I was wondering who is in line to replace to starters lost on the line and the secondary. I remember Christian Scott's video's and he seems to have had great instincts. Is he in the starting mix? I sure do hope that Rucker can help keep all these guys out of trouble this off season.
Roy Miller (Sr) will start at DT for sure. He is a stud and has played a lot here in his first three years. Roy Miller The other starter at DT is more difficult to call, although I would guess it will be Ben Alexander (Jr). He has the most experience out of all the other DT's, which is a scary thought, b/c he hasn't really played a whole lot (although he has appeared in 14 games) and is still a relatively unkown and unproven commodity at this point. Ben Alexander Other options are Brian Ellis (3rd yr Soph), Michael Wilcoxin (RS Fresh), and Tyrell Higgins (RS Fresh). None of these guys has played at all. Brian Ellis Michael Wilcoxon Tyrell Higgins True Freshman Jarvis Humphrey was highly recruited and is a national top 100 prospect. He could play as a True Freshman. Another True Freshman is Kheeston Randall, of whom I know very little about. Defensive End Aaron Lewis has played a little tackle at UT, so he could potentially slide over there and play, as well as maybe Henry Melton. I'm abundantly confident in Roy Miller but a few other guys are gonna have to step up and provide some talent and depth. Ishie Oduegwu (4th Yr Jr) will likely start at safety. He's been hurt a lot in his career but has shown some great athleticism and playmaking ability. Ishie Oduegwu Ben Wells and Christian Scott were both highly recruited guys and one of them will likely start at the other safety position. Ben Wells Christian Scott True Freshman Nolan Brewster and Aaron Williams are two highly recruited players who could potentiallly play in 08. Blake Gideon is another incoming safety who wasn't as highly recruited but had a spectacular career at Leander and I believe is already on campus.
Wasn't Ellis a 5 star end that beefed up? I am hoping he can be the quick tackle, while Miller plays the strong tackle role. Miller has always seemed like a NT kind of guy. Seems like they have a complimentary skill set.
Unless Muschamp does something we're not used to, I think Humphrey plays a lot his true freshman year. It worked for Okam, Lokey, Wright, Miller, etc. Not to knock Alexander, Ellis, Wilcoxon, or Higgins, but Jarvis is just plain higher-profile. I think the staff learned a lot about the benefits of playing youth vs. experience in the month leading up to the bowl game. In the secondary, we need a re-emergence of the Browns (Chykie/Curtis) and I fully expect Scott, Thomas, and Ben Wells (assuming he's not caught in cars with someone drinking lean) to play a lot. Oduegwu gets first shot at proving he can play, but the redshirted guys are damn impressive. In 2002 when we started using Ced Griffin and Michael Huff, people prepared for the revolution. Palmer did well enough to not lose his starting job, although I think he'll still stick with the other team's #2 man, while Beasley takes the #1 for most games.
We should be ok at both DT and in the secondary. At DT we definately need somone to step up but Roy Miller is very good. Just as good as Lokey and Okam in my opinion. We need someone else to step up and Ben Alexander played well this year in limited action. I expect Ellis and Humphrey will get a lot of PT as well. But expect Roy Miller to have a huge season. In the secondary we lose some guys but we have so much young talent waiting to shine. Deon Beasley is gonna be a good one now that he is the man. Curtis and Chykie are going to be great backups and will bring big play ability in the Nickel and Dime packages. Ishie Odegwu played well last year and he should continue to develop into a good safety. Christian Scott will have the inside track to the starting job but expect Nolan Brewster and Aaron Williams to push for playing time.
Wasn't Curtis Brown a complete badass coming out of high school? One of the higher rated CB prospects we've had. I'll be very disappointed if he doesnt see the field often.
Count me as someone that also expects Mack to let Lewis Slide over to DT. We are very deep at DE so that either Eddie Jones or Lamaar Houston can get some snaps opposite Brian Orakpo. We also have Emanual Acho who has a never ending motor. At linebacker I think we'll be better. Muschamp seems like the type of coach to not play someone just because of their seniority (Didn't we say the same thing about McDuff?) I'm hoping that Mack isn't the utlimate reason why our young LB's haven't played significant time. The Starters SHOULD be Kindle, Norton, and Muckelroy. But We'll see how Bobino plays in spring ball. I'm also excited to see Keenan Robinson play this fall.
We'll end up calling Norton and Bobino "co-starters" or some crap like that and alternate putting them in on the first defensive play when we're not in nickel/dime formations. Bobino started 39 straight games before the Holiday Bowl... Mack's not going to put him on the bench for the beginning of every game. I said before that Lewis needs to spin back to DT, but several on here have told me he's unwilling to do so. I guess if Lamarr Houston and Henry Melton keep piling on the pounds, they're the primary candidates to move over to DT. Seems like a shame for Houston, as he was arguably our best pass rusher. Maybe they're making room for Acho and Jones to step up? I'm still waiting for the Curtis/Chykie Brown to step it up. Neither had memorable seasons, other than the pooch kick recovery against Tech. I want to see the shirted guys play immediately in the secondary.
I am not sure I see Dockery or Tanner beating out Allen or Huey this year for starting jobs. Allen will probably be a backup OT but I would not be suprised to see him get more PT at OG this year and if he does in the spring then he could win that job. Tanner is not in the same league as Huey.
My biggest question for next season: Should Colt go down, do we have a passing game at all? Are either of the backups going to progress in the passing game? I can't remember feeling as uneasy about backup QB as I do right now with the guys behind Colt, and he has had injury problems in the past.
Akina was always praising Curtis Brown at CB and Ben Wells at safety. He always said Foster may have been the quickest player he has coached, until Curtis Brown stepped on campus. Palmer is going to have a hard time holding onto that starting CB spot.
1. Ishie got flattened by Javorskie Lane and has or will have shoulder surgery soon. He is out for the Spring. 2. Aaron Lewis broke his collarbone in the Holiday Bowl and is or will have one or more surgeries and I understand he may not be ready for next years season. I expect Melton to move over to DT and add depth and perform at a high enough level.
