Leaderboard

So many reasons; here are just a few...... 1) increase contact with high-powered academic schools like Oklahoma State, 2) help build up frequent flyer points. 3) use conference affiliation to score some cheap tickets to the annual Oklahoma/Nebraska showdown.

I hope in a big pile of sh**!

Since we’ve hit a slow period and the majority of roster turnover is complete, I thought I’d take a look at where things stand going into the summer and fall. Hopefully, this topic will give the board a conversation topic over the coming months. Under 100 days until kickoff…. QB Redshirt senior DJ Irons will be QB1 as long as he is healthy. Irons was voted 3rd Team All-MAC in 2022 and landed on Athlon’s Preseason 2023 All-MAC 4th team. Those recognitions came despite missing two full games and parts of a few others. Coach Moorhead gave DJI high praise by saying Irons “played as well as any first year quarterback in his system.” Unlike last year, there is now multiple talented quarterbacks behind QB1. Former Albany transfer Jeff Undercuffler had a solid showing in the spring game and looks ready to lead the offense if needed. He will likely be pushed by incoming Virginia Tech transfer Tahj Bullock. Bullock brings a different skillset to the offense as he has a big frame and is a powerful runner for a quarterback. Bullock is not as refined of a passer as Irons or Undercuffler and still needs to learn the system. That being said, his potential cannot be ignored. Redshirt freshman Dijon Jennings and true freshman Steele Wasel had their moments in the spring game and gave reason for future excitement. RB Florida transfer Lorenzo Lingard may be the playmaker the run game was missing last year. Despite not breaking any long runs in the spring game, his ability was noticeable. Athlon recognized his potential and listed Lingard as Preseason All-MAC 3rd team despite yet playing a down. Coach Moorhead also likes to use his running backs in the passing game and Lingard has the speed, power, and vision to do damage in the open field. Behind Lingard there are several options. Incoming Arizona transfer Drake Anderson has proven success against a handful of P5 defenses and fits this offense. Charles Kellom is a redshirt freshman biding time before his opportunity arises. Junior Blake Hester will mostly be utilized on special teams, but can contribute out of the backfield. Former Kansas State transfer CJ Price has the capacity to be a load coming downhill (when he’s not hit immediately on the handoff), but will miss substantial time due to injury. WR Wide receiver is where the strength of the offense lies. What percentage of credit should go to the play calls creating so much stress on the defense versus attributed to the players themselves can be debated. Regardless, there is a ton of talent in this group. Former LSU transfer Alex Adams is the headliner out of the slot and may be the most explosive player in the MAC. He is an easy All-MAC 1st teamer no matter who is voting. Sophomore Bobby Golden will split snaps with Adams and has already demonstrated he can be a difficult cover from the spring game. Former Penn State transfer Daniel George was oddly left off an All-MAC team last season, but was added to Athlon’s Preseason All-MAC 3rd Team and looks ready to have a monster year. Former JUCO Caleb Anderson will split snaps with George and managed to get open several times in the spring game. However, the young QBs missed him when those opportunities arose. Redshirt sophomore Myles Walker made a case to takeover SJL’s role during the spring game. He may not have been the best receiver on the field, but he caught the ball when it came his way. Redshirt sophomore Jasaiah Gathings and incoming Grambling transfer Phaizon Wilson will toss their name into the competition to see who can claim the starting spot. The question marks are converted running back Anthony Williams and the incoming freshmen. There is so much talent here, yet only so many snaps to go around. TE Former West Virginia transfer TJ Banks is the unquestioned starter. He split snaps about 50/50 last year and should collect a heavier amount in 2023. Banks has proven to be a solid blocker and also a reliable target in the passing game. Athlon named Banks to their Preseason All-MAC 3rd team. The backup spot is wide open. Incoming Arizona State transfer Jacob Newell will have a chance to claim playing time if he can beat out redshirt junior Nik Ognenovic. Former Alabama transfer Caden Clark is unfortunately injured and incoming freshman Conner Cravaack did not enroll early. OL The offensive line should be improved. Junior right tackle Nate Williams has been named to Athlon’s Preseason All-MAC 3rd team and is considered the emotional leader of the OL. If redshirt freshmen Tyhler Williams and Keylen Davis are ready to start (as seems to be the case from the spring game) they will give the OL some athleticism that was missing last year. Couple their insertions with another year of development from the players already in the system and it makes sense that the OL will perform at a higher level. However, a number of combinations might be fielded before a final five is determined. The most likely starters (from left to right) to begin the season may be