I know, I know. "It's way too early to look at '18, we don't even know what '17 will be." Well I answer you this Mike Stoops, if you'd look to the future, you'd get a pretty clear indication of where you need to recruit #s at. Again, this isn't a real prediction, but just an exhibition to see what type of depth we'll have 2 seasons from now, and what players that we better cross our fingers and hope pan out.
QB: Kendall / Murray / Robison / Rising
Exp: total crap shoot, whoever rises to the top out of this group will be a stud.
RB: Anderson / Sutton / Adams / Sermon / Brooks
Exp: None of these guys will have their eligibility expire, we we're good here. I imagine a few of these guys will be studs.
FB: Hall / Meier
Exp: We like to have 2 HBacks at all times, Meier will be a senior in '18. Maybe we look for one in this class but our coaches can wait till the '19 class if no one pops up in this class.
WR: Andrews / Calcaterra / Farrar
Exp: Andrews will be a senior, and who knows if Farrar will even play slot. I say we need another jumbo slot in this class. Either way looking good here in '18.
HWR: Basquine / Jones / Murray
Exp: All of these will be upper classmen by then. I say we need to hit a homerun in the '18 class at this position.
XWR: Lamb / Rambo / Miller
Exp: I don't know what positions, but I think Brown and Lamb are our outside WRs. Under this scenario I also doubt Miller sticks around. I imagine an '18 recruit will crack this 3 deep.
ZWR: Brown / Green / ?
Exp: Again, who knows if Green is here by then. Even though WRs were a huge priority in the '17 class, I'd say they are even more so in the '18 class.
RT: B. Evans / Swenson / ?
Exp: A McKinney, Simpson, or Walker would fit in here.
RG: Samia / Dalton / Hayes
Exp: Who knows if Samia comes back for his senior year? Either way we'll have plenty of depth here baring Dalton transferring.
C: Humphrey / Roberson / ?
Exp: Dalton could play Center as well, I imagine we reload with another Center in this class or the next one though.
LG: Ford / Powers / Robinson
Exp: Again there's always a risk of someone going pro or transferring, but right now it looks good.
LT: Ealy / Mittermeier / Walker
Exp: Here's a situation where I think Brown goes pro, so we better hope and pray Ealy is a hit, or that Walker / McKinney or someone can fill the void at RT and let Bobby Evans slide over.
Conclusion on offense: I think WRs and OTs are very important for this class. Obviously we have no proven anything at RB, so right now that of course looks like a need as well. A tackle opposite Walker and some big time outside WRs seem like a big need.
WDE: Jackson / Gumbs / Daley
Exp: This position looks like it has depth enough to allow someone such as Redmond to bulk up while redshirting.
DT: Overton / McKinney / Lott
Exp: It goes from strength in this season to "ruh roh" in '18. We need a stud here.
DT: Gallimore / Lampkin / James
Exp: Looks fine here. Though Gally / Lampkin and Overton all being in the same class means we need a major haul at DT this year.
SDE: Bledsoe / Mann / Thomas
Exp: Looks good so far, but we'll need a guy like Tatum at this position.
WLB: Kelly / Bolton / ?
Exp: With all the OLB depth going to DE, we be screwed at this position. Who knows if Bolton even stays, but we'll need some LBs big time in this class. A Phillips or Taylor or heck even Mashburn could've helped here.
MLB: JMT / Draper / ?
Exp: Both will be sophomores so looking good here, but we'll need a MLB to come in and be there for depth.
SLB: Deberry / Murray / ?
Exp: Again relatively young at the position, but we need #s at LB in this class.
CB: Motley / Brown / Austin
Exp: Who knows if we sign Austin or not, this group looks solid, though I'd definitely like to see someone get some playing time behind Thomas this year.
CB: Parker / Broiles / Norwood
Exp: Plenty of depth here, maybe Broiles starts opposite Parker. Either way it's an athletic, quick, ball hawking group like Cooks wants.
SS: Haughton / Sylvie / Jones
Exp: Count me as thinking Haughton has some work to do, cause so far in 2 years he looks like a JAG (just a guy).
FS: Sunderland / Barnes / ?
Exp: Like CB, Barnes and Sunderland may be the 2 starters here. This position looks very strong, but will need a depth player in the '18 class.
NB: Sylvie / Broiles / ?
Exp: Either could start depending on what the coaches want out of their NB. A Patrick Fields would do good here.
