'12 FL DB Brian Poole (Florida Signed LOI)

[Domina Nostra]

Exactly!

 

[Sherm Sticky]

yep.

Interesting, because I thought Poole could play safety also. Some scouts believe he will be better off at safety also.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Thinking of only next season, how developed and polished is Brian at CB? I think we all agree that Darby may end up one of the better DBs, but won't be ready to start next year. Tee, on the other hand, could very well come in and take a starting corner position. If Brian flips to ND, is he capable of taking the other corner position?

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Thinking of only next season, how developed and polished is Brian at CB? I think we all agree that Darby may end up one of the better DBs, but won't be ready to start next year. Tee, on the other hand, could very well come in and take a starting corner position. If Brian flips to ND, is he capable of taking the other corner position?

Brian seems polished to me, but I think we are all selling Jackson, Wood, Brown & Atkinson short. Man I hope we don't have two freshman starting at corner, cause it could be a long year.

 

[Irish Fam]

I have to believe none of our incoming freshmen DBs will be starting from day one. But just as we have seen this year, when they are ready, Kelly will put them in the game.

 

[koonja]

I have to believe none of our incoming freshmen DBs will be starting from day one. But just as we have seen this year, when they are ready, Kelly will put them in the game.

We lose Harrison, Gray, and Blanton. I'll bet one starts, just a hunch. They're so talented that at least one of them will. Tee has a great chance if he EEs. All will play real, especially since we almost always have 5 dbs on the field anyways.

 

[Riddickulous]

We lose Harrison, Gray, and Blanton. I'll bet one starts, just a hunch. They're so talented that at least one of them will. Tee has a great chance if he EEs. All will play real, especially since we almost always have 5 dbs on the field anyways.

Defensive back is perhaps the worst possible position in which to start a freshman.

 

[koonja]

Defensive back is perhaps the worst possible position in which to start a freshman.

I agree, but it's not like the guys ahead of them (this year's freshman) are getting a ton of snaps. Everyone's going to be 'green'. I expect it to be very competitive with 3 spots open and I wouldn't be surprised to see one of the freshman grab a spot. Last player we had that was close to a 5-star db was Darrin Walls and I think he started as a freshman.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I agree, but it's not like the guys ahead of them (this year's freshman) are getting a ton of snaps. Everyone's going to be 'green'. I expect it to be very competitive with 3 spots open and I wouldn't be surprised to see one of the freshman grab a spot. Last player we had that was close to a 5-star db was Darrin Walls and I think he started as a freshman.

Gary Gray was rated just as high as Walls. Also, Walls didn't start till his sophomore year. Also, times were different then. There was literally no upperclassman on the team that could play corner. Remember Wood, Jackson, Brown, Atkinson and even Hardy have a year up on the incoming freshman.

 

[Irish Fam]

Lo wood has a couple years experience in the system. Limited game reps, but plenty of time to learn his role. J. Atkinson has been seeing the field a little more lately and I believe he will see more and more action as the season goes on. Slaughter and Motta will obviously be starters as well.
If Poole does decide to join the gang, he will be given the opportunity to play from day 1 as BK has said many times he will play the best players.

 

[military_irish]

I don't know ya'll are talking about a DB that started from the get go, but if you just mean a DB that started as a Freshmen but Robert Blanton started his final four games of his Freshman season.

 

[koonja]

Gary Gray was rated just as high as Walls. Also, Walls didn't start till his sophomore year. Also, times were different then. There was literally no upperclassman on the team that could play corner. Remember Wood, Jackson, Brown, Atkinson and even Hardy have a year up on the incoming freshman.

If the now-freshman aren't playing do they really have that much of an advantage next year? I don't think it's that much of an advantage, especially if the incoming freshman EE (we're talking DB here, not QB position). I won't at all be surprised if one of the incoming freshman take one of the three spots that will be open. Vbucks?

I could have sworn Walls started as a freshman, but I could be wrong.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I don't know ya'll are talking about a DB that started from the get go, but if you just mean a DB that started as a Freshmen but Robert Blanton started his final four games of his Freshman season.

Didn't Blanton start, because Walls was suspended from school that season, Gray broke his wrist and Slaughter was injured and being red shirted. that only left Lambert and McNeal as the only scholarship CBs on the team.

 

[Riddickulous]

If the now-freshman aren't playing do they really have that much of an advantage next year? I don't think it's that much of an advantage, especially if the incoming freshman EE (we're talking DB here, not QB position). I won't at all be surprised if one of the incoming freshman take one of the three spots that will be open. Vbucks?

I could have sworn Walls started as a freshman, but I could be wrong.

He saw playing time early, but Terrail Lambert emerged to complement Mike Richardson and Ambrose Wooden. Plus Walls got torched.

 

[Irish Fam]

If the now-freshman aren't playing do they really have that much of an advantage next year? I don't think it's that much of an advantage, especially if the incoming freshman EE (we're talking DB here, not QB position). I won't at all be surprised if one of the incoming freshman take one of the three spots that will be open. Vbucks?

I could have sworn Walls started as a freshman, but I could be wrong.

I will be shocked if one of our incoming freshman start from day one in our classic 3-4 look (2 corners).
And I do think that the practice reps are a huge advantage. We get excited about early enrollees because they are getting additional practice time. Some of our current freshman willl have a year of practice in Diaco's system on the 2012 class.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

If the now-freshman aren't playing do they really have that much of an advantage next year? I don't think it's that much of an advantage, especially if the incoming freshman EE (we're talking DB here, not QB position). I won't at all be surprised if one of the incoming freshman take one of the three spots that will be open. Vbucks?

