This year we saw guys like Nigel Warrior, Austin Pope, Jerome Carvin, and Kevon Bennett take a huge step forward in development.
Who are two guys who you see taking similar steps in 2020?
For me....
Jackson Lowe - Kind of a huge void left at the position with DWA's departure and not landing a tried and true every down TE this recruiting class. Lowe was already a big, talented kid when he got here but kind of fell off the radar. A redshirt year should've served him well. As good of a player as Pope developed into, I think there are still questions about his health. I think we could see Lowe emerge as the #2 TE and end up getting a lot of playing time. I said when we signed him that I thought he would turn into one of the best TE's weve had since Witten, and I still believe he has that potential.
Ty Chandler - Kind of an easy pick in that most assumed he'd be a big contributor in 2019. For whatever reason that never came to pass. But he's heading into his "contract year" and there are rumors that Tim Jordan likely transfers out - so I think the path to playing time will be clear for him. If not so much as a traditional back, then definitely as a sort of jack of all trades utility player. I could see him with, say, 500 receiving, 600 rushing, and maybe a some yardage in the return game (although I'm hoping Velus Jones takes that role).
Brandon Johnson - I know Josh Palmer likely is the #1. Everyone is raving about DeAngelo Gibbs. But we redshirted BJ to play the slot this coming year. After being the teams leading receiver in 2017, he's kind of just toiled around a little making an ocassional play here and there. But I think he takes a noticeable step forward in 2020. As a crafty, 5th year senior, I could definitely see him carving out a fairly significant role on the offense - even leading the team in receptions (not yardage perhaps) in several games.
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And not to be a debbie downer, but one player I have a concern about not living up to the hype is actually DeAngelo Gibbs. The praise for him has been too much. Constant talk of being unstoppable on the scout time. I wouldn't its BVS but rather skepticism over how its a fairly common occurrence that we hear the RTI and VQ guys etc rave about a kid, only to see that kid really not have much of an impact during the year. As someone who's been shuffled around, I think Gibbs could see himself still getting comfortable as a WR this year, while flashing, but ultimately being fairly inconsistent. Fortunately, if that were to happen, he still would have the option to return for the 2021 season where his senior leadership would be needed.