Let’s take a look at what’s occurred the last handful of years..
Brock Ruble left to Toledo and is currently on the Bucs.
Josh Ball was dismissed, landed at Marshall, and was drafted in the 4th round by the Cowboys.
Landon Dickerson left for Alabama just went second round
Frank Ragnow, who we nearly landed, went first round and is an All Pro.
Abdul Bello, Jauan Williams, Jay Williams, Ethan Frith, as well as current Chaz Neal and Jalen Goss were total busts.
Ryan Roberts, Corey Martinez, Chad Mavety, Kareem Are, Mike Arnold and Cole Minshew were just plain average.
Dontae Lucas, Baveon Johnson, and Brady Scott all have been average up to this point as well. Maybe one or two of them take a positive step.
David Robbins, Christian Meadows and a Christian Armstrong couldn’t stay healthy and were MDQ’s.
Andrew Boselli couldn’t stay awake.
Malcom Lamar didn’t want to play OL.
Rick Leonard and Derrick Kelly did mostly pan out. As did Roderick Johnson, but his leaving early to get drafted in the 5th round stung.
Our 2016-2020 OL’s could have been totally different had just a few things gone our way.
That said, we finally have a competent OL coach, that knows how to recruit. Many recruits say Atkins is the coolest coach they meet. He is going and knows how to relate to them.
Youngsters Darius Washington, Robert Scott and Maurice Smith all appear to be good. Dontae Lucas might be as well. Have hopes that Thomas Shrader, Zane Herring, Rod Orr and Bryson Estes can be good players. Devontay Love Taylor was a successful transfer and will likely play in the NFL. Lloyd Willis is raw but has potential. Are we a good OL currently? No, but it has the potential to be.
This next recruiting class is critical to us getting back to the levels we want to be. We appear to finally be trending in the right direction. No one could have ever mapped out how bad the circumstances for our line could have played out the last handful of years. I expect the next 5 years to be much more fruitful!
Brock Ruble left to Toledo and is currently on the Bucs.
Josh Ball was dismissed, landed at Marshall, and was drafted in the 4th round by the Cowboys.
Landon Dickerson left for Alabama just went second round
Frank Ragnow, who we nearly landed, went first round and is an All Pro.
Abdul Bello, Jauan Williams, Jay Williams, Ethan Frith, as well as current Chaz Neal and Jalen Goss were total busts.
Ryan Roberts, Corey Martinez, Chad Mavety, Kareem Are, Mike Arnold and Cole Minshew were just plain average.
Dontae Lucas, Baveon Johnson, and Brady Scott all have been average up to this point as well. Maybe one or two of them take a positive step.
David Robbins, Christian Meadows and a Christian Armstrong couldn’t stay healthy and were MDQ’s.
Andrew Boselli couldn’t stay awake.
Malcom Lamar didn’t want to play OL.
Rick Leonard and Derrick Kelly did mostly pan out. As did Roderick Johnson, but his leaving early to get drafted in the 5th round stung.
Our 2016-2020 OL’s could have been totally different had just a few things gone our way.
That said, we finally have a competent OL coach, that knows how to recruit. Many recruits say Atkins is the coolest coach they meet. He is going and knows how to relate to them.
Youngsters Darius Washington, Robert Scott and Maurice Smith all appear to be good. Dontae Lucas might be as well. Have hopes that Thomas Shrader, Zane Herring, Rod Orr and Bryson Estes can be good players. Devontay Love Taylor was a successful transfer and will likely play in the NFL. Lloyd Willis is raw but has potential. Are we a good OL currently? No, but it has the potential to be.
This next recruiting class is critical to us getting back to the levels we want to be. We appear to finally be trending in the right direction. No one could have ever mapped out how bad the circumstances for our line could have played out the last handful of years. I expect the next 5 years to be much more fruitful!
