Fishes and Loaves Part II: Defense | Syracusefan.com

Fishes and Loaves Part II: Defense

sutomcat

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Second of a two part series looking at the 2013 recruiting class, Same approach as with the offense...this is a look at what the roster will look like at the start of the 2013 preseason camp, so the seniors to be are dropped. For clarity, the classes of the players listed are based on their eligibility class as of September 2012.

Defense

Nose Tackle

Eric Crume SO

The ideal number of players on scholarship at the crucial position is 3. We will ideally take 2 NTs in this class. It is very possible a current DT will grow into a NT, and DTs are easier to find that NTs, so don't be surprised if we only take one NT. A top target at this position is Wayne Williams, a JUCO player out of Brooklyn who plays for ASA right now. He is good enough to make an impact on the 2 deep from the day he arrives. If he arrives.

Defensive Tackle

Jason Bromley (JR)
Zian Jones (JR)
Ryan Sloan (RF)
Marcus Coleman (FR)

The ideal number of DTs on scholarship is 4. For the first time in a long time, we are in pretty good shape here, especially given a couple of DEs are big enough that they could grow into DTs. I think we end up taking one NT and one DT in this class, because of attrition.

Defensive End

Marcus Pierce-Brewster (JR)
Micah Robinson (SO)
Rob Welsh (SO)
Donnie Simmons (RF)
Josh Manley (FR)
Myles Hilliard (FR)

The ideal number of scholarship players at DE is seven, so I expect even though there are 3 frosh DEs on the roster, we will still take a DE in this class. The top target for the staff is, without question, one Ebenezer Ogundeko, the HS AA DE out of Brooklyn.

Strong Side Linebacker (SAM)

Oliver Vigille (RF)
James Washington (FR)

The ideal number of scholarships at the SAM position is 3. The staff moved Vigille and Lynch around during the spring, taking a look at Vigille at SAM and Vigille at WILL. They might switch back, might not. Regardless, I expect the staff to take one SAM in the class of 2013.

Middle Linebacker (MIKE)

Marquis Spruill (JR)
Lewellyn Coker (JR)

You could argue this is the position of most acute need. You want at least 3 MIKEs on scholarshipp; it is a crucial position for the defense SU plays and both of the players on scholarship are going to be juniors in 2012 (and seniors in 2013). The staff has to take at least one player here. Two of the top targets here are surely Matt Galambos, out of the suburban Philly area, and maybe Nick Sorrenti out of Maine-Endwell. Galambos has an offer, Sorrenti does not but appears to be the best MIKE prospect in the state. Penn State is interested. Could be a position where we take a HS and a JUCO player.

Weak Side Linebacker (WILL)

Dyshawn Davis (SO)
Cameron Lynch (SO)

The ideal number of players on scholarship at the WILL position is 4 (reserving another one for Okie duty). The staff says their ideal candidate for this position is a running back type athlete. Down the road, don't be surprised to see someone like Devante McFarland here. If Devan Carter doesn't get an offer at RB, he might surface here. Anyway, expect at least one and perhaps two players to be taken at this position.

Cornerback

Keon Lyn (JR)
Rishard Anderson (JR)
Brandon Reddish (SO)
Ritchy Desir (SO)
Jaston George (RF)
Julian Whigham (FR)

The ideal number of CBs on scholarship is 8, so again, there is a need to take a couple of CBs in the 2013 class. A name to keep an eye on is Stephon Johnson, one of the fastest players in the state. He could play WR or CB for Syracuse. Plays for McKinley HS in Buffalo. Terrific athlete. If history means anything, you can almost bank on the staff tapping Florida for at least one CB in this class.

Strong Safety

Shutang Mungwa (RF)
Dontez Ford (FR)

Two of the most promising athletes on the team, both really young, but you ideally want 4 scholarship players at SS (one often ends up growing into a WILL), so expect the staff to take at least one strong safety in the class. Probably two.

Free Safety

Jeremi Wilkes (JR)
Durell Eskridge (RF)
Wayne Morgan (FR)

The ideal number of scholarship players at FS is 4, so expect the staff to take one in the 2013 class, even though there will be 2 FS on the roster who are freshmen eligibility wise come the start of the 2012 season.

Special Teams

Placekicker

Ross Krautman (JR)
Ryan Norton (FR)

The ideal number of placekickers on scholarship is one. I hate to make blanket statements on scholarships, but I do not see a placekicker getting a scholarship in this class. Should not happen for another 3 or 4 years.

