2025 Starting Lineup - Post Best Guesses as Offseason Progresses

[Kadeezy]

Here we are in December....

This lineup has depth at RB with reinforcements needed at QB, WR, and OL. Not to mention the TE contingent to get healthy. This starting OL looks a lot like the one that was dominating the LOS against SJSU and Fresno....

LT - Sawyer Hays (6-6, 288, Sr.)
LG - Jose Soto (6-3, 304, RFr. + MRS)
C - Nathan Mejia (6-3, 304, RJr + MRS)
RG - Kenndel Riley (6-3, 353, Sr.)
RT - Aidan Meek (6-5, 300, Sr.)
TE - Coleman Kuntz (6-3, 239, Sr.)
X - Onterrio Smith, Jr. (6-2, 195, RSo.)
E - Makai Cope (6-4, 206, RJr.)
Z - Joshua Nicholson (6-0, 179, Sr.)
RB - Elijah Tau-Tolliver (6-1, 204, Jr.)
QB - Carson Conklin (6-1, 180, RSo.)


Some decent returners here, but they really couldn't get the job to begin with. Experienced guys, but fully expect there to be starters that are not on the roster now...

Anchor DE - Will Schalde (6-5, 258, Sr.)
DT - Mason Brosseau (6-3, 276, Sr.)
DT - Brandon Knott (6-3, 278, SR w/ MRS?) OR Kyle Stahlecker (6-6, 289, RSo.)
Rush DE - Josh Cashiola (6-3, 229, Sr.) OR Fata Puloka (6-3, 221, RSo.)
MLB - Nakian Jackson (6-1, 227, Jr.)
Sam LB - Mitchell Wolfe (6-3, 235, Jr.)
NB - Malini Ti’a (6-0, 205, Sr.)
CB - Zelmar Vedder (6-3, 193, Sr.) OR Phoenix Rose
CB - Elias Mullican (6-1, 172, Jr.) OR DJ Houston
SS - Koa Akui (5-10, 187, Jr.)
FS - Anta’Veon McKenzie( 6-1, 196, Jr.)

 

[SDHornet]

We'll see how the roster looks after portal defections but the coaches will need to prioritize WR/TE on offense and bring in a LB to play along side Jackson who has durability issues. Add depth on both lines would probably be the next priority.

 

[Kadeezy]

We'll see how the roster looks after portal defections but the coaches will need to prioritize WR/TE on offense and bring in a LB to play along side Jackson who has durability issues. Add depth on both lines would probably be the next priority.

Portal is hopping this AM, hope the coaches are on it...

 

[Super Hornet 2.0]

So you think we'll continue with a 4-2-5 alignment on defense and an Ace personnel group on offense, Kadeezy? I'd prefer a two-back alignment on offense and a 4-3 on defense, but if most of the teams we're facing are going with a one-back offense, I can understand wanting five DBs on a regular basis....

 

[stingthemgood]

So you think we'll continue with a 4-2-5 alignment on defense and an Ace personnel group on offense, Kadeezy? I'd prefer a two-back alignment on offense and a 4-3 on defense, but if most of the teams we're facing are going with a one-back offense, I can understand wanting five DBs on a regular basis....

Just fucking stop with your wanting to run 80's offenses and defenses. You are the only one and they don't work in modern college football

 

[Hornet99]

Here we are in December....

This lineup has depth at RB with reinforcements needed at QB, WR, and OL. Not to mention the TE contingent to get healthy. This starting OL looks a lot like the one that was dominating the LOS against SJSU and Fresno....

LT - Sawyer Hays (6-6, 288, Sr.)
LG - Jose Soto (6-3, 304, RFr. + MRS)
C - Nathan Mejia (6-3, 304, RJr + MRS)
RG - Kenndel Riley (6-3, 353, Sr.)
RT - Aidan Meek (6-5, 300, Sr.)
TE - Coleman Kuntz (6-3, 239, Sr.)
X - Onterrio Smith, Jr. (6-2, 195, RSo.)
E - Makai Cope (6-4, 206, RJr.)
Z - Joshua Nicholson (6-0, 179, Sr.)
RB - Elijah Tau-Tolliver (6-1, 204, Jr.)
QB - Carson Conklin (6-1, 180, RSo.)


Some decent returners here, but they really couldn't get the job to begin with. Experienced guys, but fully expect there to be starters that are not on the roster now...

