catdaddyp

Safeties coach Neal Renna headed to Purdue.

FYI, we are now in a recruiting dead period - meaning no visits can be made to campus or coaching visits to homes until 1/5/2025. That said, communication can still continue. 12/28/2024 is the last day for players to enter their name into this portal window. There are a few exceptions though: players on teams in the playoffs will have a 5 day window to enter the portal once their team is eliminated and grad transfers can enter at any time. If there is a head coach change, another window will open specifically for players on that team. Players have the ability to sign with a team despite the portal being closed for entry. Generally, players will sign before 2nd semester begins for schools on 2 semester terms. Otherwise, the portal will reopen for 10 days after the spring.

Yeah, wishful thinking on my part.

Offer to JUCO DT Jakwon McGinney.

Offer to Cornell grad transfer DT Hunter Sloan.

So many “ifs” to even know what we actually have. All the players brought in have the athletic ability and length to be successful, but that’s been par for the course under JRod. The potential is there, but will the portal and JUCO guys actually develop? Might be a situation where one of the freshmen take over at LT midway through the season. I’ll feel pretty good if we go into the spring with Mann locking down RT. Then all we need is to figure out LT and identify one swing OT. It’s a shame Landers and James wouldn’t/couldn't stay. It’d be an entirely different scenario heading into next year with those guys, along with the returning interior of the OL. The good news is all of our MAC peers are also struggling to land quality OTs.

I updated what’s needed at each position. ST may not be accurate as we may already have our starters on the roster. Unless someone else portals, the offense is set with the exception of WR. Defense still needs 5 DL, 1 LB, and 4 DBs. So plenty of action incoming from the portal.

Coach Wart now the DL coach at UMASS. That explains some of the departures.

Sounds like James is headed to Maryland.

I like it too. He’s actually 10-15 lbs heavier than Kellom. Closest thing on the roster we have to a power back, not named Bullock. Not expecting big numbers from him, but if he can get a few tough yards whenever we need them, then it’ll be a great pickup.

RB Chris Gee from Colgate.

Offer to JUCO DE/LB Andrew Marshall. We were in on him coming out of HS before he committed to Ohio. He’s since grown more into the DE role.

Started almost every game for Kent at either Safety or Nickel in 2022 and 2023. Played in 4 games this year and redshirted.

Yes. He’s another one that was big time at JUCO and hardly played this past year. 4th Team All-American at JUCO.

Could be the offer situation. I may be mistaken, but I thought BG had a small NIL collective? Could have played a role into it. Or they pitched him on development like they did with Karl Brooks? Either way, I hate having to face him on a yearly basis.

OL Amare Archer from East Carolina.

Another OL commit incoming.

Offer to JUCO DE Kenton Simmons.

Offer to DB Zach Lewis of Northern Arizona. 2nd team all-conference.

From what I’ve gathered, he went to a prep school this past year and reclassified from the 2024 class to 2025. He’ll be a true freshman.

Timing is odd. He played well this year. Good luck to him. Clears the way for Reed, White, and DeWalt…..assuming they don’t hit the road as well.

We offered him out of JUCO before he signed with WKU. Hardly played at WKU. Not sure what happened there. He’s not lacking in physical ability as he’s a good sized lineman with long arms, good feet, and mobile. Crushed guys at JUCO.

There’s one offensive tackle. Darrell Johnson from Western Kentucky.

CB Joey Hunter in the portal. Not a surprise here. He walked on senior day and was seemingly limited the majority of games. Was eventually surpassed on the depth chart by Reed.

Offer to DE Cyrus Durham of Arizona. We also offered him last year coming out of JUCO.