Turning the page to next year. I think that we're going to see some movement in the next few weeks with three Saturday BB games in a row. They're going to have JR days probably for 2-3 of them. And then there's always visitors during spring practice. After that, things will probably slow down until camp season in June. Here's how I see the class at this point:
QB: 1 - They lose Lanning, but have Park, Noland and Moore on the roster for 18. Probably need to get one kid and give them a chance to compete for the spot after redshirting. It's unlikely that Park goes pro early, but he does have the arm and is set for a good season. If that does happen, they probably need a JUCO too. QB recruiting moves faster than most, so I expect they'll have their guy by summer.
WR: 2 - Lose Lazard, Ryen, Murdock, Harris. Two big losses, the other two not so much. It sounds like they really like Eaton. They'll have Jones and Butler back plus some of the younger guys like Martin and Johnson. I don't know that a JUCO is necessary unless he's a can't miss prospect. I'd say a big outside WR and then an M.
TE: 1 - They've done a really good job of signing the type of guys that they want in Allen, Soehner and Kolar. They lose Harms, who I still think will see some snaps this year. Just need to keep filling the pipeline.
RB: 2 - It doesn't look like they'll lose anyone, but you never know about RBs. Any one of the main three could transfer if they are beaten out and not getting any snaps. I don't think that you really want to go into the season short handed. Maybe get one sure RB and another a RB/WR/DB/ATH type? I know that they'll battle for Clark out of Sioux City, but I don't know that we're at the point yet to beat out the hoks for in-state kids. We'll see.
OL: 3HS, 1JC - They'll lose the grad transfers plus Campos, Garcia, Curtis. It should be time for Forbes and Mueller to step up. They had a big class this year, but those kids would just be RSFR. I look for them to find a JC OT to play opposite Foster and let JGJ move inside. But it wouldn't surprise me to see them go grad transfer one more year. For HS players, they have offers out to three in-state kids. I think that Downing is a huge priority for them, not sure if Ross and Todd are takes at this point. I'm guessing that they will have to prove it at camp, but you never know.
DE: 1HS, 1JC - Pretty much only lose Waggoner. They'll bring back Bailey, Leo, Uwazarike, Benton, Lensing, plus a bunch of RSFR. I think that they'll grab a JUCO just to bridge the gap to those younger players, but you never know.
DT/NG: 2HS, 1JC - They only lose Trent. But, Tongamoa will be a SR and we've heard that Lima might be good enough to leave early (optimistic to me). They also return Jamal Johnson and Joshua Bailey plus Rodriguez and Robertson coming off RS. I think that they need another JUCO body in there for competition, but it will be a harder sell with Lima and Tongamoa coming back.
LB: 2 - This one is tough to predict. A lot depends on how Sutton does and how Vance and Hummel look in practice. They only lose Mills, who could easily start this year. I could see them going JUCO here if the young guys aren't as advanced as they hope. They still have Harvey, Northrup, McMillen and Spears back in 18.
CB: 2 - Another tough one. No real losses other than Daniels, who I think will start at STAR. They bring back Peavy, Payne, Azunna and there's a bunch of young guys behind them. Probably not a need to get a JUCO, but that depends on how guys like Webster, Bowens, Tucker, Young look in practice. They are going to need to be confident in the replacements for Peavy and Payne for 19.
S: 2 - KCM and Edwards are two pretty big losses. They still have Mike Johnson back. Is there anyone on the roster that can be a starter? Grant? There were walk-on DBs that saw time this past year in Richardson, Austin, Lewis...not sure what position they end up at, but it wouldn't surprise me if someone like Lewis earned a scholarship. But they could go JUCO here too.
K/P: 1 - I think that they'll shoot for the best Kicker they can find. Same with Punter. If they can't get their primary guys, they will just use walk-ons and go from there.
