re: 2017 RMD: In The Books!

Number 279 overall and a 240 pound lb....gotta love it

Edit: hes up to 235-240 now

With less than 10 days until the start of college football season, who has news (good or bad) on their 2017 or 2016 pick ups (or farther back for that matter)?

Some updates on my classes:

2017:
Headliner Chase Young one of the first Buckeyes to "lose his black stripe" (Urban Meyer thing - actually good) and while playing at a pretty loaded position is already being praised by the coaches as "too good to keep off the field". Exactly what you want to hear out of your #1 overall.

After some initial struggles this fall camp, Richard LeCounte now seems to be squarely in the mix to start at Safety with an injury to Malcolm Parrish. He likely will cede that spot once Parrish returns, but will be great to see him get some playing time early. Also on the UGA front, Walter Grant getting some great reviews from camp, though he's unlikely to crack the starting ILB lineup behind Roquan and Natrez with Reggie Carter rotating in. Eric Stokes is apparently better than expected as well, working quickly to crack the two deep at cornerback and turning some heads with his ridiculous speed. Congrats to whoever picked up Andrew Thomas - as it looks like he's grabbed the starting RT job for now... our OL was such a mess last season, I'm really holding a lot of hope in the young guys to be able to change that in 17.

Robert Barnes sounds likely to crack the starting rotation at Nickelback at Oklahoma... Based on comments seems to be a calculated way of getting him on the field but with fewer responsibilities and mental hurdles to trip up on. Either way, impressed he sounds to be an early contributor.

At #5 overall, we have Elijah Blades, who was a partial qualifier to Nebraska but elected to go the Community College route instead... Interview sounds like he was sold a bill of goods on being able to easily qualify, so highly talented kid who will be up on the open market in the not too distant future.

Elsewhere on the defense, sounds like Wade-Perry may crack the two deep at DT but as expected won't be starting. Luiji Vilain is turning heads at Michigan so fast I think necks might snap... while I didn't expect him to necessarily find the field this year, sounds like he may get worked in at DE or OLB for pass rush sets at least. LeAnthony Williams almost definite redshirt at Clemson, and Sampson Niu likely to end up in the rotation at ILB. Marquise Blair apparently seeing time at FS already at Utah. With their starting SS out indefinitely, they shifted their FS returning starter over and seem to be content starting Blair in his vacated spot for now.

Offensively, less exciting. Shawn Robinson seems to be set to redshirt barring injury at TCU. Cordarrian Richardson and Chuba Hubbard looking good in practice, but both behind some pretty talented backs. Chuba with a shot to take the #2 gig, but I will guess redshirts. Omar Manning getting great reviews at TCU, but another guy that is in a crowded depth chart... maybe not a redshirt, but likely not a high contributor this year. Evidence Njoku had a minor setback this fall with a hyper-extended knee, but otherwise had really been impressive making big leaping catches. I'm really excited to see him develop as a late round pickup for me. Nothing noteworthy from Averett yet... cool story about his "criminal past" that got written up though, talking about the shady justice system of Atlanta/Fulton County.

On the OL, K'Rojhn Calbert set to RS this season due to pre-existing medical condition... sounds like surgery is supposed to fix though. Always expected that though as he was super raw anyways. The other 4 are a bit of a mixed bag - almost all of them have a *chance* at finding their way into the 2 deep. Chandler probably the lowest. Ryan Nelson getting time at Tackle with a starter suspended, Sichterman getting time at Center, and Filiaga competing for time as well.

In the supplemental rounds, sounds like Morgan Ellison may be my biggest steal. No starter named, but his is the name that seems to be getting thrown around the most. They're looking for consistency out of him, which is hard for a freshman, but I think his talent will keep him in the mix often. Great comeback story for a kid that dealt with injuries throughout high school. Meanwhile Kaegun Williams challenging hard for the 3rd RB spot at SDSU behind Penny and Washington. Scrimmages mean nothing, but he did lead the day with 20 carries for 100 yards in their "fan fest" scrimmage recently.

DeeJay Dallas getting time at Punt Returner for now, which if it stands is interesting that Richt may have turned over a new leaf on his approach to ST. Also, Alec Jackson seems to be getting some good looks this camp at finding a way into DL rotation, which is a bit surprising to me. I'd expect it to be minimal with who all Auburn returns this year, but if he can perform well, any experience is good for his future outlook.




**FYI Jembeurt (obviously no rush to adjust): Looks like Supplemental rounds 2/3 were left off the roster breakdowns, and my second pick was not updated to the "pick comment" at the top of the post (DeeJay Dallas).

Getting right on those updates now.

And thanks for posting some updates of your team. Wish more people would do the same. It's hard enough to keep up with your own team, much less everyone else's. I've always enjoyed keeping track of players, knowing full well that most won't be big stars.

I'll post an update of my team sometime in the next few days.

On the defensive side, I'm just trying to reload after having a bunch of guys get drafted over the last two years.

2014:
After having Myles Garrett go 1st overall, I have another 8 guys starting this year (would've been 9 but Jonathan Lockett, CB USC is injured and out for the year). They are:

Bryan Mone, DT Michigan (started as a frosh, got hurt and is just now reclaiming the starting gig)
Tashon Smallwood, DT Arizona State (has started since day 1 and is going strong still)
Marquis Haynes, DE Ole Miss (with 24 career sacks, he has a great chance to pass Hardy for the Ole Miss record with 26.5)
Chase Winovich, DE Michigan (drafted as LB, moved to TE, moved to DE and had a good year last year as a full time DE)
Nyles Morgan, ILB Notre Dame (multi year starter at the inside spot)
Stepheny Durham, CB Georgia Tech (started last year and will be their best CB this year)
Trevon Young, DE Louisville (really good pass rusher and multi year starter but is coming back from a bad neck injury)
Greg Stroman, CB/PR Virginia Tech (mutli year starter and possible high round pick with a good SR season)

2015:
A few starters from this group are:

Hjalte Froholdt, LG Arkansas (should have put him in my Offensive group but he was drafted as a DE. Switched to OC as a frosh and became the LG starter last year)
Jalen Dalton, DT UNC (First year starter after playing as a reserve last year)
Andre Smith[b/], ILB UNC (started as a frosh and is the leader on this defense)
[b]Donte Jackson, CB/PR LSU (Most of you know his story)
Ben Humphreys, LB Duke (started last year and will be one of the better LBs in the ACC I believe)
Kareem Orr, CB Tenn-Chatt (Frosh All American at Arizona St, then transferred this year to be closer to home since his son was born this past year)

2016:
Not looking great for this group starting wise as I only have one player starting. That is Troy Warner, CB BYU, who also started all of last year. I do have a few names to watch for in Ray Thornton, DE/LB LSU, Jonathan Smith, ILB UNC, Kash Daniel, LB Kentucky and Dylan Singleton, S Duke.

2017:
This class already looks better than my 2016 class.
Harrison Hand, CB Baylor (22nd round pick ) and Hasan Defense, CB Kansas (supp pick ) will be starters, with Anthony Hines, LB Texas A&M, and C.J. Avery, LB/S Louisville seeing a large amount of playing time, possibly even starting by season's end.

Chaz's Surratt UNC QB with a TD on first drive of career!!!! Team Gaytorhater703 may finally have a signal caller.

he is soooo good