catdaddyp

While I do think it’s only a matter of time that Akron is a top level team in the MAC under Moorhead (or even the top team ), I wouldn’t go as far as saying Illinois doesn’t have as much of a chance in the Big10. Ignore history and take a look at what is currently happening. Illinois went from 2 wins in the COVID year (granted not as many games played, but I honestly don’t know if they would have won more than 2 anyway) under Lovie Smith, to 5 wins in Bielema’s first year (including an upset over Penn State) and 8 wins in Bielema’s second year (did not lose a game by more than 8 points until the bowl game where they lost to Miss State by 9 - not a single blowout loss.) Recruiting, culture, and development/coaching is what sets programs apart. I don’t have an inside connection to either Akron or Illinois, but both seem to now have the culture part in order, development of players is clearly taking place, we’ve witnessed some excellent coaching, and recruiting (where I can really vouch) has picked up tremendously. One of the biggest downfalls for the Illinois football teams in the past was losing top instate talent to their competitors. For the most part, Bielema has walled off the state and is now keeping the best talent home. Illinois has the 2nd highest retention rate when it comes to the portal under Bielema and have used the portal selectively when improving the roster. Wining 8 games last year and barely losing to Michigan was not a fluke. Illinois, as hard as it is to believe, is on the doorstep of being a Big10 challenger. Bielema has assembled a phenomenal coaching staff (only whiff was at OC in his first year, which he quickly corrected) and has now put together 2 very strong recruiting classes with a 3rd shaping up nicely. Akron is a year behind Illinois in recruiting, but Moorhead has accelerated the process by stringing together two strong portal classes. Zips played like a P5 team the last two games of the season in the terms of physicality. That, in and of itself, has me excited about this year. While the offense will certainly be strong again, I think the defense is really going to surprise, especially if we have a pass rush. If I’m wrong, I’ll certainly admit it. Although, I rarely am when it comes to turnarounds. That being said, I was wrong in the amount of games we would win last year. Not sure if anyone could have foreseen the way we lost a few of them. 2023 season can’t get here soon enough.

Phil Steele’s Preseason All-MAC: 1st Team = Alex Adams (WR) & Bubba Arslanian (LB) 2nd Team = TJ Banks (TE) 3rd Team = DJ Irons (QB) & Daniel George (WR) 4th Team = Lorenzo Lingard (RB), Ryan Johnson (DE), Nate Thompson (S), Blake Hester (KR)

The funny thing is, hardly any of the media outlets were talking about Illinois and their defense before the season began last year and now most are acting like they won’t be able to recover from their losses. I am a big Bielema fan (didn’t used to be) because I appreciate when a coach recognizes his previous mistakes, is open about them, and makes corrections to better himself. His stance is “we’ll play anyone, anywhere” and I think viewers can see that mindset by how physically Illinois plays. They were one of my picks to surprise last year and I think they will take the next step and challenge for Big10 top tier status this year. They had Michigan on the ropes last season, so they aren’t far off. Similar to us, they still needed to learn how to win consistently as evidenced by dropping games to Indiana and Michigan State.

Good read. Out of all those matchups I’d actually say Akron is the best bet. I think there’s a snowballs chance of Toledo beating Illinois. The writer focuses on what Illinois lost and not what they return (and have added the past two offseasons). One of the best front sevens in the Big10 and potentially all of college football. Good luck to Toledo running the ball against that crew. Fat chance Toledo does much defensively against an OL that is likely to have 3 players drafted, a stout RB room, and some extremely talented WRs. I feel like this is another instance where the writer is more focused on the name on the jersey vs what’s actually happening. Props to him for recognizing Akron as an up-and-comer though.

Here’s the link to the finals. I didn’t see any information on the rest of the competition outside of what was tweeted out. Pro Day and Athletic Ratings.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mac-college-football-preview-picks-predictions-win/id927810876?i=1000615027171 Hopefully this link works. I thought this was a good listen and these guys seem to have a better handle on the MAC offseason than most I’ve heard/read. (Not posting this for betting advice.)

Great height at 6’4”, solid arm strength, and a sneaky good runner. Similar to Wasel in several ways - throwing motion needs some refinement, throws well on the run, has a surprising amount of mobility, and is faster than he seems. He’s working with Brad Maendler, so his throwing motion could look different by the time he arrives on campus. Roggow competed in the Ohio regional Elite 11 QB competition and apparently did well, landing top 10 in two different categories. Honestly, I wasn’t sure which QB we were going to land as the QBs we offered earlier in the cycle saw their recruitment take off.

2024 QB Brayden Roggow.

Unfortunately I don’t. His DF hudl film is just from 2022, so it may have only been for his senior season.

PWO WR out of Dutch Fork HS (Columbia, SC). Powerhouse football program in South Carolina. Same school DiMarco Johnson attended.

By my count there are only 31 players remaining from the Arth years, including walk-ons. 16 players (also including walk-ons) JoeMo’s staff recruited have either moved on (in some fashion) or graduated.

