Freshmen On OL

Submitted by raleighwood on

I deleted the game from my DVR before I got a better look.  Did any of the freshmen OL get into Saturday's game?  I'm specifically thinking about Kalis and Braden (although Magnuson is listed on the two deep).  

It seems to me that if those guys are going to play at all this year.....this was the game to do it.  Now, it seems unlikely that they'll burn a redshirt unless it's necessary due to injury (fingers crossed).

I'm surprised by how many freshmen have played up to this point.  I guess that bodes well for the future.

 

adamsBlue

September 18th, 2012 at 3:43 PM ^

I wanted to start a new thread about the future of this team...but I don't have enough points to start my own thread...and this is the best opening I'm going to get.

The first "All-Hoke" team.  2014.  Not next season, but the next.  It won't be a true "All-Hoke" team...as it will include some redshirted players from Rich Rod's last full class, and some Rich Rod commits from Hoke's first half-class...but it's close to an "All-Hoke" team.  How good will it be?

*Keep in mind that the 2014 class (Michael Ferns and co.) will be true freshmen on this squad.

 

*OFFENSE*:

QB: S. Morris(So./Fr.), R. Bellomy(Jr.)

… Shane should be the starting QB of this team.  No one seems to have a clue about D. Gardner’s medical R.S; and I think it’s irrelevant here – Shane’s going to be the best QB of this group.  It might even be his second season as our starting QB.  That means we should be full-on into Borges’ Pro-Style offense at this point.  Let’s hope that Shane is at least half as good as we all hope he is.

PB: D. Smith(So./Fr.), W. Shallman(So./Fr.), T. Rawls(Sr.), J. Hayes(Jr.), D. Johnson(So.)

SB: D. Norfleet(Jr.)

FB: S. Houma(Jr.), *J. Kerridge(Jr.)

…This will be Hoke’s first season without F. Toussaint.  I haven’t been one bit impressed with T. Rawls thus far, so I think that D. Smith or W. Shallman (or D. Green, a ’14 stud) is the leader in the clubhouse to replace him.  I like both, and behind what should be a great OL, I think that we could have one of the best power-running games in the nation outside of Bama/LSU at this point.  I also expect D. Norfleet to be the D. Sproles of college football at this point.

WR: (?)D. Gardner(Sr.), J. Chesson(So.), R. Miller(Sr.)

WR: J. Robinson(Sr.), J. Dukes(So./Fr.)

WR: A. Darboh(Jr.), C. York(So./Fr.)

…This is somewhat of an area of concern.  If Gardner gets his medical redshirt and continues to develop, that helps.  But none of these other receivers have much sex-appeal.  Most of them could be more than solid, and some of them could be great.  Still, L. Treadwell and/or a ’14 stud committing would be a big, big deal.

TE: D. Funchess(Jr.), J. Butt(So./Fr.), J. Paskorz(Sr.)

TE: A. Williams(Jr.), K. Hill(So./Fr.), *C. Eddins(Sr.)

…This should be a real position of strength.  D. Funchess looks like a future All-American and high NFL draft pick.  J. Butt has a ton of potential.  A. Williams – should he remain a TE – is going to be a great blocker.  And K. Hill makes some interesting personnel groupings possible.  Looking good!

LT: K. Kalis(So.), E. Magnuson(So.), *K. Mateus(Sr.)

LG: K. Bosch(So./Fr.), B. Bars(So.), *J. Burzinski(Sr.)

C: P. Kugler(So./Fr.), J. Miller(Jr.)

RG: D. Dawson(So./Fr.), C. Bryant(Jr.), *R. Glasgow(Jr.)

RT: C. Fox(So./Fr.), L. T-Tillman(So./Fr.), B. Braden(So.)

…This should be another position of strength.  It’s hard to tell who will emerge at this point.  But it’s safe to bet that a great OL should emerge out of the group.  Nine 4-star or better recruits in the group, all with at least one season of experience.  Looking good!

 

*DEFENSE*:

NT: O. Pimpkins(Jr.), M. Hurst(So./Fr.), R. Ash(Sr.)

3T: H. Poggi(So/Fr.), C. Henry(So.), M. Godin(So.), K. Wilkins(Sr.)

