Let's take a look at every position on this team going into the off season starting with DBs , returning players, additions and observations of this group.
FS Trevon Flowers... Flowers is a prime example of taking an athletic kid who has never played a lot of ball and it taking years to become a football player. He is not as slow as it appears, he just lacks field awareness and instincts that comes with many years of experience playing the position. He has also been injury prone here and further delayed his development.
Off season improvement...film study, film study and more film study, to help him recognize routes quicker and not be out of position as often as he is. Speed is not really his issue, keeping eyes in the backfield too long hinders his play recognition, great safeties are rarely affected by QBs, because they understand down and distance, know the weakness of called defense and understand route combinations.
SS Jaylen McCollough... McCollough is honestly a throw back in the box SS type, he has the ability to force the run and match up with TEs in the seam. However his lack of true field speed limits his ability to cover half the field on the back end.
Off season improvements.. honestly he is going to have to dedicate himself to improving his speed and improving his tackling.
CB Warren Burrell.. I know a lot on here are down on the kid, but honestly he had a bad game not season. Burrell will have to commit to getting physically stronger and playing with better outside leverage. He has the speed and instincts to get better and once he does get stronger, I personally think he can make the same jump Alontae did this year. Just remember a lot on here bashed him for a couple of years. I expect Burrell to have a great year next year, if he makes the strength gains necessary to be more physical.
Off season improvement.. WEIGHT ROOM and Nutrition
CB Kamal Hadden... this kid has all the tools you need and want in a CB on the island, he has the speed, strength and confidence to be a very good SEC corner.
Off season improvements.. Hadden has to get in the play book, refine his technique, improve his awareness and stay in the film room.
DB Brandon Turnage.. this is a young man that has proven if given a chance can help this secondary. He has very good speed, awareness and ball skills. I personally would put about 10 pounds on him and move him to FS, I love having a FS with corner skills and speed on the backend.
Off season improvement.. needs to gain some weight, strength and truly grab the bull by the horn to force his way onto the field. Spring is his opportunity.
DB Doneiko Slaughter... this young man has the ability to step in the nickle and perform at a high level. He has the mentality, ability and strength to be a very good star in this defense. If he has a good off season this young will ease the void left by Theo.
Off season improvement... To be a great star his play recognition will have to improve and his understanding of underneath route combinations.
DB Christian Charles... this is an athletic young man that I believe will push to be a starter next season, however patience will be necessary bc he was a QB in high school and will make plenty of mistakes learning safety position.
Off season improvement... he has to get healthy, improve his ball skills, learn the position and again get in the film room
DB DeShawn Rucker... this young man got thrown in the fire Thursday and learned what being a true freshmen is like, however this kid will learn from that and get better. I believe his future is at safety and for some reason reminds me a lot of Helfney that played at UT. He has the speed and size to become a very good DB.
Off season improvement...like many freshmen continue to transform his body physically, mentally and gain confidence on the practice field this spring.
DB Tamarion McDonald... this young man is another kid that has the physical tools to be a very good safety and has better than average ball skills, seems to tackle well in space. This will be a huge off season for him to make a move on the depth chart.
Off season improvements.. McDonald just needs to continue to improve his speed and really dedicate himself to the play book.
New Kids, I won't really evaluate these guys yet, bc it's not really fair to size them up before they step on campus. However I will list them and the position I believe fits them best.
CB Desmond Williams
SS Jourdan Thomas
CB Christian Harrison
Look for another safety and corner from the portal.
FS Trevon Flowers... Flowers is a prime example of taking an athletic kid who has never played a lot of ball and it taking years to become a football player. He is not as slow as it appears, he just lacks field awareness and instincts that comes with many years of experience playing the position. He has also been injury prone here and further delayed his development.
Off season improvement...film study, film study and more film study, to help him recognize routes quicker and not be out of position as often as he is. Speed is not really his issue, keeping eyes in the backfield too long hinders his play recognition, great safeties are rarely affected by QBs, because they understand down and distance, know the weakness of called defense and understand route combinations.
SS Jaylen McCollough... McCollough is honestly a throw back in the box SS type, he has the ability to force the run and match up with TEs in the seam. However his lack of true field speed limits his ability to cover half the field on the back end.
Off season improvements.. honestly he is going to have to dedicate himself to improving his speed and improving his tackling.
CB Warren Burrell.. I know a lot on here are down on the kid, but honestly he had a bad game not season. Burrell will have to commit to getting physically stronger and playing with better outside leverage. He has the speed and instincts to get better and once he does get stronger, I personally think he can make the same jump Alontae did this year. Just remember a lot on here bashed him for a couple of years. I expect Burrell to have a great year next year, if he makes the strength gains necessary to be more physical.
Off season improvement.. WEIGHT ROOM and Nutrition
CB Kamal Hadden... this kid has all the tools you need and want in a CB on the island, he has the speed, strength and confidence to be a very good SEC corner.
Off season improvements.. Hadden has to get in the play book, refine his technique, improve his awareness and stay in the film room.
DB Brandon Turnage.. this is a young man that has proven if given a chance can help this secondary. He has very good speed, awareness and ball skills. I personally would put about 10 pounds on him and move him to FS, I love having a FS with corner skills and speed on the backend.
Off season improvement.. needs to gain some weight, strength and truly grab the bull by the horn to force his way onto the field. Spring is his opportunity.
DB Doneiko Slaughter... this young man has the ability to step in the nickle and perform at a high level. He has the mentality, ability and strength to be a very good star in this defense. If he has a good off season this young will ease the void left by Theo.
Off season improvement... To be a great star his play recognition will have to improve and his understanding of underneath route combinations.
DB Christian Charles... this is an athletic young man that I believe will push to be a starter next season, however patience will be necessary bc he was a QB in high school and will make plenty of mistakes learning safety position.
Off season improvement... he has to get healthy, improve his ball skills, learn the position and again get in the film room
DB DeShawn Rucker... this young man got thrown in the fire Thursday and learned what being a true freshmen is like, however this kid will learn from that and get better. I believe his future is at safety and for some reason reminds me a lot of Helfney that played at UT. He has the speed and size to become a very good DB.
Off season improvement...like many freshmen continue to transform his body physically, mentally and gain confidence on the practice field this spring.
DB Tamarion McDonald... this young man is another kid that has the physical tools to be a very good safety and has better than average ball skills, seems to tackle well in space. This will be a huge off season for him to make a move on the depth chart.
Off season improvements.. McDonald just needs to continue to improve his speed and really dedicate himself to the play book.
New Kids, I won't really evaluate these guys yet, bc it's not really fair to size them up before they step on campus. However I will list them and the position I believe fits them best.
CB Desmond Williams
SS Jourdan Thomas
CB Christian Harrison
Look for another safety and corner from the portal.
