New Starters next season??

[Guru13]

Who do you guys think will be new starters next season and possibly which recruit do you think will come in and be a True Freshman and make an impact?

 

[huskysupporter]

Who do you guys think will be new starters next season and possibly which recruit do you think will come in and be a True Freshman and make an impact?

Nino Leone needs to be a starter at one of the guard spots. Only lineman who consistently dominates in the run game.

 

[UConnDan97]

If Santana Sterling continues to play the way he played on Saturday, I would think he's a lock for starting at linebacker...

 

[Pudge]

... and Nino obviously needs to develop as a pass protection guard. That Merritt (#94) steamed past him

 

[huskysupporter]

... and Nino obviously needs to develop as a pass protection guard. That Merritt (#94) steamed past him

Without question he needs to understand his pass assignments. I watched the lone a lot and he was very inconsistent there. I also saw him drive 94 4-5 yards off the ball several times.

 

[huskysupporter]

If Santana Sterling continues to play the way he played on Saturday, I would think he's a lock for starting at linebacker...

He needs to work hard and gap discipline. He struggled disengaging from blocks.

 

[Exit 4]

Guru, of course I have been thinking about this and later tonight I will get around to posting an educated guess - but a major guess none the less.

Quickly on new recruits, for defense I expect Dylan Harris at LB, maybe Webb at LB (depending on injuries and TJ Gardner's ability), any DL recruit and anyone coming in for corner back and safety to see the field early. So yeah, D is pretty wide open.

On offense, I like Nyadu and T Jones to see the field early and any RBs since we are thin at that position. If we successfully pull in three more DL recruits, I could see Travis Jones sticking with offense and being a part of a new Oline unit:
Peart LT, Robert Homles LG, Nyadu or Jones at C, Nyadu or DeGeorge or Leone or Jones at RG and Van Demark at RT. Maybe the 2nd unit would be: Tunstall / Hubbard / Crozier / Leone or DeGeorge / Niedrowski or Maloney or Rooney for RT back up. RT back up is scary thin as I think none of these dudes should be playing as freshman.

 

[noeynox]

Id like to see Marshe Terry go from safety to LB if he could become more physical and add 10 lbs.

It would be one way to add speed to the defense without sacrificing experience.

We need to be faster. Most frustrating play Saturday was when neither Luke or Lawley could close distance on the QB after coming through the line virtually untouched. Of course he threw for a TD on the play.

 

[uconnphil2016]

Id like to see Marshe Terry go from safety to LB if he could become more physical and add 10 lbs.

It would be one way to add speed to the defense without sacrificing experience.

We need to be faster. Most frustrating play Saturday was when neither Luke or Lawley could close distance on the QB after coming through the line virtually untouched. Of course he threw for a TD on the play.

Agreed. We didn't sack him once, and that's pretty normal for us in games. Granted, we've gotten to the QB a little more this year, but not nearly enough.

 

[Saab04]

Who do you guys think will be new starters next season and possibly which recruit do you think will come in and be a True Freshman and make an impact?

Marvin Washington may push for the starting position. This kid may be the real deal at QB.

 

[TMB4405]

I don’t follow recruiting that closely, but who was the DL recruit from Texas that was kind of highly rated? Obviously he must have redshirted. I guess I expect he willplay a role.

I am optimistic about the DBs as they are generally young and certain guys have shown flashes but I am very worried about DLine.

 

[Stainmaster]

Off the top of my head, here are the guys who are currently on roster I feel okay with ascending to starting roles next year:

TE-Davis
LG-Leone
MLB-Sterling
OLB-Beavers
CB-Herring-Wilson and Swann (prepared to take flak for this...)
S-Swenson (started pre-injury)

 

[huskymedic]

I don’t follow recruiting that closely, but who was the DL recruit from Texas that was kind of highly rated?

Caleb Thomas

 

[uconnbill]

TE- Davis and Rose co-starters.
OL- Peart, Van Demark, Leone, Crozier, DeGeorge with a possibly surprise or two especially if Crozier doesn't return
DL- Freeborn, Okounam, and Murphy with Brouse getting time with a surprise.
LB- Britton, Sterling, Beavers with Hahn and Gilmartin playing a larger role.
DB- Herring-Wilson, Fortt, Coyle, Brown and Swenson. I expect Swann and Olaniyan to play a lot
WR- McLean, Mayala, and Skanes with Beals and Dixon
QB- Washington or Pindell
RB- Mensah/Hopkins with another surprise coming in next year.

Have at it

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Marvin Washington may push for the starting position. This kid may be the real deal at QB.

Agreed. At the risk of sounding like the guy who thinks he best QB on the roster is always the backup, we've got some QB talent coming in the next two years that could make quick pushes for time.

 

[Exit 4]

TE- Davis and Rose co-starters.
OL- Peart, Van Demark, Leone, Crozier, DeGeorge with a possibly surprise or two especially if Crozier doesn't return
DL- Freeborn, Okounam, and Murphy with Brouse getting time with a surprise.
LB- Britton, Sterling, Beavers with Hahn and Gilmartin playing a larger role.
DB- Herring-Wilson, Fortt, Coyle, Brown and Swenson. I expect Swann and Olaniyan to play a lot
WR- McLean, Mayala, and Skanes with Beals and Dixon
QB- Washington or Pindell
RB- Mensah/Hopkins with another surprise coming in next year.

Have at it

Good list, I see you stuck with the usual matriculation however.

