Signing day thoughts

If there's one thing to keep in mind throughout all of football recruiting, it's patience. We won't know how good this class really was until a few years from now, not to mention that there will still be other guys added into this mix.

Still, it's worth having some conversation about, so let's do just that. We'll talk about what I like about the class, things that have me scratching my head and what I think should happen with some of these guys and others going into next season.


WHAT I LIKE

  - Wide receivers: There are four of them total, with three coming out of junior college. The height of Alex Wheat and Dwayne Lorick (both 6'5) should bring a great new dimension to the passing game, while Jordan Jenkins has some serious speed to bring to the table. Bruce Natson, the lone high school recruit of this bunch, is tiny at 5'7, 145 pounds. Not sure what to expect out of that other than speed and route running ability. All in all, the unit should be upgraded going into next year, especially if Stanley Morrison is granted another year. If that happens, I wouldn't be surprised to see two or three of these guys redshirt next season. The biggest thing though is the size upgrade.

 - Offensive line: Five of them in all, with only two of them coming out of junior college. The heaviest of the incoming freshmen weights 255 pounds, with the other two check in at 245. In other words, plan for all three of them to redshirt. In the case of Patrick Ward and Bill Vavau, they should be right in the thick of the running to fill the two vacancies at each offensive guard position. There are plenty of other guys returning from the roster as well who will be battling for those spots too though, which should make for some quality depth. Still, if Gary is constantly recruiting linemen, redshirting them, and giving them another year or two to groom, at least a few of them will turn out as starting caliber.



WHAT HAS ME CONFUSED

 - No kicker: What... the... hell?!?!?!

 - Cornerbacks: There were no senior CB's among the 12 on last year's roster and now two more are joining the mix. Seeing as how seven of those 12 CB's will be seniors this coming year, it would make sense if redshirts are going to be given out to as many of the young guys as possible. Still, you would think or hope that the coaching staff might put some more trust into the younger guys they've already recruited. Can't help but wonder if they're hoping to land another star at cornerback though with going JUCO on one of those spots on Devonta Glover-Wright. Last year's class was loaded with DB's and the end result was inconsistency across the board. If last year's recruits can make some major improvements, and if the pass rush can do them all some favors, this unit will hopefully be strong.

 - Lack of D-line: The staff felt the need to recruit more cornerbacks to add to an already crowded situation where no seniors were lost. Why there were no D-linemen signed to fill left by Levi Koskan and Quinn Garner? Does the staff have a late guy or two that they're banking on? Or are they just completely willing to turn over their trust to the younger guys here in the way they weren't as willing with the cornerbacks? It's an odd move, and I can't help but wonder if one of the offensive line signings might end up on the other side of the ball (looking at you Bill Vavau).

 - Lack of linebackers too: Wagner and Gallagher are graduated, Jason Fanaika is transferring and Maurice Alexander is apparently moving to safety. It seems like USU really could have used at least one JUCO guy here, but it looks like another case of the staff putting their trust in the youth. Tavaris McMillian and Jake Doughty should be no-brainers to stat, as is Bojay Filimoeatu if he isn't playing D-end (which, for the record, would like to see him at D-end to fill the Koskan role). There's a few young guys who have had some hype who look like they'll get their shot now, but at least one insurance policy might have been good.



THING I THINK WILL/SHOULD HAPPEN

 - First and foremost, Adam Kennedy should be the starting quarterback for the 2012 season. He was a superstar in every way, he won games, and essentially bested Chuckie Keeton in every statistical category. Keeton has a redshirt year available and should use it, leaving no doubt about the starting job being his for 2013-2015. If nothing else, with more receivers on the roster, playing the guy more likely to hit them downfield is the smarter move.

 - As mentioned above, Bill Vavau should move to the D-line, bringing some serious size to the nose guard position. Patrick Ward takes on of the vacant offensive guard spots and Bryce Walker claims the other.

 - Tavarreon Dickerson impresses a lot of people in spring and fall camps, but still redshirts due to having Kerwynn Williams, Joe Hill, Robert Marshall and Joey DeMartino.

 - There currently looks to be 15 wide receivers on next year's roster. If Stanley Morrison gets another year, it'll make for 16. The only significant role that would need filling would be the one that belonged to Eric Moats. One of the young guys needs to step up in a big way to fill that role and take it to a new level.


 - One of either La'Bradford Harold, Brian Suite or Michael Oknokwo will make a strong case to start at the other safety spot alongside McKade Brady... But Gary stays the course on the Maurice Alexander move back there for the whole year. In 2013, two of the aforementioned guys will fill like nobody ever left.