I know I know, why are we already looking ahead to next year? But thought I’d get everyone’s thought on who may come back and what the depth chart may look like. Here’s my prediction:

Potential Stay/Go

- Kyren - Gone

- Hamilton - Gonr

- Patterson - Gone
- Foskey - Gone
- Austin - Back
- Lenzy - Back or transfer
- C’Bo - transfer
- Wilkins - Back
- White - Back
- Admilola - Back
- Bracy - Back

Depth Chart

QB - Buchner, Pyne

RB - Tyree, Diggs, Estime

Wr - Austin, Colzie

Wr - Lenzy

Wr - Styles

TE - Mayer, Baumen

LT - Fisher

LG - Kristofic

C - Correll

RG - Spindlet

RT - Alt

Vyp - Bottello

DT - Mills

NG - Cross

DE - Admilola

MB - White

WB - Liufau

RV - Watts (call me crazy)

CB - Hart

SS - Wallace

FS - Brown

CB - Lewis

 

KW and Hamilton are definitely gone to the NFL

As for the others, I think it greatly depends on how they perform the rest of the season.
Foskey: I think he is likely to go to the NFL, but I have heard it is a really deep DE class and that some are advising him to stay another year.
Austin: I think he stays another year and tries to improve his draft stock to be a top tier WR. I think he is good enough to get drafted, but it's not a high draft pick right now. 5-7th round
Lenzy: I think he will transfer, especially with Colzie and Styles looking good
Jay Amen.: I honestly have no idea, he is playing well, but I dont think his draft projection will be in the top 3 rounds, could another year help him?
C.Bo: Transfer with Tyree being the top back and Diggs probably right on his heels as almost a 1A and 1B.
Patterson: No idea, Driskell from SI says he could come back if there is a position/OL coach switch (which is being rumored)
White: Not sure here either, not really a NFL prospect, but would another year really help him?
Takacs: Transfer with ND degree

There will be a few other transfers I am sure, but nothing I see among people with actual playing time

QB: Buchner then Pyne (I think Pyne will stay)
WR: Austin, Styles, Wilkins/Colzie

Edited November 6, 20213 yr by NDhoosier

We’re going to be loaded with young, experienced talent and you inexperienced talent

Just looking at all the true freshmen that are so damn good this season and looking at the caliber of players still to come in the next 2 years, I really think 2023 could be a serious national title contender.

Going to be absolutely STACKED on both sides of the ball.

I really do believe it comes down to QB play.  If Buchner can progress or someone else usurps him with great play.  National championship is very, very possible.

NC = Can Buchner be an above average QB? I think it comes down to that. Depth chart is improving!

29 minutes ago, 4thand1 said:

NC = Can Buchner be an above average QB? I think it comes down to that. Depth chart is improving!

If these coaches are worth their pay checks they should be able to get Buchner to the level of Howell at NC at the very least.

Patterson just said it all depends upon how he is graded if he returns or goes pro.

Anyone know who will be the kicker next year?

29 minutes ago, Synoptico said:

Anyone know who will be the kicker next year?

Didn't they land some all world kicker last year?

On 11/6/2021 at 3:29 PM, SDIrishFan said:

I know I know, why are we already looking ahead to next year? But thought I’d get everyone’s thought on who may come back and what the depth chart may look like. Here’s my prediction:

Potential Stay/Go

- Kyren - Gone

- Hamilton - Gonr

- Patterson - Gone
- Foskey - Gone
- Austin - Back
- Lenzy - Back or transfer
- C’Bo - transfer
- Wilkins - Back
- White - Back
- Admilola - Back
- Bracy - Back

Depth Chart

QB - Buchner, Pyne

RB - Tyree, Diggs, Estime

Wr - Austin, Colzie

Wr - Lenzy

Wr - Styles

TE - Mayer, Baumen

LT - Fisher

LG - Kristofic

C - Correll

RG - Spindlet

RT - Alt

Vyp - Bottello

DT - Mills

NG - Cross

DE - Admilola

MB - White

WB - Liufau

RV - Watts (call me crazy)

CB - Hart

SS - Wallace

FS - Brown

CB - Lewis

 

Great thread.

I agree with pretty much everything. I think the incoming Freshman Slot WR has a chance at a huge career @Big23Head his name escapes me

4 hours ago, FaithInIrishForever said:

Great thread.

