My 2007 ND depth chart prediction

[Axl Rose]

I'm taking into account who I think will stay and what recuits will commit to ND.

Defense
Strong side DE
1-Justin Trattou
2-John Ryan
3-Justin Brown

Defensive Tackle
1-Trevor Laws
2-Paddy Mullen
3-Darrell Hand

Defensive Tackle
1-Will Blackwell
2-Patrick Kuntz
3-Jason Peters

Weak side DE
1-Ben Martin
2-Maurice Richardson
3-Kellen Wade
4-Kerry Neal

Strong side OLB
1-Maurice Crum
2-Chris Donald
3-Joe Brockington
4-Steve Quinn

MLB
1-Toryan Smith
2-Maurice Crum
3-Steve Paskorz
4-Steve Smith

Weak side OLB
1-Travis Thomas
2-Martez Wilson
3-Anthony Vernaglia
4-Aaron Nagel
5-Kevin Washington

CB
1-Darrin Walls
2-Ambrose Wooden
3-Gary Gray

CB
1-Terrel Lambert
2-Raeshon McNeil
3-Leo Ferrine
4-Golden Tate

SS
1-Sergio Brown
2-Ray Herring
3-Jashad Gaines

FS
1-Harrison Smith
2-David Bruton
3-Kyle McCarthy
4-Leonard Gordon

Offense
WR
1-Duval Kamara
2-David Grimes
3-DJ Hord
4-George West

WR
1-Robby Parris
2-Richard Jackson
3-Greg Little
4-Barry Gallup

TE
1-John Carlson
2-Konrad Rueland
3-Will Yeatman
4-Mike Ragone

LT
1-Sam Young
2-Michael Turkovich
3-Matt Romine

LG
1-Eric Olsen
2-Matt Carufel
3-Chris Little

C
1-John Sullivan
2-Dan Wegner
3-Matt Summers Gavin

RG
1-Chris Stewart
2-Matt Carufel
3-Emeka Nwankwo

RT
1-Paul Duncan
2-Bartley Webb
3-Andrew Nuss

Quarterback
1-Jimmy Clausen
2-Demetrius Jones
3-Evan Sharpley
4-Zach Frazer

FB
1-Asapp Schwapp
2-Luke Schmidt
3-Mike Ragone

RB
1-Darrius Walker
2-James Aldrige
3-Munir Prince
4-Armando Allen
5-Robert Hughes

 

[irishfan1122]

carlson is a fool if he comes back

 

[tedwick]

Lessee... Grimes will start (he's 3rd behind McKnight and Shark). Other than that, looks pretty good.

 

[Mattmags]

yeah i'd say pretty legit. assuming we get some of those studs this year

 

[Axl Rose]

carlson is a fool if he comes back

I heard hes coming back and don't believe its that bad of a move. He would go behind Miller and olsen this year, but if he stays another year and puts up another all American like season he'll go in the first round.

 

[luckofirish8]

Both Miller and Olsen could return as well. Though I don't believe it will happen.

 

[irishfan]

I heard hes coming back and don't believe its that bad of a move. He would go behind Miller and olsen this year, but if he stays another year and puts up another all American like season he'll go in the first round.

He owes it to Weis to stay. Think of where his draft stock was before this year compared to now. Right now he has a small chance of going in the 1st Round of the draft. If he puts up impressive numbers next year, then he defiently will go in the 1st Ronud. Smart move.

 

[tchris555]

herring is going to start . i love what i see from sergio but i think its going to be tough to beat out herring. both will get time though.

 

[ShivaIrish]

I thought a while back Blackwell had said that he wanted to redshirt.

I have to admit, I'd take it if it means we got all those recruits you have on the depth chart.

 

[Iron Machine]

Isn't Zibby staying? So Zibby wil be SS. I don't think Trattou will not start right away but work his way into the rotation as the season goes on. Plus I have a hunch that Hand might start at DT.

 

[benneboy]

Isn't Zibby staying? So Zibby wil be SS. I don't think Trattou will start right away but work his way into the rotation as the season goes on. Plus I have a hunch that Hand might start at DT.

I agree with Machine. Hand is probably our best DT right now aside from laws. Besides that I'll play devil's advocate and say DD will get the start at QB.

 

[matt_99]

I think Frazer will transfer if he falls behind Jimmy Clausen on the depth chart.

Nobody thinks that Hord will start (if he stays healthy)? He was highly touted out of HS. I have been waiting to see what he can do.

 

[njuneardave]

He owes it to Weis to stay. Think of where his draft stock was before this year compared to now. Right now he has a small chance of going in the 1st Round of the draft. If he puts up impressive numbers next year, then he defiently will go in the 1st Ronud. Smart move.

he should go first round anyway. the TE pool in this year's draft is low. i don't see carlson having a better year than this one if he comes back. he will be working with a new QB and defenses will hone in on him since we are losing our big threat WR's. i dont see carlson's stock rising any higher than it is right now. i really do hope that he comes back, but i wouldn't if i were him

 

[scooper]

This is a nice list. But I think you are assuming way too many freshmen are going to come in and surplant people. Here are just a few comments and changes:

DE-Ryan will start. He plays now and has impressed. Trattau will play, either as the weak side end or as the first end off the bench. Ben Martin has great ability and potential, but he needs a little bulk and is a bit raw. He can be great. Just not immediately. I've seen him play in person.

DT-I predict Hand will earn a spot. Not that it matters. If Laws stays, I suspect he will be the only true starter with a lot of rotation among the other guys.

