Impact Freshmens

[AzzurriDawg4]

I was looking over our incoming class to see who might contribute this year and had a question...does anyone remember what the staff has in mind for Charles Mitchell? I couldnt remember if he was definitely a safety or cb or what? I was just looking to see if we had some real talent coming in to shore up missing out on Ant. Johnson. Also, is Freeman supposed to play tackle? It would be good if he steps right in and helps out there - thanks M. Brown.

As far as impact players, you never know how that is going to turn out...I sure didnt envision Zach Smith being such a player in his freshman year. I know we talked about "breakout" players previously, but as far as 1st year contributors go, here is what I am looking for:

1. O'Neal Wilder
2. Terrance Davis
3. Phillip Freeman
4. Charles Mitchell
5. Nelson Hurst
6. Shane McCardell
7. Josh Jackson
8. Devin Jones
9. Arceto Clark

Thoughts?

 

[GBryne4Heisman]

I think Terrance Davis is going to be at QB for the time being, so I hope we dont get to see alot of him.

I think you'll see Josh Jackson, O'neal Wilder, and Charles Mitchell for sure. I don't think Devin Jones plays this year, atleast I kinda hope not. He's coming off a knee injury, and a little small for an SEC DT right now. I think it's in his best interest to redshirt.

 

[Bulldog Backer]

My understanding is that Phillip Freeman is probably going to be redshirted.

Hence, I'd reorder things a little:

1. Tyson Lee...even if he doesn't start, he provides depth at QB.
2. Devin Jones....can play both DE and DT, and will be a 3rd down rusher. By midseason, may be a key DL.
3. Terrance Davis....gives us some speed, elusiveness and versatility in a couple of positions, including QB.
4. Charles Mitchell...special teams demon, ala De'Mond, and ace nickle/dime package DB.
5. Nelson Hurst....versatile in rotation at TE, can block and catch.
6. Shane McCardell...Speed rusher off the edge at DE.
7. O'Neal Wilder...a threat even as a backup, may see 3-4 long TD's.
8. Tobias Smith...2nd team as RG, enabling Craig Jenkins to move to RT.
9. Arceto Clark....another threat at WR.
10. Josh Jackson....in rotation at DT.

These assume that we are talking about newcomers, and not redshirts.

 

[Todd4State]

1. O'Neal Wilder- fast, but can he catch and run routes? Could be a surprise or could be the next Antonio Hargro.

2. Terrance Davis- He is going to be our "running QB" and probably will be a slot receiver. Similar questions to Wilder except substitute Ray Ray Bivines for Hargro comparioson.

3. Philip Freeman- may start or play as a back-up now that Mike Brown is gone. Was supposed to RS, but...

4. Charles Mitchell- Probably a back-up safety and ST at best and possible RS because we have Glanton, Pegues, Zach Smith, and Fitzhugh all at S.

5. Nelson Hurst- May have the best chance as far as impact. He may start if he can beat out Marcus Green at TE. Probably will do no worse than the second TE on two TE formations.

6. Shane McCardell- I think he will either be a back-up/ST player or RS.

7. Josh Jackson- See above, although I think he has a slightly better chance than McCardell to play as a back-up.

8. Devin Jones- Croom always wastes a scholarship on one guy with an injury. Last year it was this guy. RS.

9. Arceto Clark- Probably a back-up/ST guy, but if he shows up in camp, I don't think him beating out Marcus Washington is out of the realm of possibilty. I don't think he RS because of depth, and we may even take a flyer on him at WR if some of our Fr. like Wilder and Davis don't pan out.

10. Tyson Lee- He's going to be our back-up. I think he is a smart guy, but he's probably a GPAA.
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[Bulldog Backer]

...you have some good points, but...

I am hearing is that Phillip Freeman needs a lot more work in the weight room before he is really ready for the SEC. That comes from teammates.

I am also hearing Arceto Clark will be first tried at WR. He is an excellent cover corner, but needs to improve his tackling. That was from a Clark interview.

In terms of matching incoming newcomers to needs, we need Hurst to step up and be a good blocker, and offer a little receiving help. We also need pass rushing. McCardell and Stigers are the first candidates for that, that comes from Croom.

Devin Jones' coach says he is fully recovered and ready to go. He is up to 6-2 256 as of June 1st. He is a tweener for now, but should be a good player at DT down the road.

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[Todd4State]

but Brown getting kicked off still may mean that Freeman has to play some. I'm sure he's probably not ready to, but if someone gets hurt, we're going to have to throw him out there.

I'd rather keep Clark at CB- you know what they say about DB's- they're DB's for a reason, ie they can't catch. It seems to me to be a waste of time to start him out at a secondary position.</p>

 

[AzzurriDawg4]

to win the Zach Smith award for 2008. Not only is he supposed to be a hell of a find, but he plays at a position where we need the most help. He definitely has the size and reportedly the speed to be a pretty tough player on the end. Dont know much about how ready he will be strength and conditioning wise, which seems to be the biggest hurdle for freshmen linemen.
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I also think T. Davis is going to contribute this year, but not with his arm.

 

[Bulldog Backer]

...I am just reporting what I heard. They have Saulsberry penciled in behind Sherrod right now, and Melichar and Chris Spencer at RT. I really think we need Craig Jenkins at RT, but we need depth at right guard to do that. Carpenter was moved there, but his shoulder may not hold up. That is why I have penciled in Tobias Smith at RG. I hope Phillip Freeman has been hitting the weights, because Saulsberry is really a guard.

 

[futaba.79]

no doubt he's got world class 400m speed. But it remains to be seen how that translates over 10, 20, 40 yds.

 

[AzzurriDawg4]

people on this board naive enough to assume Wilder will step in and tear it up, given our recent history with WRs. He does, however, have the opportunity and apparently the tools to do so. I am definitely taking a wait and see (as in wait and see if he is the next Keon Humphries, Antonio Hargro, etc.) with Wilder. Especially after all the shat they fed us about McRae last year.

 

[Goat Holder]

I don't think any of the other ones will get a chance to see the field. Mitchell will be a good safety, but we're stacked up there.

Wilder will be a legit deep threat if he can catch AND if Carroll's weak *** arm can get it there.

McCardell's a beast, from what I hear. They say he can play anywhere on the field.

 

[NutherT]

Even though we are loaded at Safety, Croom has gone on the record saying the ONLY reason Wade Bonner, who was a very promising safety, was moved to tailback was because the coaches are so confident that Charles Mitchell will make a significant and immediate impact.

 

[engineerdog]

Wilder will be unstoppable. Nobody will be able to catch him. He will catch 2-3 touchdowns per game on deep bombs. He will outrun anybody we play. The guy has world-class speed.

I know this because I read it on Gene's Page.

 

[bonedaddy401]

sprint in person and trust me, he can fly. He is a 10.5 to 10.2 guy in the 100m dash. I haven't seen him catch but he is a tough guy who has speed AND stamina. Look for him to really shine in the 4th quarter of games. I would love to drown myself in kool-aid about him but, I haven't seen him catch yet.

 

[TR.sixpack]

I know he's a redshirt, but he's still a frosh. Hopefully we redshirt as many true freshmen as possible.