Breakout year and freshman impact?

[paladinduece]

What returners could you see having a breakout year, and any freshman you see having an impact? Curious if anybody has gotten feedback from the new arrivals this summer.

[The Jackal]

What returners could you see having a breakout year, and any freshman you see having an impact? Curious if anybody has gotten feedback from the new arrivals this summer.

No inside knowledge, just musings. I sort of look to those areas where we know we need rotational players to step in.

Dejuan Bell strikes me as a guy that can be a breakout player. Excellent kick returner and will continue to develop at the flanker position. If he continues to impress, teams will have to deal with a slippery speedster even when Gordon isn't on the field.

I'm interested to see how we continue to use Ryan Miller. Miller played a bunch as a freshman and is a bit of a utility knife, with a physical build and skills to work out at a number of positions.

We'll need a guy to step in as a backup to Carson Maples. Devin Abrahms played a bit last year, though is probably more of a running back than a fullback. Dominic Roberto was a quiet signee, but at 5'11 230, looks like a tailor made fullback.

Need rotational pieces at NG. Jaylan Reid played forever at that position, and Parker Stokes did great work as a backup. We'll need guys like Cam Coleman and Devonte Jones to get snaps inside and share the load with Stokes.

We'll need safety depth. Okeh is a starter. I would expect the other slot will go to DiMarcus Clay, who has played a lot his first two seasons. Beyond that, we'll need guys to step up.

I personally think our biggest "playmaker" group is going to be the Bandit position. It is yet to be seen whether Furman decides to play Adrian Hope as more of a "three down" linebacker or use him as a pass rush specialist and game closer like they did in 2018. Either way, given the pace at which that position plays and relentless pursuit in the backfield, I'd expect to see a lot of Davonta Porter and Dillon Vann.

I've followed Furman football a minute, and I'm not sure I can recall a time we've had a deeper group of pass rushers (to includes Seabrook, Hodge, etc.) on one defense.

[AstroDin]

I'll take a stab — three freshmen enrolled early and participated in the spring game.
Austin Jones - safety (played a lot in the spring game, has a good shot and challenging for Annoor's spot)
Jalen Miller - spur ( played a good bit in the spring game, I'd expect Miller to redshirt due to the depth at spur
Evan Jumper - center (played a lot in the spring game, appears to be a lock for the #2 center spot)

Incoming freshmen, I'm curious about;
1) Braden Gilby ILB 6-2 220 and Josh Agbenou LB 6-2 227 and Bryce McCormick 6-2 218. When CCH arrived linebacker was a patched-together group of safety's and quarterback converted into linebackers. Gilby, Agbenou, and McCormick should see plenty of PT this season. Perryman is a senior, and McKoy is a junior - the current coaches want depth- the only returning linebacker with major PT is Jack Owen also a junior. So - that makes me think all three have to be considered as the strongest contenders to get PT and basically be the depth for a position that is the most physically active. When you look at linebacker - you see why I'm guessing the coaches are jumping up and down after landing what have to be the top targets at linebacker commit for 2020.
2) Devonte Jones NG 6-2 307 IMO Jones has the talent and physical development to step in and contribute as a true freshman.

Freshman Sleepers
Hugh Ryan S Ryan played on three-state championship teams at Dutch Fork was a captain on the SC Shrine Bowl team, also played a helluva game. I'd expect a redshirt but my gut tells me this guy is an overachiever.
Jake Johanning OG it's not very often an offensive lineman wins district player of the year, I've seen Johanning play a bunch he was a man among boys. Furman has so much depth he'll probably redshirt - but - I think he'll impress with a great work ethic and raw physical talent.
Wayne Anderson, Jr TB with Morehead retiring his cleats - can Furman get by with Abrams being a backup at TB/FB? Maybe. Anderson is what CCH has said he wants - a playmaker - Wynn, and Watkins weren't able to redshirt, my hope is Anderson plays his four games and takes a redshirt.

Finally, someone I hope makes an impact at QB. Will it be Grainger, Sisson, or transfer Shiflett? I have no idea how this is going to turn out??? In the spring game I though all three Grainger, Sisson, and Hardin looked very good. Shiflett had a great high school career cut short by a broken ankle - it appeared to cost him an ACC or SEC offer. Shiflett is an interesting opportunity for the coaches, all he asked was a chance to compete for QB. He's athletic enough to step in at WR right now - this will be fun to watch.

