Incoming recruits with a chance to start.

#1
JAllen18MVP

JAllen18MVP

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#1
I can't remember a year when there was as many incoming recruits that had a good chance to start immediately as this year.

Who are the guys that could realistically start?

My list would go like this:

Eric Berry
Kevin Cooper
Gerald Jones
Nevin McKenzie
Kenny O'Neal
Brent Vinson
DeAngelo Willingham

I know I left off arguably the best incoming recruit, Chris Donald, but I don't think he'll start with our depth at LB.

I'd like to know who other people think might start.
 
#2
#2
JAllen18MVP said:
I can't remember a year when there was as many incoming recruits that had a good chance to start immediately as this year.

Who are the guys that could realistically start?

My list would go like this:

Eric Berry
Kevin Cooper
Gerald Jones
Nevin McKenzie
Kenny O'Neal
Brent Vinson
DeAngelo Willingham

I know I left off arguably the best incoming recruit, Chris Donald, but I don't think he'll start with our depth at LB.

I'd like to know who other people think might start.
Click to expand...

Kevin Cooper?!?! No way man.

Kenny O'Neal
Gerald Jones
Chris Donald
Eric Berry
Nevin McKenzie
Deangelo Willingham
Darris Sawtelle
Ben Martin
Donald Langley
Deshaun Barnes (if kept at DB)
 
#3
#3
I'm really pessimistic about this idea of freshmen walking into spring or fall practice and winding up starters.... If you had said chance to play, that could be a good list.

You always see folks say a recruit is the kind of guy who'll make an immediate impact, seldom pans out that way.

I'll get busted for saying this in recruiting heaven here, but hey, that's how I feel....
 
#4
#4
orange+white=heaven said:
I'm really pessimistic about this idea of freshmen walking into spring or fall practice and winding up starters.... If you had said chance to play, that could be a good list.

You always see folks say a recruit is the kind of guy who'll make an immediate impact, seldom pans out that way.

I'll get busted for saying this in recruiting heaven here, but hey, that's how I feel....
Click to expand...

I don't think you'll get busted. I think it's a valid and insightful point.

I would contend that in August, my list would be 3 players or so. It just feels euphoric right now, and regardless of how well the staff develops talent, I still feel like we would be unstoppable. It'll pass in March or April.
 
#5
#5
VolinArizona said:
Kevin Cooper?!?! No way man.

Kenny O'Neal
Gerald Jones
Chris Donald
Eric Berry
Nevin McKenzie
Deangelo Willingham
Darris Sawtelle
Ben Martin
Donald Langley
Deshaun Barnes (if kept at DB)
Click to expand...

Kevin Cooper starting is based on him playing at fullback.
 
#6
#6
orange+white=heaven said:
I'm really pessimistic about this idea of freshmen walking into spring or fall practice and winding up starters.... If you had said chance to play, that could be a good list.

You always see folks say a recruit is the kind of guy who'll make an immediate impact, seldom pans out that way.

I'll get busted for saying this in recruiting heaven here, but hey, that's how I feel....
Click to expand...

If you wind up with more than three freshman starting, it doesn't bode well for the talent level on your football team. I am hopeful that the Jucos like O'neal and McKenzie are ready to play, but reallistically they too will face some adjustment to the speed of the game.
 
#8
#8
It depends on who we finish with but:

Eric Berry
Kevin Cooper
Gerald Jones
Nevin McKenzie
Kenny O'Neal
Brent Vinson
DeAngelo Willingham
Art Evans

Would probably be the best possibilities. I think it would be really hard for a player to come into UT and start off the bat as a true freshman at any other position than DB, WR, or FB. Dwight Jones is a possibility if we land him, Marvin Austin could be but I still doubt it.
 
#9
#9
O, and again, Barnes is not nor will be a DB. He plays LB in HS and is being prepped as a LB for UT.
 
