Jack: Taylor, D. Johnson, Thaxton, J. Allen
I would have liked to have seen more from Taylor in the spring game. He can go and should be a productive player at this position. D. Johnson has beaten out Austin Smith and Jordan Allen for snaps this spring. He isn't as good of athlete as either, but he is solid on the LOS.
This is a swing position. DE in a 4 man front and an OLB in a 3-4... but given we only play a 3-4 vs bigger personnel, it is largely a LOS position.
DT: Phillips, A. Johnson, Butler, Bennett, Emerson
Phillips was our best DL in the spring and him playing up to his potential will be worth a win, IMO. Johnson and Butler have some potential as well, but need to pick it up and be more disruptive. Bennett is the least physically gifted of the bunch, but he played harder than anyone but Phillips in the spring game. Emerson could pass some people up here if he moves back to defense.
This is another swing position. 3-tech in a 4 man front and a wider position like a 5-tech in a 3 man front.
NT: Shy, Gooden, Bain
We all know the story here. Shy needs to play harder and can be special if he does that. Everyone is crossing their fingers that Gooden can contribute.
DE: Kongbo, Bennett, ??
Tough to put my finger on this one for some reason. Our DE's lined up exclusively at DE regardless of the front we played. I would expect guys like Phillips and Butler to get involved here during the season.
Sam: Johnson, Smith/Allen
We only played a 3-4 vs bigger personnel packages, so for now this is basically another Jack. The Sam can be a more versatile player that plays off the ball vs a variety of personnel packages, but we did not do that in the spring game... Which is why Johnson was the starter here. Smith looked like an athlete, but was playing 3rd string... Allen is clearly a physically gifted player, but he's swimming right now. I think JJ Peterson could get involved here.
Mike: Bituli, Kirkland, Ignont
Ignont looked lost in the spring game. Which is why I think Bituli is your 1A and Kirkland your 1B at Mike. I may be over reacting, but that the only live reps I have seen...
Will: Kirkland, Sapp, Reid
Kirkland will start at Will if he is healthy. Reid was as active as any LB on the roster in the spring game, but isn't a great fit physically. Sapp was better than Ignont, but still looked a tad lost.
Perhaps I am anointing Bituli and Kirkland unfairly because they didn't play in the spring, but we better hope they are better than what we had out there...
Star: Shamburger, Labruzza, *Harvin
This is the old nickel position that we are all familiar with. Shamburger didn't look like a natural here but could be good in time. Labruzza didn't necessarily outplay Sham but thought he played harder. I would consider giving the walk-on, Harvin, a look here. He popped out to me with the 2's, but was repping at safety.
Landing Harvey at CB will give us some flexibility in the secondary, but I am certainly questioning if Shamburger has enough lead in the pencil to give us what we need here... Gaulden could have been an All-American for Pruitt here.
CB: Taylor, Buchanan, Osborne, Fils-Aime, Gray
Taylor looked like a stud here, crossing my fingers he stays. He will take his lumps because he is a freshman in the SEC, but he's physically the best we have. Buchanan isn't physical enough but will compete and be in phase, at minimum. Fils-Aime is a physical player but is certainly still learning. Gray has potential but is a year away, IMO. Osborne could get passed up by Fils-Aime and/or Gray, IMO. His lack of length really prevents him from disrupting anything.
Again, landing Harvey would be huge for this group. He could be what we all thought Shaq Wiggins would be.
Safety: Warrior, Jackson, Abernathy, Harvin
Warrior is the best safety and it isn't even close. I think Jackson takes Abernathy's job. He has more range and seems like he will make more football plays than Abernathy. Harvin popped out on film with the 2's.
This is nearly as clean as the offensive depth chart because of how multiple several positions are asked to be.
Overall I think this can be a solid unit. Middle of the pack in the SEC.
I would have liked to have seen more from Taylor in the spring game. He can go and should be a productive player at this position. D. Johnson has beaten out Austin Smith and Jordan Allen for snaps this spring. He isn't as good of athlete as either, but he is solid on the LOS.
This is a swing position. DE in a 4 man front and an OLB in a 3-4... but given we only play a 3-4 vs bigger personnel, it is largely a LOS position.
DT: Phillips, A. Johnson, Butler, Bennett, Emerson
Phillips was our best DL in the spring and him playing up to his potential will be worth a win, IMO. Johnson and Butler have some potential as well, but need to pick it up and be more disruptive. Bennett is the least physically gifted of the bunch, but he played harder than anyone but Phillips in the spring game. Emerson could pass some people up here if he moves back to defense.
This is another swing position. 3-tech in a 4 man front and a wider position like a 5-tech in a 3 man front.
NT: Shy, Gooden, Bain
We all know the story here. Shy needs to play harder and can be special if he does that. Everyone is crossing their fingers that Gooden can contribute.
DE: Kongbo, Bennett, ??
Tough to put my finger on this one for some reason. Our DE's lined up exclusively at DE regardless of the front we played. I would expect guys like Phillips and Butler to get involved here during the season.
Sam: Johnson, Smith/Allen
We only played a 3-4 vs bigger personnel packages, so for now this is basically another Jack. The Sam can be a more versatile player that plays off the ball vs a variety of personnel packages, but we did not do that in the spring game... Which is why Johnson was the starter here. Smith looked like an athlete, but was playing 3rd string... Allen is clearly a physically gifted player, but he's swimming right now. I think JJ Peterson could get involved here.
Mike: Bituli, Kirkland, Ignont
Ignont looked lost in the spring game. Which is why I think Bituli is your 1A and Kirkland your 1B at Mike. I may be over reacting, but that the only live reps I have seen...
Will: Kirkland, Sapp, Reid
Kirkland will start at Will if he is healthy. Reid was as active as any LB on the roster in the spring game, but isn't a great fit physically. Sapp was better than Ignont, but still looked a tad lost.
Perhaps I am anointing Bituli and Kirkland unfairly because they didn't play in the spring, but we better hope they are better than what we had out there...
Star: Shamburger, Labruzza, *Harvin
This is the old nickel position that we are all familiar with. Shamburger didn't look like a natural here but could be good in time. Labruzza didn't necessarily outplay Sham but thought he played harder. I would consider giving the walk-on, Harvin, a look here. He popped out to me with the 2's, but was repping at safety.
Landing Harvey at CB will give us some flexibility in the secondary, but I am certainly questioning if Shamburger has enough lead in the pencil to give us what we need here... Gaulden could have been an All-American for Pruitt here.
CB: Taylor, Buchanan, Osborne, Fils-Aime, Gray
Taylor looked like a stud here, crossing my fingers he stays. He will take his lumps because he is a freshman in the SEC, but he's physically the best we have. Buchanan isn't physical enough but will compete and be in phase, at minimum. Fils-Aime is a physical player but is certainly still learning. Gray has potential but is a year away, IMO. Osborne could get passed up by Fils-Aime and/or Gray, IMO. His lack of length really prevents him from disrupting anything.
Again, landing Harvey would be huge for this group. He could be what we all thought Shaq Wiggins would be.
Safety: Warrior, Jackson, Abernathy, Harvin
Warrior is the best safety and it isn't even close. I think Jackson takes Abernathy's job. He has more range and seems like he will make more football plays than Abernathy. Harvin popped out on film with the 2's.
This is nearly as clean as the offensive depth chart because of how multiple several positions are asked to be.
Overall I think this can be a solid unit. Middle of the pack in the SEC.
