UPDATED: Quick Look @ '12-'13: Depth Chart
I know, I know...it's waaaay to early. How could I possibly know? How could I possibly predict redshirts for kids who are in high school? "Oh wonderful, guess we don't need spring, summer and fall to figure out the depth chart!" ...and so on, and so forth.
But it's a message board. It's for fun. For the occasional prediction or daydream. So for those getting all huffy...breathe, I'm a fan focused on this year just like you. This is purely information (or speculation) to build on for the future.
With that said...my '12-'13 Depth Chart!
QB
1. Denard Robinson (Sr.)
2. Devin Gardner (RS So.)
3. Russell Bellomy (RS Fr.)
RB
1. Fitzgerald Toussaint (RS Jr.)
2. Vincent Smith (Sr.)
3. Thomas Rawls (So.)
4a. Stephan Hopkins (Jr.)
4b. Justice Hayes (RS Fr.)
rs: Drake Johnson (Fr.)
FB
1a. Stephan Hopkins (Jr.)
1b. Joey Kerridge (RS Fr.)
rs: Sione Houma (Fr.)
WR1
1. Darryl Stonum (RS Sr.)
2. Jeremy Jackson (Jr.)
WR2
1. Roy Roundtree (RS Sr.)
2a. Jerald Robinson (RS So.)
2b. Amara Darboh (Fr.)
Slot
1. Jeremy Gallon (RS Jr.)
2. Drew Dileo (Jr.)
TE
1. Brandon Moore (RS Sr.)
2. Ricardo Miller (RS So.)
3. Devin Funchess (Fr.)
LT
1. Taylor Lewan (RS Jr.)
2. Erik Gunderson (RS Jr.)
3. Kyle Kalis* (Fr.)
rs: Ben Braden (Fr.)
rs: Erik Magnuson (Fr.)
LG
1. Ricky Barnum (RS Sr.)
2. Elliott Mealer (RS Sr.)
3. Chris Bryant (RS Fr.)
rs: A.J. Williams (Fr.)
C
1. Rocko Khoury (RS Sr.)
2. Jack Miller (RS Fr.)
RG
1. Patrick Omameh (RS Sr.)
2. Elliott Mealer (RS Sr.)
3. Chris Bryant (RS Fr.)
rs: Caleb Stacey (Fr.)
RT
1. Michael Schofield (RS Jr.)
2. Elliott Mealer (RS Sr.)
3. Erik Gunderson (RS Jr.)
4. Kyle Kalis* (Fr.)
rs: Blake Bars (Fr.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WDE
1. Craig Roh (Sr.)
2. Jibreel Black (Jr.)
3. Frank Clark (So.)
4. Brennen Beyer (So.)
rs: Mario Ojemudia (Fr.)
NG
1. Will Campbell (Sr.)
2. Richard Ash (RS So.)
DT
1. Quinton Washington (RS Jr.)
2. Kenny Wilkins (RS So.)
3. Ondre Pipkins** (Fr.)
rs: Matt Godin (Fr.)
rs: Chris Wormley (Fr.)
SDE
1a. Jibreel Black (Jr.)
1b. Nathan Brink (RS Jr.)
2. Keith Heitzman (RS Fr.)
3. Chris Rock (RS Fr.)
rs: Tom Strobel (Fr.)
WLB
1. Desmond Morgan (So.)
2. Brandin Hawthorne (Sr.)
3a. Antonio Poole (RS Fr.)
3b. Joe Bolden (Fr.)
MLB
1. Kenny Demens (RS Sr.)
2a. Mike Jones (RS Jr.)
2b. James Ross (Fr.)
rs: Kaleb Ringer (Fr.)
SLB
1. Jake Ryan (RS So.)
2. Cam Gordon (RS Jr.)
3. Jordan Paskorz (RS So.)
rs: Royce Jenkins-Stone (Fr.)
WCB
1. Blake Countess (So.)
2. Delonte Hollowell (So.)
3. Terrence Talbott (Jr.)
rs: Terry Richardson (Fr.)
SCB
1. JT Floyd (RS Sr.)
2. Courtney Avery (Jr.)
3. Raymon Taylor (So.)
rs: Anthony Standifer (Fr.)
FS
1. Thomas Gordon (RS Jr.)
2a. Tamani Carter (RS Fr.)
2b. Jarrod Wilson (Fr.)
rs: Jeremy Clark (Fr.)
SS
1. Jordan Kovacs (RS Sr.)
2. Marvin Robinson (Jr.)
3. Josh Furman (RS So.)
rs: Allen Gant (Fr.)
* - I don't think Kalis will redshirt. I think he'll play OT his freshman year before moving inside to LG for the remainder of his career
** - I don't think Pipkins will redshirt. I think he'll play DT his freshman year before moving to NG for the remainder of his career.
