Spring Roster Overanalysis 2021
They put out a spring roster. It only has a few things of interest in it but we respect tradition so here’s your jerk:
Here’s my comprehensive roster file, and our updated Depth Chart by Class.
POSITION CHANGES
Jack Stewart OL—>“DL”. It looks like one of the bench guards is going to take a shot at the much shallower depth chart at defensive tackle. Stewart was kind of a lost man at guard, where Zak Zinter played as a true freshman and several more touted guys in Stewart’s class like Barnhart, Keegan, Jones, and Rumler have gotten a lot more mention.
David Ojabo “DL”—>”LB”. This is not much of a change. Ojabo arrived late in practice last year and when he was technically a SAM and in fact just an edge rusher. The move to more of a base multiple has a job for that called linebacker.
[Hit THE JUMP for weight changes, early enrollees, departures, # changes, and other things that matter a great deal]
WEIGHT CHANGES
Most of the guys on the roster didn’t change. I’ll show you the two returning players who did, and then we’ll look at the freshman early enrollees separately.
EDIT: I suspect both of these are data entry errors.
TE Erick All –13 (242—>229). All is back to his 2019 weight, which is a bit small to be a tight end but just fine for a flex TE. His disappointing season last year was mostly due to drops, but perhaps they’re looking at him as more of a big receiver this year?
C Reece Atteberry –20 (304—>284). When they lost Zach Carpenter the coaches had it put out there that they trusted Atteberry would be coming along soon behind him. The freshman was listed over 300 so it was plausible. He’s now at 284, and why they reported that when they didn’t list most changes is a mystery. Anyway, Atteberry’s svelte. Note that Andrew Vastardis, who was in line to start at center last year at this point, dropped 23 pounds before that season.
FRESHMEN EARLY ENROLLEES
Their numbers were shared earlier but now we have heights and weights to compare with what was reported by the sites.
Player | Pos | # | Wt | Rivals | 24/7 | ESPN | Avg diff |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
J.J. McCarthy | QB | 9 | 195 | 195 (+0) | 190 (+5) | 190 (+5) | +3 |
Donovan Edwards | RB | 7 | 190 | 193 (-3) | 190 (+0) | 195 (-5) | -3 |
Tavierre Dunlap | RB | 22 | 196 | 195 (+1) | 196 (+0) | 195 (+1) | +1 |
Cristian Dixon | WR | 10 | 187 | 185 (+2) | 187 (+0) | 200 (-13) | -4 |
Andrel Anthony | WR | 1 | 180 | 175 (+5) | 175 (+5) | 165 (+15) | +8 |
Greg Crippen | OL | 51 | 285 | 270 (+15) | 285 (+0) | 270 (+15) | +10 |
Raheem Anderson | OL | 62 | 298 | 295 (+3) | 298 (+0) | 306 (-8) | -2 |
Giovanni El-Hadi | OL | 58 | 305 | 285 (+20) | 285 (+20) | 280 (+25) | +22 |
Tristan Bounds | OL | 72 | 305 | 280 (+25) | 285 (+20) | 280 (+25) | +23 |
Junior Colson | LB | 25 | 230 | 225 (+5) | 228 (+2) | 220 (+10) | +6 |
I highlighted the three offensive linemen who came in much heavier than advertised. I also confirmed that most of those recruiting weights were from high school rosters (Crippen was listed at 270 at IMG) so that’s growth since last fall. El-Hadi is probably at playing weight but Bounds is tall enough to block out the sun, so they probably want him to get up another 20-30 pounds before he sees the field.
DEPARTURES
We tend to treat to treat any player who hasn’t announced he’s leaving as on the team, so by that measure there were zero surprises, which hasn’t usually been the case when spring rosters come out. The only guys who’ve been playing who weren’t on the spring roster were LB Adam Shibley (transfer to Notre Dame), WR Nate Schoenle and WR Jake McCurry. The only non-senior walk-ons missing are Cade’s brother, WR Kyle McNamara, who transferred to WKU, and sophomore TE Will Sessa, who hasn’t said anything on social media. The list of last year’s senior walk-ons who’ve apparently moved on: RB Nicholas Capatina, FB Peter Bush, LB Ryan Nelson, LB Adam Fakih, LB Jon Lampani, LB Geoffrey Reeves, LB Matt Brown, S Tyler Cochran, S Jared Davis, and CB John Baty.
