Preface: Really encouraged after laying it out. With our losses and defections, I feared we might drop off a lot. I believe in the belief in Petras. A healthy Jackson and Kallenberger give us potentially excellent, experienced protectors. Britt and Linderbaum are potentially "all-timer " recruits and a healthy Banwart gives experience as well. Our skill positions could be the best of the decade. Duncan could, again, be the nation's best kicker. Smith-Marsette has already been the League's best returner and among the best in the nation. There's really no reason our offense and special teams aren't good enough to win the league.
I believe in Phil and the defense's plan. I'm less certain of names on this side in my prediction but less concerned. Not sure at DE...we will miss AJ a lot. The back 7...lots of moving parts but depth is there to find the cream of the crop. I think we'll struggle getting to the QB but not sure how that affects us. Is this a year we go to the 3-4 as our standard defensive alignment? Again, not overly concerned.
I think grad transfers could impact immediately at guard, strong safety, middle linebacker, defensive end, and punter but none are necessary. Koerner probably plays. It seems experience is rewarded. I wish we had a hammer at strong safety. Castro was lauded in recruiting. Here's my guess. Add your own.
2020 HAWKS
QB Spenser Petras
RB Tyler Goodson
(FB) Turner Pallissard
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
WR Brandon Smith
(WR) Tyrone Tracy, Jr.
(WR) Nico Ragiani
TE Sam LaPorta
(TE) Luke Lachey
LT Alaric Jackson
LG Justin Britt
C Tyler Linderbaum
RG Cole Banwart
RT Mark Kallenberger
K Keith Duncan
KR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
P Ryan Gersonde
PR Max Cooper
RE John Waggoner
DT Dayvion Nixon
DT Logan Lee
LE Chauncey Gholston
LB Nick Niemann
MLB Jack Campbell
(LB) Djimon Colbert
Cash Dane Belton
LCB Matt Hankins
RCB Julius Brents
SS Sebastian Castro
FS Kaeyvon Merriweather
(NB) Riley Moss
(DB) DJ Johnson
I want to believe we take down Wisconsin. I think the West comes down to the final game, our first with the Badgers in that capacity. The Shoe loss is less about us and more about them. We drop a winnable road game each season, not unlike most teams. I put it at Purdue though it could be Illinois. When we either hit paydirt on Wisconsin multiple times in the first half or can stop them 3 and out when they commit to three straight power runs, I will pick the Hawks. I use the same logic (though different game aspects) to pick ISU and Minnesota. We get PSU this time. I think we could go undefeated, and I had not believed that prior to laying this out. Tremendous under the radar recruiting. With the right injuries or underperformance, we could be .500. High floor.
W UNI
W Iowa State
W @Minnesota
W Northern Illinois
W Michigan State
L @ Ohio State
W @ Penn State
W Northwestern
W @ Illinois
W Nebraska
L @ Purdue
L Wisconsin
9-3, Wisconsin wins the West but a good year indeed.
Prove me wrong.
I believe in Phil and the defense's plan. I'm less certain of names on this side in my prediction but less concerned. Not sure at DE...we will miss AJ a lot. The back 7...lots of moving parts but depth is there to find the cream of the crop. I think we'll struggle getting to the QB but not sure how that affects us. Is this a year we go to the 3-4 as our standard defensive alignment? Again, not overly concerned.
I think grad transfers could impact immediately at guard, strong safety, middle linebacker, defensive end, and punter but none are necessary. Koerner probably plays. It seems experience is rewarded. I wish we had a hammer at strong safety. Castro was lauded in recruiting. Here's my guess. Add your own.
2020 HAWKS
QB Spenser Petras
RB Tyler Goodson
(FB) Turner Pallissard
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
WR Brandon Smith
(WR) Tyrone Tracy, Jr.
(WR) Nico Ragiani
TE Sam LaPorta
(TE) Luke Lachey
LT Alaric Jackson
LG Justin Britt
C Tyler Linderbaum
RG Cole Banwart
RT Mark Kallenberger
K Keith Duncan
KR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
P Ryan Gersonde
PR Max Cooper
RE John Waggoner
DT Dayvion Nixon
DT Logan Lee
LE Chauncey Gholston
LB Nick Niemann
MLB Jack Campbell
(LB) Djimon Colbert
Cash Dane Belton
LCB Matt Hankins
RCB Julius Brents
SS Sebastian Castro
FS Kaeyvon Merriweather
(NB) Riley Moss
(DB) DJ Johnson
I want to believe we take down Wisconsin. I think the West comes down to the final game, our first with the Badgers in that capacity. The Shoe loss is less about us and more about them. We drop a winnable road game each season, not unlike most teams. I put it at Purdue though it could be Illinois. When we either hit paydirt on Wisconsin multiple times in the first half or can stop them 3 and out when they commit to three straight power runs, I will pick the Hawks. I use the same logic (though different game aspects) to pick ISU and Minnesota. We get PSU this time. I think we could go undefeated, and I had not believed that prior to laying this out. Tremendous under the radar recruiting. With the right injuries or underperformance, we could be .500. High floor.
W UNI
W Iowa State
W @Minnesota
W Northern Illinois
W Michigan State
L @ Ohio State
W @ Penn State
W Northwestern
W @ Illinois
W Nebraska
L @ Purdue
L Wisconsin
9-3, Wisconsin wins the West but a good year indeed.
Prove me wrong.