QB
• Jacob Eason, Brice Ramsey - We are likely losing Eason to transfer and couldn’t really ask for a better replacement than Justin Fields. I’m not sure we will have a 3rd scholarship QB next year, and that is scary. I know that not everyone is a big Jacob Eason fan, but he would be a junior with a bunch of experience and elite tools. If Fromm goes down, a true freshman with no backup become the starter. If we can stay healthy, we should be ok here.
RB
• Nick Chubb, Sony Michel - These 2 guys have been so important for our success for the last 4 years. It’s really tough to see them go out without a title. Their replacements are Deandre Swift, Zamir White, and James Cook. Herrien and Holyfield will likely get more snaps as well. We need White to heal as quickly as possible because he is an elite talent. I was expecting to lean on him next year, but we just don’t know how healthy that knee is. I think we take a step back here.
LT
• Isaiah Wynn - Likely replaced by Andrew Thomas with some shuffling on the line as a result. I think we can be ok here, but Wynn has been a really great player and leader for us. I think we take a small step back here, but Thomas could certainly play well enough that we don’t notice. The overall offensive line should be better next year.
WR
• Javon Wims - Frankly, we don’t really have anyone who can replace what Wims provided to the offense this year. Landers could possibly be that guy and we could still add Bush to the recruiting class. However, I do think that the WR group that played most of the game tonight (Godwin, Ridley, and Mecole) can be really great. We should be ok here, but we will miss Wims at times. Overall, the WR group should be better next year, though.
NT
• John Atkins - I think Julian Rochester takes his spot next year and we are fine. However, we are going to be a little thinner on the DL if we don’t add some elite talent there.
DE/DT
• Trenton Thompson - I think he’s going to go pro. We will miss his athleticism and, again, our depth will take a hit on a DL that isn’t super deep with talented players. If Thompson does indeed leave, I think we take a step back in the DL overall. Tyler Clark has taken a lot of snaps from him already, though. So I suspect that 52 would have an even bigger role.
OLB
• Davin Bellamy, Lorenzo Carter - Walter Grant and D’Andre Walker are the most likely replacements here. I think Adam Anderson, Robert Beal, and Brenton Cox are the next wave behind these guys. Azeez Ojulari also has a ton of talent, but, like Zamir White, is recovering from an ACL year. Throw in the x-factor is a new coach and it’s really hard to expect this group to be better than the guys we are losing. However, there is a ton of talent there and young guys could improve over the course of the season, especially if Dan Lanning turns out to be a gem.
ILB
• Roquan Smith, Reggie Carter - I think we all expect Roquan to go pro after this year. His mostly likely replacement is Monty Rice. Juwan Taylor and Channing Tindall are also possibilities. I think Nate McBride has a lot of talent, too. If the light comes on for him, he could be a really good inside linebacker for us. If Natrez Patrick ends up being allowed to return to the team, he could be the other starting ILB again. This is an important position in our defense and one we should pay close attention to this spring. That said, we are almost certainly taking a step back here next year.
Safety
• Dominick Sanders - I don’t think we can replace Dom’s leadership, but I expect Richard LeCounte to do his damnedest. LeCounte is bigger, faster, and hits harder than Dom Sanders. But it’s not easy to replace a 4-year starter who is tied for the school record in interceptions. I think we will be more talented here, but make more mistakes.
CB
• Malkom Parrish - He definitely had some struggles this season, but he is a physical player who helps us in run defense. I suspect that Tyrique McGhee is his most likely replacement right now. If Deandre Baker goes pro, this spot gets really interesting. We really need to add some elite CBs to this class. I don’t think we have a replacement for Baker. So, if he goes pro, I think we take a step back here.
Star/Nickeback/CB/Star/Safety
• Aaron Davis - I couldn’t decide where to put Davis, since he has literally played every position in the secondary for us. Who replaces that kind of guy? JR Reed could be that guy, but I’m not sure who plays safety when we go to nickel if Reed comes down to play star. I had Gibbs pencilled in here, but it seems like he’s really going through something right now. Could Divaad Wilson or Nadab Jospeph help us out here? Could we add another elite, versatile safety (like Leon O’Neal)? Could we get Campbell AND Isaac Taylor-Stuart and play one guy at CB and the other guy play a more versatile role? Can a freshman do that? I think we will miss AD here.
P
• Cameron Nizialek - We have to hope that Jake Camarda lives up to his reputation. He might, but right now, I think we are going to take a step back st punter.
Overall thoughts:
We are definitely going to be a much younger team next year. I think that means we could grow up quite a lot as the year goes on. But it also means that there are likely going to be some bumps and bruises along the way. We had a really good team this year, likely one of the very best in school history. And the core of the team was a group of talented seniors who went through a ton during their careers. We will miss them. But we also have an impressive talent infusion on the way. Next year should be exciting and the 2019 team looks like it should be elite.