#10
#10
JAllen18MVP said:
Kevin Cooper starting is based on him playing at fullback.
Click to expand...

If we still used a FB, I'd be right there with you. It's not that I think someone in front of him has more talent, but FB has a learning curve. Holbert would at least know blitz pick up and lead blocking assignments more than Cooper.
 
#11
#11
VolinArizona said:
If we still used a FB, I'd be right there with you. It's not that I think someone in front of him has more talent, but FB has a learning curve. Holbert would at least know blitz pick up and lead blocking assignments more than Cooper.
Click to expand...

Every position has a learning curve. Blocking assignments didn't stop you from listing Sawtelle, right?
 
#12
#12
JAllen18MVP said:
Every position has a learning curve. Blocking assignments didn't stop you from listing Sawtelle, right?
Click to expand...

I know all positions have a learning curve. My MAIN reason, as my last post will show, is that we didn't emply a FB at all in the last what ... 8 weeks? I think the offense will continue with the H-back approach.

And Sawtelle, a 4* OL better be able to pick up assignments better than a 3* FB.
 
#13
#13
VolinArizona said:
I know all positions have a learning curve. My MAIN reason, as my last post will show, is that we didn't emply a FB at all in the last what ... 8 weeks? I think the offense will continue with the H-back approach.

And Sawtelle, a 4* OL better be able to pick up assignments better than a 3* FB.
Click to expand...

We didn't use a FB because we didn't have a competent one. But what does being a 3* FB have to do with it? Cooper is the 3rd rated FB, while Sawtelle is the 10th rated OL, so I guess that means Cooper is going to be better at his position, right?
 
#14
#14
Why does the * matter zona? Only 2 FBs were given 4* and that is a rarity. Cooper was extremely close to being a 4*. I'm not saying he will be on the starting offense, but he could be listed as the starting FB. Sawtelle is only 2/10s away from being at the same spot as Cooper.
 
#17
#17
Jesus, I'm getting flack for saying I don't think Kevin Cooper realistically has a chance at starting. Lay off.
 
#18
#18
VolinArizona said:
Jesus, I'm getting flack for saying I don't think Kevin Cooper realistically has a chance at starting. Lay off.
Click to expand...

Relax, it's an opinion based thread. I don't have a problem with you thinking he won't start, I just thought your reasoning was a little strange.
 
#20
#20
His only competition is David Holbert. That is less competition than some of the other guys you listed will have.
 
#21
#21
hvwarrior58 said:
That is because he does have a realistic chance of being the starting FB.
Click to expand...

I don't think he does, though. I think if UT does emply the FB, it will be Holbert. A fullback at UT has 2 main jobs, as you know: runblocking and blitz pick up. Holbert will at least have more knowledge of that.

As for the Sawtelle discussion, there are MORE things than just blitz pick up and run blocking for an OT. I also think Sawtelle, or any OL we sign, will be more apt to start as a freshman than a FB.

Then again, as I think about it, a FB has LESS to learn than an OT, so who knows? I just don't see Cooper starting - I really don't.

As always, when I'm wrong, I always publically eat crow. :)
 
#22
#22
The original question was about starting immediately so I will concede that Cooper may not start the first game but if they use a FB more than last year I think he has a chance before the end of the year. I mean, who's to say McClendon hasn't been helping his old teammate to get ready.
 
#23
#23
Recruits with a good chance to start at some point next season:

Eric Berry- CB
Kenny O'Neal- WR
Gerald Jones- WR
Brent Vinson- WR
Nevin McKezie- S
DeAngelo Willingham- CB

Outside chance (a lot of ground to make up):
Ben Martin- DE
Donald Langley- DT
Chris Donald- LB
 
#25
#25
People may be downplaying Art Evans a bit. He may not be rated as highly as some of our other DB commits, but he is a stud. He is also bigger than listed and will be here for spring practice. Not saying he will start, just saying he should get some consideration.
 
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