ESPN: Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2017
Teams of note are below:
1. Alabama
2016 record: 14-1, 8-0 SEC
Returning starters: 7 offense, 6 defense, 1 special teams
Key losses: TE O.J. Howard, DE Jonathan Allen, DE Dalvin Tomlinson, LB Tim Williams, LB Ryan Anderson, LB Reuben Foster, S Eddie Jackson
4. Penn State
2016 record: 11-3, 8-1 Big Ten
Returning starters: 9 offense, 7 defense, 2 special teams
Key losses: C Brian Gaia, WR Chris Godwin, DE Evan Schwan, LB Brandon Bell, SS Malik Golden, OT Paris Palmer, DE Garrett Sickels
5. Clemson
2016 record: 14-1, 7-1 ACC
Returning starters: 5 offense, 7 defense, 1 special teams
Key losses: QB Deshaun Watson, WR Mike Williams, WR Artavis Scott, C Jay Guillermo, TE Jordan Leggett, RB Wayne Gallman, DT Carlos Watkins, LB Ben Boulware, SS Jadar Johnson, CB Cordrea Tankersley
6. Ohio State
2016 record: 11-2, 8-1 Big Ten
Returning starters: 9 offense, 8 defense, 0 special teams
Key losses: C Pat Elflein, CB Gareon Conley, RB Curtis Samuel, WR Noah Brown, S Malik Hooker, LB, Raekwon McMillan, P Cameron Johnston, K Tyler Durbin
9. Wisconsin
2016 record: 11-3, 7-2 Big Ten
Returning starters: 9 offense, 7 defense, 1 special teams
Key losses: WR Robert Wheelwright, , QB Bart Houston, RB Corey Clement, LB Vince Biegel, LB T.J. Watt, FS Leo Musso, CB Sojourn Shelton, K Andrew Endicott
12. Michigan
2016 record: 10-3, 7-2 Big Ten
Returning starters: 4 offense, 1 defense, 0 special teams
Key losses: WR Amara Darboh, WR Jehu Chesson, OT Ben Braden, G Kyle Kalis, OT Erik Magnuson, TE Jake Butt, RB De'Veon Smith, LB/RB Jabrill Peppers, DE Chris Wormley, NT Matthew Godin, DT Ryan Glasgow, DE Taco Charlton, LB Ben Gedeon, CB Jourdan Lewis, SS Dymonte Thomas, FS Delano Hill, CB Channing Stribling
21. Florida
2016 record: 9-4, 6-2 SEC
Returning starters: 9 offense, 3 defense, 2 special teams
Key losses: NT Joey Ivie, DT Caleb Brantley, LB Daniel McMillian, LB Jarrad Davis, LB Alex Anzalone, CB Quincy Wilson, CB Teez Tabor, S Marcus Maye, DE Bryan Cox Jr., QB Austin Appleby, OT David Sharpe
January 10th, 2017 at 9:14 AM ^
January 10th, 2017 at 9:15 AM ^
Where is MSU?
January 10th, 2017 at 10:14 AM ^
January 10th, 2017 at 10:37 AM ^
This listing is for the TOP 25, not the bottom.
January 10th, 2017 at 1:03 PM ^
I think you mean "where did all the spartans go?"
January 10th, 2017 at 9:22 AM ^
Combined with Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin all having 16 or more. God damnit 2014 transitional class.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:27 AM ^
17 returning starters for OSU? Don't think it will end up being quite that many.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:58 AM ^
January 10th, 2017 at 10:37 AM ^
I think Hubbard said he was coming back.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:27 AM ^
January 10th, 2017 at 9:33 AM ^
I don't buy Clemson at #5. That's a LOT of their offense, including perhaps the best player in program history, leaving, plus there are always your random early draft announcers. PSU at #4 also seems a bit high, but it's still a top-10 program. A lot will depend on whether or not their defense improves; that offense bailed them out, but you don't win a lot of games giving up 40+ points.
Michigan at #12 actually feels a bit optimistic just because of the defensive losses and the fact that the offense is still in flux.
January 10th, 2017 at 1:17 PM ^
I think Boulware's loss on the D is equal to Watson's loss on O for Clemson. I was amazed watching him last night. He knew what Alabama was going to run the second they lined up and got everyone in place to stop it after the first two Alabama TD's. He was a key reason Clemson won last night. That is not easily replaced.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:35 AM ^
Damn, 12 seems high. I wish we were a little more under the radar. I think long term we have a chance to be way more talented but also obviously way less experienced.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:50 AM ^
Don't like the entitled feeling that high rankings bring. We need to WIN on the field.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:36 AM ^
#12 seems about right for us. That said, we have so many new (but talented) starters that we could be high-variance. If all the newcomers are awesome, we could be something like 11-1. Or we could be 8-4. I don't think anyone would be that surprised at either one of those outcomes.
January 10th, 2017 at 1:34 PM ^
With as many starters as we're losing plus how many new starters are going to be underclassmen in key positions, I think 8/9 wins next year is a success.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:40 AM ^
The o-line scares me and replacing a secondary could be tough.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:42 AM ^
Yeah, you don't think about how many people we are going to be losing sometimes until you see it neatly listed like that - and quite the list it is too. It makes me think that this entire place is going to be hanging on just about every little tidbit that comes out during spring and fall camp now too, because there will be battles just about everywhere, I would think.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:45 AM ^
And they're missing another key starter that we're losing.
