The Unofficial Furman Football Page

Contemplating some the next season.

QB: The biggest question mark in 2019 will again be the biggest question mark in 2020. When the QBs play well, our offense tended to be difficult to solve. When not, we were very pedestrian. Does the coaching staff look for a potential transfer at the position? I would have to think we have to target a QB this recruiting cycle, but that's really the one position we don't seem to have locked in with what appears to be a solid class.

TB: Not worried. Wynn, Watkins, and Anderson will make up a formidable backfield in 2020. Kendall Thomas out of Texas looks cut from the same cloth.

RB: I still can't tell if Furman wants two "running backs" or a more traditional fullback in this offense. Devin Abrams had a strong freshman campaign as did Dominic Roberto. I know Roberto probably took on a bigger load than anticipated with the absence of Carson Maples. Still looks like a strong position going forward.

WR: Obviously, we'll miss Thomas Gordon. Dejuan Bell comes with a lot of high praise. Will be interested to see if Luke Shiflett sticks here after a full offseason. I had forgotten we have already gotten commits from two WRs in the 2020 class. Both Ambe Caldwell and Jack Rhodes are listed at 6'1. Need some guys to step in here.

TE: We have two quality TEs. I've noted earlier I'd love to see more "traditional" players at this position. Looking back, it appears Ben Page is a guy that missed most of the year to injury. Another position we do not yet appear to have a target in recruiting, but is also a position that is difficult for FCS teams to recruit.

OL: We lose two starting OTs, but return a bunch of guys. Our OL rotated a ton of players in those positions this year. Clearly the coaching staff likes Johanning and Toomey, so look for them to have increased roles next season. I'm anxious to see Jumper with a full off season. We also have a few highly regarded commits at these positions. The future here looks bright.

DL: Lose Tibbs, but return pretty much everyone else up front. Again, we rotated a lot of players up front so a lot of guys show up with game experience. I am glad to see London Lewis emerge as a starter this season. He's got atypical size for the FCS and, I think, could turn into a really solid player. We've already gotten one DL locked in this recruiting class and I know are targeting a few others. Getting bigger and faster would be a priority here.

BAN: Hope returns, and while he didn't have the eyepopping season he did as a freshman, is still one of the league's best defenders. Losing Dillon Vann this year was big, but getting him back will be a boon. I was a bit surprised to not see much of Davonta Porter this year, and it will be interesting to see whether they keep Abegnou at the position or move him back inside.

ILB: Good hands. Perryman graduates, but should still have Gilby, McKoy, and Owen. Evan DiMaggio is a commit, and considered one of the FCS' top recruits. We saw Bryce McCormick late in the year, and he looks like a guy that will make a sizable impact.

SPUR: We lose a big player in Jordan Willis. Dae'One Wilkins played a bunch this year, as did Jalen Miller. Those two guys will likely carry us next season.

CB: I think we were as deep at corner this year as any point in my time watching Furman football. Trapp and Weems move on, but there's a ton to love about Blackshear and Chizik. Despite the losses, we should be deep and talented next season as well with Kearse, Kim Brinson, and a couple of talented recruits.

S: Perhaps the biggest loss at any position is Bryan Okeh. Okeh played a ton of football for us. Hugh Ryan played a bunch as a freshman, and Patrick Wells is a veteran reserve. We didn't get to see much of Austin Jones, who I think will play a bunch for us. It wouldn't surprise me to see us move a few guys around in the defensive backfield.

K: Certainly seems like we will still have Grayson Atkins. No need to belabor this.

P: Would be nice to have a non-Atkins punter.

LS: Evan Vaughn, who has snapped for us a long time. He's handled every snap since 2016. I'm sure he's got a backup, I just don't know who it is.

Here is where I think we are weakest:
1. WR- just a glaring weakness. We need playmakers at this position and I just don't see any.