That's a class of 22, which is doable with maybe another spot or two to fill holes where needed or grab a kid that is a can't miss type. I count 16 scholarship Seniors, so this is going to be a smaller class no matter what. Obviously, there will be attrition every year.
QB: 1 - They lose Lanning, but have Park, Noland and Moore on the roster for 18. Probably need to get one kid and give them a chance to compete for the spot after redshirting. It's unlikely that Park goes pro early, but he does have the arm and is set for a good season. If that does happen, they probably need a JUCO too. QB recruiting moves faster than most, so I expect they'll have their guy by summer.
WR: 2 - Lose Lazard, Ryen, Murdock, Harris. Two big losses, the other two not so much. It sounds like they really like Eaton. They'll have Jones and Butler back plus some of the younger guys like Martin and Johnson. I don't know that a JUCO is necessary unless he's a can't miss prospect. I'd say a big outside WR and then an M.
TE: 1 - They've done a really good job of signing the type of guys that they want in Allen, Soehner and Kolar. They lose Harms, who I still think will see some snaps this year. Just need to keep filling the pipeline.
RB: 2 - It doesn't look like they'll lose anyone, but you never know about RBs. Any one of the main three could transfer if they are beaten out and not getting any snaps. I don't think that you really want to go into the season short handed. Maybe get one sure RB and another a RB/WR/DB/ATH type? I know that they'll battle for Clark out of Sioux City, but I don't know that we're at the point yet to beat out the hoks for in-state kids. We'll see.
OL: 3HS, 1JC - They'll lose the grad transfers plus Campos, Garcia, Curtis. It should be time for Forbes and Mueller to step up. They had a big class this year, but those kids would just be RSFR. I look for them to find a JC OT to play opposite Foster and let JGJ move inside. But it wouldn't surprise me to see them go grad transfer one more year. For HS players, they have offers out to three in-state kids. I think that Downing is a huge priority for them, not sure if Ross and Todd are takes at this point. I'm guessing that they will have to prove it at camp, but you never know.
DE: 1HS, 1JC - Pretty much only lose Waggoner. They'll bring back Bailey, Leo, Uwazarike, Benton, Lensing, plus a bunch of RSFR. I think that they'll grab a JUCO just to bridge the gap to those younger players, but you never know.
DT/NG: 2HS, 1JC - They only lose Trent. But, Tongamoa will be a SR and we've heard that Lima might be good enough to leave early (optimistic to me). They also return Jamal Johnson and Joshua Bailey plus Rodriguez and Robertson coming off RS. I think that they need another JUCO body in there for competition, but it will be a harder sell with Lima and Tongamoa coming back.
LB: 2 - This one is tough to predict. A lot depends on how Sutton does and how Vance and Hummel look in practice. They only lose Mills, who could easily start this year. I could see them going JUCO here if the young guys aren't as advanced as they hope. They still have Harvey, Northrup, McMillen and Spears back in 18.
CB: 2 - Another tough one. No real losses other than Daniels, who I think will start at STAR. They bring back Peavy, Payne, Azunna and there's a bunch of young guys behind them. Probably not a need to get a JUCO, but that depends on how guys like Webster, Bowens, Tucker, Young look in practice. They are going to need to be confident in the replacements for Peavy and Payne for 19.
S: 2 - KCM and Edwards are two pretty big losses. They still have Mike Johnson back. Is there anyone on the roster that can be a starter? Grant? There were walk-on DBs that saw time this past year in Richardson, Austin, Lewis...not sure what position they end up at, but it wouldn't surprise me if someone like Lewis earned a scholarship. But they could go JUCO here too.
K/P: 1 - I think that they'll shoot for the best Kicker they can find. Same with Punter. If they can't get their primary guys, they will just use walk-ons and go from there.
That's a class of 22, which is doable with maybe another spot or two to fill holes where needed or grab a kid that is a can't miss type. I count 16 scholarship Seniors, so this is going to be a smaller class no matter what. Obviously, there will be attrition every year.
