• 2023 Recruiting Diamond Cha23rs

 #65757  by AstroDin
 Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:10 am
Following up on Jackal's post… this season's Furman defense is set up to be special. Furman should have two more last season starters ready to go by the start of the season; Achina (Spur) and Jackson (DE).

Ten defensive returning starters don't speak to the depth Furman has on defense. The defense has several dynamic duos: Clark/Maier, Sochovoka/Stephens, Miller/Achina, Barton/Jackson. I'd add Ryan/Rhodes at FS and the four-pack at DB; Blackshear, Robinson, Yates, and Chizik.

Losing Coleman is a big deal, but this season's d-line could have more upside. Furman comes into the 2023 season with fourteen players for the defensive line positions.

Sochovoka DT 6-4 296 - Starter Grad
Stephens DT 6-3 276 JR
Stainfield DT 6-2 263 JR
Roger DT 6-3 255 RSSR
Stoneking 6-3 245 FR
Vincent 6-1 260 FR

Cook NG 5-11 271 - Starter Grad
Harrison NG 6-1 264 RSFR
Hernández NG 6-4 310 FR

Barton DE 6-4 264 - Starter RSSR
Jackson DE 6-0 260 RSJR
Dudek DE 6-3 245 RSFR
Bussey DE 6-3 252 FR
Alabi DE/BAN 6-2 240 FR
 #65770  by FUBeAR
 Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:35 am
So we’re returning 12/11 Starters on Defense?

That’s going to break Phil Steele’s Altair 8800.
Purple rain liked this
 #65784  by FUBeAR
 Tue Feb 07, 2023 11:55 am
Wouldn’t worry so much about the Alpha Name for the positions at which they are listed on the roster.

Coach Lewis, Coach Byers, and Coach Vaughn will have the best 2 to 6 Defensive Linemen on the field and in the right alignment for a particular situation at a particular point of a particular game vs. a particular Offense.

Ain’t nobody linin’ up in a 5-2 Monster and playin’ it straight up anymore.
apaladin, Purple rain liked this
 #65804  by The Jackal
 Tue Feb 07, 2023 3:41 pm
apaladin wrote:
Tue Feb 07, 2023 11:44 am
Nose guard looks a little iffy.

I wouldn't read into the positions listed on the roster. Furman has only one NG currently listed on the roster - Malachai Harrison.

Furman mixes and matches fronts constantly. The routinely move in and out of odd and even man fronts.

There will be a rotation of probably six or so bodies in and out of the DT/NG position.
apaladin, AstroDin liked this
 #65807  by FUBeAR
 Tue Feb 07, 2023 4:32 pm
The Jackal wrote:
Tue Feb 07, 2023 3:41 pm
apaladin wrote:
Tue Feb 07, 2023 11:44 am
Nose guard looks a little iffy.

I wouldn't read into the positions listed on the roster. Furman has only one NG currently listed on the roster - Malachai Harrison.

Furman mixes and matches fronts constantly. The routinely move in and out of odd and even man fronts.

There will be a rotation of probably six or so bodies in and out of the DT/NG position.
Good point. Wish FUBeAR had said the same thing a couple of posts prior… ;)
AstroDin liked this
 #65834  by The Jackal
 Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:33 pm
Also appears two true freshmen will be enrolled for spring practice - Holbrook and Earl.

Holbrook is a kid I am really interested to follow out of this class.

He is listed at 6'4 and right about 200 lbs. His high school film shows a long-striding WR with excellent leaping ability who can get down field and high point the ball over smaller defensive backs -- one of those kids you just throw in the vicinity of and he's just so big and fast defenses can't do much to keep him from catching it.

I don't believe there's a clear comp for him among recent Furman players. Watching his tape, the two names that jump to mind are Wofford's Landon Parker and VMI/Richmond's Jakob Herres.

As an aside, Herres came to VMI roughly the same size as Holbrook (6'4 195), added 20 lbs without sacrificing running ability, and soon became a matchup nightmare for defenses.
 #65843  by FUBeAR
 Tue Feb 07, 2023 11:22 pm
The Jackal wrote:
Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:33 pm
Also appears two true freshmen will be enrolled for spring practice - Holbrook and Earl.