Kenny Allen.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:50 AM ^
*loosing
January 10th, 2017 at 9:47 AM ^
What ever happened to Da Shawn Hand? I didn't hear his name last night.
January 10th, 2017 at 10:17 AM ^
He made a nice play where he stuffed Gallman for no gain, if memory serves.
January 10th, 2017 at 10:18 AM ^
He's in the DL rotation.
January 10th, 2017 at 12:44 PM ^
He made some plays. Isn't their "star" but definitely was part of the line that makes life easier for their backers.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:48 AM ^
Penn State may very well finish that high because they're decent and their schedule is cake, but no way do I believe they're actually a top 5 team
January 10th, 2017 at 9:51 AM ^
Which makes them Iowa/MSU from 2015.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:59 AM ^
We're going to be down from this year next year.
I don't think that's a surprise to anyone. I still think 8-4 is a reasonable expectation.
I would love it if we got one of Solomon/Tufele and Gay though.
January 10th, 2017 at 10:04 AM ^
January 10th, 2017 at 10:08 AM ^
Penn State #4???
Are they getting a new QB?
Teams have learned that all you need to do is stand on the sideline to McSorely's right at the 20 yard line and just wait to intercept one of his arm punts.
January 10th, 2017 at 10:50 AM ^
They have a good OC, a great RB, and presumably their OLine will finally resemble something respectable. Their offense will be just fine. Their defense, however, that just got lit up by an ok offense (Wisconsin) and a good, not great offense (USC) is legitimate cause for concern.
They'll have a good record next year, but they could also be destroyed by good competition they play.
January 10th, 2017 at 10:08 AM ^
Pointless
January 10th, 2017 at 10:09 AM ^
Welp, now we get to see if Harbaugh can really work his magic and make a team with 5 returning starters great.
January 10th, 2017 at 10:12 AM ^
He should be coach of the year if he does.
January 10th, 2017 at 10:20 AM ^
January 10th, 2017 at 10:20 AM ^
January 10th, 2017 at 11:03 AM ^
Are pointless and stupid. For instance jet sking, sky diving, putt-putt, posting on message boards. That does not mean its not fun for some people and that it shouldn't be done
January 10th, 2017 at 11:17 AM ^
...to break into the top 5. Clemson, USC, Alabama, Louisville, PSU, and yes, even OSU, all had the type of QB that UofM did not - a dual threat difference maker, a tough runner, gutsy, stick their head in there and get it done. Hoping Brandon Peters or Dylan MCaffrey is that player for us.
January 10th, 2017 at 11:14 AM ^
With only 5 returning starters being ranked 12th in the way too early seems way too high.
January 10th, 2017 at 11:19 AM ^
January 10th, 2017 at 11:35 AM ^
I think 12 is generous given all of the talent we lose. Stewart Mandel has us 15th and that seems about right. We should get a nice bump if/when we beat Florida.
January 10th, 2017 at 12:23 PM ^
Win games. Hopefully, we'll be on the right end of the close ones.
GO BLUE!1
January 10th, 2017 at 12:29 PM ^
January 10th, 2017 at 1:07 PM ^
January 10th, 2017 at 12:40 PM ^
next year, that is 100% Harbaugh!
January 10th, 2017 at 12:44 PM ^
Does the ref from last night have any eligibility? He looks like he can play!
January 10th, 2017 at 12:59 PM ^
Looks like another fun year in the Big Ten East!
January 10th, 2017 at 1:05 PM ^
Yikes. 5 total returning starters. I like our depth but, experience will not be our ally. I do like our RB stable though. Love the duo of Evans and Higdon with a sprinkle of Isaac.
January 10th, 2017 at 1:21 PM ^
QB - check
RB - Higdon, Evans & Isaac remain - add in Walker - not all that inexperienced even though we lose our "starter"
TE - Bunting/Asiasi/Wheatley - good and fairly experienced
WR - Crawford and DPJ - Crawford played a lot and was lauded for his blocking - perhaps the tougher thing to get WR's to do
Slot WR - Perry if he stays, or McDoom/Johnson - we'll be ok
FB - both return
OL - the only real concern - my latest uneducated guess
LT - Filiaga/JBB/Ulizio
RT - Bredeson
G - Onwenu
G - Ruiz/Runyan/Kugler
C - Cole
the starting DL of Winovich/Mone/Hurst/Gary is experienced with a ton of talented newbies learning behind them
LB - McCray/Bush/Viper (Metellus? Gay?)
CB's - Clark/L Hill or Long
Safeties - Kinnel & Hudson
K - Nordin
potential Freshman starters are few - DPJ, Ruiz, Filiaga might be it - most everyone else played some, and now it is their turn
while we lost many starters, how many are 1st rounders - 2 or 3?
as an example, our WR were good, but they were not great - the WR listed above may outperform them
worrying about or "starting experience" is overrated - there is a reason why people played in 2016 - prepare for 17
January 10th, 2017 at 1:40 PM ^
I agree with most of your comments, but I think it's overly optimistic to brush away the lack of experience at OL by saying we have solid replacements elsewhere. I'm not doom and gloom, but the OL is going to have to surprise us for next season to go as well as this one did. You're talking about 4 of the 5 being in their first or second years. Health will be beyond critical for both lines.