LibertyVolance
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Both sides of the ball really, but esp OL, DL, and LBers. The last 2 impact players on Defense were Derek Barnett and A.J. Johnson, 4* recruits. Both wee aggressive, intimidating players, who were regarded as beasty boys many times. They made plays and we desperately need more of their kind.
I cannot think of a single impact player currently on the roster at this point. Many thought that Warrior might be, but he is closing out his junior year and really hasn't developed anything like his Dad, Dale Carter. He isn't built like Dale. For those who remember, Dale was broad shouldered and notably larger frame (upper body mass and strength). Not to slight Nigel, he just hasn't been the impact player that many hoped.
We don't lose much on the offensive side of the ball. We do lose 2 linemen on defense, but neither will be big losses. Tuttle and Philips have both been serviceable and steady starters, but I don't believe either of them were ever dominators at their positions. Do any of you recall them being all sec or alternates? I don't think so. Tuttle, of course, set back by serious injury twice.
It looks like the current commits at DL are Cox, Middleton, Simmons, Clemons and Harrison. Hope they stick and we add to that list. I wish we were size bigger. Know what I mean? One thing I noticed about MSU under Mullen. They didn't have a roster of big name recruits, but Mullen recruited big dudes. They never got pushed around against Bama and the likes. Not that they won, but their burly size never let them get dominated and they would make an opponent pay a physical price at the least. Seems they still do a year after Mullin departed. So if we fall short of getting every recruit we want, make sure the alternate choices have some real size and look like they really enjoyed physical contact in HS. Hopefully, size and the new S&C program makes us a team that nobody likes to play and can't be intimidated by size and physicality, at the very least.
If you remember A.J. and Derek, both of those players looked like they wanted to hit somebody when they lined up. That's because they did. A.J. would move up toward the line before the snap like he recognized what was coming and was going to maul whomever tried to do it. You need players like that on defense.
I cannot think of a single impact player currently on the roster at this point. Many thought that Warrior might be, but he is closing out his junior year and really hasn't developed anything like his Dad, Dale Carter. He isn't built like Dale. For those who remember, Dale was broad shouldered and notably larger frame (upper body mass and strength). Not to slight Nigel, he just hasn't been the impact player that many hoped.
We don't lose much on the offensive side of the ball. We do lose 2 linemen on defense, but neither will be big losses. Tuttle and Philips have both been serviceable and steady starters, but I don't believe either of them were ever dominators at their positions. Do any of you recall them being all sec or alternates? I don't think so. Tuttle, of course, set back by serious injury twice.
It looks like the current commits at DL are Cox, Middleton, Simmons, Clemons and Harrison. Hope they stick and we add to that list. I wish we were size bigger. Know what I mean? One thing I noticed about MSU under Mullen. They didn't have a roster of big name recruits, but Mullen recruited big dudes. They never got pushed around against Bama and the likes. Not that they won, but their burly size never let them get dominated and they would make an opponent pay a physical price at the least. Seems they still do a year after Mullin departed. So if we fall short of getting every recruit we want, make sure the alternate choices have some real size and look like they really enjoyed physical contact in HS. Hopefully, size and the new S&C program makes us a team that nobody likes to play and can't be intimidated by size and physicality, at the very least.
If you remember A.J. and Derek, both of those players looked like they wanted to hit somebody when they lined up. That's because they did. A.J. would move up toward the line before the snap like he recognized what was coming and was going to maul whomever tried to do it. You need players like that on defense.