2. OL- we have heard all year how good and deep we are but we struggled against good teams.

3. QB- obviously the most important position. Potential doesn't win games.

apaladin wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 02, 2019 2:53 am

Here is where I think we are weakest:
1. WR- just a glaring weakness. We need playmakers at this position and I just don't see any.

2. OL- we have heard all year how good and deep we are but we struggled against good teams.

3. QB- obviously the most important position. Potential doesn't win games.

Anyone know the status of Luke Shiflett? Is it safe to assume 2019 will be a medical-redshirt season? If this is the case, I see a three-way competition for the starting QB position starting this Spring. With all three being Sophomores there's a real possibility of one of the odd men out being moved to another position (or transferring).

MNORM wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 02, 2019 8:33 am

apaladin wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 02, 2019 2:53 am

Here is where I think we are weakest:
1. WR- just a glaring weakness. We need playmakers at this position and I just don't see any.

2. OL- we have heard all year how good and deep we are but we struggled against good teams.

3. QB- obviously the most important position. Potential doesn't win games.

Anyone know the status of Luke Shiflett? Is it safe to assume 2019 will be a medical-redshirt season? If this is the case, I see a three-way competition for the starting QB position starting this Spring. With all three being Sophomores there's a real possibility of one of the odd men out being moved to another position (or transferring).

I think Hendrix said in the preseason that Shiflett would have a shot at QB at some point. His late arrival and injury, I imagine, hampered that some.

I think he'd qualify for a redshirt, either medical or just utilizing the new rules as he only played in two games. I do not believe he used a redshirt season at MTSU.

Broadly speaking, the QB situation is something the staff has to sort out. Potential is one thing, but in this offense, we need the ability to run some option looks and complete passes at about a 60% rate. Whomever is the best at that needs to be at QB.

I'm really happy we are starting to talk about where improvement is needed for the program to move forward, but it's a shame it took 3 crushing losses to figure it out. Some on this board (not me, I was all in on this team) raised these concerns as early as the ETSU win and were absolutely destroyed on this board for it. I think that should be said for the record. I hope going forward that we can all be a little more kind to others as at the end of the day we are all Furman fans and want the best for the program.

Moving on, WR/TE are the biggest issues in my opinion. Thomas Gordon helped cover up the issues that this group as a whole had and also helped make the QB play appear better than it probably was. He had 48 receptions, which is 2 more than the other 7 WR/TEs caught combined. He also had 11 more receptions than all the RB/FBs had combined. He's a giant loss. How do we replace it? I hope the answer or more likely answers are on the roster, but I'm not sold. The TE needs to be involved like in 2017, and there needs to be at least 2-3 WRs that are capable of having big games if needed. I would also be OK getting the backfield more passes.

CCH has said that Shiflett will redshirt. Does anyone know if he will be able to participate in spring practice?

The Jackal wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 01, 2019 10:24 pm

Contemplating some the next season.

QB: The biggest question mark in 2019 will again be the biggest question mark in 2020. When the QBs play well, our offense tended to be difficult to solve. When not, we were very pedestrian. Does the coaching staff look for a potential transfer at the position? I would have to think we have to target a QB this recruiting cycle, but that's really the one position we don't seem to have locked in with what appears to be a solid class.

Jake Bentley is suddenly available...

https://www.thestate.com/sports/college ... 44594.html

MidlandsPaladin wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 02, 2019 2:19 pm

The Jackal wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 01, 2019 10:24 pm

Contemplating some the next season.

QB: The biggest question mark in 2019 will again be the biggest question mark in 2020. When the QBs play well, our offense tended to be difficult to solve. When not, we were very pedestrian. Does the coaching staff look for a potential transfer at the position? I would have to think we have to target a QB this recruiting cycle, but that's really the one position we don't seem to have locked in with what appears to be a solid class.

Jake Bentley is suddenly available...

https://www.thestate.com/sports/college ... 44594.html

Interesting.
I'd think it would be difficult to lure any Grad Transfers to Furman with only four Masters programs. Jake was a Sport and Entertainment Management major...whatever the heck that is.

