Signing day and Portal madness is right around the corner.

[catdaddyp]

With the recruiting period soon to kick into high gear again, here’s a look at the past two recruiting classes and how they’ve performed (scholarship offers only). Keep in mind we have one more game to play so the final 2023 stats will change.

 

The 2022 class brought in a few impact players and a wealth of upgrades throughout the roster. SJL, Anthony Whigan, and Alex Adams were all-conference players, while Victor Jones, Curtis Harper, Ravontae Holt, Tim Terry, Cam Wiley, Max Banes, Daniel George, KJ Martin, Nate Thompson, TJ Banks, and Ka’Marii Landers all became quality starters. 

 

STEPPING IT UP:

2023 saw former JUCO Antavious Fish and sophomore Bryan McCoy have breakout years at linebacker. Redshirt freshmen Tyler Williams and Keylen Davis (before injuries) became starters on the offensive line. Sophomore Bobby Golden, sophomore Jaharon Griffin, and senior Devon Robinson saw their roles increase. Sophomore Charles Kellom was a key special teams player. KJ Martin and Daniel George’s stats may not reflect it, but I thought they took a step forward this year as well. An argument could also be made for Jeff Undercuffler, but that probably depends on which game is being discussed.

 

STATUS QUO:

Nate Thompson wasn’t bad, but may have taken a step back as he was surpassed by KJ Martin and Corey Thomas on the depth chart and in production. TJ Banks was about on par with his 2022 year. Devontae Golden-Nelson had his moments and saw more playing time, though he was not necessarily that much better than the previous season. Caleb Anderson played about as much as he did in 2022, but he was caught behind George, Gathings, and in competition with a rapidly improving Adrian Norton. Redshirt freshmen Kiawan Murphy was limited in his snaps, while Dijon Jennings did not play. Kyle Thomas shined a few times before deciding to redshirt and transfer out. 

 

GOING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION/MISSES:

Jaden Woods seemed significantly less disciplined in his play from the 2022 season and transferred out. Alex Adams and Clyde Price’s production regressed due to injuries. Cam Threatt has been a non-factor. (Marquell Darnell and Anthony Stallworth were misses in recruiting)

 

 

2022 Recruiting:

Transfers:

WR - Shocky Jacques-Louis - 2022 3rd Team All-MAC. Graduated.

OL - Anthony Whigan - 2022 3rd Team All-MAC. Graduated. 

DE - Victor Jones - Started 11 games in 2022. 52 total tackles and 5.5 sacks. Graduated.

DT - Curtis Harper - Started 12 games in 2022. 17 total tackles and 2.5 sacks. Graduated.

DT - Ravontae Holt - Started 5 games in 2022. 18 total tackles.

LB - Tim Terry - Started 7 games in 2022. 46 total tackles and highest graded player on the defense in 2022. Graduated.

RB - Cam Wiley - Started 7 games. 486 yards rushing and 5 touchdowns. Transferred out.

OL - Max Banes - Started 7 games in 2022. Transferred out.

TE - Caden Clark - Retired from football.

 

WR - Daniel George - Started 12 games in 2022. 67 receptions for 793 yards and 2 touchdowns. <-> Started 11 games in 2023. 48 receptions for 508 yards and a touchdown.

S - KJ Martin - Started 9 games in 2022. 53 total tackles and 1 interception. <-> Started 8 games in 2023. 41 total tackles, a sack, and 2 interceptions.

S - Nate Thompson - Started 11 games in 2022. 72 total tackles. <-> Started 6 games in 2023. 34 total tackles and a sack.

QB - Jeff Undercuffler - Started 2 games in 2022. 58.3% completion, 791 yards, 5 TDs vs 5 INTs. <-> Started 4 games in 2023. 61.9% completion, 1275 yards, 4 TDs vs 8 INTs.

TE - TJ Banks - Started 11 games in 2022. 21 receptions for 175 yards. <-> Started 10 games in 2023. 19 receptions for 150 yards and a touchdown.

