Roster changes / Transfer portal

[fupaladin01]

Dylan Davis #77 OT announced via Twitter he is entering the portal because it is "time for a change". I believe he would be a Redshirt So. Should we be concerned about OL depth or be looking for a transfer replacement?

ALSO...

I no longer see Trey Wainwright #15 QB (Mr Football from Niceville FL) on the roster but his latest tweet is about how much fun he had in the spring game... I thought he looked pretty good out there too.

Anyone know if there is anything to this? OC change? Competition from Carson Jones or PC transfer Huff?

[The Jackal]

It's always difficult to venture too many guesses on why kids stay or go.

Wainwright, I think, was a walk-on with no (or limited) playing time. I expect the QB depth chart will be much more robust this season with Wilson, Huff, and Jones. I think the past two seasons the non-Sisson/Wilson QB option has primarily been Charles Watson.

Hate to see Davis go. It seems he was unlikely to start this season, as Furman returns two excellent OTs in Tomlin and Toomey. Furman has recruited the OL hard under Hendrix, so there's still going to be depth there.

[AstroDin]

we got a transfer…

[tya1]

Gissinger is a 6'4' 227 lb. TE from California who has also been listed as a defensive end during his time at Michigan State. He was a former 3 star rated recruit.

[AstroDin]

Gissinger is a 6'4' 227 lb. TE from California who has also been listed as a defensive end during his time at Michigan State. He was a former 3 star rated recruit.

Offers: MSU, BC, CSU, Harvard, ISU, KY, SDSU, Syracuse, Vandy, Yale

[gofurman]

Did he play much at MSU ?. Edit below

If so this is a HUGE get for us!! Love it. I know that there are changes we don’t like. NIL big money.. FBS transfers don’t have to sit a year (used to would come to fcs instead of waiting). But I still think a team built of HS recruits with a few 3 star transfers to plug in a need and bring nasty athleticism is best. To have two or three FBS guys out there who have seen FBS competition daily is great. The fcs game will be easier for them if they were good FBs players

EDIT - he only played in eight games and had ONE reception at TE for MSU. in his Four years. That said he was a very highly sought after DE from HS. top 50 in nation as DE coming out of HS! I bet that’s how we use him as we are thin on DL. Hope he can crush some SoCon OL and cause havoc. I’m assuming that’s where he would play?

[DungeonRealm]

Did he play much at MSU ?

If so this is a HUGE get for us!! Love it. I know that there are changes we don’t like. NIL big money.. FBS transfers don’t have to sit a year (used to would come to fcs instead of waiting). But I still think a team built of HS recruits with a few 3 star transfers to plug in a need and bring nasty athleticism is best. To have two or three FBS guys out there who have seen FBS competition daily is great. The fcs game will be easier for them if they were good FBs players

No, he did not play very much at all

[gofurman]

Did he play much at MSU ?

If so this is a HUGE get for us!! Love it. I know that there are changes we don’t like. NIL big money.. FBS transfers don’t have to sit a year (used to would come to fcs instead of waiting). But I still think a team built of HS recruits with a few 3 star transfers to plug in a need and bring nasty athleticism is best. To have two or three FBS guys out there who have seen FBS competition daily is great. The fcs game will be easier for them if they were good FBs players

No, he did not play very much at all

You are certainly right. See my EDIT above. He was however a highly sought after hs DE.

[FUBeAR]

Did he play much at MSU ?. Edit below

If so this is a HUGE get for us!! Love it. I know that there are changes we don’t like. NIL big money.. FBS transfers don’t have to sit a year (used to would come to fcs instead of waiting). But I still think a team built of HS recruits with a few 3 star transfers to plug in a need and bring nasty athleticism is best. To have two or three FBS guys out there who have seen FBS competition daily is great. The fcs game will be easier for them if they were good FBs players

EDIT - he only played in eight games and had ONE reception at TE for MSU. in his Four years. That said he was a very highly sought after DE from HS. top 50 in nation as DE coming out of HS! I bet that’s how we use him as we are thin on DL. Hope he can crush some SoCon OL and cause havoc. I’m assuming that’s where he would play?

Your assessment of the differences in FBS & FCS talent among individual Players, in general, as is the case with most fans, is WAY off.

It’s more like the NBA draft (only the Top 6-8 Players are nearly sure difference-makers) - the Top 10-20 or so Ranked HS Football Recruits nationally at each position (usually) are athletic freaks and the differences in their talent and typical FCS talent is relatively easy to ascertain.

Beyond that, the differences become very small and the overall FBS vs FCS difference becomes the following equation (order of significance ranking)…

# of Individual Athletic Freaks on FBS Team (#2)
+ CUMULATIVE minor talent differences in non-freak-FBS Players vs. typical FCS Players (#3T)
+ 22 additional scholarship Players (#1)
+ whatever effect FBS vs. FCS $ investment differences in training, nutrition, etc. may have (#3T)
= Total FBS vs. FCS difference.

