Preseason '24

[Paul C]

Paladins report 2 weeks from today. Is Smith going to play this year? He got hurt late last year and rehab was a year plus IIRC.

I'd be surprised if he played...

[The Jackal]

Paladins report 2 weeks from today. Is Smith going to play this year? He got hurt late last year and rehab was a year plus IIRC.

I'd be surprised if he played...

Rehabs are a funny thing depending on the injuries.

His injury occurred against the Citadel, at roughly the midway point in the season.

I'm sure Furman will be careful with him and he'll be back when he's ready. Furman should have depth at running back.

[apaladin]

Practice starts 2 weeks from today!!!

[gofurman]

Paladins report 2 weeks from today. Is Smith going to play this year? He got hurt late last year and rehab was a year plus IIRC.

I'd be surprised if he played...

That’s a hit. I felt he had a gear that some others didn’t

[apaladin]

Paladins report 2 weeks from today. Is Smith going to play this year? He got hurt late last year and rehab was a year plus IIRC.

I'd be surprised if he played...

That’s a hit. I felt he had a gear that some others didn’t

Agree, in his limited PT he looked special.

[The Jackal]

Went back and watched some of Joshua Burrell's high school stuff. He was obviously a highly regarded player coming out of high school and I think is going to be a great fit for Furman's hybrid TE.

He is maybe not quite as fast or shifty as Ryan Miller was at the position. He's not as physically imposing as Mason Pline. However, he seems like he might be a combination of the two. He may have Miller's receiving skills with Pline's physical presence.

Last season, Furman really sort of figured out how to use Pline in the offense the last half of the year. I do not know how much of a learning curve he had considering he was a former basketball player coming from a D2 program that almost never threw the ball to the TE. By the end of the season, he was a big weapon in the passing game.

Burrell may not have the same learning curve.

[The Jackal]

Watching TE videos, I came across this angle of Pline's catch in Missoula.

I'll have to think a bit on this, but this may be the most impressive play I've seen in a Furman football game. That environment, that defense, that much pressure, and that throw and catch.

[The Jackal]

That play is why I'm not really worried about the '24 season. We've got a team culture.

That play is culture. That's our program, coaches, and players.

It's below freezing. Night game. One of the most intimidating venues in FCS football. Game on the line.

Just watch the absolute fight from the guys in white. They know they are going to get hit. They know everyone is coming. They stand in there and fight their butts off anyway.

I know we graduate some guys. I do not think that matters much, honestly. That play screams team culture. That's top down stuff. Most programs don't have that.

Watch Myion Hicks at RB. Watch him step up and take on the blitzing middle linebacker (and the safety behind him) and give Huff a shot to get the throw off. I'll take that guy on my team any day.

[AstroDin]

I came across this angle of Pline's catch in Missoula while watching TE videos.

I'll have to think a bit on this, but this may be the most impressive play I've seen in a Furman football game. That environment, that defense, that much pressure, and that throw and catch.

Bootie and I were speechless by the play…, as were the GRIZ fans were all around us.
Back to Hicks, he gutted that play out at way under 100%.
You have to wonder, if we were at full running back strength, how would that game have turned out?

[stonemd]

Checkout national podcast w Cole Neely re 2024 Furman football

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f ... 0662763360

[apaladin]

Players report one week from tomorrow.

[FUBeAR]

Stats Perform Pre-Season All-Americans…

2024 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team

Luke Clark - 3rd Team D - only Furman Player
Think there are 8 from the SoCon with 5 of them being LB’s
Only 1st Teamer from the SoCon is Samford’s LB

