re: Ranking the Trenches (Offensive + Defensive Line)

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The lines (along with QB) are the hardest places for true freshmen to contribute

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I never stated that I was talking about "true freshmen."

I was talking about, and thought I clearly stated, new signed talent, (as in JuCos) along with some "redshirted," talented and highly recruited freshmen ... kids who were highly touted as freshmen, last year, but are now redshirted freshmen moving up.

Kobe Smith, already enrolled, at DT. Dexter Wideman, already enrolled, a redshirted freshman at DT ... was recruited and offered by almost everyone and there would have been more had he not committed to FSU so early. Reshirted junior DT, former JuCo transfer Ulric Jones. Those are the three new blood DTs already on campus, already practicing, two of them were redshirted last year. That's not counting the ones coming in this summer like high 4* DT 6-4 295 Stephen Taylor outta NOLA or ...

Keir Thomas DE ... already on campus, enrolled early, DE out of Miami - was offered by a lot of other programs including Tennessee, Arkansas and Auburn. That's not counting the new kids who are likely to get some early playing time like Sadrius Hutcherson or Darius Whitfield or maybe even Griffin Gentry.

And I do not know of a single Gamecock fan or pundit that I have talked to that does not believe our OLine will be greatly improved with the talent we have returning this year ... only two RFR, all the rest are sophs or above with a lot of playing time. Very talented sophs btw, three of them, who took their licks playing as true freshmen last year and improved greatly as the season progressed. Just on returnees alone, we'll average around 6-5 315 and they are all capable OLinemen, the ones that have survived the culling. Why do you think, of all coaches that he retained, he only retained one ... Shawn Elliot ... our OLine coach. Oh, and not talking about the new signees straight outta HS along the OLine, because I expect none of them to contribute this year ... but I do expect JuCo transfer OLineman Akeem Cooperwood to contribute.

I'm not trying to argue with you George ... I'm just sayin', having us 14/14 on both sides of the line is just ridiculous.

Last year was an abomination ... the last gasp of a floundering staff and HC. It is what it is, but it will have very little influence on this coming season.

I'm far far more worried about our secondary, our WRs, our RBs and our QB than I am our offensive and defensive line. Even Boom himself has said that he feels like we're going to be pretty good in the trenches - he's got talent to work with there.

And we may yet add more to our DEs enrolling for this year - it's not over yet in all likelihood.