FB & Slot - Notice these positions are in italics. I realize you can't have 12 players on the field at once. This is my way of recognizing that. (Personally, I believe Shotgun, 3 WR, 2 RB will be our primary set along with the Pro Set formation.)
November 27th, 2011 at 4:16 PM ^
Taylor Lewan, Craig Roh and Jordan Kovacs fit the mold you're talking about...maybe Patrick Omameh and Darryl Stonum.
November 27th, 2011 at 2:57 PM ^
His height/size, I was anticipating wormley to play at the end. Did the staff indicate he would play tackle or am I just dumb?
November 27th, 2011 at 3:08 PM ^
The only way he plays tackle is if he gains so much weight in the offseason that it's not worth it to move him back.
November 27th, 2011 at 3:03 PM ^
I have a feeling that Funchess and Pipkins will be starting by midseason
November 27th, 2011 at 3:08 PM ^
Funchess is about 210 lbs right now, I dont think hes nearly ready to start just entering into Big 10 season
November 27th, 2011 at 6:45 PM ^
I think Funchess is around 210 pounds right now. I know that is an empty spot on the depth chart where the coaches typically like to have at least 2 guys, but if he is starting that could mean bad things for us. I think you could be correct, but not necessarily because Funchess is that good immediately. Hopefully Moore gets it together and Miller gets big enough to play/start or at least be a receiving threat.
November 27th, 2011 at 3:22 PM ^
Great post!
November 27th, 2011 at 3:50 PM ^
the seniors leaving are going to leave huge holes in the middle of both lines, hope their replacements have good spring and summer workouts.
November 27th, 2011 at 3:51 PM ^
i don't know if this has been touched on recently, but where has Cam Gordon been? I saw him make an impressive tackle on special teams yesterday, but almost never see him on the field as a linebacker? Does anyone know why? Does anyone know if he'll project to start next season? Go Blue and thanks!
November 27th, 2011 at 3:57 PM ^
McFarlin?
November 27th, 2011 at 4:00 PM ^
November 27th, 2011 at 4:19 PM ^
Countess and Floyd are both returning starters. Avery has found his home as the nickel CB...he's better suited to play that over Countess AND Floyd. The last thing I'd want to see is Floyd trying to cover a Jeremy Gallon or Drew Dileo in the slot. Avery has the change of direction and hips that you need from that position.
Why would you mess up the secondary that wasn't half bad? Because of one huge play to end the game vs. Ohio?
November 27th, 2011 at 4:41 PM ^
Agreed. Our depth chart in the secondary at the end of the year was
JT/Countess/Avery, Kovacs/<Woolfolk or Gordon>
All of those guys save Woolfolk (who wasn't a very big step up over Gordon) return, so we should improve by leaps and bounds in the secondary next year. And with a potentially great secondary, we will be able to commit more defenders to stopping the run, which (coupled with improved LB play) would more than make up for any step back our DL makes.
November 27th, 2011 at 6:51 PM ^
I think there were two pretty terrible plays during the game that really hurt from the secondary. Those were both Gordon and Woolfolk respectively though (unless the corners screwed up somewhere there but it seemed like the safeties missed their assignments). Gordon will have another year to learn and develop and hopefully he can continue his big playmaking ability (hopefully with a couple of interceptions) and eliminate his screwups (also see Nebraska). The secondary will improve and should be good next year. I think you are right that Countess and Floyd will start, but Avery will probably be Nickel again and most likely the first corner in anywhere on the field from the bench.
November 27th, 2011 at 4:00 PM ^
Good work. A couple of things: I noticed in warm-ups yesterday that Rock was working with the DTs, not the DEs. If he could contribute at the 3-tech that would be terrific. Also Beyer is an SLB, not a WDE. It looks that way because he's been coming in on the okie package to play with a hand down, but he has also backed up Ryan. A move to WDE wouldn't be surprising at all though.
November 27th, 2011 at 4:20 PM ^
I think he grows into a WDE because Black or Roh is going to have to move to SDE.
Also because he's going to be behind Ryan AND a hopefully healthy Cam Gordon.
November 27th, 2011 at 4:09 PM ^
I wonder what has been up with Cam Gordon? He has made some nice plays on Special Teams that past couple weeks. I think he will force his way onto the field in some capacity on D next season, would even like to see him get some time in the bowl game.
November 27th, 2011 at 4:23 PM ^
Cam was the "starter" for the first half of the season, but Ryan never let up.
He'll backup Ryan next year, and I wouldn't be shocked to see him as the #2 to Morgan and/or Demens as well.
I Ryan also will get more snaps at WDE meaning Cam could come and fill in at SLB.