[apaladin]

Since we have no heir apparent to the QB position is it even feasible for Shiflet to come in and win the QB job in 4 weeks? I just don't see that happening, but I guess it could. The best case scenario would be for someone to simply go out and WIN the job and leave no doubt who is the #1 QB. I am afraid we will go into the season with all QB's about the same and end up having big questions about who should start. I hope we go into the season with a clear #1.

[The Jackal]

Since we have no heir apparent to the QB position is it even feasible for Shiflet to come in and win the QB job in 4 weeks? I just don't see that happening, but I guess it could. The best case scenario would be for someone to simply go out and WIN the job and leave no doubt who is the #1 QB. I am afraid we will go into the season with all QB's about the same and end up having big questions about who should start. I hope we go into the season with a clear #1.

Sure, it's feasible. The best player is going to play.

We probably won't go into the season with a clear No. 1. That really isn't any different than the situation last year - we had a new OC and it was very much in debate during the preseason whether Harris Roberts or JeMar Lincoln was going to be the guy. Turned out that Roberts separated himself.

No inside knowledge, but I'm pretty sure Shiflett didn't transfer to Furman to be automatically assigned the backup job. He came to compete for the starting gig.

[gofurman]

Since we have no heir apparent to the QB position is it even feasible for Shiflet to come in and win the QB job in 4 weeks? I just don't see that happening, but I guess it could. The best case scenario would be for someone to simply go out and WIN the job and leave no doubt who is the #1 QB. I am afraid we will go into the season with all QB's about the same and end up having big questions about who should start. I hope we go into the season with a clear #1.

Sure, it's feasible. The best player is going to play.

We probably won't go into the season with a clear No. 1. That really isn't any different than the situation last year - we had a new OC and it was very much in debate during the preseason whether Harris Roberts or JeMar Lincoln was going to be the guy. Turned out that Roberts separated himself.

No inside knowledge, but I'm pretty sure Shiflett didn't transfer to Furman to be automatically assigned the backup job. He came to compete for the starting gig.

I do get APs point though. As coaches will say themselves, "when you have 2 QBs you don't have a starting QB" or some such thing. My paraphrase may be weak.. I hope we have a clear starter by some point. By the time Harris was the clear winner last year you could see the difference in him vs the other guys at that time (4 years of practice will do that)...

This is also why I think 2020 could be better. Not that we can't be a wining team this year but 9 of the first 10 OL return in 2020 - that is SICK. (All but Godwin, all other 4 starters plus all backups - Granted Godwin is a good one). Plus the three QBs will also ALL return barring transfer etc. I do admit if all three are set on playing QB I wouldn't be surprised to see a transfer at some point. Shiflett is a SOPH and Sisson and Grainger are both R-FR. That's a tight cluster of eligibility remaining. Even the guys we are not naming at QB (assumed backups) are mostly that same age I think. No Harris Roberts as a senior this year...

[gofurman]

Agree with prior posts one thing to look at is where we need people this year to help. Optimally we can get to redshirting everyone or at least almost all (vs playing Wynn and Watkins and Neely right away as True FR). Brutal playing Neely as such a young guy at Center...

Much of this is exactly the same as Astro - he knows more than me


QB is obvious but EXTREMELY important !!! Someone has got to step up and show leadership and swagger. WIsh one of these guys was Junior but they aren't .. that's tough this year. but really great for the next 3 years !!! No matter who wins and who is close second we should have the same guys for 3 years or 4 barring transfer

Safety was Anoor's position for years - we will miss him. That leaves Clay as a Junior who was his backup and newcomer Austin Jones who is highly thought of. Who is better I don't know but i bet that's your 2 on the depth chart in some order.

Agree w Astro that we are seeking a backup Center to Neely as Kroeber does a good job at starting Guard. Hate to see a Starting Guard be a backup Center. SO i suspect our Center will be Junior Neely starting and Jumper as backup.

Losing Jaylan Reid we need a NG. Reid was great. I assume Stokes is the starter leaving a slot for someone.

TB - we always listed Wynn, Watkins and Morehead last year. And we use all 3 though Morehead was limited .. so I would think Wayne Anderson or someone gets some PT there because we like to play 3 guys at that position.

also agree with others on FB. We need a backup to Maples. It was Ridge and Maples all year. Now we have Maples and who? Abrams? - at 215 he seems a little light for FB?. Our FBs are typically 230+ and TBs are typically 190/200 lbs. Abrams is something of a 'between' guy. We struggled to get one yard several times last year. SEVERAL TIMES we got 8 or 9 yards on first down and then took 2 or 3 downs to get that last yard or 2. Need better C/OG play and a bruising FB.