SENIORS, SENIORS, and “SENIORS”
It’s going to be even harder defining a “senior” as the guys with Covid eligibility make their way through the program. The school doesn’t help, listing class by how long they’ve been out of high school instead of by eligibility. Helpfully, the NCAA clarified that they’re just going to do away with the 85-scholarship cap this season rather than parse who is and isn’t a “senior.” Four our depth chart by class I've added a ^ to designate the Covid year in addition to the *, and placed guys based on their ultimate eligibility. Expect a lot more attrition next year, when the 85 cap is back in effect and half the guys with sophomore eligibility also have their degrees.
NUMBER CHANGES
Nothing major here.
Nolan Rumler 55—>70. Nolan wore #70 in high school.
Cornell Wheeler 25—>44. McGrone wasn’t using it anymore I guess. Again, it’s a switch because Cornell’s high school number came open.
Keshaun Harris #49—>#18. This one is a little interesting because Harris is the track start they were hoping to turn into a viable cornerback, with some nice words about that transition coming out of fall practice. Going from an obvious walk-on number to a “check your program” number suggests Harris isn’t that far from playing.
Darion Green-Warren #6—>#28. Both DGW and RJ Moten chose #6 last year. Remember the Harbaugh rule is you can pick whatever number you want but if someone else earns his way to the field first you have to choose a different one. Now Green-Warren looks even more like Brandon Watson.
Also walk-on OL Mica Gelb switched to Rumler’s #55, and long-snapper Greg Tarr switched to #36 from #45.
If all weight change is good is no weight change bad?
No weight change is simply a weight change of zero so of course it's good.
No weight change is also very good. They simply burned flabby fat and replaced it with strong muscle.
This exactly.
If all weight change is good is no weight change bad?
No weight change equals an assumed loss of fat weight and an equal gain in muscle weight for a net no change in weight but improvement in body composition...duh! ;)
I think they just listed All and Atteberrys weights from last years spring roster. It would make no sense for them to lose weight
Edit: Fall weights from last year shows All to be 229 as well. Atteberry was between 280-304. It really looks to be an inputting error rather than actual weight change. Also, Would be weird for only one or two players to lose/gain weight
Also, Would be weird for only one or two players to lose/gain weight
What is weird is dissecting offseason weight changes and attempting to predict if it means anything. It does not :)
It is unlikely that any significant physical changes have occurred from end of November until March enough that would result in a vastly different player from last season. Now, they still have a spring practice to get coached up, plenty of time to continue to learn how to play their position, and another several months to continue to fine tune their body. But, it's highly unlikely anyone made significant body changes in the last 3-4 months.
Would be thrilled if Keshaun Harris were good enough to play, given that... we need corners who can actually run
Colson looks at college ready size for a run of the mill LB, but I'm not sure on his position and/or what our system is yet. With his recruiting profile there's probably a good chance he shows up on the 2-deep. I think Barrett is the more true cover weakside LB. Ross seems clearly tabbed for the middle. If we are in a 3-4 does Colson play alongside Ross in the middle or can he play SAM? Guys like Ojabo seem more SAMish.
His disappointing season last year was mostly due to drops, but perhaps they’re looking at him as more of a big receiver this year?
I like the idea that we saw that he has bricks for hands so we decided he needs to be put in a position to be targeted more.
One thing worth noting is that he seemed to stop dropping the ball once Cade came in and put some touch on the ball. He struggled with Milton's 100 mph fastball. He should have been catching those regardless, but maybe the drop problem will go away.
It may have been he can't play well at that weight and in fact went back to 229. Word out of high school was his hands were his best attribute.
It may have been he can't play well at that weight and in fact went back to 229
It could be any number of things. The numbers could be completely meaningless as well to suit how they plan to use him and make him look more ideal for NFL scouts. When you compare the roster height/weight to the combine version they are rarely the same.
The new phone books are here...and sir you are talking to a... um...cracker!?!
One important thing to note is that Andrew Vastardis is on the roster. There were some questions regarding whether he would graduate. This seems like a very good development, even if he doesn't end up starting.
My question is and has always been: what kind of alphabetizing scheme has a person named "Johnson, Navin R." on page 73 of a clearly several hundred-page book?
So Schoenle and McCurry just... quit?
Comments