Good question. There are a number of reasons I’m high on him. The first thing that stands out is his size. He is already a mature player physically and has length. Watching his film (which is the only thing I have to go off of) he has the ability to rush the passer and also hold the edge in the run game. He moves well enough to where he could be slotted at DE in a 4 man front or OLB in a 3-4 alignment. On many DE tapes all that is shown is the ability to rush the passer. There are multiple highlights of Kabbash denting, taking on the pulling blocker, and making the tackle. It takes an extremely physical player to consistently do that and usually the “denter” is not the one to make the tackle. I also like the way he often swipes across the football as he makes a tackle. As you alluded to, his eligibility is limited and I’m sure he knows his time to make an impact is running out. That can motivate players to give their best effort and finish with a strong season to close out their careers. We saw it to an extent last year with LB Tim Terry. By no means was Terry an exceptional player, but the last 4 games of the season he was playing at a high level. Hopefully, Kabbash starts out more quickly than Terry. I’m not too concerned about the JUCO stats. It’s the JUCO coaches’ job to not only win games but get their players recruited, so there can be a high rotation depending on the school. Looking at that roster (and off the top of my head) I see 5 DL that signed with FBS schools. Out of all the JUCO DEs we offered, Kabbash was the one I was most high on. Maybe he doesn’t live up to expectations? Not everyone will pan out. We need develop players and hit at a higher recruiting rate than our opponents and that seems to be happening under this staff.

These JUCO DEs definitely have size and length. Antonio Smith = 6’5” 240lbs CJ Nunnally = 6’4” 245lbs LaJoshua Jackson = 6’4” 250lbs Kabbash Richards = 6’5” 245lbs

Now the question is if his OL teammate Karsten Upchurch is next? 🤔

Yep! He’s the JUCO DE I really wanted us to land. I thought that ship had sailed, but glad to see I was wrong.

And just when I thought this class couldn’t get any better. Welcome Kabbash!

Interesting article on UCONN - Jim Mora on the Huskies winning a national championship and a potential move to the BIG12.

MACC isn’t out of the realm of possibility, but I doubt we are at that point. We aren’t elite on either side of line of scrimmage (OL & DL). Certainly headed in the right direction, but not there yet. We’ll probably drop a game or two we shouldn’t as the team learns how to win consistently. I think overall we rival any other MAC team in terms of overall talent in JoeMo’s second year. Most pundits consider Ohio, EMU, and Toledo as the top dogs this season. 247 gives easy access, which I appreciate, but some omissions immediately jump out. 1 - Ahmad Rabah is a transfer, not an HS prospect, and doesn’t have a rating. He’s a 3 star transfer on Rivals. 2 - Transfer Terence Thomas is not listed. 3 - Transfer Judah Tallandier is not listed. 4 - Transfer Terray Jones is not listed and is a 3 star on Rivals. 5 - Transfer Ben Frank is not listed. 6 - Joshua Bowen and Maurice Long are no longer in this class. 7 - David Jester and Clarence Nunnally are signed. 8 - Paul Davis is a 3 star on Rivals and is not listed. 9 - Delvin Morris is not listed. 10 - Gage Summers is not listed. 11 - Antonio Smith is not listed. 12 - LaJoshua Jackson is not listed. 13 - Dante Jackson is not listed. 14 - Transfer Lama Lavea is not listed. 15 - Tyler Carter is not listed. 16 - Transfer Drake Anderson is not listed. 17 - Transfer Keon Kindred is a 3 star on Rivals and is not listed. 18 - Transfer Joshua Blanchard is not listed. 19 - Transfer Shammond Cooper is not listed. 20 - Transfer Phaizon Wilson is not listed. 21 - Transfer Jacob Newell is not listed. 22 - Transfer AJ George is not listed. Im probably missing some more, but that’s certainly enough for now. Needless to say, the 247 rankings aren’t quite accurate.

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.

Bump for update. Although multiple players have positional flexibility, I separated them into groups by cornerback, nickel, and safety. One note here is the high amount of scholarship defensive backs on the roster. Most programs keep around 15 scholarship DBs and we have 20 at the moment.

I’m behind on updating this list and trying to get all the new offers into the Rivals database. I expect we will see a few more 2024 commitments and a number of new offers in the coming weeks. Especially with the camps kicking off next weekend.

I believe that’s Julian Richardson pictured second from the left. If so, that would confirm he is officially a DE now (Corey Thomas was pictured with the safeties), so I assume they will remove the “OLB” tag from those two at some point on the official roster. I hope Richardson gets fully healthy and can give us some pass rush from the weakside that we often lacked last year.

I’d also like to see him push for the backup spot and expect he will, especially as the season progresses. That being said, I actually came away from the spring game feeling good about Undercuffler. He’s not DJI by any stretch, but I liked the way he commanded the offense and made fairly quick decisions with the ball. I feel comfortable with Undercuffler leading the way if he has to play significant snaps. Bullock has some serious size for a QB and would certainly be more of a threat in the run game. We’ll have to see how quickly he picks up on the offense. There’s a lot of talent in that QB room. Time for coach Fess to coach them up.

Still early and we’re probably not completely finished with roster turnover, but here’s a potential projection going into the summer. There are a number of different possibilities, which is exciting considering the upgraded roster talent. I’m sure this is not how the depth chart will finish in 2023, but interesting to look at during the slow summer months. OFFENSE QB: Irons Undercuffler RB: Lingard D. Anderson WR: Adams Golden WR: George Anderson WR: Gathings P. Wilson TE: Banks Newell LT: Chambers Kindred LG: Kilbane Robarge C T. Williams Georges RG: K Davis Blanchard RT: N Williams Frank DEFENSE DE: R Johnson Nunnally DT: Robinson Lavea DT: T. Jones K. Thomas DE: Rabah Richardson LB: Arslanian Summers LB: McCoy Cooper Nickel: Lewis T. Thomas CB: Durant Tallandier SS: Thompson Woods FS: Martin D. Johnson CB: Golden-Nelson Hunter

Position has been updated. This group has a chance to be insanely good.