Here's all the new players coming in:
Recruits:
Spegal gets a shot to show what he can do (IF he merits it of course, no prizes for being Mr. Football, still have to earn the snaps.)
My hope would be of the transfers:
That Dylan Powell is the real deal, hopefully a starter. And that Haggard, who by most accounts is too small right now for starting tackle potential, beefs up, learns systems, becomes a viable 6'6 300lb+ tackle option for IU by next season.
My hope would be of the recruits:
First and foremost, that we have so much returning talent that we don't technically have to play any of them, and we can RS all of them. That would be awesome for building depth and experience.
But of these incoming players, should they be legit good enough to be in the top 2 (or 3?) rotation of earned playing time, here are ones I think could potentially break into more than 4-game lineup:
1. Williams, WR: lot of young talent here, but if he's real deal 4-star, he could be solidly in the mix.
2. Balwin, RB - He has a legit shot at being #3 and playing (Though Ellis here may have him at #4?) As former UM recruit, maybe he can be the Virginia breakthrough we hoped Walker would be.
3. Lewis, DT - Again, we have a LOT of young FR/RS-FR/SO in this category, but if he's as good as advertised (one time Auburn commit), if he can disrupt and play, bring it on!
4. Benson, OL - reminds me of Bedford 2.0 in the making. But Bedford would've likely been a 4-game RS had Cronk not been injured, so IF IU doesn't have to play him due to injury or need, maybe more ideal if he can be 4-game RS too. But if he's good enough to play...start at G? so be it.
5. Mayala, DE - big kid and from Georgia, seems like has potential. Though we seemingly have good returning talent at DE, whoever best pass rushers are is who should play.
6. Watley or Keys, CB - we have 3 proven players here now: Mullen, Taylor & Williams. Anyone else playing at CB is TBD. Possibly one of these two good enough to crack playing rotation at CB.
That's all I see. Unless wheels fall off or injury bug hits hard, I'm hopeful that we could/should be able to RS 12-13 or more in 2020. If IU can do another 8-game (or more) win season, the next year's class right now only has 13-15 spots, so a small class. Would be great to make that a stellar class to combine with another 12-15 RS FR from this fall too. That's how a great program with depth is built! Good job CTA!!
Recruits:
- Rashawn Williams, Detroit, Michigan, WR (4-star)
- Tim Baldwin, Jr., Nokesville, Virginia, RB (3-star)
- Damarjhe Lewis, Griffin, Georgia, DT (3-star)
- Kahlil Benson, Southaven, Mississippi, OL (3-star)
- Caleb Murphy, Campellsburg, Indiana, DL (3-star)
- Lemuel Neeley-Watley, Detroit, Michigan, WR/DB (3-star)
- David Baker, Indianapolis, Indiana, WR (3-star)
- Christopher Keys, Collins, Mississippi, DB (3-star)
- Bryson Bonds, Crowley, Texas, S, (3-star)
- Jalen Mayala, Lawrenceville, Georgia, WDE (3-star)
- AJ Barner, Aurora, Ohio, TE, (3-star)
- Luke Wiginton, Fort Wayne, Indiana, OT (3-star)
- Brady Feeney, St. Louis, Missouri, OL (3-star)
- Javon Swinton, Stafford, Virginia, ATH, (3-star)
- Ty Wise, Carmel, Indiana, OLB (3-star)
- Dexter Williams, Macon, Georgia, QB (3-star)
- Randy Holtz, Fort Wayne, OL, (3-star)
- Cameron Knight, Noblesville, Indiana, OL (3-star)
- Dylan Powell, G (Stanford)
- Luke Haggard OL (JUCO)
- Charlie Spegal, New Palestine, Indiana, RB
- Sam Daugstrap, Cleveland, Ohio, TE
- Liam Zaccheo, Jensen Beach, Florida, S
- Chris Freeman, Zionsville, Indiana, K
Spegal gets a shot to show what he can do (IF he merits it of course, no prizes for being Mr. Football, still have to earn the snaps.)
My hope would be of the transfers:
That Dylan Powell is the real deal, hopefully a starter. And that Haggard, who by most accounts is too small right now for starting tackle potential, beefs up, learns systems, becomes a viable 6'6 300lb+ tackle option for IU by next season.
My hope would be of the recruits:
First and foremost, that we have so much returning talent that we don't technically have to play any of them, and we can RS all of them. That would be awesome for building depth and experience.
But of these incoming players, should they be legit good enough to be in the top 2 (or 3?) rotation of earned playing time, here are ones I think could potentially break into more than 4-game lineup:
1. Williams, WR: lot of young talent here, but if he's real deal 4-star, he could be solidly in the mix.
2. Balwin, RB - He has a legit shot at being #3 and playing (Though Ellis here may have him at #4?) As former UM recruit, maybe he can be the Virginia breakthrough we hoped Walker would be.
3. Lewis, DT - Again, we have a LOT of young FR/RS-FR/SO in this category, but if he's as good as advertised (one time Auburn commit), if he can disrupt and play, bring it on!
4. Benson, OL - reminds me of Bedford 2.0 in the making. But Bedford would've likely been a 4-game RS had Cronk not been injured, so IF IU doesn't have to play him due to injury or need, maybe more ideal if he can be 4-game RS too. But if he's good enough to play...start at G? so be it.
5. Mayala, DE - big kid and from Georgia, seems like has potential. Though we seemingly have good returning talent at DE, whoever best pass rushers are is who should play.
6. Watley or Keys, CB - we have 3 proven players here now: Mullen, Taylor & Williams. Anyone else playing at CB is TBD. Possibly one of these two good enough to crack playing rotation at CB.
That's all I see. Unless wheels fall off or injury bug hits hard, I'm hopeful that we could/should be able to RS 12-13 or more in 2020. If IU can do another 8-game (or more) win season, the next year's class right now only has 13-15 spots, so a small class. Would be great to make that a stellar class to combine with another 12-15 RS FR from this fall too. That's how a great program with depth is built! Good job CTA!!