2020 Roster

[CIrishWin]

Since so many people think this season is a over since we did not make it to the playoff (I would disagree).

I think if we win out and win our bowl game other the the Michigan game it was a good season.

We need to improve in some areas but I think we will be fine.

These are players I think may transfer or not come back for 2020 season (reason) this is just from my observations if you disagree just say why no need to get ugly about it. Not including the ones we already know about.

RB T. Jones (may feel he has done enough to get drafted late)
WR J. McKinley ( gets pushed out)
WR I. Robertson (position changes and has not close to seeing the field)
DE K. Wardlow (place on depth chart)
LB J. Jones (no meaning full playing time )
DB A. Gilman (draft)
DB S Crawford (injuries)
DB/RB A.Davis ( on position and more playing time)

Leaves 20 open spots with 17 current commits.

 

[Wingman Ray]

1) RB T. Jones (may feel he has done enough to get drafted late) - Only with a ticket does he make a NFL game

2) DE K. Wardlow (place on depth chart) - Graduate with ND degree > play time at BSU with a BSU degree

3) LB J. Jones (no meaning full playing time )-See #2

4) DB/RB A.Davis ( on position and more playing time)-See #2

 

[zelezo vlk]

Just the other day I was thinking about D line depth next year and I realized that there will be a legit 3 deep of non-freshman interior D lineman.

1T: Hinish(SR), Lacey(SO), Jam Franklin(RS-SO), Aidan K(FR)

3T: MTA(RS-JR), Jay Ade(JR), Howard Cross(RS-FR), possibly Rylie Mills(FR)

Does anybody else think that somebody might transfer out? Just seems like a crowded depth chart, and I don't know how often schools have more than 3 deep at IDL.

Only Hinish would exhaust eligibility after 20.

 

[JD Irish]

I see Gilman, Jonathan Jones, and John Shannon as the players with eligibility left who will not return.

Here is what the 2020 roster/depth chart would look like assuming everyone else returns and there are no decommitments or transfers (which there will be, and you have already brought up those candidates and the potential reasons). I would like to see them move one or both of Armstrong or Davis to slot receiver, where it seems their skills are most suited and they can be the most productive, and that would allow for Smith and Tyree to be our featured RBs.

Updated to reflect Tony Jones leaving, Ramon Henderson signing, and Ben Skowronek transferring to ND.
Eligibility in parentheses.

QB
Ian Book (1)
Phil Jurkovec (3)
Brendon Clark (4)
Drew Pyne (4+)

RB
Jafar Armstrong (2)
Chris Tyree (4+)
Avery Davis (2)
Jahmir Smith (3)
C'Bo Flemister (3)
Kyren Williams (4)

WR - W
Javon McKinley (1)
Ben Skowronek (1)
Jordan Johnson (4+)
Isaiah Robertson (2)
Micah Jones (3)

WR - X
Braden Lenzy (3)
Kevin Austin (3)
Xavier Watts (4+)
Jay Brunelle (4+)

WR - Z
Lawrence Keys (3)
Joe Wilkins (3)
Kendall Abdur-Rahman (4)

TE
Cole Kmet (1)
Brock Wright (1)
Tommy Tremble (3)
George Takacs (3)
Michael Mayer (4+)
Kevin Bauman (4+)

LT
Liam Eichenberg (1)
Quinn Carroll (4)
Andrew Kristofic (4)
Tosh Baker (4+)

LG
Aaron Banks (2)
Dillan Gibbons (2)

C
Jarrett Patterson (3)
Zeke Correll (4)

RG
Tommy Kraemer (1)
John Dirksen (3)
John Olmstead (4)

RT
Robert Hainsey (1)
Josh Lugg (2)
Cole Mabry (3)
Michael Carmondy (4+)

WDE
Daelin Hayes (1)
Ovie Oghoufo (3)
Jordan Botelho (4+)

SDE
Ade Ogundeji (1)
Justin Ademilola (3)
Isaiah Foskey (4)
Nana Osafo-Mensah (4)
Kofi Wardlow (2)
Alexander Ehrensberger (4+)

