Since we are undergoing a period of changes in the athletic department and the football program in particular let’s take a look at the players who either won’t be on the roster next season via expiration of their eligibility or by virtue of being pushed ‘into their life’s work’ as the saying goes.
At this point we have no idea how sentimental or ruthless Pat Narduzzi will be when it comes to current players he is inheriting on the roster. We saw the large attrition conducted under Paul Chryst but most of those players who either left on their own (few) or were moved out (many) were mostly the type of players Chryst didn’t want to retain because of character issues or by being negative influences in the locker room.
Chryst supplemented those actions by his recruitment practice of weighing personal qualities equally with the talent and skills the recruits would bring to the team. To me it is hard to judge just how well that balance worked out. Some fans care more about the results on the field rather than any off the field issue that might occur; others feel that the players should be actual student athletes who via their play and behavior reflect positively on the university.
Below is a list of players, with their current year status shown, who will be either gone by eligibility or could be on the chopping block for the 2015 season. A rsJR listed below will most probably be a 5th year rsSR in the Spring and as such they have that last season of eligibility. Given the rest of the roster and what we think we know about Narduzzi’s preferences in the type of player he wants (i.e. faster defensive kids) who do you think we’ll see unexpectedly gone by the 2015 spring practices. Those practices will start in mid-March and go until the second week of April so they are only about ten weeks away.
While we are at it let’s also take a look at which ‘players gone for sure’ guys we think will be the hardest to replace by underclassmen at their positions. Have fun and please explain your reasoning!
PLAYERS GONE FOR SURE
Isaac Bennett RB SR
LaQuentin Smith DL SR
Kevin Weatherspoon WR rsSR
Manasseh Garner WR rsSR
Matt Rotheram OL rsSR
T.J. Clemmings OL rsSR
David Durham DL rsSR
Anthony Gonzalez LB rsSR
Ray Vinopal DB rsSR
Todd Thomas LB rsSR
Adam Lazenga FB rsSR
PLAYERS WHO COULD BE ASKED TO LEAVE (5th year)
Trey Anderson QB rsJR
Ronald Jones WR rsJR
Khaynin Mosley-Smith DL rsJR
Devin Cook DL rsJR
Nicholas Grigsby LB rsJR
Lafayette Pitts DB rsJR
Ejuan Price DL rsJR
Artie Rowell OL rsJR
David Murphy LS rsJR
Jameel Poteat RB SR (transferred in last year & is eligible in ’15)
I just posted earlier today that something was up with hornibrook.
Bertke might be next.
The offensive staff hiring can wait – and if we lose a few offensive players along the way, oh well.
SOP – over and over and over and over again!!!
What is surprising looking back on this last season is that Holtz was our #2 receiver in catches (21) and #3 in receiving yards (199). You know that wasn’t the case at the halfway point so I think it was Voytik getting more comfortable at QB and understanding that he could use his TEs almost anytime he wanted and didn’t have to wait for Boyd to get open. I’ve just got this feeling that Rudolph and Chryst had wanted the TEs used prior but the QB wasn’t settled in enough yet.
Orndoff could even be used more as he’s a bit faster than Holtz and Devon Edwards who was a true FR last year was very impressive in fall camp so he’ll be in the mix also.
I’m also not as down on the receiving corps as some even with Jennings leaving. No one could really tell from fall camp what his skill level was in college ball and he played sparingly so who really knows if he’d be the starter we thought he would. I really like Dontez Ford and Ronald Jones and I am high on Chris Wuestner who I hope will see more time than just kick returns and special teams play. Challingsworth is another kid who could get PT.
But the fact that we have Boyd first and foremost is a great comfort, then we also have some RBs who can catch the ball also (RBs 32 receptions combined), along with younger talent makes me feel like we are OK. Remember, most of our 2014 back up receivers were young kids who have a lot of football in front of them.
We’ll have to pay very close attention in the spring to see who’s getting the work at the receiver spots.
If it happens, let’s be honest, would it really surprise anyone?
possibly had 4 or 5 offers – including Pitt and Rutgers
I wonder if Narduzi is looking to a guy from OSU to run the offense? That would explain the wait.
what I am seeing is buzz around following… but just buzz…
Tim Beck ex OC Nebraska
Don Treadwell, ex HC, OC, currently Kent state
John Defilipo, QB coach Oakland.