Conclusion on Defense: Some homeruns at DT and #s at LB will be much needed in this class. I'm sure Cooks will do well at DB but it isn't the biggest need on the defense, I'm sure he can afford to be picky there.
QB: Kendall / Murray / Robison / Rising
Exp: total crap shoot, whoever rises to the top out of this group will be a stud.
RB: Anderson / Sutton / Adams / Sermon / Brooks
Exp: None of these guys will have their eligibility expire, we we're good here. I imagine a few of these guys will be studs.
FB: Hall / Meier
Exp: We like to have 2 HBacks at all times, Meier will be a senior in '18. Maybe we look for one in this class but our coaches can wait till the '19 class if no one pops up in this class.
WR: Andrews / Calcaterra / Farrar
Exp: Andrews will be a senior, and who knows if Farrar will even play slot. I say we need another jumbo slot in this class. Either way looking good here in '18.
HWR: Basquine / Jones / Murray
Exp: All of these will be upper classmen by then. I say we need to hit a homerun in the '18 class at this position.
XWR: Lamb / Rambo / Miller
Exp: I don't know what positions, but I think Brown and Lamb are our outside WRs. Under this scenario I also doubt Miller sticks around. I imagine an '18 recruit will crack this 3 deep.
ZWR: Brown / Green / ?
Exp: Again, who knows if Green is here by then. Even though WRs were a huge priority in the '17 class, I'd say they are even more so in the '18 class.
RT: B. Evans / Swenson / ?
Exp: A McKinney, Simpson, or Walker would fit in here.
RG: Samia / Dalton / Hayes
Exp: Who knows if Samia comes back for his senior year? Either way we'll have plenty of depth here baring Dalton transferring.
C: Humphrey / Roberson / ?
Exp: Dalton could play Center as well, I imagine we reload with another Center in this class or the next one though.
LG: Ford / Powers / Robinson
Exp: Again there's always a risk of someone going pro or transferring, but right now it looks good.
LT: Ealy / Mittermeier / Walker
Exp: Here's a situation where I think Brown goes pro, so we better hope and pray Ealy is a hit, or that Walker / McKinney or someone can fill the void at RT and let Bobby Evans slide over.
Conclusion on offense: I think WRs and OTs are very important for this class. Obviously we have no proven anything at RB, so right now that of course looks like a need as well. A tackle opposite Walker and some big time outside WRs seem like a big need.
WDE: Jackson / Gumbs / Daley
Exp: This position looks like it has depth enough to allow someone such as Redmond to bulk up while redshirting.
DT: Overton / McKinney / Lott
Exp: It goes from strength in this season to "ruh roh" in '18. We need a stud here.
DT: Gallimore / Lampkin / James
Exp: Looks fine here. Though Gally / Lampkin and Overton all being in the same class means we need a major haul at DT this year.
SDE: Bledsoe / Mann / Thomas
Exp: Looks good so far, but we'll need a guy like Tatum at this position.
WLB: Kelly / Bolton / ?
Exp: With all the OLB depth going to DE, we be screwed at this position. Who knows if Bolton even stays, but we'll need some LBs big time in this class. A Phillips or Taylor or heck even Mashburn could've helped here.
MLB: JMT / Draper / ?
Exp: Both will be sophomores so looking good here, but we'll need a MLB to come in and be there for depth.
SLB: Deberry / Murray / ?
Exp: Again relatively young at the position, but we need #s at LB in this class.
CB: Motley / Brown / Austin
Exp: Who knows if we sign Austin or not, this group looks solid, though I'd definitely like to see someone get some playing time behind Thomas this year.
CB: Parker / Broiles / Norwood
Exp: Plenty of depth here, maybe Broiles starts opposite Parker. Either way it's an athletic, quick, ball hawking group like Cooks wants.
SS: Haughton / Sylvie / Jones
Exp: Count me as thinking Haughton has some work to do, cause so far in 2 years he looks like a JAG (just a guy).
FS: Sunderland / Barnes / ?
Exp: Like CB, Barnes and Sunderland may be the 2 starters here. This position looks very strong, but will need a depth player in the '18 class.
NB: Sylvie / Broiles / ?
Exp: Either could start depending on what the coaches want out of their NB. A Patrick Fields would do good here.
Conclusion on Defense: Some homeruns at DT and #s at LB will be much needed in this class. I'm sure Cooks will do well at DB but it isn't the biggest need on the defense, I'm sure he can afford to be picky there.
