piece with the current categories I have players listed in…We shall see.
My current team grades, and I believe on paper we are a top 15 most talented team…If Ward hits and Cristobal doesn’t fuck things up
QB A-
RB A- If Fletcher healthy
WR A-
TE B
OL A-
DT B+
DE A
LB B+
CB B
S/Nickle B-
K A
P B+
The question mark is the secondary
Now as far as depth goes, I think fine everywhere except
Safety for sure
QB for sure
Slight OL depth concerns, not as major as the other two above ^
Players that I think need to take either take step up or live up to expectations
J.Harris S, Jr.
D.Brown CB/Nickle, So.
Carpenter C, Sr.
Top 15 team on paper?
How do you think our talent stacks up with the Gators this year? (Keeping in mind a win/loss that day won’t only be about talent, it will be about coaching and preparation too.)
Your parentheses statement is ever so key for a (I believe) nighttime opening road game…Week 1 “real games” (not cupcakes), tend to be a little messy for all involved
Coming into the season I have UM about a 4 pt. favorite on neutral field vs. UF…So I really believe this is a toss up game in the swamp. I like UM’s upside better than and they are better top to bottom than UF
UF won’t do much this season against that schedule…8 wins would be EXCELLENT against that schedule, it’s just an insane college football schedule (At Tex, At FSU, nutral GA, at Tenn)…But don’t confuse that and their season wins total (A result of that schedule) with the cupboard being totally bare. I think UM wins it and I like our talent better than US, but it certainly won’t be a big upset if UF sneaks it out int he swamp.
It’s hard as a Canes fan to get your hopes up. Even good off-season news is usually met with mediocre game time performance.
Game 1 @ the Swamp really is gonna be a shit show. I’m just hoping we don’t have the runs.