CB - Devontae Golden-Nelson - Started 3 games in 2022. 11 total tackles. <-> Played in 11 games in 2023. 22 total tackles and 2 interceptions.

WR - Alex Adams - 2022 1st Team All-MAC. <-> Played in only 7 games in 2023 and over 400 less snaps due to an injury. 22 receptions for 188 yards and 2 touchdowns.

DT - Devon Robinson - Played in 4 games in 2022. 5 total tackles. <-> Played in 11 games in 2023.  13 total tackles and half a sack.

S - Jaden Woods - Started 2 games in 2022. 29 total tackles. <-> Played in 4 games in 2023 and Transferred out.

RB - Clyde Price - Started 5 games. 349 yards rushing and 7 touchdowns. Missed 2023 season due to injury.

 

JUCO:

LB - Antavious Fish - Played in 10 games in 2022. 16 total tackles and 2 sacks. <-> Started 11 games in 2023. 78 total tackles and a sack.

WR - Caleb Anderson - Played in 10 games. 5 receptions for 39 yards. <-> Played in 10 games in 2023. 6 receptions for 40 yards.

DT - Kyle Thomas - Started 4 games in 2022. 14 total tackles. <-> Played in 4 games in 2023 and Transferred out.

CB - Cam Threatt - Played in 4 games in 2022. 5 total tackles. <-> Played in 5 games in 2023 on Special Teams.

 

Freshmen:

OL - Ka’Marii Landers - Started 6 games. Went JUCO.

TE - Marquell Darnell - Redshirt. Transferred out.

RB - Anthony Stallworth - Redshirt. Transferred out.

 

LB - Bryan McCoy - Started 2 games in 2022. 24 total tackles. <-> Started 4 games in 2023. 94 total tackles and a sack. Led the team in tackles.

OL - Tyhler Williams - Redshirt. <-> Started 11 games in 2023.

WR - Bobby Golden - Played in 7 games in 2022. <-> Started 2 games in 2023. 16 receptions for 134 yards. Also the starting punt returner.

OL - Keylen Davis - Redshirt. <-> Started 6 games in 2023. Injured during the rest.

LB - Jaharon Griffin - Played in 8 games in 2022 on Special Teams. <-> Played in 7 games in 2023. 14 total tackles. 

RB - Charles Kellom - Redshirt. <-> Played in 4 games in 2023. 4 rushes for 5 yards.

DT - Kiawan Murphy - Redshirt <-> Played in 5 games in 2023. 

QB - Dijon Jennings - Redshirt <-> DNP in 2023.

 

 

2023 Recruiting:

The 2023 class produced a number of starters and a handful of players that have all-conference potential. As far as the transfers go, Lorenzo Lingard panned out to be one of the better running backs in the MAC and may collect over 1,000 yards total (rushing and receiving) by end of season. Those numbers could have been much higher had Lingard received more touches earlier in the year. Terray Jones, Shammond Cooper, Lama Lavea, Ben Frank, Judson Tallandier, Tajh Bullock, Jacob Newell, Joey Hunter, and Josh Blanchard were all starters or started at times throughout the season. Drake Anderson was a key backup. Keon Kindred, Phaizon Wilson, and Terence Thomas all seem talented, but were not regular contributors.

 

JUCO CJ Nunnally will surely be an all-conference selection. Punter Dante Jackson produced at a higher level than last year’s punter. LaJoshua Jackson and Antonio Smith flashed their pass rush ability and were solid backups. The other 4 JUCOs did not contribute much and will redshirt.

 

All the freshmen will redshirt except Adrian Norton and Marcus Moore who became key rotational players this season.

 

 

2023:

Transfers:

RB Lorenzo Lingard - Started 11 games. 137 rushes for 612 yards and 4 touchdowns. 33 receptions for 313 yards and a touchdown. Highest graded player on offense in 2023.