• Jacob Eason, Brice Ramsey - We are likely losing Eason to transfer and couldn’t really ask for a better replacement than Justin Fields. I’m not sure we will have a 3rd scholarship QB next year, and that is scary. I know that not everyone is a big Jacob Eason fan, but he would be a junior with a bunch of experience and elite tools. If Fromm goes down, a true freshman with no backup become the starter. If we can stay healthy, we should be ok here.
RB
• Nick Chubb, Sony Michel - These 2 guys have been so important for our success for the last 4 years. It’s really tough to see them go out without a title. Their replacements are Deandre Swift, Zamir White, and James Cook. Herrien and Holyfield will likely get more snaps as well. We need White to heal as quickly as possible because he is an elite talent. I was expecting to lean on him next year, but we just don’t know how healthy that knee is. I think we take a step back here.
LT
• Isaiah Wynn - Likely replaced by Andrew Thomas with some shuffling on the line as a result. I think we can be ok here, but Wynn has been a really great player and leader for us. I think we take a small step back here, but Thomas could certainly play well enough that we don’t notice. The overall offensive line should be better next year.
WR
• Javon Wims - Frankly, we don’t really have anyone who can replace what Wims provided to the offense this year. Landers could possibly be that guy and we could still add Bush to the recruiting class. However, I do think that the WR group that played most of the game tonight (Godwin, Ridley, and Mecole) can be really great. We should be ok here, but we will miss Wims at times. Overall, the WR group should be better next year, though.
NT
• John Atkins - I think Julian Rochester takes his spot next year and we are fine. However, we are going to be a little thinner on the DL if we don’t add some elite talent there.
DE/DT
• Trenton Thompson - I think he’s going to go pro. We will miss his athleticism and, again, our depth will take a hit on a DL that isn’t super deep with talented players. If Thompson does indeed leave, I think we take a step back in the DL overall. Tyler Clark has taken a lot of snaps from him already, though. So I suspect that 52 would have an even bigger role.
OLB
• Davin Bellamy, Lorenzo Carter - Walter Grant and D’Andre Walker are the most likely replacements here. I think Adam Anderson, Robert Beal, and Brenton Cox are the next wave behind these guys. Azeez Ojulari also has a ton of talent, but, like Zamir White, is recovering from an ACL year. Throw in the x-factor is a new coach and it’s really hard to expect this group to be better than the guys we are losing. However, there is a ton of talent there and young guys could improve over the course of the season, especially if Dan Lanning turns out to be a gem.
ILB
• Roquan Smith, Reggie Carter - I think we all expect Roquan to go pro after this year. His mostly likely replacement is Monty Rice. Juwan Taylor and Channing Tindall are also possibilities. I think Nate McBride has a lot of talent, too. If the light comes on for him, he could be a really good inside linebacker for us. If Natrez Patrick ends up being allowed to return to the team, he could be the other starting ILB again. This is an important position in our defense and one we should pay close attention to this spring. That said, we are almost certainly taking a step back here next year.
Safety
• Dominick Sanders - I don’t think we can replace Dom’s leadership, but I expect Richard LeCounte to do his damnedest. LeCounte is bigger, faster, and hits harder than Dom Sanders. But it’s not easy to replace a 4-year starter who is tied for the school record in interceptions. I think we will be more talented here, but make more mistakes.
CB
• Malkom Parrish - He definitely had some struggles this season, but he is a physical player who helps us in run defense. I suspect that Tyrique McGhee is his most likely replacement right now. If Deandre Baker goes pro, this spot gets really interesting. We really need to add some elite CBs to this class. I don’t think we have a replacement for Baker. So, if he goes pro, I think we take a step back here.
Star/Nickeback/CB/Star/Safety
• Aaron Davis - I couldn’t decide where to put Davis, since he has literally played every position in the secondary for us. Who replaces that kind of guy? JR Reed could be that guy, but I’m not sure who plays safety when we go to nickel if Reed comes down to play star. I had Gibbs pencilled in here, but it seems like he’s really going through something right now. Could Divaad Wilson or Nadab Jospeph help us out here? Could we add another elite, versatile safety (like Leon O’Neal)? Could we get Campbell AND Isaac Taylor-Stuart and play one guy at CB and the other guy play a more versatile role? Can a freshman do that? I think we will miss AD here.
P
• Cameron Nizialek - We have to hope that Jake Camarda lives up to his reputation. He might, but right now, I think we are going to take a step back st punter.
Overall thoughts:
We are definitely going to be a much younger team next year. I think that means we could grow up quite a lot as the year goes on. But it also means that there are likely going to be some bumps and bruises along the way. We had a really good team this year, likely one of the very best in school history. And the core of the team was a group of talented seniors who went through a ton during their careers. We will miss them. But we also have an impressive talent infusion on the way. Next year should be exciting and the 2019 team looks like it should be elite.