SE: B. Beyer(Sr.), C. Wormley(So.), T. Strobel(So.), K. Heitzman(Jr.)

WE: F. Clark(Sr.), M. Ojemudia(Jr.), T. Charlton(So./Fr.)

…This should be another position of strength.  F. Clark looks like a future All-American and high NFL draft pick.  B. Beyer is a great player who I think could bulk up to get on the field at the same time as Clark.  Pimpkins and Poggi are both real-deal studs who could emerge.  And there is just a TON of greath depth behind all of them!  Looking good!

SLB: J. Ryan(Sr.), B. Gedeon(So./Fr.), K. Ringer(So.)

MLB: J. Bolden(Jr.), M. McCray(So./Fr.), R. J-Stone(Jr.)

WLB: J. Ross(Jr.), M. Ferns(Fr.), D. Morgan(Sr.), A. Poole(Jr.)

…This should be another position of strength.  J. Ryan should be a 4th year starter, and J. Bolden and J. Ross should be 3rd year starters.  Plus, we’ve got three – IMO – real-deal studs behind them in Gedeon, McCray and Ferns.  AND some great depth behind THEM!  Looking good!

FC: B. Countess(Jr.), T. Richardson(Jr.), J. Lewis(So./Fr.)

BC: R. Taylor(Sr.), G. Conley(So./Fr.), C. Stribling(So./Fr.)

NB: R. Douglas(So./Fr.), D. Hollowell(Sr.)

…This should be another position of strength.  Countess and Taylor are both basically going to be 3rd year starters.  R. Douglas is taylor-made for the nickel-back position.  And there’s just a TON of super talented depth behind them.  Looking good!

FS: J. Wilson(Jr.), J. Clark(So.)

SS: D. Thomas(So./Fr.), A. Gant(So.), J. Furman(Sr.)

…This should be another position of strength.  Wilson is a 2nd or 3rd year starter with a ton of talent.  D. Thomas is a real-deal 5-star talent.  Clark and Gant provide great depth.  L. McQuay could very well be a part of this group as well.  Looking good!

 

*SPECIAL TEAMS*:

K: M. Wile(Sr.)

P: K. Allen(So.)

LS: S. Sypniewski(So./Fr.)

R: D. Norfleet(Jr.)

…This should be another area of strength.  More than enough talent at each spot – and Norfleet could be an All-American candidate as a return man.

 

*OVERALL*:

…This is going to be a team that has an elite, elite level defense.  Not quite at the current Bama/LSU level, but close, and certainly the best in the B1G.  That’s what this team is going to be known for.  It’s going to be a team that’s able to run the ball very well as well.  Again, not quite at the current Bama/LSU level, but close, and certainly the best in the B1G.  The passing game is sort of the x-factor.  It could be above average, it could be great.  Who knows?  We’ll have to wait and see.  But one thing is certain – D. Green, L. Treadwell, L. McQuay, these are all very, very important recruits.

ken725

September 17th, 2012 at 11:03 PM ^

2nd team OL was

Kristian Mateus - LT

Joey Burzynski - LG

Jack Miller - C

Graham Glawsgow - RG

Erik Gunderson - RT

 

AFAIK, those are the guys that finished the game. 

 

StoneRoses

September 17th, 2012 at 11:06 PM ^

Pray that we do not see any freshman with significant playing time on OL. (That does not include Jack Miller who I belive is a RS Freshman).

I already have nightmares of one of the starters going down and young Kalis or Magnuson getting lost at such a young age with the type of defenses that we have to play upcoming.

TexanGOBLUE

September 17th, 2012 at 11:08 PM ^

Lewan said in the presser that they needed to be meaner on the line. Dont you guys think Kalis would bring that kind of mentality to the line? I know it may not be worth burning a redshirt, but man he wanted to spill blood (his own words).

EGD

September 17th, 2012 at 11:12 PM ^

Offensive linemen don't rotate during normal (i.e., close/competitive) game situations, so the starting five we have now are likely to remain the starters all season unless there is an injury.  Since none of the freshmen are among that group, the staff probably figures they'll try to redshirt all five of them and hope for the best.  If an injury happens and they need to throw Kalis into the fire, so be it.  

