Annual "WAAAY Too Early" Depth Chart ('16-'17)
Notes.
- I don't remove RS Sr's even though we know some of these guys aren't coming back - I don't predict transfers either (at least not on the depth chart)
- Odds say we're going to lose a RS Sr. that could actually contribute this year - not sure who, but it wouldn't shock me.
- I've got Jeremy Clark as the first CB or S off the bench. Gant as the first LB in James Ross' current role.
- I have no idea what happens at LB.
- I broke out the TEs - You've got Butt's spot and the Hill and Wheatley replacing AJ Williams' spot.
Depth Chart? Depth Chart.
QB
1. Shane Morris (RS Jr.) / John O'Korn (RS Jr.)
3. Wilton Speight (RS So.) / Alex Malzone (RS Fr.)
5. Zach Gentry (RS Fr.)
rs: Brandon Peters (Fr.)
rs: Vic Viramontes (Fr.)
RB
1. De'Veon Smith (Sr.)
2. Derrick Green (Sr.) / Ty Isaac (RS Jr.) / Drake Johnson (RS Sr.)
5. Karan Higdon (So.)
rs: Kingston Davis (Fr.)
rs: Kiante Enis (Fr.)
FB / H-Back
1. Henry Poggi (RS Jr.)
2. Wyatt Shallman (RS Jr.)
3. Chase Winovich (RS So.)
WR1
1. Amara Darboh (RS Sr.)
2. Drake Harris (RS So.)
3. Ahmir Mitchell (Fr.)
4. Jaron Dukes (RS Jr.)
WR2
1. Jehu Chesson (RS Sr.)
2. Maurice Ways (RS So.)
3. Da'Mario Jones (Sr.) / Brad Hawkins (Fr.)
SLOT
1. Grant Perry (So.)
2. Freddy Canteen (Jr.)
rs: Chris Evans (Fr.)
TE1
1. Jake Butt (Sr.)
2. Ian Bunting (RS So.)
rs: Sean McKeon (Fr.)
TE2
1. Khalid Hill (RS Jr.)
2. Tyrone Wheatley Jr. (RS Fr.)
LT
1. Mason Cole (Jr.)
2. Grant Newsome (So.)
rs: Erik Swenson (Fr.)
LG
1. Ben Braden (RS Sr.)
2. David Dawson (RS Jr.)
3. Juwan Bushell-Beatty (RS So.)
rs: Ben Bredeson (Fr.)
C
1. Patrick Kugler (RS Jr.) / David Dawson (RS Jr.)
3. Jon Runyan Jr. (RS Fr.)
RG
1. Kyle Kalis (RS Sr.)
2. David Dawson (RS Jr.)
3. Juwan Bushell-Beatty (RS So.)
rs: Michael Onwenu (Fr.)
RT
1. Erik Magnuson (RS Sr.)
2. Blake Bars (RS Sr.)
3. Nolan Ulizio (RS Fr.)
rs: Devery Hamilton (Fr.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DE (BUCK)
1. Taco Charlton (Sr.)
2. Lawrence Marshall (RS So.)
3. Shelton Johnson (RS Fr.) / Reuben Jones (RS Fr.)
rs: Carlo Kemp (Fr.)
rs: Ron Johnson (Fr.)
DT
1. Ryan Glasgow (RS Sr.)
2. Bryan Mone (RS So.)
3. Brady Pallante (RS So.)
rs: Jordan Elliott (Fr.)
DT
1. Willie Henry (RS Sr.)
2. Maurice Hurst (RS Jr.)
3. Matt Godin (RS Sr.)
DE
1. Chris Wormley (RS Sr.)
2. Taco Charlton (Sr.)
3. Tom Strobel (RS Sr.)
rs: Rashad Weaver (Fr.)
LB
1. Ben Gedeon (Sr.)
2. Jared Wangler (RS So.)
rs: Dytarious Johnson (Fr.)
LB
1. Michael McCray (RS Jr.)
2. Allen Gant (RS Sr.)
3. Noah Furbush (RS So.) / David Reese (Fr.)
WCB
1. Jourdan Lewis (Sr.)
2. Keith Washington (RS Fr.)
3. Terry Richardson (RS Sr.)
rs: Antwaine Richardson (Fr.)
SCB
1. Channing Stribling (Sr.)
2. Jeremy Clark (RS Sr.)
3. Reon Dawson (RS Jr.) / Freddy Canteen (Jr.)
rs: Sir Patrick Scott (Fr.)
