Music to my ears. Great freaking news at DE and LB:
Even so, the team is large. Even with junior-college transfer Davon Walls (6-5, 315) absent taking a test (Marrone was hopeful the player will be in camp today pending the outcome of the exam) the defensive front is huge. Crume (300) and junior Jay Bromley (6-3, 291) flanked by speed rushers Donnie Simmons – who is listed on the roster at 6-2, 226 but has grown into the 243 range – and Brandon Sharpe (6-2, 245) is finally a D-I type front four. Put senior Deon Goggins (6-1, 275) and sophomore Micah Robinson – who is listed at 6-4, 252 but is now a solid 265 or so – into the rotation at end and you have a unit that would look at home – size-wise, mind you – on an NFL field.
Another position – one of concern to me personally – that looks bigger is linebacker. Sophomore OLB Dyshawn Davis is listed at 6-3, 213, for instance, and appears to be closer to 220. Junior OLB Marquis Spruill is listed at 6-1 216 but I bet is in the 225 range. Even senior MLB Siriki Diabate, listed at 5-10, 210, appears to be 10 pounds heavier.