November 27th, 2011 at 6:01 PM ^
Yes Jake Ryan happened, but Cam could never get on the field ahead of Brennan Beyer, even though he looked real good on special teams. You list Beyer as 4th string WDE next season and Cam and 2nd string SLB on your depth chart. Why would Beyer move to WDE when he has been 2nd behind Ryan practically all season at SLB.
"Jake Ryan happened" does not fully explain the year long absence of Cam Gordon
November 27th, 2011 at 6:30 PM ^
Beyer played as the #2 SLB in one 4-4 package and it seems people think he was the #2 SLB. He's not listed on the depth chart as the #2 SLB and from every account I've heard, if Ryan would've went down...Gordon was coming in.
Here is the depth chart vs. Nebraska
Cam was also hurt for much of the year...but the coaches kept him ahead of Ryan for the first 4-5 weeks of the season.
Let's let the winter/spring/summer play out before we all of a sudden call Beyer a lock to be ahead of Cam.
November 27th, 2011 at 6:42 PM ^
Nobody is saying Beyer is a lock to be ahead of Cam next season. But it is a fact that Beyer was ahead of Cam all of this season in terms of playing time on defense. Had Cam not been so impressive on Special Teams and looked completely healthy doing it, his absence on the defense wouldn't be so puzzling for me. I would like to chalk Cam's lack of PT to injury but I can't.
November 28th, 2011 at 9:16 AM ^
One again, Beyer had a specific package in which he played! It was the "BEAR" defense, basically a 4-4. Where he was almost a 2nd Rush End.
If Ryan got hurt, it was Cam coming in, but Beyer had a package that he was in, that he'd practiced in all season. Cam wasn't going to move him out of that package.
The truth is, Ryan rarely left the field unless we brought Courtney Avery in for him. So it's kind of moot.
FWIW, Frank Clark also had a package in which he was in for. That doesn't mean he was the #2 WDE over JiBreel Black. It's just Craig Roh came out the game more than Jake Ryan and you got to see Black...you didn't get to see Cam.
November 27th, 2011 at 4:22 PM ^
The two players I'm gonna miss the most next year hand down, David Molk and Mike Martin, gonna be hard to replace what they bring to the table.
November 27th, 2011 at 4:26 PM ^
Injury is what happened to Cam.
November 27th, 2011 at 4:45 PM ^
Our only real loses are on the defensive line, and at center.
November 27th, 2011 at 5:15 PM ^
November 27th, 2011 at 5:44 PM ^
I agree with you. I think I read somewhere that the coaches are recruting RJS as a Mike as well. I'm not sure about Ringer.
Additionally, I think we will miss RVB as much as we miss Martin and Molk.
Next year's d-line scares me a little.
November 27th, 2011 at 5:47 PM ^
and Williams to LT. Williams doesnt have the build to lock up with DTs and drive them, which is what Hoke and Borges are gonna want to be as a base offense in the future.
November 27th, 2011 at 6:01 PM ^
It's nice to see the names on that roster. The big holes (to me) are TE and interior DL. We'll hopefully have some guys coached up in the off-season at those positions. Or maybe Pipkins will be enough of a man-child to ease my concerns.
Also, Magnus insists Ross will not be a Mike, but rather a Will. I tend to believe his assessment of this situation. Either way, I'm very excited to see him on the field creating havoc.
November 27th, 2011 at 6:02 PM ^
Obviously the biggest question mark next year will be the interior defensive line. Hopefully BWC and Richard Ash have a great summer and get into the best shape of there lives. I expect a heavy rotation of Campbell, pipkins, Ash, Wilkins, Rock. Wilkins seems like he'll be the Heininger type and will play all across the line. It will be interesting to see who really steps up there. Moving to offensive line i know theres some depth concerns but i believe we have a chance to be very, very good here. A starting line of Lewan, Kalis, Barnum, Omameh, Schofield is very intriguing. Khoury might be the answer at center.
The TE position is also another big question mark (really having high hopes for Ricardo Miller). If we can get good contributions from Moore, Miller and Heitzman i think we'll be in good shape there. I believe Funchess will redshirt he needs to get stronger.
Our skill position players should be as good as any team in the country. Our talent and experience there should put up huge numbers. Borges should get good sleep every night knowing what type of players he has coming back. Hoping Brionte Dunn becomes our wild card if he ends up commiting. He could really put this offense over the top being that change of pace power back (Rawls might be that guy though) still my fingers are crossed.
Hoping either Furman or Robinson can take over Thomas Gordon on the depth chart.
November 27th, 2011 at 7:27 PM ^
It would be a great story if he ends up maturing and getting his life straightened out.
November 28th, 2011 at 12:22 AM ^
Stonum is going to devour the B1G next season. Watch for it.
December 4th, 2011 at 7:09 PM ^
Updated 12/4/11