True Freshmen May Contribute Significantly This Season

Robert Cessna thinks as many as thirteen true freshmen may see playing time this season. Besides the obvious contributors like Christine Michael, Uzoma "EZ" Nwachukwu, and Ryan Swope on offense, and Spencer Nealy on defense, we may be looking at Aaron Arterburn and Jonathan Stewart seeing some time on defense. Cessna thinks we'll have Patrick Lewis playing on offensive line, but I think we'll also use Rhontae Scales as a backup tackle. Sherman has said an eight-man rotation on the offensive line is ideal, with the five starters, a back-up center, a swing tackle and a swing guard. At 6'6, 318 lbs, Scales has the size and height to play either offensive tackle position right now.

I really think Swope and Nwachukwu will have the easiest time making the biggest impact, besides Michael. Swope is an athlete who should be invaluable in the slot, and "EZ" is a playmaker at WR. While Ryan Tannehill's production last season makes me want to keep him at that position, the addition of Swope and EZ make me worry less about the possibility of Tannehill staying at QB.

Since sophomore Danny Baker has practiced at every position on the offensive line this camp, I think he may earn himself a permanent spot in the OL eight-man rotation. Baker's versatility makes him especially valuable, because he can play either guard or tackle position, as well as center. Since Baker is now tipping the scales at 300 lbs, I think it is safe to say that we won't see him playing the TE position he saw some time at last season, unless it is in a short yardage situation. Sherman is very high on Baker:

"It's almost a curse, I mean he's a very good athlete," Sherman said. "He's smart, he can play all the positions. We have to really give him an opportunity to find a spot. I really like Danny Baker, he's worked real hard. I see him playing and playing a lot this year in some capacity."

If we put Baker at backup center in the rotation, Rhontae Scales as the swing tackle, and Evan Eike as the swing guard, we have our eight-man rotation without using any of the other true freshmen.

I do agree with Cessna that we'll see a lot of true freshmen playing on defense. I expect to see Dustin Harris and Stephen Terrell in the defensive backfield during the season opener against New Mexico, partly because I think they are both talented enough to contribute early, and also because we need them to build some quality depth in our defensive secondary.

I am usually not in favor of playing so many true freshmen so early in the season, but these players Sherman has recruited are good enough to contribute early on in their careers, so we need to get them on the field as soon as possible.