In preparation for the spring game, I was looking through the roster and was shocked at what I discovered.
It seems that 2020 will be a rebuilding year, especially on defense.
As it stands now here is how it looks
CB
Hicks (assuming he returns for a 4th year)
Anusiem (should be serviceable but unexperienced)
Bynum (seriously doubt he is here considering that he almost left this year and will be graduating most likely next year)
Hopkins (a walk on JC transfer)
Smith (mostly has played on STs so far but should be serviceable like Anusiem)
Williams (a 2019 recruit who has not set foot on campus yet)
SAFETY
Humphries (transfer from Penn St. and a probable starter in 2020)
Scott (mostly STs so far but probably serviceable)
McIntosh (walk on)
Woodson (A 2019 recruit who has not arrived yet)
LINEBACKER
We are flush at all linebacker spots for the future. There are too many to mention.
DEFENSIVE END
Cherry (1 game experience vs. Idaho St.)
Tevis (RSF with no game experience but could be serviceable)
Croteau (2019 recruit in for spring)
Odeogu (Situational as a OLB/DE and will be a R-Sr. so could be graduated)
Paul (same as above)
Note: Nick Altfin, listed as OLB, has the size to mature into a defensive end in a couple of years.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE/NOSE GUARD
Maldonado (has played one conference game but has promise and should be serviceable)
Fuimaono (had decent experience last season and should be in the rotation this season. Probably a starter in 2020)
Nisich (walk on has 1 game experience against Idaho St.)
Coleman (2019 recruit not yet here)
Johnson (same as above)
SUMMERY OF DEFENSE:
Other than our linebackers, our defense is going to be very young and inexperienced in 2020. We are going to have to recruit either transfers or 4-5 star high schoolers to field a 2 deep anything like what we have been used to under Wilcox. This is especially true for our secondary.
RUNNING BACKS
I feel good about our RBs
QUARTERBACK
Modster (probably good enough to be in 2 deep)
Garbers (sharing competition for starting role with Modster)
Newman (provides some depth)
Brasch (2019 recruit not yet on campus)
TIGHT END
Reinwald (only player with pac-12 experience)
Castles (word is that he could be a starter very soon)
Mojarro (2019 recruit not yet here)
Moore (played against Idaho St.)
Tonges (mostly STs)
OFFENSIVE LINE
I feel pretty good about the depth of our OL moving forward and our one recruit so far for 2020 is an OT.
WIDE RECEIVER
Remigio (should be a starter in 2020)
Hawkins (should be a 3rd WR starter)
Young (low star recruit making noise in camp. Should be in 2 deep)
Walker III (has game experience and provides some depth)
Skinner (walk on making noise indicating he may get meaningful playing time)
2 other walk ons
Polk (2019 recruit in for spring)
Clark (a JC transfer with high 3 star ratings coming out of high school and very productive in college)
Crawford (consensus 4 star out of high school transfers from Michigan via a Socal JC--will likely be the star of the unit)
SUMMERY OF OFFENSE
Other than the offensive line (including TE) and RB, our roster has relied on transfers and walk-ons, making the passing game going forward a continuing concern. At least we are recruiting OTs to protect the QB, whoever it is. If our recruiting at WR doesn't kick in this year, we will be again relying on transfers or true frosh to bale us out in 2021. If we are not a threat throwing the ball, our prowess running the ball will be neutralized by opposing defenses, making our one offense strength not a strength after all.
OVERALL SUMMERY
So far we have one commit for 2020 and that is at a position of relative strength (OT) and one de-commit at a position of need (QB)
It is very early, but it is not too early to know what we need, which is...
strong recruiting at DB,WR and QB, something we really have not seen much under Wilcox. Remember that most of our great secondary was recruited by Dykes. Even with a plus season in 2019, if recruiting at these positions remain anemic, I think the heat rises under the coaches and some changes should be due. Just as Dykes could not be successful even with a world class passing game, Wilcox cannot be successful with only a world class linebacking unit.
