Signing Day Results and look at the roster

[JasonB]

Just want to look if who we have signed to this point have improved our roster, position by position.

QB - Henry-Jennings - Backup, needed a third QB. Fits the system very nicely, good pickup even though he isn't a highly rated recruit. Stone and TM are both upper level prospects.

RB - No additions "yet". Dawson, Epton, and McDaniel were all upper level prospects, we hit on a DITR with Bentley, and Lavine was a really nice DITR. Only reason to add would be to bring a really top player, who we all know about.

WR - Lose two great players, add Corrales, a really nice recruit, and Joshua Moore, the top player on our roster. Pretty even trade. We now have 8 WR who were P5 prospects (if TQ switches back), so even though we took a stab at some really highly rated players and missed, we only would add another if it were a no-brainer.

TE - Lose Calc, but add Maryland who was almost as highly rated of a recruit, and Kam Allen, who is the 4th rated TE on the roster behind Maryland, Matthews, and Gonzalez. 4 P5 rated players is way beyond where we have been in a long time.

OL - Waller, Bissinger, and Larson are all borderline P5 guys. Solid, but not DITR. We have 8 P5 level recruits on the roster right now. Not a lot of higher quality depth here, and I would anticipate we add someone as a transfer.

DL - SMith is our second highest rated DE, Fite is the 5th, and both are P5 level. Frazier and Braylen Jackson are 2 and 3 at DT, and both are P5. We have 10 P5 level DL on the roster (not counting Eby). We lack experience, but not talent. I think we will see what is ready in the Spring and if the young guys aren't ready yet, we will add another transfer.

LB - We are adding the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 9th rated player on the roster, and 3 of those are P5 level, so a massive improvement. We now have 7 P5 rated LBs, which is plenty.

CB - Davis is the 3rd rated corner, and Lawton is 5th. We have 5 P5 rated players now at corner, and then McMorris on top of that. I think they will take a look at the players in Spring and then only go after a transfer if they absolutely need it.

S - We added Goree and Moses, both P5 level players and the 3rd and 5th best players at the position. We have 3 starters with the rover, and have 6 P5 level players technically, but that counts Clay and Taylor who haven't shown much yet. Massey isn't part of that group because he was a DITR. Thursby is counted as a corner, but probably belongs here. I would anticipate adding another player as a transfer, because I don't think they will see enough depth in the Spring and won't want to risk depending on the frosh to show up in the fall.

We now have 52 P5 level recruits on the roster. Certainly enough to be considered a mid-tier P5 team, and enough to compete for our conference championship. 3 deep (66) and you are competing for a P5 championship. Certainly a ways to go for that, but way ahead of where we were 4 years ago.

OL is the only position that concerns me talent wise; you need a two deep of talented recruits, because some of them aren't going to pan out, and you aren't going to find DITR across the board. Only 8 at that position leaves a gap. Osborne and Bissinger are starters. Bryant, Hickman, and Thomas are all DITR finds. But Waller and Larson should both redshirt, so you really need Ike, Brooks, Robinson, and Sparks to be ready to challenge and Perdue to be a DITR find just to have a 2 deep of decent players.

Thomas - Bissinger - Hickman - Osborne - Bryant isn't terrible, but Sparks, Robinson, and Brooks I think are all Guards, and then Perdue is the only backup tackle, and I have no backup center (maybe Cameron Ervin?) Pushing Osborne back out to Tackle resolves some of the issue, but I think they will push hard for at least once transfer, but keep in mind they missed on a transfer and a HS OL in this last cycle, so 2 transfers would not surprise me.

[DC-Pony]

Great post, Jason.

What does DITR stand for?

Agree with your assessment. And, I believe it is a remarkable position given the protracted speculation about Sonny Dykes that then gave way to a coaching change. Coach Lashlee did a terrific job retaining the roster and a terrific job - in a very short period of time - pulling in additional talent.

I’m pleased how our new class is shaping up, all things considered.

[PK]

Great post, Jason.

What does DITR stand for?

Agree with your assessment. And, I believe it is a remarkable position given the protracted speculation about Sonny Dykes that then gave way to a coaching change. Coach Lashlee did a terrific job retaining the roster and a terrific job - in a very short period of time - pulling in additional talent.

I’m pleased how our new class is shaping up, all things considered.

DITR - Diamond In The Rough

[PerunaPunch]

Don’t forget that we also snagged a kicker away from Georgia. Hypothetically, a 5-star.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Don’t forget that we also snagged a kicker away from Georgia. Hypothetically, a 5-star.

Excellent point!!

Never underestimate the importance of teams.

[EastStang]

Rivals puts this class rank at 86. Not the worst we've had. They did not include transfers in their calculation. So, hard to gauge.

[PonyPride]

The 2021 roster lists 31 players as seniors or grad seniors. Several (including but not limited to Danny Gray, Reggie Roberson, Grant Calcaterra, Alan Ali, Hayden Howerton, Delano Robinson, Richard Moore) have either announced their departures or it's pretty clear from browsing online. If my math is right, SMU signed 12 freshman and has six transfers coming in ... so far. Wide receiver Jaxson Lavender was not announced with the signing class, but it is believed he still plans to sign.

There will be other seniors not listed above who leave, but it seems likely there is room for more late signees and/or additional transfers.

[White Helmet]

Isnt Jaxson Lavender a 23 kid?

[PonyPride]

Hey! Brining accuracy into this isn't fair — I've only had 1 cup of coffee ...

So I gather Lavender is all in ... for next year. I'm going to get more coffee.

Kudos, White Helmet!

[crazy horse]

Rivals puts this class rank at 86. Not the worst we've had. They did not include transfers in their calculation. So, hard to gauge.

How much does having such a small class penalize us in the team rankings?

[Arkpony]

Is Siggers returning?

[AusTxPony]

We are 4th in the conference by average/recruit behind UCF, UC and Houston.

[Charleston Pony]

We are 4th in the conference by average/recruit behind UCF, UC and Houston.

Not too shabby considering the "P5" recruiting advantage those schools should have

[Terry Webster]

Is Siggers returning?

From what I have read he is. Of course if we get the Bama guy Sigges may be the odd man out.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Is Siggers returning?

Yes.