DT
MTA (2)
Jayson Ademilola (2)
Howard Cross (4)
Hunter Spears (4)
Rylie Mills (4+)

NT
Kurt Hinish (1)
Jacob Lacey (3)
Ja'mion Franklin (3)
Aidan Keeanaaina (4+)

Rover
JOK (2)
Paul Moala (2)
Jack Kiser (4)

Mike LB
Drew White (2)
Bo Bauer (2)
JD Bertrand (4)
Osita Ekwonu (4)

Will LB
Shayne Simon (2)
Jack Lamb (3)
JGH (1)
Marist Liufau (4)

Field CB
Shaun Crawford (1)
Tariq Bracy (2)
KJ Wallace (4)
Clarence Lewis (4+)

Boundary CB
Isaiah Rutherford (4)
Cam Hart (4)
Landen Bartleson (4+)
Caleb Offord (4+)
Ramon Henderson (4+)

FS
Kyle Hamilton (3)
Isaiah Pryor (2)
DJ Brown (3)

SS
Houston Griffith (2)
Litchfield Ajavon (4)

K
Jonathan Doerer (1)

P
Jay Bramblett (3)

LS
Alex Peitsch (4+)


That list is 89 scholarship players.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I can't imagine John Shannon leaving unless he's really banged up or something. They'll carry 2 LS

At least I imagine that's what they'll do

 

[JD Irish]

I can't imagine John Shannon leaving unless he's really banged up or something. They'll carry 2 LS

At least I imagine that's what they'll do

It's been intimated that he is leaving after this year - that is why they recruited a LS in this cycle. I could be wrong.

 

[zelezo vlk]

It's been intimated that he is leaving after this year - that is why they recruited a LS in this cycle. I could be wrong.

Really now, that's interesting.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

JD thanks for that awesome summary.

I'll be saying prayers all offseason for our CB situation. Holy inexperienced. Even is Crawford comes back, which sounds iffy based on comments he's made in the past (I believe at one point it was believed he was for sure done and lately he has made it sound like he might return), that's a shaky group.

 

[IrishLax]

I see Gilman, Jonathan Jones, and John Shannon as the players with eligibility left who will not return.

Here is what the 2020 roster/depth chart would look like assuming everyone else returns and there are no decommitments or transfers (which there will be, and you have already brought up those candidates and the potential reasons). I would like to see them move one or both of Armstrong or Davis to slot receiver, where it seems their skills are most suited and they can be the most productive, and that would allow for Smith and Tyree to be our featured RBs.

Eligibility in parentheses.

QB
Ian Book (1)
Phil Jurkovec (3)
Brendon Clark (4)
Drew Pyne (4+)

RB
Tony Jones (1)
Jafar Armstrong (2)
Chris Tyree (4+)
Avery Davis (2)
Jahmir Smith (3)
C'Bo Flemister (3)
Kyren Williams (4)

WR - W
Javon McKinley (1)
Jordan Johnson (4+)
Isaiah Robertson (2)
Micah Jones (3)

WR - X
Braden Lenzy (3)
Kevin Austin (3)
Xavier Watts (4+)
Jay Brunelle (4+)

WR - Z
Lawrence Keys (3)
Joe Wilkins (3)
Kendall Abdur-Rahman (4)

TE
Cole Kmet (1)
Brock Wright (1)
Tommy Tremble (3)
George Takacs (3)
Michael Mayer (4+)
Kevin Bauman (4+)

LT
Liam Eichenberg (1)
Quinn Carroll (4)
Andrew Kristofic (4)
Tosh Baker (4+)

LG
Aaron Banks (2)
Dillan Gibbons (2)

C
Jarrett Patterson (3)
Zeke Correll (4)

RG
Tommy Kraemer (1)
John Dirksen (3)
John Olmstead (4)

RT
Robert Hainsey (1)
Josh Lugg (2)
Cole Mabry (3)
Michael Carmondy (4+)

WDE
Daelin Hayes (1)
Ovie Oghoufo (3)
Jordan Botelho (4+)