NB
1. Jabrill Peppers (RS So.)
2. Tyree Kinnel (So.)
3. Brandon Watson (RS So.)
S
1. Dymonte Thomas (Sr.)
2. Jeremy Clark (RS Sr.) / Brian Cole (So.)
rs: Josh Metellus (Fr.)
S
1. Delano Hill (Sr.)
2. Jeremy Clark (RS Sr.)
rs: Devin Gil (Fr.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
K
1. Kenny Allen (RS Sr.)
2. Andrew David (RS Fr.)
P
1. Kenny Allen (RS Sr.)
KO
1. Kenny Allen (RS Sr.)
2. Andrew David (RS Fr.)
As always, tear it up and I'll make changes if your opinion is "seconded."
November 29th, 2015 at 9:49 AM ^
We won't see many of these players in 2016 (IYO)
November 29th, 2015 at 11:24 AM ^
I think Peppers is too short to go to the NFL after next year :-)
November 29th, 2015 at 8:58 AM ^
Like you make fun of me for depth charts. You LOOOVE pointing out the youth on D in 2017. In fact, you've done it far more this season than I've made depth charts (for 2016).
We're 2 years away...we could see some grad transfers, maybe Peppers stays (ha lol), maybe some of these guys on the team NEXT year look really good after working with the coaches for all of bowl practice, spring practice, summer and fall? ZERO people saw Jake Ryan coming before that spring game, sometimes, that's just how it goes. Hell, even Jourdan Lewis snuck up to a starters level quickly. He wasn't like Morgan, Bolden, Ross getting snaps as a freshman.
I'm not ready to freak out on 2017, I just think we'll be led by the offense.
November 29th, 2015 at 9:09 AM ^
Actually I did a diary on the youth of 2017 defense last winter.
Ive been tying to prepare the masses for what lays ahead way in advance....
http://mgoblog.com/diaries/young-defense-2017-fb
I know some are teasing but this is not like basketball where freshman all over the place is typical and you can succeed with a loaded group of them.
And my projection assumes everyone ahead of them hits and we dont have transfers and flameouts which won't happen.
We are going to need a peak Stanford offense by 2017 to compensate. But we also lose Chesson, Darboh, Butt, all starting OL not named Cole, all rbs not named Isaac or Higdon by 2017 as well. Well hopefully O'Korn is Andrew Luck 2.0/
November 29th, 2015 at 9:56 AM ^
I'm not worrying about 2017 until after 2016. There's still 2 recruiting classes, what should be 2 sets of bowl practices, 2 spring practices and an entire year for some of those players to improve and learn the system before 2017 rolls around.
November 29th, 2015 at 11:26 AM ^
2017? I'm panicking about our 2016 LBs right now. I can only take so much panicking at once.
November 29th, 2015 at 12:20 AM ^
Isaac and Green to starting LBs on outside of Gedeon.
2 birds, 1 stone w/ a machine gun.
Boom!
November 29th, 2015 at 12:51 AM ^
November 29th, 2015 at 9:57 AM ^
Only Isaac doesn't like to hit or be hit,hence the "let's find the sideline" or be ankle-tackled each carry.
November 29th, 2015 at 12:20 AM ^
November 29th, 2015 at 12:43 AM ^
November 29th, 2015 at 8:27 AM ^
Makes no sense to put him there.
November 29th, 2015 at 8:36 AM ^
Yeah, he's already behind Speight. Physically he may have the tools, but I'd be shocked if he takes the mental leap necessary to be seriously in the competition, assuming he doesn't transfer (which he almost certainly is going to do).
November 29th, 2015 at 9:35 AM ^
He redshirted this year and was the clear #2 QB. Why else was their even a glimmer of "do we put Shane in" vs Minnesota? Why would he be listed as #2 on the depth chart until it became clear in that Minnesota game that he'd redshirt the rest of the season?
In fact Malzone was ahead of Speight as well. Rudock was the clear #1 and the rest was jumbled, but Morris was #2, Malzone #3, Speight #4....Morris and Malzone redshirted. Speight jumped to the backup to Rudock.
I'm not a Morris lover, you can ask around. I think the people on his nuts because he's local, can throw hard, and had a 5th star at one point are beyond frustrating.
But I'm not just going to demote the guy. IMO, he'll get an opportunity (again) to start this spring...he won't win it and he'll move on. But he'll get that first shot and he was definitely the #2 going into this season with Rudock. I find it crazy that people all of a sudden act like he's fallen completely off the depth chart.