Mr. Gissinger may come in and become an outstanding Player for our Paladins. FUBeAR sure hopes so! But the idea that he is going to “crush some SoCon OL” solely because ESPN had him rated “top 50 in nation as DE coming out of HS” just hasn’t, historically, proven to be a realistic aspiration.

[apaladin]

FUBeAR speaks the truth.

[gofurman]

True. I get that. Depth etc is HUGE. (22 additional scholarships) Huge.

But if the difference in FBS and FCS were that ‘small’ in talent how come we have lost 27 consecutive vs Clemson?? Even in their 6-5 years? That doesn’t quite track. Also I watched NC State recently just MAUL us with talent in recent years. Even prior players told me they - NC State - is just WAY more talented (NC State) on the LOS and we were just there to get paid though coaches want say that out loud

[apaladin]

True. I get that. Depth etc is HUGE. (22 additional scholarships) Huge.

But if the difference in FBS and FCS were that ‘small’ in talent how come we have lost 27 consecutive vs Clemson?? Even in their 6-5 years? That doesn’t quite track. Also I watched NC State recently just MAUL us with talent in recent years. Even prior players told me they - NC State - is just WAY more talented (NC State) on the LOS and we were just there to get paid though coaches want say that out loud

GF-have to look at the big picture not just thru FU eyes. Last year there were 12 FCS wins over FBS teams and msny very close games. Remember FU shoulda, woulda, coulda have had 2 FBS wins in ‘19. I was very disappointed in the NC State game last year. That was the first time I felt like FU was not mentally prepared for an FBS game. We acted like we were scared, with zero confidence. Something I have never seen in a FU team. Hope we don’t have the same at CU this year.

[gofurman]

True. Ok agreed. And glad we all admit that NC State game was a Crushing - cant put any lipstick on that pig, we didn’t look like we belonged on same field

[The Jackal]

True. I get that. Depth etc is HUGE. (22 additional scholarships) Huge.

But if the difference in FBS and FCS were that ‘small’ in talent how come we have lost 27 consecutive vs Clemson?? Even in their 6-5 years? That doesn’t quite track. Also I watched NC State recently just MAUL us with talent in recent years. Even prior players told me they - NC State - is just WAY more talented (NC State) on the LOS and we were just there to get paid though coaches want say that out loud

Not all FBS teams are created equal.

From my observations, the talent gap comes in two places - defensive line and pass catcher (WR/TE). The better FCS teams have comparable talent to most FBS programs at most positions. The areas where you can see the talent gap is in those positions where it is just more difficult for smaller schools to recruit.

[AstroDin]

DL
NG Coleman 6-3 304 SR
NG Johnson 6-1 301 SO
NG Arnold 6-1 298 RSFR

DT Sochovka 6-4 296 SR
DT Stephens 6-3 270 SO
DT Barton 6-4 264 JR
DT Rogers 6-3 255 SR

DE Jackson 6-0 256 SO
DE Stanfield 6-2 252 SO
DE Paraison 6-3 258 RSFR
DE Clark 6-2 254 SR

BAN Clark 6-3 243 SO
BAN Maier 6-4 238 RSFR
BAN McLaughlin 6-2 197 RSFR
\
* Malachi Harrison 6-1 275 DL
Harrison is very quick and physical, in HS played inside and outside.
* Thomas Pilon 6-3 260 DE/DT
* Based on film—I think Pilon will start out at DE. He's also very quick, and has a lot of length. Pilon could creep into the 270 range.

Furman under CCH has class by class built some impressive depth and athletic ability on the DL. Gone are days of moving linebackers into under-sized DEs.

I'm not living in a dream world, injures can muck up any position that appears solid. Furman lost Stainfield to injury last year right as Bryce was proving his heralded status. A healthy Stainfield is critical to Furman's DE play in 2022.

Bandit. Gone is Adrian Hope and the position is now in the hands of two longer, bigger youngsters Clark and Maier. Clark has shown the ability to be explosive and physical. Maier played minimal last year — grabbing a redshirt. In the games, Alex played in (special teams) he was impressive. I've been told by more than one player's parent to keep an eye on #46.

DiMaggio moved back to ILB this spring. After watching the spring game I believe the coaches are comfortable with this duo at Bandit. Still—if any issues arise I think we could see DiMaggio play some bandit.

One more position worth putting under the microscope. ILB.
Kuzemka 6-0 216 JR
Gilby 6-2 237 SR
McCormick 6-2 223 JR
DiMaggio 6-3 230 SO
Scianna 5-10 206 JR
Youngblood has moved to TE (which appears to be a smart move) and the speedy Jalen Miller has moved into possibly the deepest position on defense SPUR. I would expect incoming recruit Dylan Chiedo (6-2 220 ILB) to redshirt and be the cornerstone of the next ILB class.

Just to tie a bow around the DIns Defense—Furman brings in three impressive DBs. Ingram, McLeod, and Williams. In the spring under Coach Spangler—we saw an inspired, aggressive group of defensive backs. With the return of Chizik and Yates the defensive backfield should be a strength in 2022.