SDE
Ade Ogundeji (1)
Justin Ademilola (3)
Isaiah Foskey (4)
Nana Osafo-Mensah (4)
Kofi Wardlow (2)
Alexander Ehrensberger (4+)

DT
MTA (2)
Jayson Ademilola (2)
Howard Cross (4)
Hunter Spears (4)
Rylie Mills (4+)

NT
Kurt Hinish (1)
Jacob Lacey (3)
Ja'mion Franklin (3)
Aidan Keeanaaina (4+)

Rover
JOK (2)
Paul Moala (2)
Jack Kiser (4)

Mike LB
Drew White (2)
Bo Bauer (2)
JD Bertrand (4)
Osita Ekwonu (4)

Will LB
Shayne Simon (2)
Jack Lamb (3)
JGH (1)
Marist Liufau (4)

Field CB
Shaun Crawford (1)
Tariq Bracy (2)
KJ Wallace (4)
Clarence Lewis (4+)

Boundary CB
Isaiah Rutherford (4)
Cam Hart (4)
Landen Bartleson (4+)
Caleb Offord (4+)

FS
Kyle Hamilton (3)
Isaiah Pryor (2)
DJ Brown (3)

SS
Houston Griffith (2)
Litchfield Ajavon (4)

K
Jonathan Doerer (1)

P
Jay Bramblett (3)

LS
Alex Peitsch (4)


That list is 88 scholarship players.

Thanks for doing this. Haven't looked at it closely, but Crawford has said he won't be back so you can subtract him.

 

[BabyIrish]

Thanks for doing this. Haven't looked at it closely, but Crawford has said he won't be back so you can subtract him.

Wasn't he on a podcast and said he's now open to the possibility?

 

[JD Irish]

There has been some chatter that he has backtracked a little bit on that, so that may still be up in the air. Really hope he comes back - we desperately need him.

Even if he does come back, our top three corners would likely be Crawford, Bracy, and Wallace - all of whom are 5'10" or under. So next year, we will either be giving up some serious size at CB, or playing someone with zero experience at the boundary.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Thanks for doing this. Haven't looked at it closely, but Crawford has said he won't be back so you can subtract him.

Matt on ISD said that the door isn't closed, along with the aforementioned chatter on the podcasts.

 

[SouthernIndianaNDFan]

How are we so set at Safety and so hit at Corner? Can there not be some kind of transfer/transition? The guy from OSU is coming in, Hamilton is obv a monster, Griffith was damn near a 5*, then at Corner we have little to nothing, seems like either poor planning, or recruiting.

 

[BeatSC]

Opportunity for a bunch of players to step up like McKinnley. Do we think better all around speed at the WR position (no more Finke) and a game breaker at RB and Kmet coming back do we have a better offense next year? Heartbreaking to think Phil hasn't progressed far enough to take over from Ian. Book has been a little man who could and last week was a very solid performance imo but he will never approach top 10 caliber. Not physical but mental for Book.

 

[zelezo vlk]

How are we so set at Safety and so hit at Corner? Can there not be some kind of transfer/transition? The guy from OSU is coming in, Hamilton is obv a monster, Griffith was damn near a 5*, then at Corner we have little to nothing, seems like either poor planning, or recruiting.

Recruiting misses (especially in '17), Wilkins being a WR instead of corner, Griffith being a natural safety instead of corner

 

[Armyirish47]

I think it would be surprising to have both Ian and Phil back.

 

[JD Irish]

I think it would be surprising to have both Ian and Phil back.

A lot of people have said that - but even if Book returns and is the starter (2020), it would be Book's last year of eligibility. After that, Jurkovec would still have two years of eligibility and would presumably be the starter for those two years (2021 and 2022) - if he can beat out Buchner (and Clark and Pyne). That might end up being the bigger question - whether he can win the job over those guys. If he transfers after this year, he would theoretically lose his 2020 eligibility and still only have 2 years of eligibility at a new school to be the starter (2021 and 2022) due to his already having used his redshirt year in 2018. At any new school, he would also have to win the starting job. So the choice would be 2 years starting at ND or two years starting somewhere else. This is also assuming that he doesn't beat out Book for the starting job in 2020, which he could.

