Any chance they are as dominant as they are this year? I know we are losing some STUDS but just curious.

For the record I'm totally focused on Ole Miss this week just wondering. Thx

I lean towards a very small chance. The D Line looked disappointing against South Carolina. The secondary could be salty but may have a weak point or 2. We have FOUR guys on the DL who I think deserve an NFL shot in the spring, we won't have 4 guys on the DL that are ready to go to the NFL in spring 2023.

Our offense will hopefully take a small step forward with the OL and QB experience

Keep Tyree and you're just as good.

I think next years defense may surprise some. what we lose in experience we make up for with enhanced talent. We may start a bit slower but I think we will be pretty salty as the season progresses.

If you start any defense with Antonio Johnson and edgerrin cooper you have a good start. We will have lots of experience and depth in the back 7. Our front four will be younger but many are already playing now in the rotation. Add in 3-5 star defensive line recruits in this class and I think we should be good to go.

Tyree Johnson returning or not returning will have a big impact on the defense next season

If he comes back then we have a shot to be elite again on defense sooner rather than later in the season

Probably not. The potential is there. We have 2 good LBs returning and a slew of DBs. Need to find some DL starters.

McKinley plays the most important position and is a potential all American. Shemar Turner has shown flashes and has a high ceiling. We have several others with high potential.

Detmersdislocatedshoulder said:

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I think next years defense may surprise some. what we lose in experience we make up for with enhanced talent. We may start a bit slower but I think we will be pretty salty as the season progresses.

If you start any defense with Antonio Johnson and edgerrin cooper you have a good start. We will have lots of experience and depth in the back 7. Our front four will be younger but many are already playing now in the rotation. Add in 3-5 star defensive line recruits in this class and I think we should be good to go.

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This. The real benefactor of Jimbo's recruiting is the talent we have now in the pipeline is twice as good as our best of years past. This is going to go a long way in building a sustainable future. You'd be a fool not to be excited by the potential as long as we don't manage to eff it up.

Raikes has looked pretty damn good in relief of Jackson and Peevy all year so my only worry there is depth.

Agreed, we have some young DL talent. One 5 star, two 4 stars and a 3 star.

I do not think there will be much of a fall off in defensive performance. I expect our LBs and secondary to be better next year. Elko will just scheme differently for the new strengths. Our coaches are amazing at development. Might take a few games for the defense to figure it out but hopefully the offense will be in full force early next season with an experienced O-line at that point.

I have this total pipedream that is utter nonsense in today's world. The upperclassman get together at season's end and all decide to stay one more year to get a natty!!! They prove that it isn't always about the money.

Interior DL: Walter Nolen, McKinley Jackson, Shemar Turner, Isaiah Raikes, Ardarious Jones, Tunmise Adeleye, Anthony Lucas

D-end: Fadil Diggs, Donell Harris, Shemar Stewart, Enai White, Malick Sylla

LB: Edgerrin Cooper, Harold Perkins, Andre White, Chris Russel

Corner: Jaylon Jones, Tyreek Chappel, Smoke Bouie, Josh Moten, Bobby Taylor

Safety: Antonio Johnson, Jardin Gilbert, Bryce Anderson, Brian Williams

Nickel: Erick Young, Deuce Harmon

Obviously missing some others and guys like, Tyree Johnson, Leon O'Neal, Demani Richardson can return, but either way this will be a TALENTED and FAST defense, with probably the best set of linebackers on the roster at once ever....

I think the LB and DB will be better with one more year of experience and the off-season to gain more muscle. I don't think we repeat this year's dominance on Dline. Four of the starters could be all drafted. I am not worried about the interior next year with Jackson/Raikes/Shemar Turner. Nolen may compete for some nose tackle PT as well. The uncertainty is on the edge. Diggs and Donnel Harris were both highly-touted recruits in 2020 and I think they could be projected starters next year but both are not physically ready this year. Hope they live in the gym and hone their skills with coach Price this coming off-season and be ready to shine next year. Tummies Adeleye was 245lb in HS and was listed 295lb in the fall camp so I am not sure which position he will play on the Dline.

NortheastAggie said:

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I think the LB and DB will be better with one more year of experience and the off-season to gain more muscle. I don't think we repeat this year's dominance on Dline. Four of the starters could be all drafted. I am not worried about the interior next year with Jackson/Raikes/Shemar Turner. Nolen may compete for some nose tackle PT as well. The uncertainty is on the edge. Diggs and Donnel Harris were both highly-touted recruits in 2020 and I think they could be projected starters next year but both are not physically ready this year. Hope they live in the gym and hone their skills with coach Price this coming off-season and be ready to shine next year. Tummies Adeleye was 245lb in HS and was listed 295lb in the fall camp so I am not sure which position he will play on the Dline.

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I agree, will be tough to replicate. We have bonafide beasts two deep at each spot. But the recruiting pipeline also shows that we're committed to making that a strength.

The defense will probably be a little shaky with missed assignments early in tge year due to all the new guys. But the talent will start showing through as they get experience and cut out mistakes.