First Team
OFFENSE
QB – Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 225
RB – Kayvon Britten, Tarleton State, Sr., 5-7, 195
RB – Jamar Curtis, Lafayette, Jr., 5-8, 164
RB – Lan Larison, UC Davis, Sr., 6-0, 195
WR – Efton Chism III, Eastern Washington, Sr., 5-11, 200
WR – Nick DeGennaro, Richmond, R-Sr., 6-1, 190
TE – Carter Runyon, Towson, R-Sr., 6-6, 235
OL – Zack Gieg, Southeast Missouri, Sr., 6-1, 290
OL – Charles Grant, William & Mary, Sr., 6-4, 280
OL – Jared Penning, Northern Iowa, R-Sr.., 6-6, 338
OL – Jackson Slater, Sacramento State, Sr., 6-4, 316
OL – Marcus Wehr, Montana State, Sr., 6-4, 292

DEFENSE
DL – Brody Grebe, Montana State, Sr., 6-2, 248
DL – Eli Mostaert, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 287
DL – Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly, R-Sr., 6-3, 245
DL – Josiah Silver, New Hampshire, Sr., 6-2, 243
DL – David Walker, Central Arkansas, Sr., 6-3, 260
LB – Amir Abdullah, Illinois State, Sr., 6-3, 215
LB – Adam Bock, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 225
LB – Micah Davey, McNeese, R-Jr., 6-2, 239
LB – Erick Hunter, Morgan State, Sr., 6-4, 210
LB – Noah Martin, Samford, Sr., 6-1, 232
DB – Caleb Curtain, Elon, R-Jr., 6-1, 191
DB – Kenny Gallop Jr., Howard, Grad, 6-0, 214
DB – Tyler Morton, Nicholls, Sr., 5-10, 165
DB – TaMuarion Wilson, Central Arkansas, Sr., 6-2, 205
DB – Cole Wisniewski, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-4, 217

SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Chris Campos, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., 5-11, 255
P – Aaron Trusler, Richmond, Grad, 5-8, 168
LS – Hunter Brozio, North Dakota State, R-Sr., 6-1, 233
KR – Donovan Wadley, Merrimack, Jr., 5-9, 180
PR – Junior Bergen, Montana, Sr., 5-11, 180
AP – ShunDerrick Powell, Central Arkansas, Sr., 5-9, 180

Second Team
OFFENSE
QB – Tommy Mellott, Montana State, Sr., 6-0, 209
QB – Cam Miller, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 213
RB – Jordan Fuller, Holy Cross, Sr., 6-0, 231
RB – Bronson Yoder, William & Mary, Sr., 5-11, 210
WR – Bo Belquist, North Dakota, Fifth Year, 6-1, 185
WR – Jared Richardson, Penn, Jr., 6-2, 215
WR – Javin Whatley, Chattanooga, Jr., 5-10, 170
TE – Cole Grossman, Montana, Sr., 6-4, 225
OL – Brandon Casey, Montana, Sr., 6-5, 305
OL – Payton Collins, Eastern Kentucky, Grad, 6-7, 301
OL – Gus Miller, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 290
OL – Evan Roussel, Nicholls, Sr., 6-2, 290
OL – Grey Zabel, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-6, 301

DEFENSE
DL – Finn Claypool, Drake, R-Jr., 6-1, 232
DL – Ckelby Givens, Southern, Jr., 6-2, 230
DL – Dylan Hendricks, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 247
DL – Marlon Taylor, Chattanooga, R-Sr., 6-2, 322
DL – Zach Kennedy, UC Davis, Sr., 6-6, 251
LB – James Conway, Fordham, Sr., 6-2, 225
LB – Logan Kopp, North Dakota State, Jr., 6-1, 217
LB – Bryce Norman, Southeast Missouri, Sr., 6-0, 220
LB – Ken Standley, Mercer, Sr., 5-11, 225
LB – Riley Wilson, Montana, Jr., 6-2, 224
DB – Oshae Baker, UT Martin, Sr., 5-10, 200
DB – Kendall Bohler, Florida A&M, R-Sr., 6-0, 193
DB – Rex Connors, UC Davis, Jr., 6-1, 203
DB – Isaiah Reed, Brown, Sr., 6-0, 180
DB – Isas Waxter, Villanova, Sr., 6-2, 215

SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Will Leyland, South Dakota, Jr., 5-11, 205
PK – Patrick Nations, Eastern Kentucky, R-Sr., 6-0, 202
P – Brendan Hall, Montana State, Sr., 6-9, 232
LS – Caden Bolz, Missouri State, Sr., 6-0, 210
KR – Abraham Williams, Idaho, Sr., 6-1, 180
PR – Tucker Large, South Dakota State, Jr., 5-10, 180
AP – Jaylon Spears, Nicholls, Jr., 5-10, 200

Third Team
OFFENSE
QB – Cole Gonzales, Western Carolina, Jr., 6-0, 195
QB – CJ Montes, Fordham, Jr., 6-2, 205
RB – Eli Gillman, Montana, R-So., 6-0, 206
RB – Mason King, Illinois State, Sr., 6-2, 215
RB – Marcus Yarns, Delaware, Grad, 5-11, 183
WR – Carter Bell, South Dakota, Sr., 5-11, 180
WR – Darius Cooper, Tarleton State, Sr., 6-0, 190
TE – JJ Galbreath, South Dakota, Sr., 6-4, 240
OL – Chandler Kirton, Austin Peay, R-Jr., 6-0, 291
OL – Ryder Langsdale, Lafayette, Sr., 6-7, 287
OL – Justus Perkins, Montana State, Sr., 6-0, 282
OL – Nick Taiste, South Carolina State, R-Sr., 6-2, 300
OL – Jaison Williams, Youngstown State, Sr., 6-4, 315

DEFENSE
DL – Malachi Bailey, Alcorn State, Sr., 6-2, 260
DL – Matt Jaworski, Fordham, Sr., 6-5, 260
DL – Caleb Williams, Lamar, Sr., 5-11, 290
DL – Elijah Williams, Morgan State, Sr., 6-3, 270
DL – Brayden Wilson, Weber State, Jr., 6-5, 260
LB – Luke Clark, Furman, Sr., 6-3, 250
LB – Isaac Dowling, Mercer, Sr., 5-9, 225
LB – Rico Dozier, Alabama State, Sr., 6-0, 221
LB – Shane Hartzell, Villanova, Jr., 6-0, 225
LB – William McRainey, ETSU, R-Sr., 6-0, 228
LB – Elijawah Tolbert, Eastern Illinois, Sr., 6-1, 240
DB – Dalys Beanum, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 195
DB – Tim Coutras, Tennessee Tech, Sr., 6-0, 198
DB – Max Epps, Texas A&M-Commerce, R-Sr., 5-11, 182
DB – Trevin Gradney, Montana, R-Sr., 6-0, 188
DB – Saiku White, Lafayette, Sr., 6-0, 201
DB – Edwin White Schultz, North Alabama, R-Jr., 6-1, 205

SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Griffin Crosa, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 179
PK – Owen Zalc, Dartmouth, So., 5-10, 160
P – Grant Burkett, Missouri State, Sr., 6-1, 180
LS – Bobby Cleary, Campbell, Sr., 6-1, 250
KR – Michael Wortham, Eastern Washington, Sr., 5-9, 177
PR – Robert McMinn, Alabama State, Jr., 5-9, 176
AP – Tyvon Edmonds Jr., Robert Morris, Sr., 5-8, 180
AP – Amar Johnson, South Dakota State, Sr., 5-10, 205

[Sad Din]

Lets see what it looks like at season end...

[HKB60]

Last year's team was special because of all the seniors and super seniors that were on this team. I think this years team will perform above everyone's expectations. Plenty of backups saw the field and the time spent practicing against our starters will carry over to the field this year. Just have a good showing against a very good Ole Miss team and we can sweep the rest of the schedule!!

[gofurman]

William and Mary with a FIRST TEAM AA OL. Game is won in the trenches. AND a second team AA RB. I would love to get a w in that one