Just a few thoughts on what the roster could look like for next year:
QB: Purdy may be the best ISU QB of all time, or at least he's right up there. For the first time in like 10 years, we are going to have the same QB start every game. In that aspect, the staff being hesitant to run him and Purdy constantly backpeddling and throwing off his back foot was a success. Still, he's had some bad stretches, but that's a minor complaint overall. The big question at QB is what will Re-Al Mitchell do? I would not blame the kid for transferring to get playing time. I think that the staff needs to come up with a concrete plan on how to use him better next year if he's willing to stay. Would he consider kind of a slash type position where he's playing WR and QB both? We'd be better for it, as I think that he could start at M and still be the primary backup. Dekkers and Bouman can both play 4 games, which is a nice contingency plan if there are any injuries. But, I feel like getting a grad transfer QB is a good idea and it becomes a necessity if Mitchell transfers.
RB: IMO Hall is going to be one of ISU's better RBs if the OL doesn't take a huge step back over the next few years. He's the total package at RB. They still have Lang and Nwangwu, who have both played and done some good things. Brock I feel like has great potential and should get carries behind Hall. It sucks losing Williams to tOSU, but the position is stocked without him. That just makes finding a RB for 2021 a little more important, but it doesn't change the position for next year much.
WR: This is an interesting spot. We will definitely miss Pettway and Jones, but there is still a bunch of talent there. I feel like Hutchinson should step right in for Pettway or at least take some of those snaps. Shaw really stepped up and is only going to get better. It will be interesting to see if they move Milton back to M or they rely on Akers there or let Mitchell play there some. My guess is Milton is at M and they start Hutchinson and Shaw on the outside. It would be nice if the light went on for either Scates or Wilson, as they both have a chance to be good players. I'd also like to see them put some weight on Porter, as he can be a nice deep threat.
TE: Kolar probably has a decision to make, unfortunately. I would guess that he'll test the waters, so who knows. Either way, with Allen and Soehner back, this position is still a strength. We should see more of Loving-Black and Dean. I would guess both will pack on some weight in the off-season, so depth here should be good regardless of what Kolar does.
OL: Obviously, we have two solid starters in Downing and Newell. Ramos should step in at LT and I don't really expect a huge drop off there. RG probably goes to Hudson. RT who knows? Will Treiber or Remsburg be ready? Does the light finally come on for Foster? Or do they find a grad transfer here? Really, this is the key to the offense, because every other position group is looking really good.
DL: First off, DE is going to be the best it's ever been at ISU. Bailey, Peterson, Uwazarike is a devastating combination. Will McDonald is only going to get better with added weight. FR Blake Peterson and Suttle provide good depth. And Robertson can play here too. Inside is the question after losing Lima and Johnson. For some reason, we did not see Isaiah Lee all year. They did get the JUCO Bankston, which will help. Uwazarike can play inside some on passing downs and so can Robertson. If the light comes on for Josh Bailey as a SR, that would be a huge plus. I'd rather not depend on the TRFR Singleton, but he can play 4 games and could help some.
LB: IMO they absolutely need to find someone to play SAM and move Rose back inside. Rose rotating with Vance is a huge benefit to the defense. I think we wasted a year with an excellent player having Rose play outside. Or maybe they can move Vance to WILL? Hummel does a decent job there though. I would love to see Vaughn or Horne or Pulvermacher step up. I don't know that any of the TRFR will be ready to step up to the level that we'd need them to here. Still, if they were able to find a Willie Harvey type JUCO to step in and play SAM, we'd be better for it.
CB: I think that they have their main two now in Johnson and Kyle. If anyone can beat out Kyle, the team automatically improves, but I feel like he has the potential to be good. Datrone Young might not have been a great starter, but he's a pretty good backup...they could move him to FS if they can't find the right guy there. I feel like with King, Morton, Bowens and the TRFR Antoine, there is good depth here.
S: They're going to have two of the three spots set with Eisworth and White. Replacing Lewis/Bickham is not going to be a huge problem. Seems like they are grooming Miller for that spot. I expect him to put on 15 lbs of good weight from his fall roster weight and come in a new player. Or they could look at Isheem Young or Virdel Edwards, who both have bodies that look to be ready to play. I do expect some roster attrition after the season, so maybe there's room for a grad transfer.
K/P: I have a hard time seeing how Dunn is going to take that spot back from Rivera. He's been pretty good. No idea what they are going to do at K. I think that they'll probably stick with Assalley being short FG and Narveson for long FGs. They'll need to find a new KO guy. Personally, I'd find the best JUCO K you can get and tell him that if he wins the spot, he would have a scholarship as a SR.
