Pick your star of the 2017 class

[LeMoyneCuse]

Maybe a safety in the nfl? Lose 10 lbs?

I stick to what Money said a month or two ago - you never shrink a player.

 

[orangefog]

I love that there are so many different answers. The great thing is, all of these guys fit the offense and defense that Dino runs. They are all of BCS level size and/or speed for their position. I love when a guy has stars next to his name, because that brings exposure, but the offers say more, and these guys had major offers. It is going to be fun watching this program grow.

 

[TheCusian]

I do love fagan and think he will be a beast here. That said, he better add 30# to sniff the league. Right now listed at 6'2/200#.

That's what happens in college football. He'll gain it in muscle and weight. I'd bet he puts on 10-15 this spring/summer.

 

[TheCusian]

Markenzy. Area of need + lots of reps + already big and fast.

 

[Orijinal]

Patty Davis and Sharod Johnson.

I just think both of these guys play significant snaps this year

 

[blizz]

Patty Davis and Sharod Johnson.

I just think both of these guys play significant snaps this year

No you didn't!

 

[orangepassion]

I'll go with Markenzy Pierre on O and Kingsley Jonathan on D (assuming he makes it), though I really like the LB's.

 

[Orijinal]

No you didn't!

oh yes. Yes I did

 

[Ish88888]

Maybe a safety in the nfl? Lose 10 lbs?

Um, no...

 

[Ish88888]

I honestly don't have a clue. Will wait until summer practice is in full swing.

Yup, my guess is Guthrie and Richards at LB. Pierce at TE, and Butler, Williams in the secondary.

 

[bnoro]

Yup, my guess is Guthrie and Richards at LB. Pierce at TE, and Butler, Williams in the secondary.

Richards is a MIKE. He's not playing over Zaire, and he's not playing the most important defensive position as a true frosh.

 

[Ish88888]

Richards is a MIKE. He's not playing over Zaire, and he's not playing the most important defensive position as a true frosh.

I believe the title of the thread was star of the 2017 class, not the star in 2017 from the 2017 class. I know richards is a mike. Zaire was average at best last year. Maybe richards takes a shirt or maybe he has football acumen from the get go with his size and beats out Zaire with the size, speed, and athleticism that we have needed at lb since dougie hogue and smith. Thats how the program gets better...

 

[CbusCuse]

Melifonwu on Defense. We haven't had a DB with his size and athleticism since I don't know when.
Devito on Offense. He will be a great leader heading up a prolific offense. How can you not pick him?
...Or if we are saying we can't pick Devito because its too obvious then I will go with Sharrod Johnson. Looks to have everything you could want in a slot receiver in a Babers offense and he will have a great career here.

Hacket is my underrated stud of the class.

Really like this class. The pieces really seem to fit well. Dino really seems to have a plan and knows how to execute it.

 

[Digable5]

There are so many guys that I like in this class, but I think a long term stud will be DT Curtis Harper. He's got great size already. Plays with a great pad level and just looks like a pro. When I watched Syracuse.coms introduction of players, his video stood out to me.

 

[Dcuse]

I believe the title of the thread was star of the 2017 class, not the star in 2017 from the 2017 class. I know richards is a mike. Zaire was average at best last year. Maybe richards takes a shirt or maybe he has football acumen from the get go with his size and beats out Zaire with the size, speed, and athleticism that we have needed at lb since dougie hogue and smith. Thats how the program gets better...

Just so I'm straight on this...You are suggesting,in this dimension that we exist in,that a current high school senior could beat out an all-ACC returning SENIOR?

wow

 

[Ish88888]

Just so I'm straight on this...You are suggesting,in this dimension that we exist in,that a current high school senior could beat out an all-ACC returning SENIOR?

wow

Very good point. I love zaire but yes, this kid seems physically ready and zaires game is more tailored to shafers attacking style. He struggled last year, esp in pass coverage. The kid just might push zaire.

 

[Trueblue25]

I'll tell you whose job isn't safe... Jonathan Thomas

 

[baggerbob]

Our defense has been bad for 2 years, since Zaire, and Bennett became starters, both are nice people, but lack the speed, and size to play in the ACC.

 

[RMH44]

Our defense has been bad for 2 years, since Zaire, and Bennett became starters, both are nice people, but lack the speed, and size to play in the ACC.

Franklin is 230lbs so size isn't an issue and he has very good speed for a mike. As HCDB said last year, he is our best player on defense and (barring injury) he will be a stalwart in the middle again this year.

 

[Orijinal]

Just so we are reminded again, our defense was horrendous last year, and it cannot possibly all be attributed to the players on the field.

I hope the coaches did some soul searching over the past couple months. Constantly leaving opponents wide open with no one in striking distance is a scheme flaw. Any scheme that requires your middle linebacker to constantly drop back into coverage is flirting with fate

 

[TheCusian]

Our defense has been bad for 2 years, since Zaire, and Bennett became starters, both are nice people, but lack the speed, and size to play in the ACC.

This is wrong. They are our leading tacklers from last year and the staff raved about them. They held their own vs all teams not FSU or Clemson.

 

[TheCusian]

Just so we are reminded again, our defense was horrendous last year, and it cannot possibly all be attributed to the players on the field.

I hope the coaches did some soul searching over the past couple months. Constantly leaving opponents wide open with no one in striking distance is a scheme flaw. Any scheme that requires your middle linebacker to constantly drop back into coverage is flirting with fate

It was a combination of a bunch of things. I don't think Franklin, Bennett, Slayton or Clarke were the root of the problem. It was DE and Secondary.

 

[Ish88888]

Our defense has been bad for 2 years, since Zaire, and Bennett became starters, both are nice people, but lack the speed, and size to play in the ACC.

Agree, they played well as Blitzers in SS defense, but were lost last year. Lets be frank, both lack the size required to be an all around backer in the ACC.

 

[Ish88888]

It was a combination of a bunch of things. I don't think Franklin, Bennett, Slayton or Clarke were the root of the problem. It was DE and Secondary.

Was by no means our defensive front. Yes, we need more pressure and dynamics off the edge, but the interior dline is more than solid. Its the back 7. Lbs and dbs that got abused.

 

[RMH44]

Agree, they played well as Blitzers in SS defense, but were lost last year. Lets be frank, both lack the size required to be an all around backer in the ACC.

Franklin doesn't lack size @ 230lbs. And he was "lost" enough last season to post 100/plus tackles and be named honorable mention all ACC.

This crazy talk about a true frosh LB taking his spot needs to stop. It makes you look clueless.