A couple of Big Boys (300+) who will require a double team (ala Nix and Tuitt) is now all this team needs to stop the run and to be able to compete with the College Football Elites. We now have the previously missing talent at wideout and a QB who can throw the deep ball. Next season could be exciting.
Ty Chan, Aamil Wagner, any T with some feet would work. Lotta big athletes on that O-side.
Not sure how much good weight he can put on but, he could probably get to 300+
Might be a solution to 2024 though.
My memory of the exact numbers are foggy, but I believe he played in the game at 265 and liked the way he felt at that weight.
Devan Houston is listed at 285. Mukam and Traore aren't quite as big as Vernon now, but I'd bet they both end up weighing more than Vernon when things are said and done.
I'm eager to see what kind of quality pounds Coach Balis can put on this guy. 5-10 quality muscle pounds each year will turn him into an absolute wrecking machine by the time he's a junior.
He'll be interesting to follow.
No red shirt.
Similar to Ross Browner and Willie Fry (R.I.P.) they could do the Malachi Crunch at the quarterback
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I hear what your saying, but get the talent on the field.
If you must simplify to amplify. Fair point?
Get benched over some stupid excuse that he doesn’t know the assignments.
See merriwewther, Kollie, sneed and so on…
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It seems like we whiff a lot in that area of recruiting.
It seems we are zeroed in on 1-2 guys and if we don’t close…bumpkus.
I think I’m preaching to the choir but id love increased emphasis & a better hit rate at this position in recruiting/portal. Need depth, too.
Different skill sets, I realize, but some similarities. Watts was successfully moved to safety (I'm guessing he played there in high school, though).
its in his DNA!
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I know some will point out the Jerry Tillery example, but he was certainly more of the exception, rather than the rule.
Offensive linemen are going to generally lack the higher level of quickness that defensive linemen need to succeed. They have the advantage when the ball is snapped, that they can move first with a planned snap count, and move according to a planned play.
Defensive linemen, on the other hand, are trained to react to the ball being snapped. While they also follow a play on defense, their thinking and actions have to be a lot more flexible.
Even offensive linemen who were standouts on the defensive line in high school are going to have issues with adjusting to the speed of the college game if they play on defense. Going against complex zone blocking schemes can easily result in an inexperienced (college wise) defensive lineman getting all but blindsided and taken out of commission by those giant earth movers on the offensive line.
Looking back at Chris Stewart (part of the 2006 class), he volunteered to play defensive tackle, but rarely saw the field, even though we were terribly thin at defensive tackle during the Weis era.
Once he moved back to offensive line, he became a starter, and did a fine job for us, since his skill set and mind set were much more optimal for that position.
I'll be clear about this... It wasn't his IQ that prevented him from being a defensive lineman, since brain smarts and reaction methods are two different things. In fact, Mr. Stewart is now the Vice President and Assistant General Counsel for AIG Investments, and I'm damned proud to call him a fellow alum.
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Rubio is listed at 6'5"/295.
Keanaaina is listed at 6'3"/323.
That's plenty of size. We need them to be able to hold that nose spot and allow Cross (275) to slide over.
Washington has a lot of work to do this off-season. Riley doesn't play to his potential. We need that to change. Cross needs to be moved into a better position. He's got some Sophomores that are going to need to play. And then he needs to start getting it done on the recruiting trail.
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add throughout the year. He came in at 6'5 and 275. If he could get north of 300 by next year, he has the size and speed of Tuitt and Tillery and could be a surprise. Playing DE and using your leverage inside are two very different things, but maybe Ford can be an asset inside next year, as well.
That kid seemed chiseled on the sideline. It seems you could add some muscle to his frame.
Rubio and Keanaaina in the middle. Cross and maybe Hinish can move over Nose sparingly. Botelho, Burnham and Tuihalamaka are that fourth linebacker/viper role, but unlike Foskey, they'll be better dropping into coverage.
They brought in what looks to me like a bunch of body's to play in a 3-4/3-3-5 in the 23 class. A couple of them might be able to get to Rubio's size, but they'll probably all need time.