Looking ahead to 2017

Yeah we can still play in the Rose bowl and hopefully we somehow get into the playoff but with the season moslty over, it's interesting to look at what type of team we'll have next year.

I think we'll have one of the best RB combination in the country with Chris Evans and Karan Higdon with the possibility of Najee Harris if we can pull that recruitment off.

QB will be a strength also with Wilton Speight coming back and Brandon Peters coming on to battle Speight for the spot.

At tight end, we lose Jake Butt which will be a big loss but bring back Asiasi who looks like a star in the making and also bring back Wheatley and Bunting.

Wide receiver loses Chesson and Darboh but return Grant Perry and Drake Harris and return guys like Crawford and Mcdoom get some reps there with the possibilty of adding difference maker DPJ who will probably get some snaps. Also, Nate Johnson has been talked about as a difference maker.

The offensive line will probably be very thin but we return Bredeson and Cole and hopefully Newsome. Onwenu and one of the potential 4/5 star OL recruits Wilson, Leatherwood, Ruiz etc. look to start.

The defensive line will still be very good with guys like Hurst, Gary, Mone, Winovich coming back. We will be thiner but that line will be very good.

The linebackers should hopefully take a jump forward with McCray coming back and Bush getting some minutes already this year. Mbem-Bosse and Josh Ross could also contribute.

The secondary is another position with a lot of turnover. I feel pretty confident in Tyree Kinnel but hopefully we get some good play from Watson, Hudson, Long, Lavert Hill etc. and we're due a 6th year from Jeremy Clark after Ed Davis got one.

Overall, I think this is a lot of turnover to still be in the national championship picture. I think we probably go anywhere from 9-3 to 11-1 although we have a tough schedule. I think there's numerous positions that people will worry about like TE and WR just because you're losing players but Harbaugh has good talented players that are playing right now. The more worrisome positions are the secondary and OL where we will be thin. Hopefully guys like Hudson and Lavert Hill are the real deal and Newsome is able to play again.