2026 O-Line

[cusefan88]

I think Hawn has a pretty good chance, but not sure where he projects -- LT, G, or even C [I think Tomcat may have suggested he could land there].

Pringle looked WAY too slow when he saw the field at the end of last year -- hope that improves.

Yup Pringle needs to lose some lbs otherwise he will be a backup I bet.

 

[721Comstock]

Yup Pringle needs to lose some lbs otherwise he will be a backup I bet.

In his defense... once you pop, you can't stop!!

 

[SU68]

Fran is friends with Kirby Smart and considers him his mentor. I would think that he has discussed our O line with the Georgia HC.

 

[PhatOrange]

I think Hawn has a pretty good chance, but not sure where he projects -- LT, G, or even C [I think Tomcat may have suggested he could land there].

Pringle looked WAY too slow when he saw the field at the end of last year -- hope that improves.

I believe an Axe podcast was talking about Hawn at center.

 

[cayugacuse]

I wonder if Fran's idea of recruiting huge offensive lineman has a downside as in a trade-off in quickness. So far, the kids we are getting are large no doubt, but not the caliber of athletes that are going to Big Ten or SEC schools.

 

[RF2044]

I wonder if Fran's idea of recruiting huge offensive lineman has a downside as in a trade-off in quickness. So far, the kids we are getting are large no doubt, but not the caliber of athletes that are going to Big Ten or SEC schools.

I think there's a progression. We used to have smaller [-ish] OL who generally weren't very good. Subpar offensive line play has been a problem in our program forever, outside of a few outlier seasons.

Fran went out and got bigger guys, several of whom have yet to prove that they are any good. So we got bigger [think: airport team].

Next step will be to either coach these guys up, or get big guys who ARE better.

Interested to see what the new OL coach brings to the table. His track record is impressive / phenomenal. If he can't coax improved productivity out of this group, then we need an overhaul.

My prediction is that he WILL, and that we'll see players like Mack, Washington, and Cruz make a jump in performance. Still standing by my original observation that Mack is a poor man's Bergeron [which is pretty freaking good].

 

[CbusCuse]

Where do you think Jojo white and Cooper will fit on the depth chart? As true freshmen

I wouldn't expect Cooper to be on it as he won't even be getting here until the summer as he isn't an early enrollee. Jojo is an early enrollee so the 2 deep may be a bit more likely.

 

[sutomcat]

Might as well have some pre-spring prediction fun: starters

LT Mack
LG Cruz
C Stewart
RG Washington
RT Pringle (though Hawn seems to always come up in threads).

Not sure where the staff elects to use Hawn.

Overall, I agree with you on a lot.

Right now, my best guess is this:

LT Hawn
LG Cruz
C Stewart
RG Washington
RT Mack

Second team:

LT Cooper/Harvey/Pringle
LG Mann/Brown-Miller
C Frazier/White
RG White/Scatliffe
RT Bertrand/Shevchenko

 

[CbusCuse]

Not sure where the staff elects to use Hawn.

Overall, I agree with you on a lot.

Right now, my best guess is this:

LT Hawn
LG Cruz
C Stewart
RG Washington
RT Mack

Second team:

LT Cooper/Harvey/Pringle
LG Mann/Brown-Miller
C Frazier/White
RG White/Scatliffe
RT Bertrand/Shevchenko

I was just going to post something similar about Hawn as I'm thinking he may be most needed as an OT as I don't know if I trust anyone else out there will have enough athletic ability to stop the pass rush.

I think it is of note that UCLA didn't really seem to offer depth charts. But finding some unofficial ones that had Oluwafontu Akinshilo as the second string Center and not at Guard. I could see a combination of Oluwafontu Akinshilo and Stewart as first and second string Center.

Is Walt Frazier going to play OL and not DL?

 

[sutomcat]

I was just going to post something similar about Hawn as I'm thinking he may be most needed as an OT as I don't know if I trust anyone else out there will have enough athletic ability to stop the pass rush.

I think it is of note that UCLA didn't really seem to offer depth charts. But finding some unofficial ones that had Oluwafontu Akinshilo as the second string Center and not at Guard. I could see a combination of Oluwafontu Akinshilo and Stewart as first and second string Center.

Is Walt Frazier going to play OL and not DL?

Frazier is probably going to be a DL. But Fran has shown a willingness to move players as needed.

 

[cusefan88]

Not sure where the staff elects to use Hawn.

Overall, I agree with you on a lot.

Right now, my best guess is this:

LT Hawn
LG Cruz
C Stewart
RG Washington
RT Mack

Second team:

LT Cooper/Harvey/Pringle
LG Mann/Brown-Miller
C Frazier/White
RG White/Scatliffe
RT Bertrand/Shevchenko

Hawn being good enough to move Mack to RT would be a wonderful development.