On Oline our guard and center play has been woefully inadequate for many years now. I think the staff goes to the young guys right away here. Crozier isn’t special, DeGeorge was a weak link and didn’t really inprove with all that playing time, Etc. I like Holmes getting a spot here, the staff exploring options to push or replace DeGeorge and something completely new for center; Hubbard? Nyadu? Maybe even Travis Jones. We got to get a group that can help us on short yardage running plays.

On D I don’t see Beavers and Hahn as being more than specialist/back ups. Someone new like Gardner/Thomas or even Harris will see a lot of reps.

In the secondary I think it’s a complete do over. I think only Colye has shown some improvement of the young guys. I expect the freshman to challenge again for every DB position. None of this year’s crop really showed they can’t be leap frogged. To restart all the same guys in the secondary just can’t happen. Every 2018 recruit gets a long look in August to play next year. It can’t be worse and should be better.

 

[FDNY99]

Good list, I see you stuck with the usual matriculation however.

On Oline our guard and center play has been woefully inadequate for many years now. I think the staff goes to the young guys right away here. Crozier isn’t special, DeGeorge was a weak link and didn’t really inprove with all that playing time, Etc. I like Holmes getting a spot here, the staff exploring options to push or replace DeGeorge and something completely new for center; Hubbard? Nyadu? Maybe even Travis Jones. We got to get a group that can help us on short yardage running plays.

On D I don’t see Beavers and Hahn as being more than specialist/back ups. Someone new like Gardner/Thomas or even Harris will see a lot of reps.

In the secondary I think it’s a complete do over. I think only Colye has shown some improvement of the young guys. I expect the freshman to challenge again for every DB position. None of this year’s crop really showed they can’t be leap frogged. To restart all the same guys in the secondary just can’t happen. Every 2018 recruit gets a long look in August to play next year. It can’t be worse and should be better.

I'm going to STRONGLY disagree with you on this one.

 

[31GuardTrap]

I am going to suggest we wait and see who comes back and who actually stays committed.
Yes, that is a hint.

 

[whaler11]

I am going to suggest we wait and see who comes back and who actually stays committed.
Yes, that is a hint.

Hopefully you are hearing about a mass exodus. That’s step 1.

 

[huskysupporter]

Think Gilmartin is going to make a strong push at ILB. One of only players v. BC who showed any physicality. No way he is 5’11 but he was standing up blockers and has a nose for the ball.

 

[Exit 4]

Think Gilmartin is going to make a strong push at ILB. One of only players v. BC who showed any physicality. No way he is 5’11 but he was standing up blockers and has a nose for the ball.

I’ll have to rewatch to look for that

 

[Exit 4]

I'm going to STRONGLY disagree with you on this one.

I value your opinion, but I just haven’t seen Hahn or Beavers bring the physicality to be every down players. I want monsters, not guys that are just okay. We need monsters if we are going become a seven win team.

 

[gioff23]

A few thoughts

playing true Fr at OL and expecting to win is an unlikely proposition - we need the RFr to step up next year, so the true frosh can sit and develop
I think next year, RE looks to create this decade's version of Lutrus, Lloyd and Bama at the LB position - going with 3 So or Fr and letting them develop over the next 3, together
I am interested to see if Washington passes Pindell
Like others, I am interested to see who we bring in over next 2 months to play DL and/or who moves to DL - Holman, Campbell, Beuller, Beuller, anyone

 

[Exit 4]

Following uconnbill's format
I have a slightly different guess.

Edited at 1026 to add Eli Thomas to the LB corp.

TE - Davis and Rose, with Fitton getting some action.
OL- Peart, Homles, Surprise at Center (Nyadu/Hubbard/T. Jones), DeGeorge/Leone or surprise, Van Demark. I like Crozier as the back up at C.
DL- Freeborn, Murphy, Lawley with Atkins, Caleb Thomas and Okounam as group two. True freshman and/or any transfers definitely have a chance to get in here right away and/or will probably eclipse many of these guys by game 5. Brouse is a wild card - where is this guy?
LB- Britton, Sterling, Beavers with Hahn and Gilmartin playing a larger role. I like Gardner, Eli Thomas and Dylan Harris to push there way into this group by game 5. Webb as well if there are injuries.
DB- Herring-Wilson, Swann, Coyle, Brown and Swenson <--Based on snaps, this is probably what we should expect, but I think the play back here was so atrocious that we could see this unit 100% turned upside down again this August with something like: Lazarus, Carroll, Lucian (if he comes here), Matthews (if he comes here) and Banks. I expect Edsall to do the same thing, put them all out there and play the best kids. I'm not sure Herring-Wilson and Swann in particular hold onto their heir apparent status at CB. I do think Coyle showed the most of the young DBs. Brown and Swenson were okay, but not sure the upside is high enough if we want to take ourselves out of the league basement. Fox and Bebe are unknowns since they redshirted this year.
WR- McLean, Mayala, and Skanes with Beals and Dixon
QB- Washington or Pindell <--Washington will have a real chance to push Pindell off the field
RB- Mensah/Hopkins with another surprise coming in next year. <--a true freshman is definitely getting playing time next year

Radical ideas - I have not gone back to Swann's HS tape, but if he played RB in HS, I would look at him there again. Stainmaster, don't hate me!

All in all, next year's roster is low on difference makers unless several people make major steps forward in their play and/or some of the freshmen surprise.

 

[huskysupporter]

I’ll have to rewatch to look for that

Forget which series but he mad a big stop at goal line. And he was fired up. He went in full time when Joseph was tossed.