I can also see the counterargument--we're unlikely to get through the whole season without somebody on the O-line going down, so may as well put him in against UMass and get some early experience,  But having a shot at an extra year of Kalis is probably > one quarter of action against UMass.

flysociety3

September 17th, 2012 at 11:17 PM ^

If either tackle gets hurt, Burzynski will come in and play right guard, and Omameh will bump out to RT....

If either Guard gets hurt, Burzynski in...

If Mealer gets hurt, could see Barnum in with Burzynski at LG or Miller in...

If two people get hurt, however, I bet Kalis or Braden plays... Gunderson and Mateus looked downright AWFUL

Sione's Flow

September 17th, 2012 at 11:25 PM ^

Personally I'd like to see Braden, Magnuson, and Kalis keep their RS until next year when this year's OL class is on campus.  I think if Kugler is as good, as all of the scouts say he is, then he'll play as freshman.  Then Hoke and Funk can get all of the right pieces in place and  turn this O-line loose on an unsuspecting Big Ten. 

BigOzzy86

September 18th, 2012 at 10:59 PM ^

Hoke did this while he was at Ball State..... Played a bunch of young linemen (Frosh / Soph). Went through the growing pains of mediocre seasons... then by the time all the O'line were starting their senior year... each had 30+ games under their belts and Ball State dominated with their 12 win season.

** Feel free to correct me.... I didn't go google or wikipedia the specifics.

denardogasm

September 17th, 2012 at 11:27 PM ^

I'm usually not one to look beyond this season much, but I was just coming to the realization that if Lewan leaves we're going to be replacing 4 out of 5 Olinemen.  Then I took a look at the depth chart and realized that between those 4 guys and the next guys on the depth chart I'm pretty sure there's a collective 13 years of age and experience between them.  Lewan to Magnusson- 3 years; Barnum to Kalis- 4 years; Mealer to Miller- 3 years; Omameh to Bryant(I think?)- 3 years; Schofield.  I might not have this right and the positions are very likely going to get shuffled, but dang.  Coupled with losing our superhero QB and probably transitioning much further into Borges's preferred style means the offense could look really rough next year.  Someone please convince me otherwise.  Seriously, I want to think otherwise.

mejunglechop

September 18th, 2012 at 12:27 AM ^

Yeah I've thought about this recently. I'm thinking 7-5. :(

It's especially a shame because next year all the powerhouses are at home. We'll start to really see the benefits of Hoke's recruiting in 2014 and hopefully from there on we have an upward trajectory and the sky is the limit.

Indiana Blue

September 18th, 2012 at 12:53 PM ^

but stayed as a 5th year senior.  He then becomes #1 pick in the draft.  

Lesson ?   Offensive lineman still need a vast amount of  game experience at the college level (plus they still develop physically) during the 5th year.  I still believe Lewan will return next year which will help his NFL prospects in the draft 2 years from now.

Go Blue!

Jfox1020

September 18th, 2012 at 9:40 AM ^

No shit did the same thing.. The last series at the end had damn near the whole freshman class on D.. Pipkins, Richardson, Jenkins Stone, Wilson, etc.. First yr I have really was aware of the recruits i have been following...I enjoyed watching them play.. All looked good

reshp1

September 18th, 2012 at 10:17 AM ^

Not to pick on him since all the freshmen probably did freshmen like things at one point or another, but Pipkins really didn't look that great. He got blown up on a couple double teams and while he did generate some push one on one he couldn't seem to disengage from the block to make the tackle. He was amazingly fast in pursuit in the open field though. I think he'll be a force next year after they've had a chance to work on losing some bad weight and building up his strength, but I don't think he'll threaten Q Wash or BWC this year as starter.

UMaD

September 18th, 2012 at 3:15 PM ^

Other than Schofield and MAYBE Miller, the entire starting OL is going to be rookies who have not played a down of college football in their lives.  That is terrifying, and it might mean some walk-ons actually start at the beggining of the year.  Burzynski probably will.

Let's cross our fingers and hope Lewan does the illogical thing and returns for his 5th year.