 

[Sdot]

I didn’t hear much about left tackle for Hawn but I know they liked him at center.

 

[upperdeck]

Really like Mack & Pringle at tackle

dang we need someone named Cheese to step up.

 

[LpoolNative]

dang we need someone named Cheese to step up.

I’m blaming you for my high cholesterol.

*grabs multiple snacks from cupboard*

 

[Franz69]

Where do you think Jojo white and Cooper will fit on the depth chart? As true freshmen

JoJo White's Twitter bio says 270 lbs. We're in deep if he plays this season.

 

[CbusCuse]

JoJo White's Twitter bio says 270 lbs. We're in deep if he plays this season.

and his Cuse.com bio says 260 lbs. Pretty safe to say its unlikely we see him play much at all this season. But its possible he plays in some garbage time of New Hampshire.

 

[LpoolNative]

and his Cuse.com bio says 260 lbs. Pretty safe to say its unlikely we see him play much at all this season. But its possible he plays in some garbage time of New Hampshire.

By the time September hits he’ll be close to 300 if not a little over.

I could see him redshirting till next year, he has nice feet and is able to move well but needs to work on strength like you said

 

[CbusCuse]

By the time September hits he’ll be close to 300 if not a little over.

I could see him redshirting till next year, he has nice feet and is able to move well but needs to work on strength like you said

Not sure that's even possible. Even if he's put on 10 lbs since SU came up with that number 260 lbs and is now 270 lbs, that is pretty optimistic to gain another 30 lbs of good weight by September.

But yes I like him as a prospect. I just don't think we see him much at all until 2027.

 

[RMH44]

Really like Mack & Pringle at tackle

Pringle would have to transform his body to even make it on the depth chart. Way to slow and unathletic to play tackle at this level. I was shocked how bad he was last year.

 

[LpoolNative]

Not sure that's even possible. Even if he's put on 10 lbs since SU came up with that number 260 lbs and is now 270 lbs, that is pretty optimistic to gain another 30 lbs of good weight by September.

But yes I like him as a prospect. I just don't think we see him much at all until 2027.

Gaining 30 pounds in 9th months isn’t possible? lol

 

[mustacheovich]

Gaining 30 pounds in 9th months isn’t possible? lol

Key words are "good weight"

 

[LpoolNative]

Key words are "good weight"

And? lol. 30 pounds of good weight is very feasible by september

 

[CbusCuse]

And? lol. 30 pounds of good weight is very feasible by september

Start of the season is about 7 months away, not 9. And you make it sound like a forgone conclusion that will happen. Possible?... maybe??? But very unlikely.

 

[ImperialOrange]

I think there's a progression. We used to have smaller [-ish] OL who generally weren't very good. Subpar offensive line play has been a problem in our program forever, outside of a few outlier seasons.

Fran went out and got bigger guys, several of whom have yet to prove that they are any good. So we got bigger [think: airport team].

Next step will be to either coach these guys up, or get big guys who ARE better.

Interested to see what the new OL coach brings to the table. His track record is impressive / phenomenal. If he can't coax improved productivity out of this group, then we need an overhaul.

My prediction is that he WILL, and that we'll see players like Mack, Washington, and Cruz make a jump in performance. Still standing by my original observation that Mack is a poor man's Bergeron [which is pretty freaking good].

We had so many pressing needs that OL probably took a bit of a back seat. We have an elite OL coach now so let's see what we actually have. If Castillo can't manage a decent OL out of the 20 we have on roster our entire transfer portal outlay should go to him next season to get adequate players.

We are big across the OL but many of them are and/or play Charmin soft. If we lack requisite quickness and agility we should at least be able to roll out a group of Andrew Tiller's and beat the brakes off opponents in the trenches.

Washington has all the potential in the world with another off season to get his body right. His story is an interesting one and he should be more motivated than most.

With Shaq's advice, Byron Washington plays for a bigger purpose

Recruited as a key part of SU's future, 6-foot-8, near-400-lb Byron Washington’s journey to get his body into football shape is paying off.

dailyorange.com

Mack impressed me when healthy but he played hurt, when he played, for much of last season.

Hawn drew praise from the staff but was always going to need at least a year or 2 to get strong enough for ACC play. He was also banged up last year.

That could well be our LT, LG, C starting 3 and I certainly don't hate it.

Give me Cruz at RT and let the rest fight for RG.

Betrand and Pringle have shown nothing thus far to warrant consideration. No idea what happened to Rice either but I think he's back.

Point is we have the coaching now to get the best out of whoever puts in the work this offseason. It's all young guys with chips on their shoulders or older guys in last chance corral. Hope majority majority sack up and show up in shape and mean next season.

 

[richmondcuse03]

I didn’t hear much about left tackle for Hawn but I know they liked him at center.

I can confirm as much. They apparently think he’s very good at the mental aspects of the position. Between him and Stewart we have ale good potential there.