Class of 2022 OLB AJ Pena (NJ) Portal to Memphis

[anomander]

Still early for the portal and “off-season” after Friday. But thought we would land a few more quality guys in the portal at this point with Fran and staff coming off the season they had. Hmmmm

If we’re being honest with ourselves. After
40 commits and 6 portal commits (PK, Frannie, 2 WR’s, Bertrand on his 3rd school, and Collins). We’re deep enough into this class to say this class took a step back. Personally, I was expecting more.

 

[Acesn8s]

I am just confused we must have some NIl funds I wouldn’t have wasted a penny on a WR, we should be allocating any funds we have to the defense. Now granted I’m sure what players we have brought in didn’t break the bank, but we have serious needs on defense or else all the good feelings will quickly turn to anger with next years schedule. Our defense looks like it has holes everywhere.

 

[721Comstock]

If we’re being honest with ourselves. After
40 commits and 6 portal commits (PK, Frannie, 2 WR’s, Bertrand on his 3rd school, and Collins). We’re deep enough into this class to say this class took a step back. Personally, I was expecting more.

LOL WUT?!?!

That sounds like a “you” problem.

We have FORTY new guys coming in.

And haven’t really lost anybody of note outbound to the portal.
(Barnes excepted).

And you’re mad because we didn’t get another McCord-level guy?

Spoiler - there was no other McCord-level guy.

Except McCord - who we may actually be getting back for next year.

 

[djorange1989]

You can’t get a commit from a kid you actually haven’t offered yet….

 

[GoSU96]

If we’re being honest with ourselves. After
40 commits and 6 portal commits (PK, Frannie, 2 WR’s, Bertrand on his 3rd school, and Collins). We’re deep enough into this class to say this class took a step back. Personally, I was expecting more.

Shocking

 

[Dinkyspond]

Feel like we are a small market mlb team

We gotta be smarter like Tampa Bay and Milwaukee. They seem to overcome it and are competitive almost every year.

 

[SUforme]

Well then...

 

[farnsworth]

This guy is talented but doesn't really fit our system. He's a 3-4 outside linebacker and we play a 4-2-5 with essentially 2 middle linebackers. Where does he play other than 3rd and long situations? We need somebody like Justin Barron that can really make plays in space. We are going to miss him. Other than his bi-weekly personal foul penalty I thought he was a very good for us.

 

[Symphony Steve]

Oh, well. Let's go to Memphis in the meantime...:

 

[OttosDad]

I am just confused we must have some NIl funds I wouldn’t have wasted a penny on a WR, we should be allocating any funds we have to the defense. Now granted I’m sure what players we have brought in didn’t break the bank, but we have serious needs on defense or else all the good feelings will quickly turn to anger with next years schedule. Our defense looks like it has holes everywhere.

Agreed. I’d say this far we have underwhelmed big time in the portal.

There are massive needs to fill on defense. You cannot expect to compete against that schedule next year with true freshmen starting all over your defense. Right now, looks like that’s what we might get. Lotta time between now and next season though

 

[bnoro]

Agreed. I’d say this far we have underwhelmed big time in the portal.

There are massive needs to fill on defense. You cannot expect to compete against that schedule next year with true freshmen starting all over your defense. Right now, looks like that’s what we might get. Lotta time between now and next season though

Or, we were never going to compete with that schedule next year, so the plan is to get those underclassmen ready to REALLY compete in 2026.

 

[GoSU96]

Agreed. I’d say this far we have underwhelmed big time in the portal.

There are massive needs to fill on defense. You cannot expect to compete against that schedule next year with true freshmen starting all over your defense. Right now, looks like that’s what we might get. Lotta time between now and next season though

All over the defense?

Not on the DL that’s for sure. Not at LB unless they beat out six guys. Not at safety.

Maybe at one corner spot if they are better than whats here today.

 

[CdnGuy]

 

[Acesn8s]

Or, we were never going to compete with that schedule next year, so the plan is to get those underclassmen ready to REALLY compete in 2026.

Not saying it’s out of realm of possibilities but man in the new world of college football the people who donate $$$ to NIL you don’t want to hear anything about a throw away year

 

[Acesn8s]

All over the defense?

Not on the DL that’s for sure. Not at LB unless they beat out six guys. Not at safety.

Maybe at one corner spot if they are better than whats here today.

I don’t believe Freshman will be starting all over our defense but I do think what we have is not able to compete at a high level unless we have several upgrades

 

[anomander]

Shocking

numbers speak for themselves

 

[anomander]

LOL WUT?!?!

That sounds like a “you” problem.

We have FORTY new guys coming in.

And haven’t really lost anybody of note outbound to the portal.
(Barnes excepted).

And you’re mad because we didn’t get another McCord-level guy?

Spoiler - there was no other McCord-level guy.

Except McCord - who we may actually be getting back for next year.

just look at the numbers. It’s not an opinion it’s a fact that our recruiting from last year took a step back. 40 new names don’t mean they are better players. How is it different from the guys we brought in before Fran. That’s the pace we were on. Last class was loaded. HS and portal. I don’t know why people are so afraid of facts?

 

[GoSU96]

numbers speak for themselves

numbers speak for themselves

Have you helped?

 

[anomander]

Have you helped?

Yes

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Or, we were never going to compete with that schedule next year, so the plan is to get those underclassmen ready to REALLY compete in 2026.

I just don't buy Fran thinks that way.

 

[OttosDad]

All over the defense?

Not on the DL that’s for sure. Not at LB unless they beat out six guys. Not at safety.

Maybe at one corner spot if they are better than whats here today.

Who at LB is proven going into next year? Who at corner is proven going into next year?

 

[OttosDad]

Or, we were never going to compete with that schedule next year, so the plan is to get those underclassmen ready to REALLY compete in 2026.

That’s would be wildly foolish and would derail all momentum. Would be extremely disappointing

 

[dollarbill44]

This coaching staff isn't conceding next season. They don't think like weak- minded fans.

 

[tep624]

Or, we were never going to compete with that schedule next year, so the plan is to get those underclassmen ready to REALLY compete in 2026.

Yeah let’s head into the season planning not to compete.

That fits Fran’s M.O. all right….

 

[bnoro]

I didn't say we weren't going to try to compete. I think a bowl game is realistic with what we're bringing back and bringing in. But there's no player in the portal that we are going to land that will get this team to go 10-2 next season.

It's not a throwaway year, it's a building year with the hope that we over-perform.

Let's maybe try to be a little realistic about our chances.