I am imagining the following players healthy after injuries last season or offseason...
Freedom Akinmoladun. He was our best pass rusher as a redshirt freshman. Typically the biggest jump a player makes in impact is their second season on the field. If Freedom does this, our pass rush is significantly improved.
Mick Stoltenberg. Get this. In 2008 Jared Crick appeared in 9 games and had 2 tackles. In 2015 Stoltenberg appeared in 9 games and had 2 tackles (including one sack/TFL). Here's hoping he makes the same kind of jump this fall Crick made in 2009.
De'Mornay Pierson-El. Obviously our biggest loss last season. He already has a whole thread dedicated to him and an "s" added to his last name so don't need to add more here.
Josh Banderas. Missed four of first six games (when we went 2-4) with groin injury, still 4th leading tackler. Second year in new defense, looking for big year.
Michael Rose-Ivey. Only played in seven games and started three last season because of groin injury. Anyone can see the difference when he is in and healthy. One of our best tacklers.
Antonio Reed. Obviously only got a glimpse of how much he developed in the bowl game but immediately became one of the favorites to start alongside Gerry in 2016 until injured. Will only get better.
I'm sure there are others I missed.
Noticed five of the six listed are on defense, three sure starters and two possible starters. That will be a big lift to a defense that struggled mightily against the pass last season.
How much difference would having these guys back make in 2016 I wonder.
Freedom Akinmoladun. He was our best pass rusher as a redshirt freshman. Typically the biggest jump a player makes in impact is their second season on the field. If Freedom does this, our pass rush is significantly improved.
Mick Stoltenberg. Get this. In 2008 Jared Crick appeared in 9 games and had 2 tackles. In 2015 Stoltenberg appeared in 9 games and had 2 tackles (including one sack/TFL). Here's hoping he makes the same kind of jump this fall Crick made in 2009.
De'Mornay Pierson-El. Obviously our biggest loss last season. He already has a whole thread dedicated to him and an "s" added to his last name so don't need to add more here.
Josh Banderas. Missed four of first six games (when we went 2-4) with groin injury, still 4th leading tackler. Second year in new defense, looking for big year.
Michael Rose-Ivey. Only played in seven games and started three last season because of groin injury. Anyone can see the difference when he is in and healthy. One of our best tacklers.
Antonio Reed. Obviously only got a glimpse of how much he developed in the bowl game but immediately became one of the favorites to start alongside Gerry in 2016 until injured. Will only get better.
I'm sure there are others I missed.
Noticed five of the six listed are on defense, three sure starters and two possible starters. That will be a big lift to a defense that struggled mightily against the pass last season.
How much difference would having these guys back make in 2016 I wonder.
