Yes a miss on Purdue kid.

Miss on UF DE kid who committed to LSU.

Was never in it for Prince U from NE (miss we weren't in convo, but get his bro at Ole Miss and never an option).

Was never in it for Womack (LSU) is a also miss IMO (also went to Ole Miss).

To play in SEC, would like to see some guys from the SEC or BIG…size and speed to add good depth or even a starter…all other choices are 3rd level depth pieces from mid tier conferences (esp for DL to compete).

Sensing this isn't going as planned for the staff, but do wonder if they are waiting on someone from a CFP team to test mkt (esp whomever loses this wkend).

We may get a visit from Searcy this week

Fingers crossed.

vander54 said:

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As for GBD. We could have told him to look as well or he just wasn't happy here.

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We have zero depth, so we told him to hit the road, and he went to a better program, and now we are searching the non P4 pipeline for "upgrades".

Not buying it.

Just saying we don't know why he's leaving but he's been here 3 years and we've gotten nothing from him.

Plus you and I or anyone else on here has no clie how the portal is actually going. There could be guys the staff really wants that we haven't mentioned or aren't officially in the portal yet.

Also, like vander said, how do we have any clue if we get DTs from P4 programs or not? There's still quite a bit of time left in this portal thing, believe it or not.

It's TBD on whether our back up DTs or Brownlow-Dindy are better next year. All we can do is wait and see.

beerad12man said:

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Also, like vander said, how do we have any clue if we get DTs from P4 programs or not? There's still quite a bit of time left in this portal thing, believe it or not.

It's TBD on whether our back up DTs or Brownlow-Dindy are better next year. All we can do is wait and see.

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There are a ton of players still entering the portal plus the playoff team players get and extension before they have to enter.

I expect to see some fresh names next week

GBD ain't hard to figure out.... Elko didn't play him so he left....


Whether it was attitude, work ethic, doghouse, etc idk



But with how awful the dline was in November, it sure is a head scratcher that we didn't see meaningful appearances from any of the depth pieces who have now portal'd out...



Oh well maybe we can bring in a few more blocking tight ends to get this thing squared away

Might be worth a discussion

NEWS: James Madison EDGE Eric O'Neill has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, per @PeteNakos_.

O'Neill totaled 18.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks this season.https://t.co/qlMwLvgqOp pic.twitter.com/yNIBotFHdZ

— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal_) December 20, 2024

James Madison d-lineman Eric O'Neill has entered the transfer portal, @mzenitz and I have learned for @247Sports.

He posted 52 tackles, 19 TFLs and 13 sacks this season. 90.4 PFF grade. https://t.co/tP5BUqkDTl pic.twitter.com/pXYdgWcITz

— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) December 20, 2024

Granted we have several lean DE but no big body DE.

BREAKING: Western Kentucky transfer EDGE Deante McCray has Committed to Florida State, he tells @on3sports

The 6’4 280 EDGE totaled 59 Tackles & 2.5 Sacks this season

Will have 2 years of eligibility remaining https://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/txJZ2EGolW

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 21, 2024

I'm starting to think the coaches have guys lined up already. There is no way we lost McCray to FSU.

Have placed a @247Sports Crystal Ball prediction for Texas A&M to land former Colorado and Pitt EDGE Dayon Hayes.

The preseason All-Big 12 selection was a starter for Colorado this year before suffering an injury. Had 16 tackles and two sacks through four games.… pic.twitter.com/8H48lCxi1h

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 21, 2024

Dalton Brooks' older brother is in the portal.

Brother in the portal get at him great player, very smart, hardworking and dependable. 💯 https://t.co/qzrgLtuFxW

— Dalton Brooks (@king_brooks25) December 21, 2024

beerad12man said:

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Also, South Carolina is not a "better program". Please. Since we joined the SEC, we are like 9-2 against them, and have a much better overall record. What exactly about their program makes them a better PROGRAM?

They had a better 2024 season. Nothing more. Nothing less.

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It's the bitterness of sour grapes.

I will say, however, there may be point, in a roundabout way, that USCe has as good a program as A&M, when taking into account and comparing the quite disparate financial outlay between the two institutions and the results to date.

Not time to panic yet. If we are all honest with ourselves, few of us have watched tape on any of these guys. Our frame of reference is the number of stars they had next to their name in high school, and the idea that they are the 2nd/5th/9th/X rated dlineman in the transfer portal. We have no clue if the guys who are currently in the portal can play or not. I have seen exactly 2 guys with any sort of exciting track record so far, and it's not as if other schools aren't hunting linemen as well. We will feel foolish if we take guys just to take them, and then better players enter after the playoffs or in spring

BREAKING: Colorado transfer EDGE Dayon Hayes has Committed to Texas A&M, he tells @on3sports

The 6’4 255 EDGE started the 1st 3 games for the Buffs before getting injured

Led the team in Sacks & TFLs before injury

1 year of eligibility lefthttps://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/uLuqvSNdEV

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 21, 2024

Texas A&M 📍

— Damarjhe Lewis (@_damarjhelewis) December 21, 2024

TexAgs23 said:

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What about Patrick Payton from FSU? Saw he entered the portal today.

