Looking Ahead - AB

Now that our signing class appears to be complete, I thought it would be nice to look ahead at who we will have heading into spring at each position group. I will start on offense with the ABs.

Gone: are Jamal Paige and Orwin Smith. Orwin's leadership and knack for play making will be sorely missed. He was a versatile player who could burn the opposition via the run or pass. He also grew tremendously as a blocker over the years. He won't be missed as much returning kicks as we appear to be set there for a while with Golden pretty much beating him out anyway. With the exception of a bad decision causing his own safety that pretty much lost the Miami game, it is pretty hard to find anything to criticize about his play.

Returning players: include a bunch of experienced RS Juniors in BJ Bostic, Tony Zenon, Synjin Days, Robbie Godhigh, and Deon Hill. Dennis Andrews is coming off his rookie season as a RS and Donovan Wilson enrolled early this January and will be a true freshman. Theoretically, Charles Perkins could possibly be added to the mix. It is hard to know if he will play AB or stay at BB.

Outlook: There is quality depth with 5 returning players for the two positions, each having gotten a great deal of playing time. There is a good mix of talent with a blend of smaller quick backs, bigger bruising runners, and good receivers. I look for Godhigh and Days to carry the majority of the starting load while the rest rotate in on a situational basis. By the end of the season both guys had developed into punishing blockers. Robbie might have been the most underrated player on our team in 2012. He made a ton of big catches, was surprisingly difficult to knock of his feet, and consistently put defenders on the ground with well executed cut blocks. Days was just getting acclimated as the season wrapped up. He showed a great deal of promise with a physical and aggressive running style. Bostic, despite being decidedly less physical than the projected starters, was very adept at getting the most out of every run and finding his way beyond the defense in the vertical passing game. Zenon and Hill both had their moments in 2012 but were buried a little on the depth chart. It will be interesting to see what Andrews is ready to contribute. He didn't last long in the QB competition, choosing to move out to AB early in the process. With the three deep situation it looks very likely that Wilson will RS while learning the system.

Personally, I don't think there will be any drop off this coming season. Smith was just short of being a superstar and with the experienced group returning, we shouldn't miss a beat. We don't have an Adrian Petersen type out there, but this may be the best group from top to bottom that we have had yet.

Very good post.

I sort of think Bostic will get the starting nod over Days, at least early. Should be a very solid rotation though.

I agree Stylee. I really like Bostic, he's fast, has good hands and if he puts on a little weight he could be a decently built AB.

No Justin Thomas mention at AB? Just a waste of talent if all he's gonna do is hold a clip board....kidding...

On another note, Bostic would be a phenomenal slot WR in other offenses. Once he gets some weight on him he's going to take the AB position to the next level....dude has an amazing skillset.

Originally Posted by dressedcheeseside

These guys all suck. CPJ sucks and GT sucks, too.


There, now hopefully the naysayers won't feel compelled to respond.

You suck! I don't feel as sanguine about A back and will really be disappointed if Bostic, whom I refuse to believe hits 170 pounds carrying lead weights, puts Days on the bench. He is a fine pass catcher no doubt. But he really has a problem getting squared up on the edge, and at his size and the geometry of the thing, when a defender grabs him by the shirt, he is down. Nor am I convinced he is that good a blocker, though I hope to be wrong. We are going to miss Smith more than we imagine now. (That little throwback pass against USC would not have gotten into the end zone with anybody else.) As for B back, you're right except for the explosiveness we're missed. The guys who played there last year combined for 1,400 yards and that ain't beanbag.