Because the only way I can deal with crippling losses like this one is to imagine a better future than the reality we live in, here's spitballing a possible two-deep for 2024:
Offense:
- LT: Jimmy Simmons
- LG: Donovan Jackson
- C: Carson Hinzman -OR- Jakob James -OR- Vic Cutler -OR- Transfer center
- RG: Josh Fryar -OR- Tegra Tshabola
- RT: Luke Montgomery -OR- Transfer tackle
- TE: Gee Scott Jr. / Jelani Thurman
- QB: Lincoln Kienholz -OR- Air Noland -OR- Transfer QB
- RB: Chip Trayanum -OR- Dallan Hayden
- X WR: Carnell Tate
- Y WR (Slot): Brandon Inniss
- Z WR: JJ Smith -OR- Noah Rogers -OR- Bryson Rogers
Defense
- DE: Caden Curry
- DE: Kenyatta Jackson -OR- Eddrick Houston
- Jack: Mitchell Melton
- DT: Ty Hamilton
- DT: Justin Scott -OR- Hero Kanu -OR- Tywone Malone -OR- Transfer DT
- MLB: Cody Simon
- OLB: CJ Hicks
- SS (Bandit): Sonny Styles
- FS (Adjuster): Ja'Had Carter -OR- Malik Hartford
- NS (Cover): Jordan Hancock
- CB1: Davison Igbinosun
- CB2: Jermaine Mathews Jr.
General thoughts: We need to blow both lines up. We need to find the best combination of five guys in the best combination on OL, and if a transfer is needed to get guys playing in their best position (e.g., shifting Fryar back into IOL, where he performed better) then so be it. DL will be ridiculously thin, particularly at DT, though we have two elite 5-star guys in Houston and Scott coming in. If either can become a meaningful contributor, it will go a long way in making the defense a little more reliable. We'll need to make some hard decisions at QB as well. If we can find the right combination of guys, this team has the ability to make a playoff run. The strength of the defense (and team, for that matter) will be the secondary. If we can't find some explosiveness on offense, this could be a long, grinding season again.