 

[SouthernIndianaNDFan]

Opportunity for a bunch of players to step up like McKinnley. Do we think better all around speed at the WR position (no more Finke) and a game breaker at RB and Kmet coming back do we have a better offense next year? Heartbreaking to think Phil hasn't progressed far enough to take over from Ian. Book has been a little man who could and last week was a very solid performance imo but he will never approach top 10 caliber. Not physical but mental for Book.

I think the offense should be much improved. There's no reason that Jordan Johnson shouldn't play early and often, same with Tyree, to a larger degree imo. Guys all acrossed the country are starting as freshman, Garrett Wilson at OSU, Wease and Haselwood at Oklahoma, and Pickens and Blaylock at UGa. I reference those guys because they're all in the same range as JJ in terms of recruiting ranking, so he should see the field. Guys like Charbonnet at Michigan and Ealy at Miss State are starting as freshman at RB, so I'd like to think Tyree gets decent playing time. Kevin Austin will be back, Kmet, Tremble, Wright, Mayer and Bauman should be the best TE group in the country and we've been utilizing them as a strength. Javon Mczkinley and Jordan Johnson should split time outside, I really like that duo, Lenzy and Keys are dynamic, add in Kevin Austin and that's probably the most explosive WR grouping in the BK era, and all but McKinley have a lot of eligibility left. The main things in my eyes are A) Do we get a new OC (I think they def should) and B) Who's the quarterback? I'm hoping it's Phil, or even Pyne, but if it's somehow Book at least he has a full arsenal of weapons, and unless I'm mistaken we should return basically the entire OL and add some depth.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

A lot of people have said that - but even if Book returns and is the starter (2020), it would be Book's last year of eligibility. After that, Jurkovec would still have two years of eligibility and would presumably be the starter for those two years (2021 and 2022) - if he can beat out Buchner (and Clark and Pyne). That might end up being the bigger question - whether he can win the job over those guys. If he transfers after this year, he would theoretically lose his 2020 eligibility and still only have 2 years of eligibility at a new school to be the starter (2021 and 2022) due to his already having used his redshirt year in 2018. At any new school, he would also have to win the starting job. So the choice would be 2 years starting at ND or two years starting somewhere else. This is also assuming that he doesn't beat out Book for the starting job in 2020, which he could.

We need this posted on the site's front page haha. Been talked about so much in other threads.

There is simply no incentive for PJ to transfer. Other than being butt hurt if/when Book does come back. Plain and simple. He won't save a year of eligibility by doing it. He'd be the leader in the clubhouse to take the reigns in 2021 in a system he'd have been in for three full years, and he'd be only one year away from that ND degree.

 

[stlnd01]

Agree it makes no sense for Phil to transfer if he has to sit. If he could get a waiver to play next year, it might be a different story.
There’s no sign of anything that’d warrant a waiver, but that hasn’t stopped the NCAA before.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Agree it makes no sense for Phil to transfer if he has to sit. If he could get a waiver to play next year, it might be a different story.
There’s no sign of anything that’d warrant a waiver, but that hasn’t stopped the NCAA before.

Enter transfer portal -> hire attorney -> play next year. Just have to have the right verbiage in the lawyer-speak portion of your documents.

I don't think Phil would or should do this.

 

[Wild Bill]

I think the offense should be much improved. There's no reason that Jordan Johnson shouldn't play early and often, same with Tyree, to a larger degree imo. Guys all acrossed the country are starting as freshman, Garrett Wilson at OSU, Wease and Haselwood at Oklahoma, and Pickens and Blaylock at UGa. I reference those guys because they're all in the same range as JJ in terms of recruiting ranking, so he should see the field. Guys like Charbonnet at Michigan and Ealy at Miss State are starting as freshman at RB, so I'd like to think Tyree gets decent playing time. Kevin Austin will be back, Kmet, Tremble, Wright, Mayer and Bauman should be the best TE group in the country and we've been utilizing them as a strength. Javon Mczkinley and Jordan Johnson should split time outside, I really like that duo, Lenzy and Keys are dynamic, add in Kevin Austin and that's probably the most explosive WR grouping in the BK era, and all but McKinley have a lot of eligibility left. The main things in my eyes are A) Do we get a new OC (I think they def should) and B) Who's the quarterback? I'm hoping it's Phil, or even Pyne, but if it's somehow Book at least he has a full arsenal of weapons, and unless I'm mistaken we should return basically the entire OL and add some depth.

