I'm not an OSU fan. But there still isn't that much about the Pokes this year to make me have a positive feeling about them. They won't fall off the face of the earth since they do have talent. But unlike previous years, they are the most inexperienced team in the Big 12. And they are catching the Big 12 in a year where most of the teams have the bulk of their starters back. Plus they have the most brutal schedule that they've ever had. In the last month alone they have to play OU, Texas, Baylor & KSU. With 3 of those games on the road. And they also play at TCU and open the season against defending champs Florida State. If OSU gets to 7 wins I'll call it a great season for them.
I wonder what will happen with Vandy with so few starters returning and Franklin gone. If I recall correctly a lot of Vandy recruits jumped ship when Franklin said he was leaving. I also wonder the impact of Mason and how long it will take for him to build the team the way he wants.
A&M has 9 returning starters, the problem is this was the same 9 that did such an awful job last year. Snyder seems to have more excuses than solutions. Not too long ago he said "we are a couple years away from having a really good defense"... Problem is, most boosters are 1 year away from wanting a new DC. But I will say, I was very happy to hear Yates left to coach at Boise St and A&M hired Terry Joseph. I heard the impact can be felt on the field and the players really like him. Lets hope that translates to an actual secondary...
A&M has 9 returning starters, the problem is this was the same 9 that did such an awful job last year. Snyder seems to have more excuses than solutions. Not too long ago he said "we are a couple years away from having a really good defense"... Problem is, most boosters are 1 year away from wanting a new DC. But I will say, I was very happy to hear Yates left to coach at Boise St and A&M hired Terry Joseph. I heard the impact can be felt on the field and the players really like him. Lets hope that translates to an actual secondary...
certainly true. can visualize it here with Bama's 2014 "88" (well, 87, after Parker McLeod transfers and will be down to 85 soon enough). Only 18 of them are from classes that "non blue bloods" would be expecting to have returning junior and senior starters
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalston Fowler | Xzavier Dickson | Ryan Anderson | Jonathan Allen | Tony Brown | |
| Brandon Ivory | Trey DePriest | Dakota Ball | Anthony Averett | Joshua Casher | |
| Arie Kouandjio | Malcolm Faciane | Chris Black | Cooper Bateman | Ronnie Clark | |
| Anthony Orr | Chris Jones | Landon Collins | Leon Brown | David Cornwell | |
| Nick Perry | Ryan Kelly | Amari Cooper | Jonathan Cook | Johnny Dwight | |
| Austin Shepherd | Isaac Luatua | Denzel Devall | Raheem Falkins | Rashaan Evans | |
| Blake Sims | Bradley Sylve | Kenyan Drake | Reuben Foster | Ty Flournoy-Smith | |
| DeAndrew White | Jabriel Washington | Kurt Freitag | Robert Foster | Josh Frazier | |
| Jarrick Williams | Brandon Greene | Derrick Henry | Shaun Dion Hamilton | ||
| Brian Vogler | Adam Griffith | Brandon Hill | Da'Shawn Hand | ||
| Cyrus Jones | Grant Hill | J.C. Hassenauer | |||
| Korren Kirven | O.J. Howard | Keith Holcombe | |||
| Darren Lake | Eddie Jackson | Marlon Humphrey | |||
| Dillon Lee | Tyren Jones | Dominick Jackson | |||
| Alec Morris | Walker Jones | Laurence Jones | |||
| Reggie Ragland | Dee Liner | Derek Kief | |||
| Geno Smith | Cole Mazza | Montel McBride | |||
| Alphonse Taylor | Parker McLeod | Christian Miller | |||
| Dalvin Tomlinson | A'Shawn Robinson | D.J. Pettway | |||
| T.J. Yeldon | Maurice Smith | Ross Pierschbacher | |||
| ArDarius Stewart | Jarran Reed | ||||
| Altee Tenpenny | Cameron Robinson | ||||
| Tim Williams | Bo Scarbrough | ||||
| Bradley Bozeman | JK Scott | ||||
| Cameron Sims | |||||
| O.J. Smith | |||||
| 10 | 8 | 20 | 24 | 26 | 88 |
Just thought I would emphasize that this list was put out by Steele on 1-23-14. He will be mailing out his magazine in a little over a week and will include updates on that list. Last year here did one final update on 8-27-13 and I am sure he will do the same this year. Be sure and keep up with the lists as they evolve. Many players are gone for various reasons and that list will continue to change from now until he releases his final update in August just before week#1. If you don't get his magazine you can keep track at philsteele.com
I'm a contrarian on this, well sorta
Quantitatively the # returning starters by itself is way overrated. Qualitatively is a whole other thing. Successful teams usually have a accomplished returning QB, and a reliable place kicker. Next check out the OL. The other positions are much less important. Leaders are important, especially on defense, one at every level. Before dismissing a team for having few returning starters check to see if the program has good talent in the pipeline!
