QB -- BETTER -- Dungey showed improved command of the offense last year, and will be even better in year 3. Question is, can he stay upright. If not, Devito is a massive upgrade over Mahoney at backup, and is the QB of the future. Culpepper started a game last year - substantially improved depth at this position, compared to where we've been the previous two years. Amie--a signing day addition--gets to redshirt and learn, before challenging this much improved nucleus of players ahead of him. +
RB -- BETTER -- Strickland got better over course of season, Pierre is a bigger back who needs to bounce back from early fumble that parked him on the bench. Howard / Dixon bolster depth, and give us more power. RB improvement will be tied at the hip to OL improvement, but future is even brighter with Oklahoma transfer [and home run threat] Adams available in 2019. Question: does Moe Neal project at RB or in the slot? +
WR -- WORSE -- Ishmael and Philips were amongst the most prolific receivers in program history. Replacing both will be difficult There's talent there [Butler] that hasn't been actualized yet. Need several players to emerge here -- my guess is that they will, but right now that is an unknown. The incoming crop of class of 2018 recruits at this position are the best haul we've had in a LONG time. +
TE -- BETTER -- Pierce was everything he was cracked up to be, and should be substantially better now that he's got a year in the system under his belt. He just needs to cut down on stupid penalties. Depth will be better over 2017 with Hackett and Elmore, to say nothing of transfer Jesse Connors, behind Pierce. Need to improve the raw materials in the pipeline here to set the table for the future; only TE from class of 2018 [Horan] likely projects as an OT in college. ---
OL -- BETTER -- Four returning starters, including two were were RF last year, took their lumps, but accorded themselves fairly well. Only hole to fill in is RT. If we land a late 5th year transfer, this group could really pop. Roberts [injured in 2017] will be seeking to reintegrate to a solid nucleus. Depth should be better behind starters than in years past. We're redshirting incoming frosh, the the pipeline looks better than it has in a LONG time at OL. +
DE -- BETTER -- Last year's absurd injury situation ransacked this position. Robinson was a freaking godsend, who lived up to his impressive HS ratings. Berry was another solid guy, despite being forced to play too many snaps. Coleman returns from injury, and should have a big year. Black might shift inside. Pickard returns from injury, after missing practically the whole year. Kingsley Jonathan has future starting potential. Zach Morton will be a RF. Walton, Guthrie, and Justin Ellis provide quality depth. Numbers are much better at DE this year, and this unit should be improved on that basis alone. +
DT -- SAME-- Losing Steve Clark hurt depth, but this group accorded itself well. Slayton is a very good player, who might project to the next level. Mount McKinley looks like a prospective stud, and players like Ruff / Harper give us quality behind the starters. Might we see an offseason surprise [either a JUCO or 5th year transfer] to bolster the ranks? Does a player like Elmore shift over to DT? If not, a guy like Grosvenor might find his way onto the field in a reserve capacity. I like the raw materials, but an injury to Slayton or McKinley would be disastrous here, and this is one of the few positional units on the team pipeline is not stocked well for the long term [TE being the other]. ---
LB -- WORSE -- I like the raw materials we have at LB, but we need to replace an awful lot of productivity in Bennett / Franklin, and all three starters. It's anybody's guess how the newbies will perform, and which positions they project to. BUT there is a lot of young talent, and it is certainly possible that this group could develop into a position of strength once the group gets some game experience under their belts as opposed to being perceived as a liability. Lots of options here -- that's the good news. +
CB -- BETTER -- Fredrick and Bradshaw are a competent nucleus, and depth is going a much needed infusion of talent / size / athleticism from the redshirt frosh -- in particular, Coley and Melifonwu. If they learn the ropes quickly, we'll have better depth / talent here than in a long time. +
S -- WORSE -- I like Antwan Cordy. The problem is, Cordy can't stay healthy. If he can, then he nails down one safety spot. Jordan Martin performed impressively last year at FS, and his productivity will be hard to replace. Foster is an incumbent who started part of the season, but is no lock to return if his coverage ability doesn't improve. Williams looks overmatched, but provides depth. Does Carl Jones project into the mix here or at CB? Does Stritziner shift to this side of the field? This is another position where frosh might see the field. ---
+ = long term outlook trending positively for this position, based upon recruiting
--- = Need to do a better job stocking the pipeline at this positional unit on the recruiting trail