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Payton has already signed with LSU. He visited immediately upon entering and committed to them. They're killing it in the portal.

EricHill said:

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TexAgs23 said:

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What about Patrick Payton from FSU? Saw he entered the portal today.

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Payton has already signed with LSU. He visited immediately upon entering and committed to them. They're killing it in the portal.

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We need to tamper better.

BREAKING: Georgia transfer EDGE Samuel M’Pemba has Committed to Texas A&M, he tells @on3sports

The 6’4 250 EDGE will have 3 years of eligibility remaining

Top 45 Recruit in the ‘23 Class (On3 Industry)https://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/Kn2dU1kx0i

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 23, 2024

Feeling better about Edge but we lack size for our DE.

Definitely a little pass rushing depth taken purely based on upside. Still fairly young, entering year 3. Has high upside, but not proven. A wait and see prospect.

vander54 said:

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BREAKING: Georgia transfer EDGE Samuel M’Pemba has Committed to Texas A&M, he tells @on3sports

The 6’4 250 EDGE will have 3 years of eligibility remaining

Top 45 Recruit in the ‘23 Class (On3 Industry)https://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/Kn2dU1kx0i

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 23, 2024

---

Looks like all the tools are there. Wonder what happened to him this season, almost sounds like injury.

Tyler Onyedim would seemingly solve this problem. Hope we are in on him.

beerad12man said:

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Definitely a little pass rushing depth taken purely based on upside. Still fairly young, entering year 3. Has high upside, but not proven. A wait and see prospect.

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I agree but I'm happy with Howell and Kennedy just need more depth. Do we have any 275+ DE right now?

I think Hayes played at about 265 for Colorado this year. That's the closest thing we have.

Jack
Kennedy

Edge
Howell
M'Pemba

3 Tech
Hicks
Evans

1 Tech
Regis
NEED

SDE
Hayes
NEED

Seems like 2 GLARING needs. (and maybe the SDE they get starts over Hayes)

drink32 said:

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I think Hayes played at about 265 for Colorado this year. That's the closest thing we have.

Jack
Kennedy

Edge
Howell
M'Pemba

3 Tech
Hicks
Evans

1 Tech
Regis
NEED

SDE
Hayes
NEED

Seems like 2 GLARING needs. (and maybe the SDE they get starts over Hayes)

---

I think this looks about right and we definitely need more than just depth for the 1 and SDE

Didn't Howell play Jack this year?

Baaawaaah, we got too many DE's committed. We need more DT's Baahwaah!

Searcy is on board as well. Huge pick up there

Searcy and Hayes will likely play the 5.

Kennedy and Howell are your primary hybrids. The jack vs edge thing has never been used on Elko's depth charts before. I think it's about keeping guys happy and not feeling like they are 3rd string. You can now list 6 DEs in the 2 deep. But for all intents and purpose, in Elko's base defense, Howell and Kennedy play the same spot naturally. In the bowl game, they'll play opposite each other.

M'Pemba can likely play both spots. Will be interesting to see his role. Could also just be a pass rushing specialist.

Then we have 3 FR DEs. 2 redshirts and a true fish.

This gives us a ton of options on the DE now. Can go smaller / quicker at both end spots. Can still have one of the 260 pound DEs on the field.

We need at least one big bodied DT at some point. Maybe 2. But overall, our DL is a lot less concerning with a lot more athleticism and overall options than we had a week ago.

I still would like a bigger SDE but it definitely looks like we are going for the more athletic approach at DE.

Grab a good big body DT and I'll feel pretty good about the DL

I think 260-265 is just fine for that spot. That's what both Searcy and Hayes will play. Also Kendall Jackson will likely be close to 260 as a RFR. Maybe Solomon Williams, but he's closer to 250 right now. Depends on his development.

We won't have that 285 pound guy, but Elko has played plenty of 5 techs in the 260-270 range. Clemons, Jay Hayes at ND were both 265-270. His DEs at Duke, etc.

Now, Keke was 285. Leal played some SDE at 290. Obviously our 5 tech was bigger this year.

• Georgia's starting DEs are 265 and 250
• Texas are 260 and 245
• South Carolina is 254 and 248.
• Ohio State is 260 and 269
• Notre Dame is 265 and 251

Those are some of the better defenses in the sec/country.

Right now, I'd project ours to be 250 and 260 (either Howell or Kennedy and one of Searcy and Hayes)