For Starters Conversation Sake

[SMUSportsTalkNow101]

How bout some "who's starting next year" arguments
QB – Padron
RB – Fields
WR- D. Johnson
WR- Robinson
WR- WIlkerson
WR-Beasley
LT- Beachum
LG-Atchison
C- Gottshalk
RG-Turner
RT-LeRibeus
DE-Thompson
NT-O-Guinn
DE-Frazier
OLB-J. Davis
ILB-Bordano
ILB-Fleps
OLB-Yenga
CB-Moore
SS-Banjo
FS-Sorrell
CB-Bell
*Some key depth - Butler(RB), Line(RB), Reed(LB), Hunt(DL), McDermott(QB), McJunkin(OL), Thornton(LB), Mojica(DB), Drewery(LB), Chase(DL), Beard(LB), Acker(DB),Thomas(DL)

[RGV Pony]

No way a true freshman starts at C over Tennison

[SMU 86]

If anything Ben Hughes would be the center since he is greyshirting and is enrolled now.

[RGV Pony]

oh, and RT will be JT Brooks w/ Collins. LeRiebus will stay at G, IMO

[SMU 86]

I am going to say Crawford and Parks challenge for CB if Bell if not at full strength.

[Stallion]

Gottschalk really has no business playing next year-good to have in an emergency-but he's thin. The only SMU OLM that I have wanted SMU to play as a freshman in 30 years has been David Richards. That Jerry Chaveria kid was pretty good. We signed a big OLM Class in 2009-they better damn show up.

[PonyPride]

At his press conference this afternoon, June Jones said specifically that Bryce Tennison will be at center, and that Gottschalk will start out at tackle, although he is talented enough that he probably could play anywhere across the line of scrimmage. Jones also said that while offensive linemen normally need at least a year of adding strength and developing chemistry with their fellow linemen to compete at the higher level, the absence of proven depth on the Mustangs' offensive line and Gottschalk's considerable talent might dictate that he gets on the field as a true freshman.

[mrydel]

As good as I believe Fields will be even this coming year, I just do not see him being ready to handle the blocking after a few practices in the summer. This is a big step up for him and there is going to be some serious speed coming in from DE at Tech. If we want Padron to survive past week one, I would expect Line to play a lot of RB early. This is not meant to down play the ability of Fields but there will be a period of adjustment that will limit him early in my opinion.

[ThadFilms]

As good as I believe Fields will be even this coming year, I just do not see him being ready to handle the blocking after a few practices in the summer. This is a big step up for him and there is going to be some serious speed coming in from DE at Tech. If we want Padron to survive past week one, I would expect Line to play a lot of RB early. This is not meant to down play the ability of Fields but there will be a period of adjustment that will limit him early in my opinion.

You see that white smoke? Yup, it means Pope.

[Stallion]

yeah mrydel I hear you but June always protects himself with a blocking RB. This kid has the body to handle block-and I believe the knock on McNeil was blocking too. Fields is better equiped than McNeil to become a blocking back-and June says he does the little things to win. Gonna have to get a good athlete like Fields in the starting backfield for running plays-I really don't see many solid alternatives. McNeil came out it seens like 35% of the plays this year

[SMUfiji43]

I wasn't that impressed by Wilkerson this year, I think he could get beat out by one of the freshman if they can pick up the playbook quickly. I think Johnson or Collins might be best candidates to do that. I think Sorrell will definitely start and Crawford has a shot at CB if Bell has head issues.

[mrydel]

yeah mrydel I hear you but June always protects himself with a blocking RB. This kid has the body to handle block-and I believe the knock on McNeil was blocking too. Fields is better equiped than McNeil to become a blocking back-and June says he does the little things to win. Gonna have to get a good athlete like Fields in the starting backfield for running plays-I really don't see many solid alternatives. McNeil came out it seens like 35% of the plays this year

Oh, I agree that he has the size and I would imagine the ability. It is just the matter of adjusting to the new speed of the game and the new offense as a whole. I am very confident he will perform well as the year and his career progresses. I just cannot imagine that he will be in a positon to be ready to take on BCS Big 12 pass rushers in our opening game.

[Mexmustang]

Injury or not, I believe you're omitting Pope

[SMUfiji43]

Pope could be awesome for us. Sure he played at a 1A school, but the guy is downright explosive and its rare to find a guy that big who can run like that.

[MiracleOnMockingbird]

I wonder if Darius Johnson is a sure thing.

I hope so based on the one great play he made... then again, that was the only significant thing he did all year.