Punter

Jonathan Fisher (SO)
Ryan Norton (FR)

The ideal number of punters on scholarship is one. Norton is a valuable player in that he can kickoff ably, serve as placekicker and even do a passable job as a punter. He might end up doing all 3 when he is a senior. Anyway, I don't see SU giving a scholarship to a punter in this class. If they do, it is not a good thing for Fisher.

Long Snapper

Sam Rodgers (SO)

Ideally, you don't give a scholarship to the long snapper. That works fine at most big-time state schools, but at SU, if you want a good snapper, you have to give almost have to give out a scholarship. I don't see SU giving another scholarship to a snapper until Rodgers is a senior or has exhausted his eligibility.

Short Snapper

Sam Rodgers (SO)

Eric Morris has been doing a good job here, and I expect he will likely get a scholarship for his senior season as a reward for a job well done. I am assuming Rodgers will take over when Morris is gone. Do not expect to see a scholarship given out here in 2013.

Return Specialist

Steven Rene (SO)

A good return specialist is worth a lot and many programs reserve one for this purpose. But with Rene only a sophomore, I don't see the staff awarding a scholarship to this type of player for another year or two. We might take a player who does a great job returning kicks, but he will be able to do more (like say Brandon Reddish).
 
looks like we need some serious help for depth purposes at LB
 
It seemed odd that there was no back up plan for losing Whitehurst and Owens since a lot of people thought it was going to happen. Good thing SU stopped recruiting Neal and a few others.
 
It seemed odd that there was no back up plan for losing Whitehurst and Owens since a lot of people thought it was going to happen. Good thing SU stopped recruiting Neal and a few others.
lots of schools stopped recruiting Neal - I think the depth SU currently has on the roster will be fine for 2012 and 2013 and hopefully they have a big year recruiting LBs they feel are better than Neal, et al. If Neal and company don't make some big noise at wherever they landed and SU brings in some solid LB this year then it all worked out - no sense wringing your hands over those kids now.
 
Neal went to Illinois. Not sure about Rippy.
 
The person I was bummed that we passed over (understand why, but selfishly I really liked him) was Lakeith Walls, who also went to Illinois. Thought it could have been another circumstance close to Doug Hogue. Let him get a shot at RB and then if not, put him at LB. I think he is going to end up a player.
 
Did Neal and Rippy actually sign anywhere?
Neal ended up at Illinois. According to their board "he has a lot to do to qualify"
He also seems a bit small for a MLB (listed as 6-1, which means he's probably closer to 6-0).

There was another highly-rated MLB in last year's class, Nathan Ricketts (3 star, #56), who SU took a pass on. I believe he ended up at Directional Michigan. As I recall, his speed was an issue.
 
So, based upon Tomcat's "part 1" analysis, we have 17 scholarships available for the class of 2013. We also know that several others typically become available due to natural attrition [happens every year]. So here is my breakdown of class needs by position:

QB - 1 [have to bring one in every year]
RB - 2 [with one potentially shifting to another position]
WR - 1 [we have a lot of young receivers, but need to add play makers]
TE - 0 or 1 [landing Thompson / Paris in same class gives us flexibility. One will play - presumably thompson - the other redshirts]
G/C - 2
OT -2

Offensive numbers: 8 [or 9 if they take a TE]

NT - 1
DT - 1
DE -2
Will - 2
Sam - 1
Mike 1
CB - 2
SS - 1
FS - 1

Defensive numbers: 12

So right off the bat we are looking at a class in the ballpark of 20 recruits at minimum, which is above the 17 that we have officially available as of now. We'll probably have a player or two not asked to return, some who will leave due to injuries, some who will leave to pursue other interests, some who transfer, and some who have issues with grades. That usually frees up 5+ scholarships every offseason, which gives us a perfectly sized class from a roster balancing perspective of ~22 or so.

My guess is that we'll have anywhere between 22-25 scholarships when it is all said and done, and that they'll fill all of those allotments.
 
We still REALLY need some play makers on offense.

The defensive numbers look right but the 4 DB's could be pinched for other positions. I do believe we need a couple of DEnds and 3/4 more linebackers.
 
We still REALLY need some play makers on offense.

The defensive numbers look right but the 4 DB's could be pinched for other positions. I do believe we need a couple of DEnds and 3/4 more linebackers.


By the same token, playmakers on things like kick / punt returns could come from athletic DBs [not just WRs or RBs].
 
I doubt that we have 25 available skips this year more like 22 max
 

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