DT Terray Jones - Started 11 games in 2023. 40 total tackles and 1.5 sacks.

LB Shammond Cooper - Started 7 games in 2023. 37 total tackles and 2 sacks. Highest graded player on defense.

DT Lama Lavea - Started 10 games in 2023. 23 total tackles.

OL Ben Frank - Started 9 games in 2023. 

CB Judson Tallandier - Started 11 games in 2023. 33 total tackles.

QB Tajh Bullock - Started 2 games in 2023.  49.2% completion, 228 yards, 2 touchdowns vs 3 interceptions. 56 rushes for 134 yards and 3 touchdowns.

TE Jacob Newell - Started 2 games in 2023. 13 receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown.

RB Drake Anderson - Played in 11 games. 38 rushes for 128 yards and a touchdown. 15 receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown.

CB Joey Hunter - Started 2 games in 2023. 8 total tackles.

OL Joshua Blanchard - Started 4 games in 2023. Injured, but did come back for 15 snaps vs Miami.

OL Keon Kindred - Played in 5 games.

OL AJ George - DNP in 2023.

WR Phaizon Wilson - Redshirt

S Terence Thomas - Redshirt

 

JUCO:

DE Clarence “CJ” Nunnally - Started 11 games in 2023. 58 total tackles and 7 sacks. Highest graded defensive lineman.

P Dante Jackson - Starting punter and was also 2 of 3 on FGs.

DE LaJoshua Jackson - Started 2 games in 2023. 17 total tackles and 2 sacks.

DE Antonio Smith - Played in 11 games. 3 total tackles and 2 sacks.

DE Kabbash Richards - Redshirt

DT Tyler Carter - Redshirt

LB Gage Summers - Redshirt 

CB Silas Proby - Redshirt

 

Freshmen:

WR Adrian Norton - Played in 9 games. 9 receptions for 71 yards.

DT Marcus Moore - Played in 6 games. 6 total tackles.

QB Steele Wasel - Redshirt

WR Paul Davis - Redshirt

WR Jean Louis - Reshirt

TE Conner Cravaack - Redshirt

OL Jonas Mann - Redshirt

OL Jayvin James - Redshirt

OL Delvin Morris - Redshirt

DE Kameron Cheatom - Redshirt

DE Bruno Dall - Redshirt

LB Melvin Spriggs - Redshirt

CB Zayden Laing-Taylor - Redshirt

CB Catrell White - Redshirt

S Darius Owens - Redshirt

S David Jester - Redshirt

 

 

WHAT CAN BE GLEANED FROM THIS?

There is no doubt the 2023 season was a disappointment. However, there is also no doubt the talent level has increased since Moorhead’s arrival. The team is much deeper. Unfortunately, this program is not currently deep enough at every position to overcome key losses (in-particular QB and OL). That must be addressed. The OL problem will likely take care of itself through development. QB may do the same, but a proven and steady hand must be added to the room.

 

The staff has done an excellent job developing the freshmen and will need to continue to do so. Overall, portal and JUCO recruiting has been strong as well. We know the 2024 high school class is mostly wrapped up, so now we wait and see what the portal and JUCO ranks have in store. As already alluded to, QB is at the top of the list.

 

Key graduation losses this year are:

QB - Irons

RB - Lingard

WR - George

TE - Banks

OL - Frank

DT - Jones

CB - Tallandier

S - Nate Thompson (?)

 

I think KJ Martin has another year if he wants it. We will also surely lose a handful of players to the portal that will be a surprise.

Edited November 16, 2023 by catdaddyp

[Blue & Gold]

Thanks for this great post, @catdaddyp.  The fact no one's replied to it shows we're kinda demoralized right now.

 

If we get Kamari Landers back next year I'm excited about our OL.  Idk when I've been able to last say that.

 

Desperately need that plug-in & play QB transfer.

[Blue & Gold]