It seems that 2020 will be a rebuilding year, especially on defense.
As it stands now here is how it looks
CB
Hicks (assuming he returns for a 4th year)
Anusiem (should be serviceable but unexperienced)
Bynum (seriously doubt he is here considering that he almost left this year and will be graduating most likely next year)
Hopkins (a walk on JC transfer)
Smith (mostly has played on STs so far but should be serviceable like Anusiem)
Williams (a 2019 recruit who has not set foot on campus yet)
SAFETY
Humphries (transfer from Penn St. and a probable starter in 2020)
Scott (mostly STs so far but probably serviceable)
McIntosh (walk on)
Woodson (A 2019 recruit who has not arrived yet)
LINEBACKER
We are flush at all linebacker spots for the future. There are too many to mention.
DEFENSIVE END
Cherry (1 game experience vs. Idaho St.)
Tevis (RSF with no game experience but could be serviceable)
Croteau (2019 recruit in for spring)
Odeogu (Situational as a OLB/DE and will be a R-Sr. so could be graduated)
Paul (same as above)
Note: Nick Altfin, listed as OLB, has the size to mature into a defensive end in a couple of years.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE/NOSE GUARD
Maldonado (has played one conference game but has promise and should be serviceable)
Fuimaono (had decent experience last season and should be in the rotation this season. Probably a starter in 2020)
Nisich (walk on has 1 game experience against Idaho St.)
Coleman (2019 recruit not yet here)
Johnson (same as above)
SUMMERY OF DEFENSE:
Other than our linebackers, our defense is going to be very young and inexperienced in 2020. We are going to have to recruit either transfers or 4-5 star high schoolers to field a 2 deep anything like what we have been used to under Wilcox. This is especially true for our secondary.
RUNNING BACKS
I feel good about our RBs
QUARTERBACK
Modster (probably good enough to be in 2 deep)
Garbers (sharing competition for starting role with Modster)
Newman (provides some depth)
Brasch (2019 recruit not yet on campus)
TIGHT END
Reinwald (only player with pac-12 experience)
Castles (word is that he could be a starter very soon)
Mojarro (2019 recruit not yet here)
Moore (played against Idaho St.)
Tonges (mostly STs)
OFFENSIVE LINE
I feel pretty good about the depth of our OL moving forward and our one recruit so far for 2020 is an OT.
WIDE RECEIVER
Remigio (should be a starter in 2020)
Hawkins (should be a 3rd WR starter)
Young (low star recruit making noise in camp. Should be in 2 deep)
Walker III (has game experience and provides some depth)
Skinner (walk on making noise indicating he may get meaningful playing time)
2 other walk ons
Polk (2019 recruit in for spring)
Clark (a JC transfer with high 3 star ratings coming out of high school and very productive in college)
Crawford (consensus 4 star out of high school transfers from Michigan via a Socal JC--will likely be the star of the unit)
SUMMERY OF OFFENSE
Other than the offensive line (including TE) and RB, our roster has relied on transfers and walk-ons, making the passing game going forward a continuing concern. At least we are recruiting OTs to protect the QB, whoever it is. If our recruiting at WR doesn't kick in this year, we will be again relying on transfers or true frosh to bale us out in 2021. If we are not a threat throwing the ball, our prowess running the ball will be neutralized by opposing defenses, making our one offense strength not a strength after all.
OVERALL SUMMERY
So far we have one commit for 2020 and that is at a position of relative strength (OT) and one de-commit at a position of need (QB)
It is very early, but it is not too early to know what we need, which is...
strong recruiting at DB,WR and QB, something we really have not seen much under Wilcox. Remember that most of our great secondary was recruited by Dykes. Even with a plus season in 2019, if recruiting at these positions remain anemic, I think the heat rises under the coaches and some changes should be due. Just as Dykes could not be successful even with a world class passing game, Wilcox cannot be successful with only a world class linebacking unit.