I agree with pretty much everything. I think the incoming Freshman Slot WR has a chance at a huge career @Big23Head his name escapes me

Probably CJ Williams from Mater Dei in CA. 

On 11/7/2021 at 10:07 PM, Pregame said:

Probably CJ Williams from Mater Dei in CA. 

Yup, that's the one. I think he's like Juju Smith Shuster and our TJ Jones so I think he'll make a Styles type impact. 

Foskey will be back (trust me)

White is gone 

So the far and away leading tackler not on your depth chart? Cmon man

Edited November 11, 20213 yr by Charlietweeder

Wonder if they do a slight position change for Bertrand to keep him on the field. Will they want him bigger to play the MIKE? Otherwise, our LBs will be fast, but small, is that what Freeman wants?

i cant see Foskey coming back. 

8 hours ago, Charlietweeder said:

Foskey will be back (trust me)

White is gone 

So the far and away leading tackler not on your depth chart? Cmon man

Is that inside info on Foskey? I hear it’s a good class for ends so maybe that could be a reason. I do think he could put on some mass. 

Foskey IMO will be back. He'd be better served with another year draft stock wise. Not projected top 100 in any of the boards I've seen.

 

There are only 3 ND guys on big boards right now. 

Kyle is a top 5 guys on just about every board I've seen. He gone... 

Kyren is starting to appear on more and more, and is in the 60-70s range. 

Patterson is on some, not on some... Could go either way depending on OL coach.

 

7 hours ago, NDhoosier said:

Wonder if they do a slight position change for Bertrand to keep him on the field. Will they want him bigger to play the MIKE? Otherwise, our LBs will be fast, but small, is that what Freeman wants?

Could move Bertrand but might move Luifau to Mike.  Luifau starting last year and Bertrand and Kiser (and if Bauer comes back) this year gives the defense a wealth of experience coming back at the 3 linebacker spots

8 hours ago, NDhoosier said:

Wonder if they do a slight position change for Bertrand to keep him on the field. Will they want him bigger to play the MIKE? Otherwise, our LBs will be fast, but small, is that what Freeman wants?

It will be interesting. But Bertrand is big enough for Mike now. He's 230lbs. 

Bertrand IMO, is good, not great. They moved him around a lot in the off season to try and find a fit because he wasn't going to beat out White or Bauer who have basically time shared MIKE. Not sure if White will be back, but I'd guess Bo is back and takes over if White is gone. So Bertrand back to Mike as depth or in a timeshare? Very possible. And if Liufau comes back, does he take back the starting WLB spot?

What will be interesting is how our scheme changes next year and evolves further into Freeman's vision. We kinda kept the WLB/MLB/Rover set up this year which is a Lea concept. Will we evolve into more of the WLB/MLB/SLB and Sniper set up Freeman used in Cinci? IDK.

Then you have to factor we have some studs coming in. Snead #4 LB. Burnham #10, Tuihalamaka #13, and Ziegler #28. 

Snead played all over the place, and not sure about the competition, but the dude is a freak. At 210, played with his hand in the dirt, off ball, and also in the slot. Depending what weight he shows up with, he could fight for early snaps at WLB or Rover. 

Burnham at 6-4 and 225 is interesting too. Also played QB and RB. He might be more body ready than Sneed, but his traits could put him anywhere including sniper. 

Tuihalamaka at 6-2 and 235 might be the heaviest LB on our roster coming in lol... To me he projects at MLB, but he's played all over too like Sneed. Off ball, over the slot, and hand in the dirt, but at 235 just screams MLB to me. 

Ziegler at 6-4 and 210 screams Sniper to me unless he comes in with added weight. Played WR and S in HS. If we transition to the sniper position more, he could be in a nice position.

Everyone that arrives at ND are studs.  Always laughable how the new batch will always take over.  Always rare and depends on position needs. Kyle Hamiltons are unicorns   
 

6 hours ago, Charlietweeder said:

Everyone that arrives at ND are studs.  Always laughable how the new batch will always take over.  Always rare and depends on position needs. Kyle Hamiltons are unicorns   
 

KHs are indeed unicorns. I do think there are areas where we can be more presumptive than others. Like LB

This is really the best LB haul I can remember us ever having. One composite 5 star, 2 more high 4 stars, Then a legacy low 4 star with a good bloodline and great traits...

And let's be honest, our 4 LBs with the most snap counts... 2 three stars, and 2 barely four stars. Stars aren't everything, but they've been pretty spot on applied to our LB unit.