There's a new paradigm in CFB, at one time you didn't want to play frosh, now you have to! Look at the last 2 Heismans!
Quantitatively the # returning starters by itself is way overrated. Qualitatively is a whole other thing. Successful teams usually have a accomplished returning QB, and a reliable place kicker. Next check out the OL. The other positions are much less important. Leaders are important, especially on defense, one at every level. Before dismissing a team for having few returning starters check to see if the program has good talent in the pipeline!
There's a new paradigm in CFB, at one time you didn't want to play frosh, now you have to! Look at the last 2 Heismans!
speaking of steele he's offering free downloads of all his top 40 teams beginning with 38-40 today. so you cheap bastards that can't handle the $13 for his full mag can get 1/3 of the team profiles for free 
http://www.philsteele.com/Blogs/2014/MAY14/DBMay28.html
http://www.philsteele.com/Blogs/2014/MAY14/DBMay28.html
speaking of steele he's offering free downloads of all his top 40 teams beginning with 38-40 today. so you cheap bastards that can't handle the $13 for his full mag can get 1/3 of the team profiles for free
http://www.philsteele.com/Blogs/2014/MAY14/DBMay28.html
| [h=1]Phil Steele's 2014 Top 40 Countdown[/h] | |||
#30 May 31 | #20 June 9 | #10 June 20 | |
#29 May 31 | #19 June 10 | #9 June 21 | |
#28 June 2 | #18 June 11 | #8 June 23 | |
#37 May 29 | #27 June 2 | #17 June 12 | #7 June 24 |
#36 May 29 | #26 June 2 | #16 June 13 | #6 June 25 |
#35 May 29 | #25 June 3 | #15 June 14 | #5 June 26 |
#34 May 30 | #24 June 4 | #14 June 16 | #4 June 27 |
#33 May 30 | #23 June 5 | #13 June 17 | #3 June 28 |
#32 May 30 | #22 June 6 | #12 June 18 | #2 June 30 |
#31 May 31 | #21 June 7 | #11 June 19 | #1 July 1 |
Good post. We also have to keep in mind the definition of what constitutes a returning starter. Is a returning starter anyone returning who started X amount of games the previous season? Anyone who has started X amount of games throughout their careers? Returning starters in itself is kind of a flawed measurement. Since not all starters are created equal, I prefer to look at the overall team starts and experience. And of course the caliber of those players lost or returning. I also like to look at the history of a school and their coaching staff. Teams like a Bama or as we saw last season FSU are better prepared to deal with these kinds of losses than other schools. And I agree 100% with what you said about it being easier most of the time to replace a RB than it is to replace an experienced QB or OL. The numbers don't lie. Since 2000 80% of all QB's who have led their teams to a BCS bowl were returning starters, 71% of those BCS teams also had returning offensive tackles, cornerback 71% and free safety 72%. Seems like in the old days the basic returning starters factor was more important. The correlation is still there, but in today's game it's more the overall experience of the teams and caliber of those players, including those freshman diaper dandies that you mentioned.
Recently heard an interview with Bob Stoops, when asked how many of his new recruits he expects to redshirt, his reply was "hopefully none they are expected to contribute right away"! You never would have heard this a few years ago!
You don't want too many returning starters, you want competition and you want to avoid complacency. If a frosh unexpectedly breaks into the starting lineup it's a good thing, an upgrade, and improved depth!
You don't want too many returning starters, you want competition and you want to avoid complacency. If a frosh unexpectedly breaks into the starting lineup it's a good thing, an upgrade, and improved depth!
Stoops kind of broke new ground in 1999 when he came in and said in his first speech in front of the fans that there won't be any positions already won because you are a senior and a 3 year starter. If a freshman comes in and performs better in practice he's going to start over the senior. And he meant it, and has never deviated from it. Those first couple of teams he had were pretty young with their starters. But you knew that all of those players won their spots. The only trouble Stoops has had in recent years is he has a reputation of being too hard on his players. That reputation trickles down to the highschool ranks, and sometimes when given the option, the blue chippers choose another school. But I still think Stoops does everything the right way. The bigger reason that OU doesn't have quite the talent as they did 10 years ago is because of the Big 12 conference itself. When 3 out of your 5 biggest programs leave the conference, their reputation is going to drop along with the recruiting. That's why unless things change drastically in the next couple of years, I would like to see OU move on and join the Pac-12 or SEC. I think Stoops would see immediate improvement in recruiting like Texas A&M did if they were to join one of the big conferences that are on the rise.
