1) Not ranked in AP and coaches poll is a slap in the face. I get it, on paper we limped to the finish after a strong start last year. Injuries played a major role in that and we lost some good NFL talent from that team.
2) The NFL talent lost (other than LB) is at position groups with a lot of strong depth. One could argue that the D line, secondary, QB, TE, WR group, RB room, and even OL should be at least a push to major upgrades from last year.
3) We are returning several players that would have been starting last year if they were available. Mustipher, Isaac, and Beamon on the DL and Wormely and Fashanu on the OL would have all started in the 2nd half of last season if available.
4) We have added some very strong talent through transfer and recruiting. Tinsley at WR, Robinson at DE are potentially strong starting talent additions. Singleton and Allen have transformed the RB room and Dennis-Sutton at DE, Durant at DT, and Saunders at WR are potentially immediately ready to bring high end depth as are perhaps a couple of LB additions.
5) Talented young players like Tangwell, any number of safeties and corners, Veilleux, possibly Meiga or Wallace at WR, the young DTs that stepped up when mustipher went down, etc. are more than likely going to be ready to step up with a year of seasoning.
Now I'm not saying we are going to win the Big 10. I'm also not saying we can't.
2) The NFL talent lost (other than LB) is at position groups with a lot of strong depth. One could argue that the D line, secondary, QB, TE, WR group, RB room, and even OL should be at least a push to major upgrades from last year.
3) We are returning several players that would have been starting last year if they were available. Mustipher, Isaac, and Beamon on the DL and Wormely and Fashanu on the OL would have all started in the 2nd half of last season if available.
4) We have added some very strong talent through transfer and recruiting. Tinsley at WR, Robinson at DE are potentially strong starting talent additions. Singleton and Allen have transformed the RB room and Dennis-Sutton at DE, Durant at DT, and Saunders at WR are potentially immediately ready to bring high end depth as are perhaps a couple of LB additions.
5) Talented young players like Tangwell, any number of safeties and corners, Veilleux, possibly Meiga or Wallace at WR, the young DTs that stepped up when mustipher went down, etc. are more than likely going to be ready to step up with a year of seasoning.
Now I'm not saying we are going to win the Big 10. I'm also not saying we can't.
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