2016 by Position Group Concern

[SpiffCoug]

I think the DL has the most question marks. Lost Bronson. Will Tuiloma be healthy? Will Handsome be ready to contribute?

[redneckjedi]

It's been years since we had an o line that didn't underperform.

[HoosierCougar]

OL was once a no-brainer (and a gateway to the draft). Haven't seen that in too many years. Hope that Sitake, Detmer, and Empey will be able to change that, but I'm not sure it's a one year fix.

[Cougarfan87]

Concur on the concerns with the OL, but I had to go with ST, since I don't think I could even name who our kicker and punter are going to be. Maybe that is just my ignorance shining through, though.

[ABYUFAN]

Our OL coach has huge question marks, Our center may be out... Hopefully our OL becomes a strong point, but with so many questions I don't see how it could not be the group that I have the lease amount of confidence in.

[snoscythe]

Concur on the concerns with the OL, but I had to go with ST, since I don't think I could even name who our kicker and punter are going to be. Maybe that is just my ignorance shining through, though.

[Fido]

OL concerns me as well. For spring, this is what the depth chart looked like:
OL starters:
71 Austin Hoyt 6-8 270 Sophomore
78 Tuni Kanuch 6-3 330 Junior
54 Parker Dawe 6-3 295 Senior
73 Ului Lapuaho 6-7 330 Junior
75 Brad Wilcox 6-7 320 Senior

OL 2s:
56 Thomas Shoaf 6-7 255 Freshman
52 Darren Denucci 6-4 306 Senior
55 Quin Ficklin 6-3 250 Sophomore
70 Jacob Jimenez 6-5 286 Sophomore
65 JJ Nwigwe 6-5 265 Sophomore

OL Depth:
77 Jaterrius Gulley 6-2 340 Sophomore **nursing foot injury
72 Addison Pulsipher 6-5 264 Freshman
57 LeRoy Tanoa'i 6-5 290 Freshman

For the fall, these players will join the competition:
Tejan Koroma 6-0 290 Junior - Hopefully rejoining school
Andrew Eide 6-5 286 Senior - Grad transfer from SUU
Keyan Norman 6-3 290 Junior - Transfer from SUU
Austin Chambers 6-5 280 Freshman - Returned from mission
Chandon Herring 6-7 265 Freshman - Returned from mission
Caden Haws 6-2 275 Freshman - Class of 2016
Brevan Ward 6-5 260 Freshman - Class of 2016

If all return that should make 20 OLs on the roster. The big concern is if Tejan cannot get back into school then the C position depth would be like this rolling into the fall:
1) Parker Dawe - Senior walk-on
2) Keyan Norman - Junior transfer from SUU
3) Quin Ficklin - Sophomore walk-on
4) Caden Haws - True freshman

And a quick peek to 2017/18 shows the team would lose these players:
54 Parker Dawe 6-3 295 Senior
75 Brad Wilcox 6-7 320 Senior
52 Darren Denucci 6-4 306 Senior
Andrew Eide 6-5 286 Senior
Caden Haws 6-2 275 Freshman - Leaving on mission
Brevan Ward 6-5 260 Freshman - Leaving on mission
But gain these players:
Joe Brown 6-4 325 Sophomore - Eligible after transfer from Miami
Brady Christensen 6-6 240 Freshman - Return from mission
Keiffer Longson 6-7 295 Freshman - Return from mission

[frdbtr]

Is "all of the above" a legit answer? Players play the way they are coached.

[Fido]

The kicking game is also up for grabs with the graduation of Trevor Samson. The competition is between:
Corey Edwards, Sophomore
James Baird, Freshman (walk-on)
Austin Brasher, Senior (walk-on)
Andrew Mikkelsen, Sophomore (walk-on)

The P competition is among walk-ons:
Jonny Linehan, Senior (incumbent)
Rhett Almond, Sophomore
Taylor Parker, Freshman
Drew Wilson, Freshman

[Cougarfan87]

Concur on the concerns with the OL, but I had to go with ST, since I don't think I could even name who our kicker and punter are going to be. Maybe that is just my ignorance shining through, though.

Why did I think he had graduated?