I'm just sitting here with my arms folded waiting for this conference to implode when their champion doesn't make the Final Four. Bowsley said they have no intention of adding teams to the conference. We'll see. If the Big 12 champion gets left out of the Final Four you better believe there is going to be some mad Sooners fans. Or whoever else wins the conference. This could happen year after year if we have identical records to the other Big Five conferences. The lack of a playoff game will end up sealing our fate unless one of the teams runs the table. And I don't think we've had an undefeated champion for the last 4 or 5 years. I agree about the SEC. I think OU is much more likely to go west to the Pac...
Disagree my friend about going west....If Oklahoma ever makes a move...it will be the SEC.
Perfect fit....Oklahoma folks are old time football people and not the fancy California stuff.
Money will be there in the Southeastern Conference....and nowadays...it's all about the almighty dollar.
Perfect fit....Oklahoma folks are old time football people and not the fancy California stuff.
Money will be there in the Southeastern Conference....and nowadays...it's all about the almighty dollar.
I don't know Clover. I've talked to a lot of OU folks about a move, and the majority would like to go west. Personally, it would work out pretty well for me since I have a few friends in Arizona and California. So I could take a trip out there every year for a game and kill two birds with one stone. One school that I don't think will EVER make the move west is Texas. But I don't think they would go to the SEC either. Really, if things get desperate enough in the Big 12, nothing would surprise me where we would end up. All I know is if the Big 12 implodes, with the exception of OU, Texas and Kansas the rest of this conference would be up shit creek without a paddle. We could see schools end up in the Mountain West or the Awful Ass Conference out east. It would be a nightmare for most of the other schools to find a good home.
that's Stoops talking out his ass. I'm fairly certain he has the same line for every recruit that walks into Norman but he redshirts the shit out of kids just like any coaches at top-class programs. Hell, last year he was choosing between THREE redshirted qb's (bell, thompson, knight)
in this day and age you have to tell top recruits they'll be given a shot at playing time from their fist game but 8x out of 10 once they get involved with august practices they see just how far behind they are and are more than willing to accept a redshirt. of course you can't sit in front of blake bell and his parents and tell him he isn't getting a look for 2 years
speaking of redshirts here is one publication's 10 to watch (remember both johnny and rapeis won heisman as redshirt frosh)
Here are 10 players (listed alphabetically) to watch as the 2014 season approaches. [h=2]Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson[/h] Few signees in Dabo Swinney’s 2013 recruiting class were as highly touted as Alexander, but the Immokalee, Fla., native suffered a groin injury during preseason camp and missed all of last season. Now, Alexander is a big name in a Tigers’ secondary that has lost both starting cornerbacks, Bashaud Breeland and Darius Robinson. Alexander, a former four-star prospect, has lived up to his billing so far this spring. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables even singled him out as an early standout performer. “He’s had a nice first seven, eight practices,” Venables told reporters over the weekend.
[h=2]Max Browne, QB, USC[/h] Browne came to Los Angeles as the country’s top-rated pro-style passer in the class of 2013. However, former USC coach Lane Kiffin opted last season to limit his quarterback competition to a battle between Cody Kessler and Max Wittek, with Kessler eventually winning out. New Trojans coach Steve Sarkisian has brought Browne into the fold this spring, which could prove significant on the heels of Wittek’s decision to transfer. Browne is an accurate passer (70.4 percent completion rate in high school) and says that he feels more comfortable after a year of practice. Kessler, who threw for 2,968 yards and 20 touchdowns last fall, will have to work hard to fend off the talented Browne.
JOHNSON: Ten quarterback competitions to monitor in 2014 spring practice
[h=2]Greg Bryant, RB, Notre Dame[/h] Fighting Irish coach Brian Kelly thought he had landed an instant-impact player when Bryant, a Rivals.com five-star running back recruit, signed with Notre Dame in 2013. But Bryant’s freshman season came to an early end when he was sidelined by tendinitis in his right knee after having appeared in three of the first four games. Bryant, Cam McDaniel and Tarean Folston are competing in a three-way battle for the starting running back job this spring, with McDaniel returning as the team’s leading rusher (705 yards, three touchdowns in ’13). Still, Bryant has told reporters that he’s ready to break out. “People are asleep on me right now,” Bryant said recently. “I’m just hungry.”
[h=2]Riley Ferguson, QB, Tennessee[/h] It isn’t a stretch to say that the Volunteers’ quarterback situation remains in limbo. Tennessee used three different signal-callers during coach Butch Jones’ debut season on Rocky Top, and four passers are vying for the starting job this spring. But it’s Ferguson, the one who didn’t play in 2013, who is arguably garnering the most hype. Coaches have liked what they’ve seen from the quarterback’s arm, the same one that led Butler High in Matthews, N.C, to two state titles. Ferguson may not start against Utah State on opening weekend, but few expect Jones to keep Ferguson on the sidelines for long.
