With this portal cycle coming to an end and fresh in our minds, I think we got a pretty good idea of our portal strategy (raise the floor by getting old) as well as lessons learned. I looked ahead to what the roster will look like going into next year's portal cycle (pre arrivals/departures) and what potential needs are.
Roster Strategy: Do not go into the season with only talented, but unproven young guys at a position. Raise the floor with a veteran portal add to compete with your young talent. Bring in large recruiting classes (half high-end, half-dev guys) to backfill ‘25&’26 guys who aren’t progressing and are encouraged to bounce.
Potential Transfer Needs: Veteran outside WR, Edge, DT if guys don’t develop in ’26 season. IOL and S if Montgomery/McClain leave early. Also a LS.
Big Time ’27 recruits ($$$): DGG, J. Brown, B. Williams, 5* OT (Matthews/Moss), Jacobs
’27 Class Size: 22-24 - increase size if dev guys aren’t progressing (Ricketts, Perez, etc.) and will bounce.
QB:
‘26 - 4 ; ‘27 - 4
Roster: Martin (R-Sr), St. Clair (R-So), Fahey (R-Fr), Edmunds ($$)
Veteran?: Yes, but no experience. Hopefully TSC gets a ton of game reps this season. ; Talent?: Yes
Note: If Martin’s extra year gets granted, the room is all set. If TSC is not ready to go, would bring in a transfer to start
RB:
‘26 - 6 ; ‘27 - 6
Roster: B. Jackson (Jr), West (Jr), Rogers (R-So), Bey (So), Akih (R-Fr), Gabriel-Georges ($$$)
Veteran?: Yes ; Talent?: Yes
Note: Does West and/or Rogers stick around? If either leaves, would need to add a low budget guy to pair with DGG in the '27 class to get to 6.
WR:
‘26 - 11 ; ‘27 - 11
XZ Roster: Bell (R-So), Henry Jr (So), Guilford (So), Brown ($$$), Freshman ($), Veteran Portal ($)
SL Roster: Parker (R-Sr), Jones (R-So), Boyd (R-Fr), Ricketts (R-Fr), Freshman ($$)
Veteran?: No ; Talent?: Yes
Note: Parker starts at slot. Does Bell, CHJ, and Guilford progress enough in ‘26 that you feel comfortable outside? Might need to add a veteran portal guy on the outside, similar to McCuin.
TE:
‘26 - 7 ; ‘27 - 7
Roster: Williams (R-Sr), LeBlanc (R-Jr), Roberts (Jr), Lennon (R-So), Lauter (R-Fr), Williams ($$), Freshman ($)
Veteran?: Yes ; Talent?: Yes
Note: One big money freshman (Williams) and a lower cost guy like Karhoff. Might need another transfer if anybody leaves, to get to 7.
OT:
‘26 - 7 ; ‘27 -8
Roster: Daniels (R-Sr), Moore (R-Jr), Lowe (R-So), Armstrong (R-So), Greer (R-Fr), Brede (R-Fr), Freshman ($$$), Freshman ($)
Veteran?: Yes ; Talent?: Yes
Note: Siereveld leaves early. Spend big on a 5* OT (Matthews or Moss), and pair with a low budget guy. Add an additional if it looks like someone not developing and will transfer-out. Is Lowe and/or Greer ready to go? Does Daniels kick inside to OG?
IOL:
‘26 - 8 ; ‘27 - 10
Roster: Montgomery (R-Sr), Padilla (R-Sr), VanSickle (R-Jr), Cook (R-So), Riley (R-Fr), Smith (R-Fr), Wilhelm (R-Fr), Wymer ($), McNeel ($), Wilt ($)
Veteran?: Contingent on Montgomery ; Talent?: Yes
Note: Pay up to keep Luke M. If he leaves, might need to go portal for a 1yr veteran if the young guys aren’t ready to go. Is Daniels moved inside?
DE:
‘26 - 7 ; ‘27 - 7
Roster: Russaw (R-Sr), Grady (Jr), Sitanilei (R-So), Wilder (So), Quinn (R-Fr), Jacobs ($$$), Freshman ($$)
Veteran?: Somewhat. If young guys develop in ’26 and see the field, and Jacobs is ready to contribute immediately, it doesn’t matter. ; Talent?: Yes
Note: Hang on to Jacobs, pair with another high end guy. Might need to go portal for a 1yr veteran.
DT:
‘26 - 9 ; ‘27 - 11
NT Roster: Walker (R-Sr), W. Smith Jr (R-Sr), Perez (R-Fr), Ruffin (R-Fr), Freshman ($$)
3T Roster: J. Moore (R-Sr), Houston (Sr), McKinley (R-Fr), Simeon (R-Fr), Freshman ($$), Freshman ($)
Veteran?: Yes ; Talent?: Need more
Note: Will need to spend $ in the ’27 class to inject more talent into the room, as the ’26 class is mainly all potential guys who need time in weight room. If J. Moore is not progressing, I can see them adding another high-end 1yr portal 3T like James Smith again.
LB:
‘26 - 9 ; ‘27 - 10
Roster: Pierce (Sr), Stover (R-Jr), Pettijohn (Jr), Alford (Jr), Lee (R-So), Johnson (So), Sanna (R-Fr), Rembert (R-Fr), Cypher ($$), Freshman ($$)
Veteran?: Yes ; Talent?: Yes
Note: Potential of at least one guy transferring-out. Pair a high end OLB type (AJ Randle) to go with Cypher. Add 1 more recruit if more than 1 transfer-out.
CB:
‘26 - 8 ; ‘27 - 9
Roster: Calhoun (R-Sr), Lockhart (R-Jr), Sanchez (Jr), Kelly (Jr), Woods (R-So), Timmons (So), Thomas (So), Freshman ($$), Freshman ($)
Veteran?: Yes ; Talent?: Yes
Note: Landing Kelly helps alleviate pressure to spend big in ’27 class. Mid budget guy pair with a low budget guy.
S:
‘26 - 9 ; ‘27 - 10
Roster: McClain (Sr), Roker (R-Jr), Stewart (R- So), Bradford (So), Bing (R-Fr), Caldwell (R-Fr), Gebhardt (R-Fr), Johnson ($$), Smith ($), Freshman ($)
Veteran?: Yes ; Talent?: Yes
Note: If McClain breaks out and looks like he might leave early for the Draft, bring in a 1yr veteran transfer again. If Roker is not ready to start, would bring in one anyways.
K:
‘26 - 1 ; ‘27 - 1
Roster: Hawkins (R-Jr)
P:
‘26 - 1 ; ‘27 - 1
Roster: McGuire (R-Sr)
LS:
‘26 - 1 ; ‘27 - 1
Roster : Transfer ($)
