Great recruiting class–What’s next

It’s always great to finish off a recruiting class strong and the next question the coaches need to figure out is what do we need next year.  I’d bet they already know this but I thought I’d give it a quick shot.  Here’s our current list of scholarships:

Current Roster (Already Enrolled) – 63 (5 Early Enrolled)

QB (4) – B.Miller (Jr.), K.Guiton (Sr.), C.Jones (rFr.), J.Barrett (Fr.)
RB (5) – C.Hyde (Sr.), J.Hall (rSr.), R.Smith (rJr.), B.Dunn (So.), W.Ball (rFr.)
FB (0)
WR (6) – C.Brown (Sr.), D. Smith (Jr.), E.Spencer (Jr.), M.Thomas (So.), C.Fields (Sr.), F.Epitropolous (rFr.)
TE (3) – J.Heuerman (Jr.), N.Vannett (rSo.), B.Thomas (rFr.)
OL (12) –J.Mewhort (rSr.), A.Norwell (Sr.), C.Linsley (rSr.), M.Hall (rSr.), T.Decker (So.), K.Dodson (rFr.), A.Underwood (Jr.), J.Boren (So.), C.Farris (rSo.), D.Baldwin (rJr.), P.Elflein (rFr.), T. Brown (rSo.)
LEO (3) – N.Spence (So.), S.Miller (Jr.), T.Lewis (Fr.)
DT (4) – M.Bennett (Jr.), J.Hale (Jr.), T.Schutt (So.), C.Carter (rSo.)
SSE (4)- A.Washington (So.), J.Moore (rJr.), S.Pittman (rFr.), T.Sprinkle (Fr.)
LB (7) – R.Shazier (Jr.), J.Perry (So.), C.Williams (So.), D.Perkins (So.), J.Marcus (So.), C.Grant (Jr.), L.Roberts (rFr.)
CB (7) – B.Roby (rJr.), D.Grant (Jr.), A.Griffin (rJr.), A.Reeves (So.), N.Murray (So.), E.Apple (Fr.), C.Burrows (Fr.)
S (6) – C.Barnett (Sr.), C.Bryant (Sr.), C.Brown (Sr.), D.Bogard (So.), R.Tanner (rSo.), T.Powell (So.)

K (1) – D.Basil (Sr.)
P (0)
LS (1) –  B.Haynes (rSo.)

Incoming Freshmen (Not Enrolled) – 19

QB (0)
RB (1) – E.Elliott
FB (0)
WR (4) – J.Marshall, C. Smith, J. Clark, D. Wilson
TE (1) – M.Baugh
OL (2) – E.Lisle, T.Gardner
LEO (0) –
DT (3) – M.Hill, B.Price, D.Munger
SSE (1) – J.Bosa
LB (2) – M.Mitchell, T.Johnson
CB (1) – G.Conley
S (3) – J.Thompson, D.Lee, C.Worley, V. Bell
K (0)
P (0)
LS (0)

P (1) – J Townsend (one player currently enrolled will drop out to make room for him)

Here’s what I expect to lose by position:

QB (1)
RB (2)
WR (2)
TE (0)
OL (4)
LEO (0)
DT (0)
SSE (0)
LB (1)
CB (1)
S (3)
K (1)
P (0)
LS (0)

That’s 15 recruits and that’s assuming both Roby and Shazier leave early.   That’s means they will need to be very picky this year.  I’d expect a recruiting class of about 20 as some kids will leave school to various issues including playing time.  This is what I’d expect next year:

QB (1)
RB (1)
WR (2)
TE (1)
OL (4)
LEO (1)
DT (1)
SSE (1)
LB (1)
CB (2)
S (2)
K (1)
P (0)
LS (0)

That’s 18 with the extras mostly on the defensive line as we have no seniors.  I could see them take a few less defensive backs but they are important on special teams.  After that it is just a matter of what players are making progress letting the coaches focus on other positions for 2014 when the sanctions come off and which players leave the school.

One other thing that is obvious is the 2014 team is going to be stacked if the younger players step up on the offensive line and at running back.  If Roby and Shazier come back the defensive will be nasty.