[h=2]Robert Foster, WR, Alabama[/h] Foster came to Tuscaloosa last year as one of the most coveted wide receiver prospects in the country. However, he wasn’t cleared to practice until just before fall camp, and he slid down the depth chart as a result. While top target Amari Cooper returns this spring, the Crimson Tide have lost Kevin Norwood and Kenny Bell, who combined for more than 700 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 2013. Much will be expected from Foster now that the 6-foot-3, 187-pounder has had a year of experience in the system.
[h=2]Marcell Harris, S, Florida[/h] Harris, who underwent knee surgery prior to arriving in Gainesville last fall, could become an immediate contributor in the Gators’ 2014 secondary. There should be plenty of new faces on the unit — Cody Riggs transferred to Notre Dame, and cornerbacks Marcus Roberson and Loucheiz Purifoy departed for the NFL draft. Sophomore Vernon Hargreaves III is getting plenty of well-deserved attention this spring, but Harris has reportedly shown few signs of lingering knee problems. He also has a notable pedigree: His father, Mike, played defensive back for Florida from 1994 to ’97.
[h=2]Jermaine Kelly, CB, Washington[/h] A former Rivals.com four-star prospect, Kelly could man one of the Huskies’ starting cornerback spots this fall. Junior Marcus Peters is the most proven player in the secondary, but given the chatter that surrounded Kelly during his redshirt freshman season, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him emerge as a standout this spring. The duo of Kelly and Peters could be solid for new coach Chris Petersen. It could also bolster a defense that already features potential two-way star Shaq Thompson.
[h=2]Ra’Shaad Samples, WR, Oklahoma State[/h] There has already been lots of buzz surrounding Samples at spring practice. The Dallas product once fielded offers from Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech, but he opted to leave his home state and join coach Mike Gundy’s roster in Stillwater. Samples is already one of the Cowboys’ quicker wide receivers, which should help him compensate for his 5-11 frame. Of course, his size didn’t matter when he had more 2,400 receiving yards in his final two seasons at Skyline High. With the departure of NFL-bound wideout Josh Stewart, Samples is poised to be one of Oklahoma State’s biggest offensive contributors.
[h=2]Ricky Seals-Jones, WR, Texas A&M[/h] Seals-Jones looked like a star in the making during the Aggies’ opener against Rice last season, hauling in a 71-yard touchdown catch early in the second quarter. But his campaign was cut short when he went down with a knee injury. Now A&M returns only one starting wideout, Malcome Kennedy, and will break in a new quarterback thanks to the departure of Johnny Manziel. Seals-Jones, who is an imposing 6-5 and 220 pounds, could make a Mike Evans-like impact.
RICKMAN: Looking back at Johnny Manziel’s best college highlights
[h=2]Matthew Thomas, LB, Florida State[/h] Thomas made headlines before arriving in Tallahassee when rumors swirled that he wanted a release from his National Letter of Intent. However, after joining the Seminoles, Thomas earned playing time in their first four contests before a shoulder injury forced him to take a medical redshirt. The former five-star recruit should fill in nicely for a linebacking corps that lost key contributors Christian Jones and Telvin Smith. Florida State does have depth at the position, but early indications from spring practice point to Jones playing a key role in the defending champs’ quest to repeat.
With Stoops you have a better chance of starting as a true freshman on the defensive side of the ball than you are the offense. Unless you are a RB like an Adrian Peterson, I've seen very true few freshman start on offense over the years. He's started freshman on defense mostly out of necessity. OU was very thin on the DL and defensive backfield last year and he had to start a couple freshman. But he has started plenty of redshirt freshmen over the years.
At some point, Castiglione and Bowen will get fed up with Texas and decide to make a move. California offers them a better recruiting avenue since they already do it and collaboration with true research institutions. You'd also be surprised how many OU alums/backers are out west in Cali as well as Zona. And while travel might be easier in the SEC, all of the PAC12 schools are in major, big city hubs (except Wazzu).
It'll stay together. i think the new commish Bowlsby has a plan. As wacky as this seems, I would add 2 teams right now, surprisingly Cincy and UL Lafayette. I know it sounds crazy but it gets you into Ohio and Louisiana. it's also give you programs that are competitive in Football, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, and Olympic sports. I think ULL is a sleeping giant. They have good facilities and have fielded very competitive teams. Right now a lot of their alums are split between supporting ULL and LSU but if ULL ever landed in a Big5 conference like the B12, you'd see those alums go hard with ULL. Their fans travel well and if given the chance between a road trip to M'hatten or Ames as compared to Lafayette, give me Lafayette. Plus the weather is much, much better and you get to recruit even deeper into the south.
I'd even take ULL over Boise St.