Learning to run casinos and strip clubs.

MNORM wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 02, 2019 2:29 pm

MidlandsPaladin wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 02, 2019 2:19 pm

The Jackal wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 01, 2019 10:24 pm

Contemplating some the next season.

QB: The biggest question mark in 2019 will again be the biggest question mark in 2020. When the QBs play well, our offense tended to be difficult to solve. When not, we were very pedestrian. Does the coaching staff look for a potential transfer at the position? I would have to think we have to target a QB this recruiting cycle, but that's really the one position we don't seem to have locked in with what appears to be a solid class.

Jake Bentley is suddenly available...

https://www.thestate.com/sports/college ... 44594.html

Interesting.
I'd think it would be difficult to lure any Grad Transfers to Furman with only four Masters programs. Jake was a Sport and Entertainment Management major...whatever the heck that is.

For the record, there is big money to be made in sports and entertainment. https://www.sc.edu/study/majors_and_deg ... gement.php

MNORM wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 02, 2019 2:29 pm

MidlandsPaladin wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 02, 2019 2:19 pm

The Jackal wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 01, 2019 10:24 pm

Contemplating some the next season.

QB: The biggest question mark in 2019 will again be the biggest question mark in 2020. When the QBs play well, our offense tended to be difficult to solve. When not, we were very pedestrian. Does the coaching staff look for a potential transfer at the position? I would have to think we have to target a QB this recruiting cycle, but that's really the one position we don't seem to have locked in with what appears to be a solid class.

Jake Bentley is suddenly available...

https://www.thestate.com/sports/college ... 44594.html

Interesting.
I'd think it would be difficult to lure any Grad Transfers to Furman with only four Masters programs. Jake was a Sport and Entertainment Management major...whatever the heck that is.

I think you're spot on with this. Not to mention that he's a decent player at the SEC level. I would be stunned if he doesn't transfer within FBS, and probably P5. Our best bet transfers wise are to get guys like Trapp who want to play several years.

I thought I'd take a stab at ranking our departing Sr's and how difficult they will be to replace. Only the Sr's listed on the 2 deep....

1. Thomas Gordon - I just don't see someone ready to step in at WR to replace his production and consistency. Bell? Shiflett? One of the Fr?

2. Bo Layton - whenever you lose a guy like this he's going to be hard to replace but Bo McKinney seemed to play better this year and got alot of reps at LT when Layton was taking a breather. Could also be Toomey. Wonder about Anderson Tomlin who was listed there on the 2 deep but didn't see much time.

3. Brian Okeh - S has been a weak spot for us for a couple years, outside of Okeh. Austin Jones, Hugh Ryan with another offseason, and some good looking Fr will compete for both starting spots. Talent, but not a lot of experience there.

4. Jordan Willis - He played great at times and also looked vulnerable at times. Wilkins and Jalen Miller should do OK at this spot.

5. Jonah Tibbs - a yeoman of a player. BUt with Dru Seabrook, Landon Lawrence and Jack Barton coming off a RS year, we have experience and options.

6. Andy Godwin - quality kid. Solid player. See above...Toomey, McKinney can slide in, not worried about a let down.

6. Q Weems - quality player who missed time this year but Blackshear is plug and play...

7. Donavan Perryman - we have so much young LB depth I have no worries about someone coming in and taking over here. He improved a ton last year but this year seemed to be inconsistent. Big play then a missed tackle.

8. Amir Trapp - quality player who missed time this year but Cally Chizik is plug and play...

9. Avery Armstong - as a receiving threat he was average, but my observation was he was a decent blocker.

10. Evan Vaughan - this is an * because he was a very consistent long snapper but have no idea if we have another one or two or three capable snappers on the roster....

Very fair assessment. The really big loss is Thomas Gordon. We hardly threw to anyone else. I think I saw other people open but that is not from the QB perspective. We throw the ball so little now that it should not be a huge loss although he was a special player. Nice job.