Secondary got a big boost from Peal

[FrancoPizza]

On paper -- no.

QB -- check.
WR -- check, check.
OL -- check, check, check, check.
DT -- check, check.
DE / Edge -- check.
LB -- check.
And now CB -- check.

That's just on paper; obviously, the guys have to prove it on the field.

Would love to see another LB brought in. Also we really could use an impact edge if we’re sticking with rush 3 and give the qb 3 years to throw.

 

[PhatOrange]

Jackson Meeks says HI!!

That's funny. Meeks played in like 45 games for Georgia. Peal has played in 4 and coming off surgery.

 

[0.2 YNdeeR]

On paper, at least. We needed an experienced corner to add to a young mix -- and we got him, from Georgia!

Here's how I see the secondary shaping up:

Cornerback #1: Kerr -- 6-1 185
Cornerback #2: Peal -- 6-1 190
Safety: Duce -- 6-0 200
Safety: Grant -- 6-4 205
Safety: Martin -- 6-2 195

CB reserves:

• Samuels -- 6-1 195
• Singleton -- 6-1 180
• Delaine -- 6-0 180
• Washington -- 6-1 190
• Long -- 6-0 176
• McDaniels -- 6-3 200

Safety reserves:

• Buxton -- 6-2 200
• Perry -- 6-1 190

Felt like CB was the one position of need that wasn't addressed via the portal. And now it has been. Great job by Fran and the coaching staff!

As good as K-1 is, it'll be tough (maybe impossible) to keep Samuel out of the starting lineup. Competition is ON for starting corner - K-1, Peal, Samuel, et al. As far as ceiling, I agree with you on Peal who was hand-picked by a staff that evaluates DB's as well as any in the country. Otherwise, you might add K-2 to the CB reserves, and Rayshon Andrews to the safety reserves. We haven't seen much of K-2 but if he plays anything like his brother, we're in for a(nother) treat. Andrews is cat that can run ... with Grant size and high potential at SS. Both are January enrollees who benefitted from Spring ball, etc.

 

[Sudano]

Jackson Meeks says HI!!

Joshua Miller says Hi! right back

 

[RF2044]

As good as K-1 is, it'll be tough (maybe impossible) to keep Samuel out of the starting lineup. Competition is ON for starting corner - K-1, Peal, Samuel, et al. As far as ceiling, I agree with you on Peal who was hand-picked by a staff that evaluates DB's as well as any in the country. Otherwise, you might add K-2 to the CB reserves, and Rayshon Andrews to the safety reserves. We haven't seen much of K-2 but if he plays anything like his brother, we're in for a(nother) treat. Andrews is cat that can run ... with Grant size ... potential at SS. Both are January enrollees who benefitted from Spring ball, etc.

Kerr #1 was thrust on the field due to injuries, and accorded himself pretty darn well for a true frosh. Interested to see what he can do in his follow up sophomore season.

Agree that nothing is set in stone, but we have a lot of interesting components. However, more options are good, and more higher rated options potentially raise both the floor and the ceiling of this positional unit!

 

[CuseFan]

LB and Kicker seem to be the biggest needs remaining.

Kudos to Fran and team for bringing on talent so far!

 

[Scooch]

That's funny. Meeks played in like 45 games for Georgia. Peal has played in 4 and coming off surgery.

I agree with your overall point. Seems like our player acquisition strategy this off season is to grab as many guys with raw talent as possible - many of whom haven't done much on the field yet in their college careers - let them battle it out for the next 5-6 months and see who rises to the top.

I think it's an appropriate strategy for a school like SU. We just can't really project who's going to rise to said top months in advance.

 

[CIL]

Definitely need a kicker.
Never felt safe when we punted or kicked a FG.
Playing in a dome we should be able to attract great kickers.
Fran needs to get on this.

We brought in a kicker from Iowa.

 

[GoCuse14]

We brought in a kicker from Iowa.

Word has it, he was not very impressive during spring. Missed kicks and wasn't consistently kicking off into the end zone

 

[RF2044]

That's funny. Meeks played in like 45 games for Georgia. Peal has played in 4 and coming off surgery.

He had surgery in the winter of 2024 [shoulder / labrum], and the recovery from that procedure impacted him last year, as he wasn't fully cleared for contact until mid-September [and was only partially able to participate in preseason camp for Georgia last year].

Not aware of any surgery he's "coming off" of heading into this summer -- is there an additional injury / surgery I am overlooking relevant to this offseason?

 

[23Zone]

I still think deuce might be better off as a cornerback than a safety... He took some terrible angles last year and missed some open field tackles which resulted in busted plays. And he is a little bit undersized for safety in my opinion. Wonder if they will consider moving him back

 

[PhatOrange]

I agree with your overall point. Seems like our player acquisition strategy this off season is to grab as many guys with raw talent as possible - many of whom haven't done much on the field yet in their college careers - let them battle it out for the next 5-6 months and see who rises to the top.

I think it's an appropriate strategy for a school like SU. We just can't really project who's going to rise to said top months in advance.

I don't have any issues with the strategy. I think it's a good one.

He had surgery in the winter of 2024 [shoulder / labrum], and the recovery from that procedure impacted him last year, as he wasn't fully cleared for contact until mid-September [and was only partially able to participate in preseason camp for Georgia last year].

Not aware of any surgery he's "coming off" of heading into this summer -- is there an additional injury / surgery I am overlooking relevant to this offseason?

I don't believe he played in the spring hence the 'coming off surgery'.

 

[OburgCuse]

I don't believe he played in the spring hence the 'coming off surgery'.

He definitely played in the spring. One of the articles said he was splitting time with the 1’s at one of their safety positions during their spring game. Same article said they thought he was behind the other guy and prob hence the portal jump.

Georgia obviously has a roster full of highly skilled corners so IMO it shows that they saw something in him trying to get him on the field at safety still.

 

[kcsu]

I agree with your overall point. Seems like our player acquisition strategy this off season is to grab as many guys with raw talent as possible - many of whom haven't done much on the field yet in their college careers - let them battle it out for the next 5-6 months and see who rises to the top.

I think it's an appropriate strategy for a school like SU. We just can't really project who's going to rise to said top months in advance.

There are numerous reasons that a player who is extremely talented doesnt get much playing time. Way to many to list. Regardless of the reason Fran and his staff have identified players that were highly rated in HS and offered by many of the top programs in the country so its safe to assume that they have talent that if unlocked is going to help our team. Obviously not all of them are going to have the light go on but i do believe that many will. Kids that transfer to other schools that were not highly rated out of college dont seem to all of a sudden get significantly better. The raw material just isnt there which is why many go down a class to a lower-level school so that they are playing against equal competiton. On the other hand, kids that have the ability but for whatever reason have not played often because they are in a program like Georgia that has a third team that would win the Mac or American conference transfer and Boom.
Fran is getting those kids and kids that have been at a lower level and want to compete at a higher level like the SD kid. He knows what hes doing and so does his staff. I think its amazing what he has accomplished in such a short period of time and it's only going to get better.