catdaddyp

A ton of 2024 and beyond offers have gone out and I’m way behind on those. However, thats not the reason I’m posting this offer. Even though Nyeem Wartman has not been announced as DL coach, he was tagged here. 🧐

I’m actually on the other side of the fence and think 2023 is when DJI should show the most improvement. He’ll be in the same offense, have 2 of his top receivers returning, and ideally have a run game to supplement the pass. JoeMo said himself that DJI played as well as any first year QB in his system. DJI has every reason to lay it all out there. The clock is ticking on his eligibility and if he wants to play pro ball, this will be the year for him to give scouts something to consider. If he struggles, we know there is at least a serviceable backup waiting in the wings.

I tallied all the movement out with the closure of the first portal window. The numbers below consist of graduation and transfer portal. The number in parentheses is the transfer portal. For comparison, last year’s movement was around 50 players including graduation. QB = 0 RB = 1 (1) WR = 4 (2) TE = 1 OL = 5 (4) DL = 9 (4) LB = 2 (1) DB = 8 (4) ST = 3 (1) Total = 33 TP = 17

Before the popularity of the transfer portal, many guys like Lawson and Fann would finally have the light go on and breakout in their final year or two. Don’t see that much anymore as players (and coaches) aren’t as patient. Now we need a DL coach in place to ramp up the potential at DE. There are still some options at JUCO that I’m surprised we haven’t offered. I’m not entirely sure about the portal as there have been so many entries.

Looks like Quevan Lawson hit the portal.

Offer to OL Jasper Parks. 6’7” 315lbs OT with 1 year of eligibility. Played at Division II Sioux Falls.

Offers out to several kids at this school. One of them being 2023 athlete Teremun (TJ) Lott. He is a former Illinois commit and would be a great addition if we could land him.

Sebastian Benjamin to Western Kentucky.

Fairly young and upcoming guy that had success as a player. Fits the bill. Thanks for the info!

Excellent breakdown. I’d add a few things: OL - Agree we need to add another veteran or two but I’m mainly concerned about OT. Right now it’s a 3 man rotation of Landers, N.Williams, and Chambers. Outside of those three we dip into the unknown of inexperience and youth. I expect T.Williams and K.Davis to push for time by end of the season on the interior. Those guys are more talented than the veterans ahead of them, but need a strong offseason to get their bodies right and gain some experience somewhere along the way. For now, some type of combination between Banes, Georges, Robarge, Kilbane, and Lyons should be able to get the job done at the guards and center. DL - I’d split this between DT and DE. DT should be an area of strength with a 100% healthy Holt, Thomas, Murphy, Robinson, and Jones. DE is still a concern. We are now counting on Johnson and Rabah to step up. Maybe the plan is to also play Richardson there full time? I agree that scenario may be worse than what we had last year. This position still needs some work. Not having a DL coach certainly isn’t helping. (Edit - forgot to mention Cheatom at DE.) It’ll be interesting to see who else jumps in the portal tomorrow.

Agreed that a bowl game ought to be a goal and I think that should be the minimum from here on out. The talent level should be on par with everyone in the MAC and potentially better than a few teams. Coaching will set the 2023 team apart from others. I loved how physical the team was playing in the last few games of the regular season and if we start out that way in 2023, who knows what can happen.

I wonder if that’s what’s keeping Mimouni from committing after his visit.

Probably a different scenario for each individual, but I’d guess some are using “back channel connections” to try and find opportunities before entering the portal. A number of guys entering the portal will never play organized football again despite the information they are given. Scholarships are at a premium more so than ever, so guys waiting late to enter the portal seem to be at a disadvantage (unless they are elite players).

Looks like punter Kyle Romenick is also in the portal.

He’ll probably land somewhere. Can’t blame him for looking elsewhere. We should have a pretty stout group at DT this year.

Another guy with plenty of talent that didn’t live up to it. His effort in the spring game was disheartening.

Thanks. He’s been listed on the “Portal Offers” thread for a while, but haven’t seen anything else on that front. Any idea if he made a visit? Versatile player that mostly played Nickel for the Cowboys and started a number of games.

Bump for updates.

Good question. So far he’s taken visits to Western Kentucky and Bowling Green. Just from the outside looking in, it seems both parties have turned their interest elsewhere. But I don’t have any insider information to substantiate that.

I was more so pointing out the impressive job Renna has done flipping that position. I thought the safeties really came on strong and were playing as well as any in the MAC by the end of the season. Without going back and looking at the schedule, seems like somewhere shortly after that horrendous defensive showing against BG things started clicking for them. Cornerback was the biggest issue (and lack of pass rush). I’m expecting another scholarship safety (or two) to hit the portal.

Can’t wait to see Jester at FS and Owens at SS in the coming years. Coach Renna has himself an impressive group with those two coming in along with the returning Thompson, Martin, and Woods. I believe that’s around 8 scholarship safeties on the roster now. Crowded room….

Not sure if you meant May 2022? He received offers from UCF (re-offer), Toledo, and Ohio in May of 2022. USF in January of 2022.

I think he’s just a late bloomer. He’s a great athlete that’s only played one year with his hand in the dirt. In HS he played WR,TE, and LB. He isn’t as polished as some of the other DE’s but his size and athleticism can’t be taught. High upside guy that could be a steal if he continues to develop.

Would be quite the weekend if we landed both Mimouni and Jester.

David Jester. 3 star at Rivals, but is listed as a WR. He played S his senior year and even though he could play both sides of the ball, he is probably a better fit on defense.