Chambers, Kilbane, T. Williams, K. Davis, N. Williams. Maryland transfer Keon Kindred is talented and will probably push for a starting position. South Florida transfer Joshua Blanchard could make a difference if healthy (he dealt with multiple injuries during his time at USF). Transfers Ben Frank and Andrew George will provide more size and competitive depth. The freshmen certainly have athleticism and potential, but should not be expected to provide significant contributions right out the gate. DL The defensive line has seen as much of an overhaul as any other position since coach Tibesar took the reins as DC. The only two DL from the previous regime that are expected to contribute significantly are seniors Julian Richardson and (former JUCO) Ryan Johnson. Coach “DeBo” landed two portal transfers (all-conference at a lower level) and three freshmen during this cycle. Coach Wart finished the class with another portal transfer and four JUCOs. DT Despite currently flying under the radar, Tennessee State transfer Terray Jones seems like the real deal and probably has what it takes to make an All-MAC team. A blend of returning and new faces will join him on the interior. Redshirt seniors Devon Robinson and (former JUCO) Kyle Thomas will attempt to end their careers on a high note, while redshirt freshman Kiawan Murphy will compete for a larger role. Incoming New Mexico State transfer Lama Lavea provides another strong option up front and JUCO Tyler Carter may surprise. Freshman Marcus Moore will be developed and likely redshirt. Holt and Harper moving on hurts, but this group has the potential to be substantially better than 2022’s lot. DE There are a number of question marks with this position. Even though the athleticism and talent level has been increased, will the production follow? No one stood out during the spring game in the pass rush department. However, redshirt senior transfer Ahmad Rabah was not 100% healthy, Julian Richardson did not play, and Bruno Dall is a freshman with a high upside. JUCOs CJ Nunnally, Antonio Smith, and LaJoshua Jackson (assuming he is truly a DE and not DT) will have the opportunity to claim playing time. Johnson, Rabah, and Richardson are currently in line to start, but they need to show significant growth from the spring. Expecting any of the freshman to play major roles is probably not realistic. LB This position has the potential to be one of the best in the MAC as the linebackers have become a collection of explosive and physical players. The LBs flowed quickly to the ball in the spring game and had very few missed tackles. All-MAC 1st teamer Bubba Arslanian returns for his final season and will, at least initially, be flanked by sophomore Bryan McCoy. Returning juniors and former JUCOs Antavious Fish and Andrew Behm look more comfortable, while true sophomore Jaharon Griffin will have a chance to make an impact on more than just special teams. They will be joined by JUCO tackling machine Gage Summers and talented Illinois transfer Shammond Cooper. Freshman Melvin Spriggs will likely redshirt. CB Considering the situation, Coach Bell probably got about as much as he could out of the cornerbacks last season. Now fast forward a year where the depth and talent level has been increased. Junior Tyson Durant will do his best to hold down a starting spot and former Memphis transfer Devonte Golden-Nelson looks ready to live up to his potential. They will be pushed by South Carolina transfer Joey Hunter, Pittsburgh transfer Judson Tallandier, and JUCO Silas Proby. Returners Rishad Hence and former JUCO Cam Threatt will attempt to work into the rotation as well. Although the issues have seemingly been addressed, the incoming freshmen will also have a chance to compete for playing time. NB Redshirt sophomore Darrian Lewis was one of the biggest surprises in 2022. He was physical and may have been the best blitzer on the team. While there is some crossover to this position, it seems Lewis will be challenged by Purdue transfer Terence Thomas. Thomas is extremely athletic and kept making his presence felt at the spring game. S Safety play went from inconsistent early in 2022 to some of the best in the MAC by the end of the season. Expect the physicality level to pick up where it left off with Athlon Preseason All-MAC 4th teamer (former Duke transfer) Nate Thompson leading the way. He will be joined by former West Virginia transfer KJ Martin who may be ready to push for All-MAC status himself. Former Eastern Kentucky transfer Jaden Woods forced his way into the rotation as the top backup. Out of the younger returning players, redshirt sophomore DiMarco Johnson may be ready to contribute in 2023. The incoming freshmen are talented and built in the same vein as the current starters, but significant playing time will likely be hard to come by. ST Blake Hester is a core special teams player and was recognized as a kick returner by Athlon, landing on the preseason All-MAC 3rd team. The kicking game started off slowly in the spring game, but picked up steam as the event wore on. Sophomore kicker Noah Perez connected well on the majority of his attempts, while freshmen Owen Wiley and Joey Castle showed promise. The staff also brought in JUCO scholarship kicker/punter Dante Jackson.