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OK, with the graduation of Judson Davis (actually, he's already in law school, because he graduated next year), who's going to block Bartel's blind side from the left tackle position? I guess Sterling Harris has the right tackle position, but at left tackle? A redshirt freshman? I know we're recruiting some big boys in this year's class, but it's dangerous to throw a true freshman into the fire at one of the most important and difficult positions on the team. (Although I bet Kenard Burley, Justin Boren, Bryan Turner or Kharylake Martin - assuming we get him - could do the job .... but that's a lot to ask of a true freshman.)

Which of the redshirt freshmen can play left tackle? Harris doesn't have the quickness and footwork to move to the left side. Townsend Hargis maybe? Dustin Morton? Chris Urbanus? Someone?

(My choice: DARRIN JOHNSON! He could lock down that position for four straight years, en route to the NFL, in my opinion.)

The LT position calls for the biggest guy with the best footwork. At this point is that Hargis? Hard to imagine a Fr or RS Fr stepping into that role, but who knows?

Sterling Harris is the biggest, I guess, but he's not quick or agile at all.
Eric Neal, although a warrior, doesn't seem to have the strength or balance required for the position.
But you're right, playing a freshman there is a little scary.

I think "Fresh" (?) nailed this one - Darrin Johnson might be the best candidate on the team.

johnson is being moved to Defensive line

Well yeah, that's what everyone's saying.
But don't you think he'd be a dynamite OT with some work there?
Who would be better until the new blood is ready to step in?

I've heard Kennard Burley might be able to step in as a freshman and play - he's that athletic and strong and quick.

What about Boren? Starting a freshman makes me quesy, but isn't he supposed to be absolutely destructive?

[This message has been edited by PerunaPunch (edited 01-20-2003).]

we have some outstanding redshirts in the Oline at tackle who wil play next year -- for example Urbanus and Morton

Boren's a guard prospect. Bryan Turner is a guard/center.
Caleb Peveto can play either guard or tackle.
Burley and (if he signs) Martin will be tackles.

How big are Urbanus and Morton now? They need to be ready.

True, Boren is a guard prospect, BUT he has the size 6'4" 280, is probably our strongest OL recruit, and he's faster than Burley. He's also our highest rated OL recruit thus far. If we have to tap one of the young guys to play, he might be the one most ready to play on the next level.

This is pure speculation, because I haven't seen any of these guys up close yet.

I'll try to get some updated stats on Urbanus and Morton.

From what I've read, Burley and Turner are really strong, too.
And I can only assume that Martin has some strength in that monstrous frame of his. And we WILL get Martin!

Urbanos is a Tackle, but Morton was recruited as a Guard.

This is the breakdown right now on the O Line as far as I know?

Guard: Hargis, Harris, Kieschnick, Poulos, Morton, Guidry

Tackle: Neal, Urbanus, Muns, Meachum, Smith

Center: Reindl, Eidson, Benson

Left over from last year, I had a list of players coming in for 2002. In that list were...

*Darrin Johnson - DE/OT
*Randy Denman - DL
*Rahegene Cherry - DT
*Dustin Morton - OL
*Chris Ubanus - OL
*Martin Guidry - OL
*Mike Benson - OL

Did any or all of these guys actually come? Are any the insurance spoken of above? They all showed to have decent size coming in a FR. Hopefully their first year put some good additional weight on them. Any word on them?

Cherry de-committed and went someplace else.
Mike Benson's being moved to defensive end, as I recall.