November 29th, 2015 at 11:43 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 29th, 2015 at 9:35 AM ^
He was the clear #2 going into this season and none of us have seen JOK.
Now do I think he finishes the spring as the #1? No.
I think Malzone and JOK both pass him and we finish the spring like this...
- O'Korn
- Malzone
- Morris
- Speight/Gentry
And I think Morris transfers and Speight might go too...
But there's been NOTHING that says Morris won't start the spring taking reps with the 1's. Nothing.
November 29th, 2015 at 12:20 AM ^
November 29th, 2015 at 12:25 AM ^
Pepperz
November 29th, 2015 at 12:21 AM ^
November 29th, 2015 at 12:24 AM ^
I'm willing to bet lemon consumption on this being true.
November 29th, 2015 at 12:28 AM ^
I thought his brother got an offer at GVSU
November 29th, 2015 at 12:29 AM ^
November 29th, 2015 at 12:32 AM ^
Does he need to graduate to play immediately at that level or still sit out a year if he goes down to that division?
November 29th, 2015 at 12:37 AM ^
November 29th, 2015 at 12:39 AM ^
if you transfer down to FCS or D2 or D3 or NAIA level. Only sit out a year if you transfer up.
November 29th, 2015 at 12:42 AM ^
Thanks. redshirt makes a lot of sense then.
November 29th, 2015 at 12:53 AM ^
November 29th, 2015 at 8:35 AM ^
at an FCS school you must have at least two years of eligibility left or have graduated. That's why Norfleet dropped down to D2.
November 29th, 2015 at 8:40 AM ^
Interesting, didn't know that. That makes the red shirt make even more sense from a transfer perspective. I thought that even if he got on the field he could transfer down to FCS and play next season. Having to sit out a year makes it a dangerous move to transfer, who knows if someone else plays great the year you are sitting out and you're stuck as the backup in your fifth year.
November 29th, 2015 at 8:56 AM ^
November 29th, 2015 at 8:56 AM ^
November 29th, 2015 at 9:04 AM ^
Gregg Hensen tweet.
November 29th, 2015 at 1:13 AM ^
I'm going to laugh at some kids current luck their. There is a QB from Western Michigan transfering to GVSU and the current QB is just a sophmore and is having a heck of a season. Those two would get past up ny Morris.
November 29th, 2015 at 9:05 AM ^
Morris doesn't beat them out.
November 29th, 2015 at 12:22 AM ^
Looking at TEs and RBs pains me... especially if Butt leaves for the NFL.
November 29th, 2015 at 12:24 AM ^
It's basically split between 3 positions...Wheatley had incredible buzz until he got hurt. People were saying he was starting along with Butt.
November 29th, 2015 at 12:22 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 29th, 2015 at 12:23 AM ^
He's exclusively a CB now.
Brian Cole is a safety. Whoops. Oh well, that's old news.
November 29th, 2015 at 12:30 AM ^
Is Cole? Good!
We need safeties - all we have in 2017 is Ty Kinnel and uhhh....
November 29th, 2015 at 12:32 AM ^
November 29th, 2015 at 12:35 AM ^
Looks like our coaching staff agrees with MSU's on where he fits best... tells you something about Hoke's talent evaluation...
November 29th, 2015 at 12:46 AM ^
November 29th, 2015 at 8:47 AM ^
Exactly. LSU did this to Carr with Baksdale out of Cass Tech a number of years ago. We only recruited him on offense. LSU offered him defense. He switched to offense as a freshman and was a starter as a true sophomore.
I think Harbaugh will use those same tactics. "You'll get a shot to show your worth wherever you want. But we'll play you where it's best for you and the team."
November 29th, 2015 at 9:44 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 29th, 2015 at 12:22 AM ^
There's a good chunk of players on that have no chance of being on the roster next year. Derrick Green is most likely already gone. He wasn't even at the stadium today, and there's been talk of issues with a parent of his not being happy with the amount of playing time he's getting.
Poor Terry Richardson. 4 star, great player at Cass Tech. Just couldn't put weight on.
November 29th, 2015 at 12:27 AM ^
Green wasn't even at the stadium today??
November 29th, 2015 at 10:08 AM ^
November 29th, 2015 at 12:13 PM ^
November 29th, 2015 at 12:22 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 29th, 2015 at 12:24 AM ^
You're right, I've flipped him.