Holbrook is a kid I am really interested to follow out of this class.

He is listed at 6'4 and right about 200 lbs. His high school film shows a long-striding WR with excellent leaping ability who can get down field and high point the ball over smaller defensive backs -- one of those kids you just throw in the vicinity of and he's just so big and fast defenses can't do much to keep him from catching it.

I don't believe there's a clear comp for him among recent Furman players. Watching his tape, the two names that jump to mind are Wofford's Landon Parker and VMI/Richmond's Jakob Herres.

As an aside, Herres came to VMI roughly the same size as Holbrook (6'4 195), added 20 lbs without sacrificing running ability, and soon became a matchup nightmare for defenses.
Another good point. FUBeAR wishes he had said that too…maybe on the day Holbrook committed…
FUBeAR wrote:
Fri Dec 16, 2022 1:13 pm
FUwolfpacker wrote:
Fri Dec 16, 2022 1:07 pm
Holbrook commits

HS vid reminds FUBeAR of VMI’s (now Richmond’s) Jakob Herres’ HS vid. Can see some Ryan Miller-ishness in there too. Could be a good’n
…oh wait…
 #65849  by FUBeAR
 Wed Feb 08, 2023 8:56 am
The Jackal wrote:
Wed Feb 08, 2023 8:26 am
1. I don't read everything you write.
2. Even if I did, I can have a similar opinion.
1. You should
2. You would
3. We good :D

It’s flattering when you parrot FUBeAR’s comments. Let’s him know you’ve been paying attention all these years.
Last edited by FUBeAR on Wed Feb 08, 2023 2:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
 #65884  by The Jackal
 Wed Feb 08, 2023 1:46 pm
AstroDin wrote:
Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:10 am
Following up on Jackal's post… this season's Furman defense is set up to be special. Furman should have two more last season starters ready to go by the start of the season; Achina (Spur) and Jackson (DE).

Ten defensive returning starters don't speak to the depth Furman has on defense. The defense has several dynamic duos: Clark/Maier, Sochovoka/Stephens, Miller/Achina, Barton/Jackson. I'd add Ryan/Rhodes at FS and the four-pack at DB; Blackshear, Robinson, Yates, and Chizik.

Losing Coleman is a big deal, but this season's d-line could have more upside. Furman comes into the 2023 season with fourteen players for the defensive line positions.

Sochovoka DT 6-4 296 - Starter Grad
Stephens DT 6-3 276 JR
Stainfield DT 6-2 263 JR
Roger DT 6-3 255 RSSR
Stoneking 6-3 245 FR
Vincent 6-1 260 FR

Cook NG 5-11 271 - Starter Grad
Harrison NG 6-1 264 RSFR
Hernández NG 6-4 310 FR

Barton DE 6-4 264 - Starter RSSR
Jackson DE 6-0 260 RSJR
Dudek DE 6-3 245 RSFR
Bussey DE 6-3 252 FR
Alabi DE/BAN 6-2 240 FR
Just spitballing, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Stephens as the top option at NG. He rotated in there a great deal last season. I'd wager he was probably the #2 NG option after Coleman - especially on passing downs.
 #65889  by AstroDin
 Wed Feb 08, 2023 5:11 pm
^^^ I agree about Stephens. In the second half of the season when Stephens was in—that line with Stainfield and Maier put a lot of pressure on opposing QBs.
 #65981  by The Jackal
 Thu Feb 09, 2023 6:48 am
AstroDin wrote:
Wed Feb 08, 2023 5:11 pm
^^^ I agree about Stephens. In the second half of the season when Stephens was in—that line with Stainfield and Maier put a lot of pressure on opposing QBs.
When Furman really wanted to get after the passer, they put Barton at DE, moved Stanfield to DT, Stephens at NG, and Maier at Bandit.
 #65992  by FUwolfpacker
 Thu Feb 09, 2023 9:31 am
Checked today. Stephens is now listed as a NG. Good work team! Way to get this figured out! :lol:

He's also listed at 282 lbs now, so about 6 pounds heavier from last year's roster.
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