re: Brian Kelly about defensive tackles

If you move a player they no longer have a “normal” position….they have a new position.

Doesn’t sound ideal.

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I'm assuming there aren't any SEC worthy DTs just sitting in the portal right now, otherwise they would have been scooped up.

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The staff has put feelers out to guys through back channels. You'll likely see some bigger names emerge after spring that we will go after.

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I think people are valuing Savion inside too much. He beefed up a ton this past year and was still only 285. He's going to need to add another 25 pounds on top of that to even have a chance at being a successful DT in the SEC

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He will not be asked to play inside 60 snaps a game. He could be a depth piece that can play in certain packages or just on passing downs inside and be just fine.

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sets them back in their progressions at their normal positions

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Irrelevant if they are playing at a new position

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communicates to them that they are at the back of the line at their normal positions

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Because they are. They likely already know that.

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encourages them to look elsewhere in the transfer portal.

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They need to cut the roster down anyway to make the 85 man limit.

moving a player from OL to DL

1. helps the team
2. gives that player a chance to see the field quicker
3. means the coaches who know a lot more about football than the player sees something and the player should maybe trust that. Or transfer and make room for the incoming class. I don't care.

Not saying any of the guys in the conversation will be him, but the only successful move like this was done by CBK.. Jerry Tillery worked out fine..I remember him being a big time OT with untapped potential. I was surprised he ended up a first round pick at DT, it also came during a period where we were searching for our next great defensive lineman…

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It's not some unheard of phenomenon to switch from offense to defense in college.


True and I’d bet most linemen who make a D1 roster played both ways in HS.

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Because in HS they were athletic freaks in size and/or speed compared to everyone else.

Compared to other D1 freaks, VERY few can play both ways OR shift sides.

Example: think of every total BUST at LSU - those dudes were athletic freaks at the HS level.

Thomas Dunson? Doug Planchard? Adam McConathy?

STUDS in HS.

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Was expecting a bit more optimism on landing some transfer DTs.

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He’s not Lane kiffin, there’s no reason to even talk about that yet.

You’re right there telling the current players on the roster they are looking to be replaced even if they win the spring and you’re setting the table for a potential tampering allegation if there is anything else that happens after. You can keep it vague enough to keep yourself out of trouble, but there’s also no real upside to openly being like “we will be in the portal in a few months”

We’ll be getting more at that position post spring.

We’re also in a bit of a numbers crunch and wouldn’t move anybody over to DT that they didn’t understand the potential ramifications and be prepared to lose if they go to the portal. In some instances that may be part of the push to make room

It’s not gonna be weston Davis out there at DT, it’ll be someone in the 3 deep or back that doesn’t have a shot to contribute anytime soon

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but if we are seriously looking at converting OL, then this is the worst news of the offseason by a long shot.

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A lot of times things like this don’t go past the spring and just end up as a fishing expedition to see if someone naturally takes to making a position move. Unless that happens, we likely won’t see any OL actually get converted to DL.