I'll be stoked when all this player movement is over. I hope that we grab a few more guys. I'm glad Lama likes our LB pickups. I saw this on 247, about player departures, no doubt CU leads, but look how close many other good teams are. Seems everyone is losing 20-23 guys...
Some college football programs were more affected by the transfer portal than others.
247sports.com
For CU incoming guys I see 24 guys who rate at least on one rating system, as in the top 1/5 of the transfer class. I think that is pretty good, and perhaps we still may add 1-3 more. As for outgoing, DE and O.Cooper were definite losses. Slush rates decently high in a few, but injury issues. Sav would have been a good keep, but he was beaten out. By position it think we are much better:
Offense:
1. QB -- SS is the man, kept QB2, adding more depth with perhaps an X factor in Taylor. Wildcat?
2. RB--mixed bag but I think we are close to even--seems that we got bigger and maybe more quality depth. Welsh played well. Off earned a schollie. Would have been nice to keep DE. We have to see how this shakes out.
3. TE--weakest position on the team, struck out with Metayer, but comparing to last years team--we look to be bigger with a player or two that can play with their hand in the ground. Better Oline may free up our TE even more. Have to see how this turns out.
4. Oline--A grade. Got better at each position, we just need to put the puzzle together. Wells felt like a loss, but Walker, Brown or Zilankas seem to offset that. Sav could have stayed but this group is deeper and more known, than last year.
5. WR--A grade--this is one of the best position groups in the country. Recruited and portaled the position well. All sorts of upside.
Defense:
1. Dline--A grade. We are bigger, stronger and better with P-4 experienced players. IMO, this could be the biggest impact for the Defense.
2. Edge/OLB-- A grade. Bigger, stronger and better.
3. ILB-- not giving a grade, but we have players in with decent playing time. If Lama likes Chaney, I'm sold. Green looks like a decent pick-up. I like Wester with his PFF grade w/ run. For this group, I'm sort of counting on better Dline/Edge-OLB play, which can simplify things for them. The jury is out.
4. DB's--the room is good. O. Cooper got beat out and that says something. McKinney and Hodge are great gets. If other ILB's work out, Woods can drop in a pinch, or will be good in the dime.
Special Teams:
1. L. Wester is one of the best return guys in the country.
2. Hope the snappers that we have on the team are consistent.
A bunch of this experiment will come down to O and D installs, coordinators and just coaching. I like the upside of our new coaches, even if Shurmer is a hold-over. If SS's healthy with time, they should have enough weapons. By all appearances, Livingston appears to be a fit, however the jury will be out until they get into the season. I think a more talented Dline could pay just huge dividends, all the way around.