The defensive back room is going to see quite the overhaul, but I think that if there was something to be concerned about, they would have gone after more transfers, so I have a suspicion that they think that they have a ton of talent in the pipeline that’s set up well. Gone is Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Tyler Owens, Raysad Williams and Malike Dunlap. That’s your starting 4 in the backfield and that’s a reason for concern. One other thing is that the staff seemed to be really worried about defensive tackle and got high-end transfers and the same thing about the offensive line. But they didn’t really do that with the defensive backs, and my guess is that they are really comfortable with those young defensive backs, the sophomores and some of those redshirt freshmen, leading the way.
As we dig into each class, I think that Lux is likely going to be a starter or in the mix to start. Watts is probably a special teams guy at this point, but every team needs one of those. I’m all for it.
- Bralyn Lux (5-11/175) | S-SR
- Cameron Watts (5-11/200) | S-SR
Cromwell is the Canadian transfer from the University of Guelph who was a highly productive player where he went to college. My guess is that Baskerville is going to be the boundary safety. I don’t know much about Jackson.
- Devynn Cromwell (6-0/200) | SR — University of Guelph
- C.J. Baskerville (6-3/215) | SR
- Joseph Plunk (5-10/180) | SR
- Javon Jackson (6-2/195) | SR — Fairmont State
A.J. McCarty sat out all of last year after transferring from Baylor and he’ll likely play a pretty big part in the equation. He sat out all of last year so he’s probably going to be ready to go and play a significant part. I can’t say that the other walk-on’s in Dillingham, Morris, and Collins will see a ton of time, but every team needs walk-on’s.
- Luke Dillingham (6-1/200) | JR
- A.J. McCarty (6-0/190) | JR — Baylor
- Sammy Morris IV (6-1/205) JR
- Chief Collins (5-11/200) | JR
This was a highly talented class. My guess is that every single one of these players is going to see time this year. Peoples and Horn are likely at cornerback. Lewis and Sandford are at field safety. Jordan and Hulaby were incredibly talented coming out of high school and I can’t imagine them not getting on the field.
- Jalon Peoples (5-11/185) | SO
- Maurion Horn (5-11/180) | SO
- Brenden Jordan (6-0/215) | SO
- Landon Hulaby (6-0/205) | SO
- Chapman Lewis (6-1/180) | SO
- Jordan Sanford (6-0/195) | SO
Everyone raves about Ramon-Edwards and his athleticism and he’s huge and the same size as Baskerville. My guess is that he ends up at his position. Wilcox is the former 4-star high school teammate to Micah Hudson and transfer from TCU. Stevenson, Thompson, and White might have to wait a year, but they are all talented on paper.
- Macho Stevenson (6-1/190) | R-FR
- Marcus Ramon-Edwards (6-3/210) | R-FR
- Javeon Wilcox (6-0/200) | R-FR — TCU
- Miles Thompson (5-11/175) | R-FR
- Anthony White (6-0/185) | R-FR
Just sort of reloading this freshman class. All highly rated and all high-end athletes. Just sort of overflowing in terms of really talented athletes who could step in and play, but shouldn’t need to and should be able to take their time to develop. theyr’e all basically the same size, that’s probably not a mistake, but intentional.
- Isaiah Collins (6-3/190) | FR
- Oliver Miles III (6-2/175) | FR
- Peyton Morgan (6-1/175) | FR
- Ashton Hampton (6-1/165) | FR
- Malik Esquerra (6-3/185) | FR