There are some positions that there will obviously be competition for the starting spot because of graduation (QB, RB, DE, CB), but what about the other positions where we didn’t lose anybody? We have a completely (almost) new coaching staff, and they will probably evaluate the players differently than the previous staff did. Here’s what I see for potential battles at each position.
OFFENSE
QB
The competition will likely be between Suggs, Bilbo, and Hall, but don’t completely count out Dawan Landry yet. I think that Suggs has the most experience, and will likely get the nod as starter, but Bilbo, Hall, or Landry could be rotated in to run the option, or just to offer the ability to scramble a little bit more.
RB
Ford, Hatch, and Dixon will probably all be competing for the starting spot. Hatch looked impressive near the end of the 2000 season, but will have to come back from knee surgery. Ford has good speed, and Dixon offers a good mix of size and speed. It will probably shake out during spring practice, so we should know who the starter will be well before fall. Hopefully whoever becomes the starter isn’t run into the ground the way Burns was last year. They are all quality backs, so we need to get them all in there and keep them fresh. Ace and possibly Sampson will have a chance in the fall and during the season to vie for some playing time.
FB
Jonathan Jackson started a lot of games last year when Mitchell was being moved back and forth between fullback and linebacker, but I think it will be a battle between him and Brian Johnson for the starting role. Johnson was fairly highly regarded coming out of high school last year, and has good size (6-3 240). If Jackson hasn’t improved from last year, he may be beat out by Johnson.
WR
We have a lot of talented receivers, so I’m not really sure how the starting situation will work out. It doesn’t really matter, though, because a number of them will get a lot of playing time regardless of who is listed as the starters. Watkins, Smith, Curry, and Glover should all see the field a bunch. Thomas will likely also see time, as well as the 2 freshman who will give us some good size at wideout for the first time in a while. It should also be interesting to see how Logan and Rahshan Johnson do.
TE
JP Foschi will likely be the starter here, but others will get a good amount of playing time, too. Heller, Lee, and Darius Williams should see some time. The freshman Cooper is supposed to be big time, so he may be in the mix, too.
LT
Dorsey is the starter (I think I can say this with confidence). I think Findlay is the likely backup.
LG
Like left tackle, I think the starter here is pretty much set. Robinson will probably start here after starting all (I think) of last season.
C
I think Reilly will be moved to center. If not, it will probably come down to Tarquinio or Tidwell-Neal, both redshirt freshmen.
RG
I think Reilly might be moved to center, so the competition here will likely be between Ray Roberts-Blake and Clay Hartley (coming back from injury as well). We are pretty thin at guard, so hopefully Clay will be able to make it back ok.
RT
Left tackle is set with Dorsey, so the competition for a tackle spot will have to be on the right side. The key players competing should be Phillips, Bennett, and Wallace. If Phillips and Bennett can’t come back from their injuries, Wallace is the likely starter.
DEFENSE
DE
Well we have Gathers on one side, so the competition for the other spot probably will be between Holiday and Hargrove. Holiday was very highly regarded coming out of high school, and we’ve heard about Hargrove tearing it up on the scout team last year.
DT
We didn’t lose either of our starters, but they weren’t too impressive last year, so I see a competition for the starting spots likely. Of course, you have to rotate defensive linemen in and out so much that it really doesn’t matter who the starter is, and is more just a competition for playing time. Those vying for time on the field are Alfred Malone, Gary Johnson, Fred Wright, Reggie Koon, Casey Loesch, Omar Billy, Eric Henderson, and LeRon Lee. We have 2 freshmen in Terron Pullen and Brad Brezina, but they will both likely be redshirted to gain size and strength.
OLB
We have Wimbush on one side, so the competition on the other side will be between Ather Brown and Key Fox. Ather was the starter before he got injured, so this could be interesting.
MLB
We all know that Daryl Smith will be the starter. Anyansi will probably be the backup. Unless someone is moved from OLB to inside, I don’t see anybody else.
CB
Hester has the most experience, but I think there will be some major competition here for both corner spots. Hopefully the competition (as well as a new DB coach) will make him play more consistently. Jonathan Cox, Albert Poree, Reuben Houston, and Dennis Davis should all be competing for starting roles.
SS
Cory Collins should be the starter coming back, but I wouldn’t count out Tony Hollings, or even James Butler possibly being moved from free safety.
FS
Jeremy Muyres has to be the starter here. Butler is likely the backup unless he is moved to strong safety.
K
Obviously Manget should be the kicker. Jordan may possibly handle kickoffs, though.
P
O’Leary had a competition between Dyke and Morehouse, and they both played at times, so there will likely be more competition here.
Here’s my EARLY guess on the starting lineup for next year. (This isn't necessarily what I think it will be for the first game, rather what it will be like most of the season)
OFFENSE
QB AJ Suggs
RB Jermaine Hatch
FB Brian Johnson
WR Kerry Watkins
WR Nate Curry
TE JP Foschi
LT Nat Dorsey
LG Leon Robinson
C Hugh Reilly
RG Ray Roberts-Blake
RT Kyle Wallace
K Luke Manget
DEFENSE
DE Greg Gathers
DT Alfred Malone
DT Gary Johnson
DE Tony Hargrove
OLB Ricardo Wimbush
MLB Daryl Smith
OLB Key Fox
CB Jonathan Cox
CB Reuben Houston
SS James Butler
FS Jeremy Muyres
P Dan Dyke
What do you guys think?