I could have sworn Walls started as a freshman, but I could be wrong.

Three spots? No no two spots. Motta is basically a starter as it is now. So Slaughter and Motta will be playing. You seem to be forgetting that Lo Wood and Jackson will be juniors next year. Trust after QB, CB is the hardest position for a freshman to play.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Three spots? No no two spots. Motta is basically a starter as it is now. So Slaughter and Motta will be playing. You seem to be forgetting that Lo Wood and Jackson will be juniors next year. Trust after QB, CB is the hardest position for a freshman to play.

I agree about the difficulty of playing CB. I doubt there are more than 10 kids any given year that could step in and start at a BCS school...

In all serousness, I agree with your assessment. Safety next year will be Slaughter, Motta as the starters. Collinsworth, McCarthy, and probably Hardy as tier 2. Baratti and Prosse and Turner getting their feet wet for at least the first part of the year. Unless we get Shaq, I don't see any freshman getting playing time very quickly.

At CB, I think Lo Wood is pretty much a lock as a starter. With Jackson being Tier 2A, Attkinson Tier 2B and Brown right about the same. However, I see Shepard as likely to come in as closer to that 2A level than 2B. I also think that by the end of the Spring, Shepard will be in the top Tier with Wood and Jackson, and Darby (and holefully Poole) will be right there with Collinsworth and Brown by the end of the fall.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I agree about the difficulty of playing CB. I doubt there are more than 10 kids any given year that could step in and start at a BCS school...

In all serousness, I agree with your assessment. Safety next year will be Slaughter, Motta as the starters. Collinsworth, McCarthy, and probably Hardy as tier 2. Baratti and Prosse and Turner getting their feet wet for at least the first part of the year. Unless we get Shaq, I don't see any freshman getting playing time very quickly.

At CB, I think Lo Wood is pretty much a lock as a starter. With Jackson being Tier 2A, Attkinson Tier 2B and Brown right about the same. However, I see Shepard as likely to come in as closer to that 2A level than 2B. I also think that by the end of the Spring, Shepard will be in the top Tier with Wood and Jackson, and Darby (and holefully Poole) will be right there with Collinsworth and Brown by the end of the fall.

Sounds reasonable. Only thing is McCarthy might not be asked back next year.

 

[pkt77242]

I could see Tee or Poole competing for the nickel corner spot next year, so while not starting they would see plenty of playing time.

I think that Wood is the only for sure starter at CB with everyone else fighting for the other spot and NB.

 

[irishog77]

I wouldn't completely rule out Slaughter playing CB next year, leaving 1 starter spot open at both CB and S.

 

[WhoDeyIrish]

I wouldn't completely rule out Slaughter playing CB next year, leaving 1 starter spot open at both CB and S.

This is what I was thinking.

 

[t3hjc]

Interesting, because I thought Poole could play safety also. Some scouts believe he will be better off at safety also.

He can play safety, he's just a bit undersized.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Sounds reasonable. Only thing is McCarthy might not be asked back next year.

Seems more and more likely that he won't be asked back. We basically have 6 spots left with 16 recruits commited if you include Badger and the only 5th years being Cwynar, Cave, Kap, and Slaughter.

This of course assumes no decommits or transfers and Manti staying.

 

[AKRowdy]

This of course assumes no decommits or transfers and Manti staying.

This guy has to be at the top of our list!

 

[BleedBlueGold]

I'm not as certain as you all about Lo being a lock to start next season. I remember reading some articles about how the staff isn't high on his size and physicality. He's playing because he has to. There's no one else behind him. He knows the defense better than the frosh and is a year ahead of Bennett at the DB position.

I'm gonna guess that Tee comes in and secures a spot by the end of summer (if he gets his head in the playbook and learns the defense). I think the second starting spot is a toss up between Lo, Bennett, Josh, and Jalen. If Poole and Shaq commit, then you obviously have to throw them in the mix for significant playing time and possibly starting by year's end.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Yep I'm so stoked for a true freshman CB to come in and start against the physical Navy attack in Dublin next year. The freshman who plays, most likely Tee will be lights out compared to the other corners on the team.

 

[irishog77]

Regardless of who starts week 1 next year, I think we might see more "backups" playing in the secondary throughout the games, certainly early on. For all intents and purposes, the only guys that play in the secondary this year are Smith, Motta, Slaughter, Blanton, and Gray. Next year, I could see more of a "DB by committee" approach early, as the coaches might still be trying to figure out who the best players are behind Motta and Slaughter. So several of potentially Poole, Thompson, Hardy, Collinsworth, Jackson, Atkins, Brown, Sherpard, Prosise, or Darby could get some time back there. I do think one of the corner jobs is Wood's to lose (but I don't think he is a lock to be the starter). I'll also say that if Poole and Thompson were to come to ND, I don't think Motta will be a lock to be a full-time starter at S next year.

 

[DillonHall]

Yep I'm so stoked for a true freshman CB to come in and start against the physical Navy attack in Dublin next year. The freshman who plays, most likely Tee will be lights out compared to the other corners on the team.

I'm scared to death that we may have to start a true freshman at CB.

 

[TerryTate]

Highly doubt a true frosh comes in and starts from day 1.

Tee may have a shot if he EE's. Otherwise, nope.

 

[Riddickulous]

Highly doubt a true frosh comes in and starts from day 1.

Tee may have a shot if he EE's. Otherwise, nope.

Correct.