My best guess (no true freshman):
QB:Loeb/Allen
RB:Smith/Gulley/Moore
FB:M.Davis/Cleveland
TE:Thomson/Wales/Parris
WR:Funderbunk/West/Flemming/Foster/Kobena/Clark
LT:Hickey/Phillips?
LG:Trudo/Foy
C:Macky/Emerich
RG: Palmer/Robinson
RT:Knapp/JUCO
ATHLETE: Broyld/Hunt
DE:MPB/Welsh
DE:Robinson/Manley
DT:Bromley/Raymon/Jones
NT:Williams/Crume/Walls
SLB:Spruill/Vigille
MLB:Lynch/JUCO/Coker
WLB: Davis/Washington
SS: Eskridge/Ford
FS: Desir/Wilkes
CB:Reddish/Lyn/Anderson/Whigham/Morgan/George
I like your list, agree with most of it. Here is mine:
QB: Loeb/Hunt/Kinder/Allen/Wilson
Broyld might be given a chance at QB this spring. Regardless, there are too many players here and I think by the end of the spring, someone might well get moved somewhere else. Unless there is no separation and the coaches want to keep them all in the mix for the fall. But count me in the camp that gives Loeb the advantage for now. But only by an incredibly good looking nose.
RB: Smith/Gulley/Moore/Morris/McFarland
Too many players here. Someone has to get moved. The most likely candidate is McFarland to strong safety, where there is a big need. I am assuming Broyld will be moved elsewhere, as the depth at this position is the best on the team and he can play a number of positions (many of the others cannot).
FB: Coker/M.Davis/Cleveland
There really isn't a fullback position on the team anymore. But if there was, I would list Coker first (I did) because he is the only guy playing here these days.
TE: Thompson/Wales/Parris
I like this order. Wales is a fine blocker but he dropped an alarming number of passes this season and showed no improvement from start to finish. He is often not even ready to receive a pass when the ball is thrown to him. I don't think he is much of a receiver. Thompson is bigger, much more athletic and I believe he has much better hands as well.
WR: Funderburk/Kobena/Clark
WR: Foster/J West/Flemming
Slot WR: Broyld/B Lewis/A Cornelius
I list 3 WRs because that is what we used most of the time this season and I expect more of the same in the future.
Funderburk has size and speed and I expect him to develop into the deep threat we have needed for years now. I think he has a lot of Mike Williams in him.
Foster is a tough, physical kid with a great nose for the ball. A slightly bigger version of Alec Lemon. West is another tough kid who will get YAC and make some tough catches. Always hoping for Flemming to emerge. He plays great in practices and doesn't play in games. Sales II.
Broyld is too good an athlete to keep on the bench. If he doesn't get assigned here, he gets assigned to TE, I think. Can't see him at RB again. He would be a fine DE or LB but the guy has an innate gift to make people miss. He is our best player in open space and I cannot fathom moving him from offense. I hope/expect to see him used not unlike Sanu was used at RU his last season there. Lots of short/medium passes designed to give him the ability to beat someone one on one.
I love the depth we are building here, even if Broyld is moved elsewhere.
LT: Hickey/Knapp
LG: Trudo/Foy
C: Macky/Emerich
RG: Palmer/Robinson
RT: Phillips/JUCO
This assumes Pugh is gone. If he stays, he will of course remain at LT and Hickey starts at RT.
There is some controversy here because depending on who starts at QB. Normally you put your best OT at LT to protect the QB's blind side. But if the QB is left handed, like Loeb, I think DM will keep Hickey at RT and start Phillips at LT.
I think Phillips has been a loyal soldier and is going to finally get his change to shine, winning a starting position in the spring. It it isn't him, it will probably be Knapp. Robinson is a good dark horse at OG and OT. Might hurt him that he can play both, like it probably hurt Phillips so far in his career.
Trudo is an absolute lock, he played great down the stretch. Didn't think Foy was bad when he played early but Palmer was so impressive in the all star game at the Dome I have a hard time ignoring him. I like Robinson too...he might end up at the non Hickey tackle position as well.
DE: MPB/Simmons
DE: Robinson/Welch
3 of these guys were in the rotation this season, we only lose Sharpe (which is a big loss; he has had a terrific senior season). I think Simmons is more likely to break into the rotation than Manley because of a perceived need for another pass rusher. He is more like Sharpe, I think, than Manley is. Based on only seeing them play a few series...
DT: Bromley/Raymon/Walls
NT: Crume/Williams/Jones
Sloan might work his way into the rotation here as well. We have some nice depth here. Could definitely see Bromley or Raymon get some snaps at DE if they can get in good enough shape.
SLB: Washington/Vigille
MLB: Spruill/JUCO/Coker
WLB: Davis/Lynch
The biggest open question for 2013. The 3 MIKEs on the team now, as far as I know, are Diabate, Vaughn (who plays all 3 positions) and Coker. Spruill has played there and certainly could return. I think he probably ends up there, with the one of best of the young LBs/incoming JUCO LBs replacing him at the SAM position. Don't think Lynch is big enough. but I know the staff likes his intelligence and Diet Tab showed you don't have to be 6'0 to play at the MIKE. So maybe Lynch wins the position. I will go with this grouping for now, not having seen Washington play a down in person yet.
CB: Reddish/Lyn/Morgan
CB: Anderson/Whigham/George
The staff has settled in on playing Reddish, Lyn and Anderson almost evenly this season and I see no reason that will change next year.
SS: Eskridge/Ford
FS: Desir/Wilkes
I see you have Wilkes projected to lose his starting job at FS, which is a gutsy call on your part. This rarely happens. Based on what I have seen of Wilkes, this could indeed happen. He did not have a strong season and Desir appears to be a really impressive prospect.
Was pretty disappointed with the play of Eskridge this season. I think that he was hurt, and this was why he tackled poorly at times, and looked awkward and lacking aggression. At times, he also looked very good.
I have heard great things about Ford. He could easily end up starting at SS or FS. Or even WR, where he wowed the staff playing on the scout team this fall. We should monitor where he plays this spring closely.
I think we should also keep McFarland in mind at one of the safety positions, probably SS. That kid would be the second coming of Shamarko...really think he was born to play SS.
