apaladin wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2025 11:14 pm
Can someone post a list. I don’t tweet. Thanks!
CB Wesley Abraham 5-10 185 GS Wesleyan University, originally from White Plains NY
CB Eddie Jackson III 6-0 170 JR Bryant University, originally from Richmond VA
OL Jaydon Collins 6-6 310 GS Wake Forest, originally from Greer SC
OL Davis Watson 6-6 285 GS Cornell University, originally from Fayetteville NC
S Taylen Blaylock 5-10 195 GS Lindenwood University, originally from Houston, TX
TE Luke Clyburn 6-7 265 GS Newberry College, originally from Camden SC
WR Kerry King 5-10 180 GS East Carolina University, originally from Tampa, FL
WR Nick Ragano 5-11 182 GS Wake Forest, originally from Centerville VA
We took 10 freshman and 8 in the portal so that is 18, and given we did not graduate a lot, I'd expect we are done.
Looking at this group, I have a few thoughts. King is exciting. It's hard to know how someone is going to assimilate into a new program, but talent wise he is thought to be Hinton's equal. This is a guy that Dudzik coached and I believe recruited at ECU. That he went and got him is a statement.
Ragano is another WR from Northern VA that was a guy known to Dudzik and we have good success with that. Dudzik seems to be a good talent evaluator (ex. Hinton) and this is a guy that has been in a good D1 program so I expect he has an opportunity to help. But we like what we have at WR already so this is a really good situation depth and talent wise.
I think we really like the 2 OL especially Collins. Size is premium and these are guys that have been in D1 S&C programs for four years so they should be plug and play ready, and given their schools they should be good culture fits. Spring will be important - they will have to go out and compete and win jobs but to speculate, I'd expect Collins to win a starting job and I'd expect Watson to be a rotational player at minimum. They should make us immediately better on OL If Collins starts, our best 5 get better. Brasher and Collins at T, Petit, Lamb at G and Luna at C is already a good line. But if Luna does not continue to develop, and Collins can play, we can slide Brasher inside or maybe EJ Wilson or someone can snap. Bottom line, we have MORE TALENTED AND EXPERIENCED OPTIONS now and it's easier to solve for injuries or development issues. We really need to solidify C. That's a big deal and was a challenge last year so getting that done is priority one. I am pulling for Luna, talent is there he just has to put it together.
The TE is the big guy we need to block, period. We have pass catchers but he spells Brock Chappell, and when we need to run off tackle to get one or two yards, I expect to see him on the field. If does more than that its a bonus. He will compete with Brendan Tormey and push him, which is good. Pryor is our pass catcher and with Pryor, Tormey and Clyburn, we can feel good about this position.
I think we like the size and the speed of all the DBs but come from programs that are less resourced and we need to practice with them to see what we have, but I would feel good overall between the experience we have returning and their potential contributions.
Only place you wish we'd done more is RB but all stay healthy, Hall, Smith, Nettles and Everhart is a good room.
Bottom line - we got better. Maybe a lot better.
