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Message: [QUOTE="Powellfan, post: 5437899, member: 4819"] This is a great breakdown. I have high hopes for this class. I am especially excited for Meyer and Kittelbereger as they seem to offer an athletic and size level we have been missing these last few years. We will definitely need to see better contributions from the non-senior class next season. The rising junior and sophomore classes have not done a whole lot for the Orange so far. Between the two classes, I think a grand total of three players have contributed in the way you would expect for highly ranked classes (Mullen, Anderson and Deere). 13 guys were ranked in the top 100 by IL between the two classes (eight for the jrs, 5 for the sophs). That is not a great hit rate. Of the players in the top 100, the rising sophomore class has some excuses, as McIntee and White were hurt and redshirted and Stephens was stuck behind Michael Grace and also redshirted. Bologinio struggled a bit, but he was playing out of position and filling in due to injury. Feels like the trio of McIntee, White and Stephens have to contribute next year in a meaningful way, hopefully on defense. The rising junior class ... not so much. Ippoliti has been behind McCool, and Scott was hurt his freshman year and was also behind Grace. But other players like Hottle, McCarthy and Jake Spallina saw lots of time and didn't perform the way we needed them to. Tucker Kellogg didn't see the field. To only have Deere (and that might be debatable given he wasn't a full time starter) and Mullen contribute is a tough look. This team had a depth problem this year, specifically because the underclassmen didn't live up to their billing (some are excused due to injury but some are certainly not). I like the offensive talent we are bringing in on offense for the '26 class, but it makes me nervous to rely on that many freshmen (two, three?) when competing for a championship. The second line midfield was perhaps the most glaring issue. I think you want to see something from that unit that makes you comfortable projecting them onto the first line in the future. Outside of Anderson, I didn't see that from the group. Kittleberger looks set to contribute in a big way, but he'll need help. Where is that coming from? Anyways long post to simply say, "we need better depth", but we do. It's a question as to where it comes from. Do the underclassmen improve? Do you hope the freshmen pan out? Do you hit the portal? Hopefully it's a bit from all three buckets. [/QUOTE]

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