Continuing the conversation:
Who steps up for Marlowe Wax? You need, IMO, someone who has experience and played games at the position. That is a big order, because only two players at the LB position on this team has minor experience in games. The LB’s we have are young and need to add muscle weight. Everyone is either a or RF.
It is going to be interesting to see who Fran puts in a key position. Will he stick with a LB who is a RF or move someone at another position to WLB alongside RF James Heard?
I have listed all the LB’s with the most experience at the top. The players below them are freshman who need a year to practice and gain weight and learn. The loss of Wax for 6 weeks or longer is a big deal. Someone is going to have to get in and play.
My guess, and that’s what it is since Fran will do the selection, is since our DB room is full take Justin Barron at 6’ 4” 232 and put him next to Heard or Omopariola or Zyian Moultrie Goddard who are both listed at DE on this week’s chart. Who would YOU move?
* = no experience
For comparison the average size of an NFL LB is 6’2” 245 and most run the 40 in 4.4 - 4.6.
THE LB ROOM
*1. ZYIAN MMOULTRIE GODDARD RF 6’ 234
Redshirt Year (2023): Appeared in five games (four regular season, plus the bowl), preserving his redshirt ... Did not record any statistics ... Made his collegiate debut on special teams at Purdue (9/16).
Before SU: Rated 3 stars by 247 Sports Composite … Ranked as one of the 10 best prospects in New York by ESPN … Was named the New York City High School Football League Vincent O’Connor Memorial AAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 … Three-time all-league selection … Played at Iona Prep under head coach Joseph Spagnolo, where he had 109 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 4 sacks and 1 pass breakup as a senior in 2022 … Three-time team captain … Led his team to a state championship in 2021 … Also ran track in high school.
*2. DAVID OMOPARIOLA RF 6” 3” 244 Redshirt Year (2023):Did not appear in any games.
Before SU: Rated 3 stars by On3 … First Team All-Maryland … Two-time team captain at Woodlawn under head coach Tracy Martin … Is also one of the best wrestlers in the state of Maryland, winning county and regional championships as a senior before taking third at states … Also ran track, where he was a regional qualifier.
*3. FATIM DIGGS 6’ 2” 219
High School: Rated three stars by the 247Sports Composite rankings … Rated as one of the top-200 linebackers in the 2024 recruiting class … Played at Eastside High School under head coach Melik Brown, where he had 117 tackles, 13 sacks and 20 tackles for loss this season … In his high school career, racked up over 200 career tackles and 22 sacks … First Team All-State selection in addition to earning all-conference honors twice and being a two-time academic scholar … Team captain in 2023 … Also competed in track in high school.
*4. JAHIDE LESAINE 6’ 4” 239
High School: Rated a three star prospect by 247Sports Composite rankings … Rated as New Jersey’s 31st-best prospect by ESPN … First Team All-New Jersey selection under head coach Ashley “Smoke” Pierre … Also played basketball in high school.
*5. MARK SHORT 6’ 3” 238
High School: At Blind Brook High School, Short played his freshman and sophomore season for coach Chris Halstead as a linebacker. He played his junior and senior season for coach Darren Perillo as a defensive end and captain for the Trojans … Made 12 sacks and 65 tackles during his senior year season ... Received All-League, All-Independent, Class C/D Defensive Lineman of the Year, and Team MVP honors in high school.
*6.CADEN BROWN 6’ 4” 204
High School: Rated three stars by the 247Sports Composite rankings … Consensus top-10 prospect in New York State by all major recruiting sites, including top-five rankings by Rivals (5), 247Sports (4) and ESPN (2) … Had 50 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and four sacks in his senior year at Erasmus Hall under head coach Danny Landberg.
*7. GARVIN ST. JOHN 6’ 210”
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*8. JAYDEN BROWN 6’ 2” 208
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9. JOSH KUBALA RSO 6’ 2” 225
Redshirt Freshman Year (2023): Appeared in 12 games as a member of the Orange's special teams ... Made his collegiate debut against Colgate (9/2) ... Tallied his first collegiate tackle against Virginia Tech (10/26).
Redshirt Year (2022): Joined the team in summer of 2022 ... Did not appear in any games ... Member of the ACC Honor Roll ... Member of the Su Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in the fall semester
High School: Earned first-team All-League and All-CNY honors ... All-State Fourth Team honoree ... Played tight end, wide receiver and punter/kicker for for-time defending section champs ... Served as a team captain as a senior ... Earned lacrosse All-Academic honors ... Member of the National Honor Society.
10. TIM JOHNSON
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