Rojas not at practice today
- Thread starter Ram20
- Start date
Yes next man up.....only problem is LB recruiting has been minimal....emphasized when Coach Knowles said the LB room only had 3 players worthy and capable of playing.
King leaving prematurely hurt. Like his brother, he should have stayed.
We have 12 cb and 7 safeties....wonder if they might think of moving Toure to LBer? (6-1 - 212) Not easy during a season....
Maybe but doesn’t account for lack of depth/talent at LB - have to plan for kids to be done in three these days.
The Mirasolas played a little football. Maybe some Jan Johnson action? On second thought, let’s not.
King was here for 4 years, FWIW (but had option to take a 5th year in 2025, IIRC)
Basically, the two guys with experience who they "rely" on now: DeLuca (walk-on) and the new transfer kid Campbell from North Carolina
Linebacker recruiting last 5 years:
2021 King and Buddin, Buddin was here for a short time then transferred out
2022 Wylie, still on roster
2023 Rojas, now out of course, Nelson, still on roster but has never played much. Robinson transferred out, and Keys removed from roster awaiting Rape Trial.
2024: Speca and Jackson
2025; Arrington, Tatsch, Smith
(Are any of the Freshmen or Redshirt Freshmen ready? We will soon find out)
Did they recruit enough? IDK
Did they "miss" on too many? Who knows?
But that's what is left (IIRC) - in addition to DeLuca and Campbell
3 True Freshman
2 Redshirt Freshmen
1 Third year guy, Nelson
1 Fourth year guy, Wylie
wasn't really meant as a correction, had to look at the roster and found there was another Robinson listed that I didn't know was on the team
Who are the 4 ahead of Rojas?
It seems to me that it's a matter of depth and DT/LB is where our depth is weakest.
To be fair, I don’t think anybody predicted Robinson leaving either.
Biggest concern is our defensive team speed just took a big hit. Rojas ran like a 4.3. Deluca is what like a 4.8? Can't coach speed and the elite teams have it.
Well, some of the freshmen and second year players are going to have to play meaningful minutes and I assume that several of them are fast because they certainly aren't heavy.
Based on the size of some of the defensive ends who are splitting time or not seeing any time, I wouldn't be averse to moving one or two of them to linebacker, at least temporarily. We probably need to be bigger at that position in some of these games anyway, and that was the case even with Rojas.
I don't think we are switching a DE to linebacker. Who do you have in mind, Coleman? We need him at DE since I think he is #3 or #4 @ DE. Someone like Williams?
Well, Coleman would be the obvious choice if the staff believes that the young existing linebackers just can't do the job. I also was thinking about Harvey. Linebacker isn't the same position that it was years ago; a hybrid player can play this position. I mean, last season, Carter often would drop into a linebacker position in the middle of the field.
Watched USC three times already , i didn't see him play other than special teams.
It's not a good sign that Linebacker U can't recruit linebackers.
2022 Wylie was a 3* 88
2023 Rojas & Keys were 4* but one was dismissed and the other is injured
2024 Speca was 3* 89 and Jackson was 3* 88
Top teams would probably have six 4* linebackers over that 3 year period. We got 2 and neither can play. We got two in 2025 but they're true freshmen.
Correct. He did not crack the starting lineup there. I saw an article that chronicled where the transfers went and where they were on the depth chart. Outside of Wallace at WR, not too many are faring better at their new homes.