OFFENSE
QB
The competition will likely be between Suggs, Bilbo, and Hall, but don’t completely count out Dawan Landry yet. I think that Suggs has the most experience, and will likely get the nod as starter, but Bilbo, Hall, or Landry could be rotated in to run the option, or just to offer the ability to scramble a little bit more.
RB
Ford, Hatch, and Dixon will probably all be competing for the starting spot. Hatch looked impressive near the end of the 2000 season, but will have to come back from knee surgery. Ford has good speed, and Dixon offers a good mix of size and speed. It will probably shake out during spring practice, so we should know who the starter will be well before fall. Hopefully whoever becomes the starter isn’t run into the ground the way Burns was last year. They are all quality backs, so we need to get them all in there and keep them fresh. Ace and possibly Sampson will have a chance in the fall and during the season to vie for some playing time.
FB
Jonathan Jackson started a lot of games last year when Mitchell was being moved back and forth between fullback and linebacker, but I think it will be a battle between him and Brian Johnson for the starting role. Johnson was fairly highly regarded coming out of high school last year, and has good size (6-3 240). If Jackson hasn’t improved from last year, he may be beat out by Johnson.
WR
We have a lot of talented receivers, so I’m not really sure how the starting situation will work out. It doesn’t really matter, though, because a number of them will get a lot of playing time regardless of who is listed as the starters. Watkins, Smith, Curry, and Glover should all see the field a bunch. Thomas will likely also see time, as well as the 2 freshman who will give us some good size at wideout for the first time in a while. It should also be interesting to see how Logan and Rahshan Johnson do.
TE
JP Foschi will likely be the starter here, but others will get a good amount of playing time, too. Heller, Lee, and Darius Williams should see some time. The freshman Cooper is supposed to be big time, so he may be in the mix, too.
LT
Dorsey is the starter (I think I can say this with confidence). I think Findlay is the likely backup.
LG
Like left tackle, I think the starter here is pretty much set. Robinson will probably start here after starting all (I think) of last season.
C
I think Reilly will be moved to center. If not, it will probably come down to Tarquinio or Tidwell-Neal, both redshirt freshmen.
RG
I think Reilly might be moved to center, so the competition here will likely be between Ray Roberts-Blake and Clay Hartley (coming back from injury as well). We are pretty thin at guard, so hopefully Clay will be able to make it back ok.
RT
Left tackle is set with Dorsey, so the competition for a tackle spot will have to be on the right side. The key players competing should be Phillips, Bennett, and Wallace. If Phillips and Bennett can’t come back from their injuries, Wallace is the likely starter.
DEFENSE
DE
Well we have Gathers on one side, so the competition for the other spot probably will be between Holiday and Hargrove. Holiday was very highly regarded coming out of high school, and we’ve heard about Hargrove tearing it up on the scout team last year.
DT
We didn’t lose either of our starters, but they weren’t too impressive last year, so I see a competition for the starting spots likely. Of course, you have to rotate defensive linemen in and out so much that it really doesn’t matter who the starter is, and is more just a competition for playing time. Those vying for time on the field are Alfred Malone, Gary Johnson, Fred Wright, Reggie Koon, Casey Loesch, Omar Billy, Eric Henderson, and LeRon Lee. We have 2 freshmen in Terron Pullen and Brad Brezina, but they will both likely be redshirted to gain size and strength.
OLB
We have Wimbush on one side, so the competition on the other side will be between Ather Brown and Key Fox. Ather was the starter before he got injured, so this could be interesting.
MLB
We all know that Daryl Smith will be the starter. Anyansi will probably be the backup. Unless someone is moved from OLB to inside, I don’t see anybody else.
CB
Hester has the most experience, but I think there will be some major competition here for both corner spots. Hopefully the competition (as well as a new DB coach) will make him play more consistently. Jonathan Cox, Albert Poree, Reuben Houston, and Dennis Davis should all be competing for starting roles.
SS
Cory Collins should be the starter coming back, but I wouldn’t count out Tony Hollings, or even James Butler possibly being moved from free safety.
FS
Jeremy Muyres has to be the starter here. Butler is likely the backup unless he is moved to strong safety.
K
Obviously Manget should be the kicker. Jordan may possibly handle kickoffs, though.
P
O’Leary had a competition between Dyke and Morehouse, and they both played at times, so there will likely be more competition here.
Here’s my EARLY guess on the starting lineup for next year. (This isn't necessarily what I think it will be for the first game, rather what it will be like most of the season)
OFFENSE
QB AJ Suggs
RB Jermaine Hatch
FB Brian Johnson
WR Kerry Watkins
WR Nate Curry
TE JP Foschi
LT Nat Dorsey
LG Leon Robinson
C Hugh Reilly
RG Ray Roberts-Blake
RT Kyle Wallace
K Luke Manget
DEFENSE
DE Greg Gathers
DT Alfred Malone
DT Gary Johnson
DE Tony Hargrove
OLB Ricardo Wimbush
MLB Daryl Smith
OLB Key Fox
CB Jonathan Cox
CB Reuben Houston
SS James Butler
FS Jeremy Muyres
P Dan Dyke
What do you guys think?
