TL, DR: We've used the portal well to fill holes, maybe could add a few more depth pieces at RB, WR, LB, CB but could also bank on growth from within at those spots.
Here's the current (loosely estimated) 2-deep for next year
*Those in this font are the departures/additions that came through portal, early departure or otherwise early and bold represents new additions
*Underlined are returning starters
Also, note that some starters/backup are in the air so I didn't get too into who is #1 and #2, just listed them both in whatever order. This is looking more at the big picture so it doesn't matter too much.
Position |
Starter |
Backup |
Departures |
QB |
Kedon Slovis |
Jake Retzlaff Cade Fennegan
|
Jaren Hall Jacob Conover
|
RB |
Aidan Robbins |
Hinckely Ropati Miles Davis |
Chris Brooks Lopini Katoa Jackson McChesney
|
WR |
Keanu Hill |
Parker Kingston |
Puka Nacua |
WR |
Kody Epps |
Dom Henry |
Gunner Romney |
WR |
Chase Roberts |
JoJo Phillips |
Brayden Cosper |
TE |
Isaac Rex
|
Jackson Bowers |
Dallin Holker |
LT |
Kingsley Suamataia |
Brayden Keim |
Blake Freeland Sione Veikoso
|
LG |
Conner Pay |
Vae Soifua |
Clark Barrington Talin Togiai
|
C |
Paul Maile |
Sam Dawe |
Joe Tukuafu |
RG |
Weylin Luapaho |
Peter Falaniko |
Campbell Barrington |
RT |
Lisala Tai |
Tyler Little Ian Fitzgerald |
Harris LaChance |
My takeaways: We're pretty solid on WR and definitely at TE, and the transfer portal additions have helped at QB and RB, plus brought OL back from the edge - think we're OK there now. I'd still like another RB though but overall holes have been filled. Also, WR has a lot of unproven guys... I see why we've been trying to add another
And on defense
Position |
Starter |
Backup |
Departures |
DE |
Isaiah Bagnah |
John Nelson Blake Mangelson |
Earl Tuioti-Mariner Logan Fano |
NT |
Caden Haws |
Atunaisa Mahe |
|
DT |
Jackson Cravens |
Bruce Mitchell Aisea Moa |
Lorenzo Fauatea Gabe Summers |
DE |
Tyler Batty |
John Henry Daley Siale Esera |
Alden Tofa |
LB |
Ben Bywater
|
Bodie Schoonover |
Pepe Tanuvasu |
LB |
Max Tooley |
Morgan Pyper Josh Wilson |
Jackson Kaufusi Tate Romney |
LB |
Micah Wilson |
Michael Daley |
Payton Wilgar Keenan Pili |
CB |
Jayden Dunlap |
Jacob Boren Dean Jones |
Gabe Jeudy-Lally D'Angelo Mandell |
CB |
Eddie Heckard |
Mory Bamba Ethan Slade |
Kaleb Hayes Nathaniel Gillis Korbyn Green |
NB |
Jakob Robinson |
Zion Allen |
George Udo |
S |
Micah Harper |
Chaz Ah You (LB/S) Raider Damuni
|
Matthew Criddle Ammon Hanneman? |
S |
Malik Moore |
Talan Alfrey |
Hayden Livingston? |
My takeaways: Cravens and Bagnah does a lot to help the DL. The LB is still pretty weak and the secondary was a bit of a nightmare, but Heckard helps a lot. Overall, I'd love to add a bit more at LB and maybe some CB depth.
Worth noting that at linebacker there's a lot of potential options hopefully ready to step up in Wilson (x2), Daley, and Schoonover (any of whom could be the starters, despite what I put down here mostly for convenience). I'd guess we go to the portal here as well just since there are so many unknowns, but lots of depth. Alternatively, Ah You might move to LB if Damuni proves ready
Similar situation at DB - Heckard, Dunlap, Robinson is a solid group, but that backups are from nearly a dozen freshman CBs (Isaiah Glasker, Dean Jones, Chika Ebunoha, Ethan Slade, Quenton Rice, Evan Johnson, Preston Rex, Carter Krupp). I honestly don't know which will be the second string, but just chose mostly at random. I'd expect at least a few will hit, but think this is another spot we'll need someone to step up
DL and safety are actually pretty solid, both for starters and for backups
I'm also hoping that I missed someone - especially among returning missionaries or along the lines (where I'm not as aware)