It's funny whenever a player leaves for any reason there are three kinds of posts:
1) We're doomed
2) We don't need you anyway, don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out
3) Good luck
My take is:
(1) I understand the guy is doing what he thinks is best for his life, so I respect that, even though I wish he wouldn't leave.
(2) PJ uses A backs to shuttle in plays, so we need at least three starter quality A backs. Backs get hit a lot, and A backs usually are smaller guys (typically less durable), so there is a likelihood of injury for the position. I would think we'd want at least 2 good prototypical back ups in addition to the 3 starter rotation.
Jamaal was one of our three starter rotation going into the fall (with Roddy Jones & Gregg Smith). Now it's pretty much sure Marcus Wright will be in the rotation. For back ups, we'll have Austin Barrick and Andrew Smith who are not prototypical. Not sure what the status of Tyler Evans injury is but we could sure use him as a back up.
Jamaal was a solid, servicable back, and the new offense played to his strengths, so his loss hurts depth at the position any way you slice it.
I believe it is now less likely we can redshirt Peeples. Also, incoming frosh CB Lockhart may be looked at as an A back. I'm sure it will just depend on whether they can play their way out of a redshirt in the fall.