So it's that time of year where the underwear Olympics are happening, and while I don't have any images to put out, I do have my some of my favorite things....numbers.
So what are the updates?
BIG GAINS ON THE D
DTs Pheldarius Payne and Malachi Madison were both the biggest gainers at 15 lbs. Payne is now up to 275, while Madison is now north of three bills.
Jordan McDonald has embraced his DE move by gaining 12 to get him in the 250 neighborhood.
Likewise, LB Will Johnson added a dozen to hit 230.
Other linebackers also lifting bro are JR Walker (now 233), Jayden McDonald (now 240), Alan Tisdale (232), Keli Lawson (220), and Jaden Keller (228).
Also showing gains are DT Lemar Law, now a beefcake 329, DE CJ McCray is now also in the 245-250 neighborhood, as is Cole Nelson
In the secondary, S Jaylen Jones showed the most growth (now 205), while Cam Johnson has bumped up to 165.
NOT A TON ON OFFENSE
The only offensive player to gain at least 10 lbs was WR Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw (now 165).
The running back room got bigger, too; with Malachi Thomas bumping up to 206, while Bryce Duke is just behind him at 205. Also...Walk-On RB Khiari Miller is listed at 5-10 257. I don't know much, but for the love of all that is Holy, give the man a chance on 3rd and 1.
A THINNING OL
The OL showed a lot of losses, which may not be a bad thing, if they can maintain strength and gain quickness.
Kaden Moore lost 13 pounds to drop to 300 lbs. Xavier Chaplin lost 10 pounds, but is still a svelte 328. Johnny Dickson dropped 9 to 295. Brody Meadows dropped 5 to 315. Jesse Hanson dropped 4 to 300.
A TALLER WR ROOM
Da'Quan Felton was listed at 6-3 at Norfolk State. He's listed at 6-5 on Hokiesports. Pass the salt, Pat.
QB CONTROVERSY?
Kyron Drones comes in at 6-2, 231, nearly a stone and a half bigger than Wells. If he can scramble, he's a legit threat to start.
Comments
So, I guess the phrase "Go big or go home" applies.
Let's go!
HOKIES!!!
Clearly a plan to lighten up and add quickness on OL - you dont see ALL the OL you listed go down without that being a strategy.
Thanks for the work on that for us. Good offseason stuff to see.
French can you comment on how these physical changes might fit with either the existing O line scheme or possibly changes we might see? Do these physical changes point towards any winners or losers when it comes to the depth chart or playing time?
Remember an interview with Bobby Bowden. Was talking with Tom Osborn. This was when Nebraska was always beating up on the bad and mediocre teams but was usually getting beaten by Oklahoma and anyone they played in a big game. Discussion was what to do to get over the top. Bowden said he told Osborn that he had to "get rid of those big, fat linemen." Supposedly, Osborn then went before the team and said something like, as a team, we are going to lose 1,000 pounds and that he would lead the weight loss. He dropped a lot of weight and the team eventually went on that long win streak and finally got the national championships.
I expect Pry to say it's an open competition at QB and all those coach-speak things this spring/off-season. But we need an upgrade at QB. We didn't go to Texas and get a high-profile transfer like Drones who seems like he was the heir apparent at Baylor just for him to ride the bench. Ideal situation is Drones starts and Wells sticks around as an experienced backup. But I just don't see Wells starting again this season. His confidence was torched during the ODU game and I don't think he ever recovered after that. Need something else at that position.
Have you watched film of Drones? There's a whole bunch of rough edges there. I'd be quite surprised if he wins the starting job in August.
On the other hand, the bar to surpass isnt all that high either....
I don't expect him to come in and set the world on fire. But he has far more physical upside and is a better fit for an RPO offense. Wells just can't see the field well enough and I think lost all confidence in game one last year. We have to raise the bar at that position.
Did you read French's film review of Drones? There might be rough edges, but drones can clearly read the field, has a running style tailor made for the Glenn Offense/what we ran against Liberty, and had the confidence to read the defense, call audibles, etc when at Baylor.
I don't think Drones is the second coming of Tyrod Taylor, but it appears he has a more well rounded skillset than Wells. IMO Wells hit his ceiling prematurely last season due to (lack of) WR and OL talent, plus an injured RB room. With two of those three position groups overhauled, and one (hopefully) improved, I can imagine a world where Wells is much improved. We'll see if that's enough to beat out a raw 4-star dual threat QB.
Yeah, bad news about that...
Well, that comment aged like warm milk. Oh well
I don't think it's coach-speak, I think Pry is serious. He may have a prediction about who will win the job, but I totally believe that it's going to be an open competition, and he hopes that both players will push each other.
Great progress! Looking forward to winning the line of scrimmage, and to dominate in the 4th quarter this year.
Those underwear shots where terrible. First off, super wierd for college kids. Secondly it looked like they were trying to lose weight for those pictures. This is the first time in years where I wasnt confused why we were losing so much weight. The oline makes sense as all are still big enough, 295 doesn't even make me flinch at oline. But the D beefing up is great if they can maintain speed.
I see you got my xmas card this year.
The DL couldn't have come at a better time. I also would bet the OL is being reshaped for Rudolph's mold.
Is this the same Jaylen Jones that faded out of the wr room? I wondered what happened to him.
Yes, the position switch was mentioned in a recentish Bitter column on the athletic
What the heck was Cam Johnson at to be UP to 165?
Not worried about gains or losses as long as they were good gains or losses.
Love mansoor rocking the number 4 this year. No disrespect to Blumrick, but I'm hoping we keep giving that number to one of our best players going forward.
That was a bad team, Blumrick probably was one of our best players
Y'all this is a great time to use a table. Like, do y'all even excel???
Cam Johnson was listed by 247 Sports as being 6' 165 lbs when being recruited. He enrolled in January 2022 so he has been in the system a year. I hope that weight is a typo.
I just made a table based on what was in OP. Nothing was independently verified.
Believe he was listed at 160 last summer, then suffered a leg injury in the fall. Fingers crossed he can add another 5/10 before the fall because he has the talent to contribute.
I would love to see Keli get up to like 235-240 at his size, but 220 is a definitely improvement from what I understand.