QB: Purdy may be the best ISU QB of all time, or at least he's right up there. For the first time in like 10 years, we are going to have the same QB start every game. In that aspect, the staff being hesitant to run him and Purdy constantly backpeddling and throwing off his back foot was a success. Still, he's had some bad stretches, but that's a minor complaint overall. The big question at QB is what will Re-Al Mitchell do? I would not blame the kid for transferring to get playing time. I think that the staff needs to come up with a concrete plan on how to use him better next year if he's willing to stay. Would he consider kind of a slash type position where he's playing WR and QB both? We'd be better for it, as I think that he could start at M and still be the primary backup. Dekkers and Bouman can both play 4 games, which is a nice contingency plan if there are any injuries. But, I feel like getting a grad transfer QB is a good idea and it becomes a necessity if Mitchell transfers.
RB: IMO Hall is going to be one of ISU's better RBs if the OL doesn't take a huge step back over the next few years. He's the total package at RB. They still have Lang and Nwangwu, who have both played and done some good things. Brock I feel like has great potential and should get carries behind Hall. It sucks losing Williams to tOSU, but the position is stocked without him. That just makes finding a RB for 2021 a little more important, but it doesn't change the position for next year much.
WR: This is an interesting spot. We will definitely miss Pettway and Jones, but there is still a bunch of talent there. I feel like Hutchinson should step right in for Pettway or at least take some of those snaps. Shaw really stepped up and is only going to get better. It will be interesting to see if they move Milton back to M or they rely on Akers there or let Mitchell play there some. My guess is Milton is at M and they start Hutchinson and Shaw on the outside. It would be nice if the light went on for either Scates or Wilson, as they both have a chance to be good players. I'd also like to see them put some weight on Porter, as he can be a nice deep threat.
TE: Kolar probably has a decision to make, unfortunately. I would guess that he'll test the waters, so who knows. Either way, with Allen and Soehner back, this position is still a strength. We should see more of Loving-Black and Dean. I would guess both will pack on some weight in the off-season, so depth here should be good regardless of what Kolar does.
OL: Obviously, we have two solid starters in Downing and Newell. Ramos should step in at LT and I don't really expect a huge drop off there. RG probably goes to Hudson. RT who knows? Will Treiber or Remsburg be ready? Does the light finally come on for Foster? Or do they find a grad transfer here? Really, this is the key to the offense, because every other position group is looking really good.
DL: First off, DE is going to be the best it's ever been at ISU. Bailey, Peterson, Uwazarike is a devastating combination. Will McDonald is only going to get better with added weight. FR Blake Peterson and Suttle provide good depth. And Robertson can play here too. Inside is the question after losing Lima and Johnson. For some reason, we did not see Isaiah Lee all year. They did get the JUCO Bankston, which will help. Uwazarike can play inside some on passing downs and so can Robertson. If the light comes on for Josh Bailey as a SR, that would be a huge plus. I'd rather not depend on the TRFR Singleton, but he can play 4 games and could help some.
LB: IMO they absolutely need to find someone to play SAM and move Rose back inside. Rose rotating with Vance is a huge benefit to the defense. I think we wasted a year with an excellent player having Rose play outside. Or maybe they can move Vance to WILL? Hummel does a decent job there though. I would love to see Vaughn or Horne or Pulvermacher step up. I don't know that any of the TRFR will be ready to step up to the level that we'd need them to here. Still, if they were able to find a Willie Harvey type JUCO to step in and play SAM, we'd be better for it.
CB: I think that they have their main two now in Johnson and Kyle. If anyone can beat out Kyle, the team automatically improves, but I feel like he has the potential to be good. Datrone Young might not have been a great starter, but he's a pretty good backup...they could move him to FS if they can't find the right guy there. I feel like with King, Morton, Bowens and the TRFR Antoine, there is good depth here.
S: They're going to have two of the three spots set with Eisworth and White. Replacing Lewis/Bickham is not going to be a huge problem. Seems like they are grooming Miller for that spot. I expect him to put on 15 lbs of good weight from his fall roster weight and come in a new player. Or they could look at Isheem Young or Virdel Edwards, who both have bodies that look to be ready to play. I do expect some roster attrition after the season, so maybe there's room for a grad transfer.
K/P: I have a hard time seeing how Dunn is going to take that spot back from Rivera. He's been pretty good. No idea what they are going to do at K. I think that they'll probably stick with Assalley being short FG and Narveson for long FGs. They'll need to find a new KO guy. Personally, I'd find the best JUCO K you can get and tell him that if he wins the spot, he would have a scholarship as a SR.