LB-I like your idea of moving Crum back outside. He works well in space, but doesn't stick well in the middle. That lineup is probably the one.

S-I see Herring and Bruton playing. Those are the guys who saw playing time over the last couple years. Don't be surprised if McCarthy is in the two deep, as he was early this season.

WR-Another Parris supporter, I see. This did dominated some of the best competition in the country in high school. I felt he was very underrated. For him, it all comes down to health, but I think if healthy he will contribute. I don't know if I put him as a starter, but we shall see. Grimes will be a starter. He is clearly the third best on the roster this year. He shows great ability to get open.

OL-the only possible difference I see is Carufel possibly over Stewart. I think Wenger will get some minutes at C, and possibly get some time at guard just to get him on the field. This group looks solid and hopefully a bit meaner than past years.

QB-All I know is spring is going to be fun.

FB-Boy this offense has missed Schwapp.

 

[ant80]

Looks interesting. Good luck with Ben Martin as ur weakside DE. Latest reports indicates he loves OSU (and so does his mother, which is very important) and he comes to OSU.

edit: I thought Walker was a senior... am I wrong?
edit2: yes I am. I just looked it up. never mind.

 

[Katzenboyer]

This is a nice list. But I think you are assuming way too many freshmen are going to come in and surplant people.

I agree -- you have something like 5 or 6 true freshman starting on defense. If that's the case, we're in trouble.

I don't mind them coming in and getting minutes, but if they're starting from day 1, that's a bit much.

 

[brecht]

i agree with scooper that you've got a few too many freshman in the starting ranks. a few things that i think:
-morrice richardson moves back to weak side linebacker (although he might still play end in pass rushing situations)
-travis thomas moves to SS (if zibby leaves that is. after all, TT was only playing linebacker out of necessity, which i think will be less this coming year with some added depth and experience. plus, he's a better fit at safety)
-I see DJ hord starting next year.
-carlson is as good as gone (he'd be wrong to stay i'd say, CW owes it to him to let him go, after carlson so patiently waited for his chance), luckily, we have players who can step in and play (hopefully play well too)

 

[illinoisirish88]

I like the chart in general. A few tweaks would be Trattou/Martin as SDE co #1's , WSDE being Ryan with Mo Richardson #2, Harrison Smith being a reserve, Carufel above Stewart, AA above Prince (who I'm seeing moving to the D side of the ball this off season if we land Hughes and Tate), and last at WR I see Hord, Kumara, & Grimes as the top 3.

 

[Irish Legend]

Frazer will not be 4th on the depth chart!

 

[reneg]

Aside from DT, I think if any freshman from your list would come in and warrant a starting spot off the get go, it would be Chris Donald. I think besides upgrading DT, getting more athletic with the DBs (which we have done) and LBs is the next priority, and Donald is about as good as they come.

 

[jiggafini19]

Depending on what happens at QB, you could see someone transfer or possibly switch to baseball (Sharpley).

Spring will not decide anything. We'll know who the starter is when they open the 2007 campaign.

 

[mizzouirish]

Frazer will not be 4th on the depth chart!

Agreed, I think this kid will be #1 or #2. He is the more prototypical QB with a rocket arm.

 

[irish4ever]

I too think that Carlson will be gone to the NFL, but I hope not. Also, I foresee Chris Donald coming in as a MLB? QB is going to be a big toss-up! I like what you have listed though.

 

[deleham]

Is it realsitic to expect any defensive lineman to play significantly as a freshman? I would think the step up to college size linemen would be a tough one, especially with no spring training or summer weight programmes (on campus anyway). Maybe I'm wrong. Is there much history of defensive linemen starting as freshmen?

 

[Katzenboyer]

Is it realsitic to expect any defensive lineman to play significantly as a freshman? I would think the step up to college size linemen would be a tough one, especially with no spring training or summer weight programmes (on campus anyway). Maybe I'm wrong. Is there much history of defensive linemen starting as freshmen?

I don't think we'll see any freshman on the defensive line get significant playing time, but they could get put in for certain plays/situations, etc.

Some freshman will start right away at smaller schools, but the big boys usually have their guys as juniors and seniors. I know Brian Cushing played an OLB/DE role for USC his freshman year, and LaMarr Woodley received some playing time in the same role his freshman and sophomore years at UM. I'm sure there are other examples, but it would be pretty risky to expect freshman lineman to have any sort of major impact right away.

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

Hm.. I don't see Parris starting. I think that when we send three receivers on the field, they'll be
1. Hord
2. Grimes
3. Kamara

I also predict Kuntz will start at DT next year, even if Blackwell comes.

But your depth chart ooks pretty good.. especially since it's practically impossible to predict.

 

[SillyIrish]

Hm.. I don't see Parris starting. I think that when we send three receivers on the field, they'll be
1. Hord
2. Grimes
3. Kamara

I agree as long as DJ comes back healthy these will be the three WR.

 

[deleham]

That's pretty much what I thought. I mean the step up is tough for all players, but at a position where physicality and size is so important, the defensive and offensive lines must be the toughest to break into as a freshman.

 

[isotopes]

I think assuming that Dj is healthy he can make a push for the #1 spot but i think itll look like this

1 Hord
2 Grimes
3 Parris

 

[scooper]

That's pretty much what I thought. I mean the step up is tough for all players, but at a position where physicality and size is so important, the defensive and offensive lines must be the toughest to break into as a freshman.

Without a doubt. On every play, they are physically struggling with a guy as big or bigger.