Luckily because we rotate so many players, the inexperience issue won't be as bad as expected.

taylorswift13 said:

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Interior DL: Walter Nolen, McKinley Jackson, Shemar Turner, Isaiah Raikes, Ardarious Jones, Tunmise Adeleye, Anthony Lucas

D-end: Fadil Diggs, Donell Harris, Shemar Stewart, Enai White, Malick Sylla

LB: Edgerrin Cooper, Harold Perkins, Andre White, Chris Russel

Corner: Jaylon Jones, Tyreek Chappel, Smoke Bouie, Josh Moten, Bobby Taylor

Safety: Antonio Johnson, Jardin Gilbert, Bryce Anderson, Brian Williams

Nickel: Erick Young, Deuce Harmon

Obviously missing some others and guys like, Tyree Johnson, Leon O'Neal, Demani Richardson can return, but either way this will be a TALENTED and FAST defense, with probably the best set of linebackers on the roster at once ever....

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Great post, but I'm pretty sure Leon is a senior

Talent plus a new D culture of excellence. Ags will be great on D next season.

Leon can come back because of the COVID season.

Tommyboy26 said:

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Any chance they are as dominant as they are this year? I know we are losing some STUDS but just curious.

For the record I'm totally focused on Ole Miss this week just wondering. Thx

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For the record YOU focusing on ole miss is inconsequential!

waltonloads11 said:

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Leon can come back because of the COVID season.

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The question would be should he. I've seen him projected as high as 5th round. Seems like another year could hep that. But that's one less year to have the pro opportunity as well. It'll be a tough call.

Talent is definitely not an issue on D. It's hard to replace game reps, time in the weight room, experience recognizing pre snap shifts / motion and how that impacts each guy's individual assignment etc.

Remember when we were reloading 4 guys from the o-line but weren't sure how that would pan out this season? Just using that as a template for next year's D-line that we might have some growing pains for a few games, no matter how talented the next group up is. Zero doubt that our D-line is the deepest position group on the team, but game reps matter. Also, I don't see any reason why Tyree would stick around when he's leading the team in sacks and will likely finish with >10 on the season. Imo we're finding 4 new starters up front.

Cooper is exciting and White will bring experience at the 2nd level. Beyond that we haven't rotated guys much so it's hard to know who steps in. Perkins would be a huge get if we sign him.

Jaylon Jones year 3 should be special as well as Antonio Johnson getting to play a premium position. Curious to see where they align him. I'll be interested to see what Demani does after this year since he's draft eligible and will have started 30+ games in college.

Realistically you're looking at replacing about 7 starters though and that's no small feat.

More importantly hoping Elko hangs with us as long as possible!

Hoping Demani comes back.

Worrying about future declines is a good problem to have. But don't borrow trouble from tomorrow. Each day has enough of its own…

Let's go big NIL donors write the checks

One or 2 of these 5 stars coming in on the DL will start on the DL. We have quality depth this year that will turn into quality starting material next year. May take a slight step back from where the defense is at this point in the season, but we even had issues early on allowing 200 yard rushing games multiple times. Some of that was LB, but some was on the DL too. Hopefully the higher standard translates into the young group continuing and stepping up next year.
2022 and 2023 shaping up to be huge years where a few injuries shouldn't be able throw us off like they did this year.
2023 DL rotation will be absolutely filthy though. Potential 3rd starting QB King or Weigman is taking over by that point as a Sophomore

buglerank06 said:

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Talent is definitely not an issue on D. It's hard to replace game reps, time in the weight room, experience recognizing pre snap shifts / motion and how that impacts each guy's individual assignment etc.

Remember when we were reloading 4 guys from the o-line but weren't sure how that would pan out this season? Just using that as a template for next year's D-line that we might have some growing pains for a few games, no matter how talented the next group up is. Zero doubt that our D-line is the deepest position group on the team, but game reps matter. Also, I don't see any reason why Tyree would stick around when he's leading the team in sacks and will likely finish with >10 on the season. Imo we're finding 4 new starters up front.

Cooper is exciting and White will bring experience at the 2nd level. Beyond that we haven't rotated guys much so it's hard to know who steps in. Perkins would be a huge get if we sign him.

Jaylon Jones year 3 should be special as well as Antonio Johnson getting to play a premium position. Curious to see where they align him. I'll be interested to see what Demani does after this year since he's draft eligible and will have started 30+ games in college.

Realistically you're looking at replacing about 7 starters though and that's no small feat.

More importantly hoping Elko hangs with us as long as possible!

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But we rotate a hell of a lot more on Dline than we ever did on Oline. The only Oline backup that got any playing time last year was Robinson. Our Dline backups that play quite a bit are McKinley Jackson, Isaiah Raikes, Fadil Diggs, and Shemar Turner. There are a lot more that haven't played much that were very highly recruited and then there are those that will be coming in next year. Inexperience will be an issue but not as bad as the Oline was this year.

I think next year's D will be really close to this year's.

With all the recruits we getting, first day of practice will be like:

Who the DC is will likely be a factor. I have no doubt whoever it is will be good but as good as Elko will be difficult. I have to think Elko gets a shot at a really good HC job after this yr.

Talent wise we seem to have entered the reload vs rebuild era which is of course why Jimbo was hired.

Not many OLines rotate