https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/ndinsider.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/cc/7cc84b98-1719-11e6-adbb-bb82984b2b39/57328e151083d.image.jpg?resize=400%2C271

RIP, GB.

 

[stpeteirish]

I think it would be surprising to have both Ian and Phil back.

Unless he doesn't care about the degree he'll stay; he's one play away from starting. Now if somebody jumps him that's another story. But Kelly's not dumb enough to do that.

 

[Wingman Ray]

Another year with Ian and we are going to lose what momentum we have gained. ND cannot win vs the good teams with Ian at the helm. If BK cant figure that out, he's just a flippin idiot.

 

[ickythump1225]

If PJ can't beat out Book for the starting job maybe he really isn't that good.

 

[SouthernIndianaNDFan]

If PJ can't beat out Book for the starting job maybe he really isn't that good.

I've been thinking this for over a year, at this point the writing is on the wall. Either A) Phil sucks or B) CBK is the most stubborn dude on Earth.

 

[Luckylucci]

I've been thinking this for over a year, at this point the writing is on the wall. Either A) Phil sucks or B) CBK is the most stubborn dude on Earth.

For over a year? How does that work? So while in the midst of an undefeated season you thought to yourself BK is stubborn or Phil sucks because he's not the starting QB on a team comfortably within the playoff race? You've had some rich stuff lately but this takes the cake. You clearly should be running a major college football program because you have ALL the answers.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I think the offense should be much improved. There's no reason that Jordan Johnson shouldn't play early and often, same with Tyree, to a larger degree imo. Guys all acrossed the country are starting as freshman, Garrett Wilson at OSU, Wease and Haselwood at Oklahoma, and Pickens and Blaylock at UGa. I reference those guys because they're all in the same range as JJ in terms of recruiting ranking, so he should see the field. Guys like Charbonnet at Michigan and Ealy at Miss State are starting as freshman at RB, so I'd like to think Tyree gets decent playing time. Kevin Austin will be back, Kmet, Tremble, Wright, Mayer and Bauman should be the best TE group in the country and we've been utilizing them as a strength. Javon Mczkinley and Jordan Johnson should split time outside, I really like that duo, Lenzy and Keys are dynamic, add in Kevin Austin and that's probably the most explosive WR grouping in the BK era, and all but McKinley have a lot of eligibility left. The main things in my eyes are A) Do we get a new OC (I think they def should) and B) Who's the quarterback? I'm hoping it's Phil, or even Pyne, but if it's somehow Book at least he has a full arsenal of weapons, and unless I'm mistaken we should return basically the entire OL and add some depth.

Yes. The entire starting OL from game #1 in 2019 returns for game #1 2020. Defense probably will be slightly down next year, but offense should be the best since 2015.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

If PJ can't beat out Book for the starting job maybe he really isn't that good.

Alternatively, coordinator who loves SYSTEM rates quarterbacks entirely by their proficiency within SYSTEM. Coaches, and especially coordinators, have to meet their personnel half way and put their players in positions to succeed.

 

[Luckylucci]

Recruiting misses (especially in '17), Wilkins being a WR instead of corner, Griffith being a natural safety instead of corner

The 18' DB class was actually quite good on paper but man has it blown up. They took a risk on Boykin which seemed reasonable at the time, but he transferred. D. Allen transferred as well. They tried Griffith at CB and he needs to play S, apparently. DJ Brown to S as well. They moved Wilkins to WR. Moala to Rover. They "recruited" 7 DB's in the 18' class and only 1 is currently on the roster playing CB.