According to Chris Peak of Panther Lair, Jaryd Jones-Smith suffered a knee injury and is out for the 2015 season. He will have surgery this week. Jones-Smith was set to start at RT this upcoming season. Unfortunately Jones-Smith has already used his redshirt, so he will lose a season of eligibility. Peak had this say about who could replace him:
The most likely option might be to move redshirt freshman Alex Bookser, who worked at right guard in spring camp but came to Pitt as a highly-regarded offensive tackle prospect. That scenario would probably mean a move for redshirt sophomore Alex Officer from center to right guard and a return to the starting lineup at center for redshirt senior Artie Rowell.
Other options could include junior Dorian Johnson, who started 13 games at left guard last season but played tackle as a freshman in 2014, as well as redshirt freshman Aaron Reese, who was Jones-Smith’s backup in spring camp.
This is a big loss for the team, especially given Jones-Smith was set to replace NFL starter TJ Clemmings. Thankfully the roster does have a lot of talent, albeit unproven, on the OL. This situation will be one of the key things to monitor this summer.
But it’s probably the one group on the whole roster that can afford to drop a starter.
Some combo of Bisno, DJ, Officer, Grimm, Bookser, and Artie can get the job done… Roberts has seen plenty of action too.
Biz – DJ – Artie – Officer – Bookster potentially left to right.
I’m interested to see how Grimm does in fall camp. He was highly recruited and is suppose to be very physical.
Roberts and Reese have played a little as well, right?
Personally, I don’t bring Artie back unless he is better than before and his play makes you. Depth at the center spot is more important than versatility. This is akin to not using your backup catcher as a pinch hitter in the 6th or 7th inning. You just don’t tempt fate and lose plan “B”.
Left to right it is Bisno, Johnson, Officer, Grimm and Bookser. Or a different combination with Bookser. Out of the stable listed above, we should have 3-4 options available. If not, they need to move on. Bisno is oft injured so we need to keep a plan “B” for him as well. Road grader central! Re-paving the 412 since 2014.
Each player has one redshirt year, no questions asked. For a player to get a second, medical only, reshirt, he has to miss most of two seasons due to injuries. Even then, he has to apply to the NCAA to get it approved.
So the only way JJS can get another redshirt year is if he misses another season with an injury.
I only see 3 OT’s left.
Biz
John Guy
Aaron Reese.
I don’t seem to remember Guy & Reese being highly sought after recruits.
Tackle is the most important position on the line.
Looking more closely, 2 Long Snappers are on it.
He redshirted in ’13 and played a bit last season but he can be a good one given the chance. I think if he was recruited by some team other than PITT & Chryst, who was stockpiling quality OLs, then he’d have seen more PT in his rsFR year.
72 Carson Baker OG RS SO 6-5/330 Fairborn, OH (Fairborn)
69 Adam Bisnowaty OT RS JR 6-6/305 Pittsburgh, PA (Fox Chapel)
78 Alex Bookser OG RS FR 6-6/295 Pittsburgh, PA (Mt. Lebanon)
77 Alex Galiyas OG RS FR 6-2/270 Dexter, MI (Detroit Catholic Central)
50 Mike Grimm OG RS FR 6-6/325 Bethel Park, PA (Bethel Park)
62 John Guy OT RS JR 6-7/285 Somerville, MA (New Hampton School (N.H.))
66 Mike Herndon OG RS FR 6-4/320 Greenville, VA (Riverheads)
53 Dorian Johnson OG JR 6-5/300 Belle Vernon, PA (Belle Vernon)
75 Jaryd Jones-Smith OT RS SO 6-7/335 Voorhees, NJ (West Catholic (PA))
67 David Murphy LS RS SR 6-1/220 Orchard Park, NY (St. Francic)
63 Alex Officer C RS SO 6-4/335 Rochester, NY (Eastridge)
61 Pat Quirin LS RS JR 6-1/220 Pittsburgh, PA (Central Catholic)
60 Aaron Reese OT RS SO 6-5/310 Chambersburg, PA (Chambersburg)
71 Gabe Roberts C RS JR 6-5/305 New London, WI (New London)
57 Artie Rowell C RS SR 6-2/315 Harrisburg, PA (Central Dauphin)