Anchor DE - Will Schalde (6-5, 258, Sr.)
DT - Mason Brosseau (6-3, 276, Sr.)
DT - Brandon Knott (6-3, 278, SR w/ MRS?) OR Kyle Stahlecker (6-6, 289, RSo.)
Rush DE - Josh Cashiola (6-3, 229, Sr.) OR Fata Puloka (6-3, 221, RSo.)
MLB - Nakian Jackson (6-1, 227, Jr.)
Sam LB - Mitchell Wolfe (6-3, 235, Jr.)
NB - Malini Ti’a (6-0, 205, Sr.)
CB - Zelmar Vedder (6-3, 193, Sr.) OR Phoenix Rose
CB - Elias Mullican (6-1, 172, Jr.) OR DJ Houston
SS - Koa Akui (5-10, 187, Jr.)
FS - Anta’Veon McKenzie( 6-1, 196, Jr.)

I sure hope on D that 16 Huggins, 45 Williams, 58 mcglothen will play bigger roles next year as well. Williams played well end of 2023, not sure what happened this year (injury?). Also, WR room doesn’t look solid at all but at least that’s one of the easier areas to improve on in the portal.

 

[Hornet99]

Here we are in December....

This lineup has depth at RB with reinforcements needed at QB, WR, and OL. Not to mention the TE contingent to get healthy. This starting OL looks a lot like the one that was dominating the LOS against SJSU and Fresno....

LT - Sawyer Hays (6-6, 288, Sr.)
LG - Jose Soto (6-3, 304, RFr. + MRS)
C - Nathan Mejia (6-3, 304, RJr + MRS)
RG - Kenndel Riley (6-3, 353, Sr.)
RT - Aidan Meek (6-5, 300, Sr.)
TE - Coleman Kuntz (6-3, 239, Sr.)
X - Onterrio Smith, Jr. (6-2, 195, RSo.)
E - Makai Cope (6-4, 206, RJr.)
Z - Joshua Nicholson (6-0, 179, Sr.)
RB - Elijah Tau-Tolliver (6-1, 204, Jr.)
QB - Carson Conklin (6-1, 180, RSo.)


Some decent returners here, but they really couldn't get the job to begin with. Experienced guys, but fully expect there to be starters that are not on the roster now...

Anchor DE - Will Schalde (6-5, 258, Sr.)
DT - Mason Brosseau (6-3, 276, Sr.)
DT - Brandon Knott (6-3, 278, SR w/ MRS?) OR Kyle Stahlecker (6-6, 289, RSo.)
Rush DE - Josh Cashiola (6-3, 229, Sr.) OR Fata Puloka (6-3, 221, RSo.)
MLB - Nakian Jackson (6-1, 227, Jr.)
Sam LB - Mitchell Wolfe (6-3, 235, Jr.)
NB - Malini Ti’a (6-0, 205, Sr.)
CB - Zelmar Vedder (6-3, 193, Sr.) OR Phoenix Rose
CB - Elias Mullican (6-1, 172, Jr.) OR DJ Houston
SS - Koa Akui (5-10, 187, Jr.)
FS - Anta’Veon McKenzie( 6-1, 196, Jr.)

 

[Kadeezy]

I sure hope on D that 16 Huggins, 45 Williams, 58 mcglothen will play bigger roles next year as well. Williams played well end of 2023, not sure what happened this year (injury?). Also, WR room doesn’t look solid at all but at least that’s one of the easier areas to improve on in the portal.

Williams (45) had a fairly serious injury before the season started, he should get that year back. He was roommates with Gibson, we’ll see if he comes back to football. He was playing great at end of ‘23.

 

[Kadeezy]

Another check-in knowing what we know now!

Go-Go Offense... We will mix in a FB and double tights too...

LT - Sawyer Hays (6-6, 288, Sr.)
LG - Jose Soto (6-3, 304, RFr. + MRS)
C - Cade Gretlein (6-4, 289, So.)
RG - Kenndel Riley (6-3, 353, Sr.)
RT - Aidan Meek (6-5, 300, Sr.)
TE - Jordan Williams (6-5, 230, Sr. Colorado State) --- Will Coleman Kuntz be healthy enough?
X - Jace Wilson (6-4, 210, Sr. UTEP)
E - Makai Cope (6-4, 206, RJr.) or Damien McDaniel (6-0, 165, RFr, UNLV)
Z - Jordan Anderson (5-11 165, RFr. Oregon State)
RB - Jamar Curtis (5-9, 165, Sr. Lafayette)
QB - Carson Conklin (6-1, 180, RSo.)


Assume we're looking at another 4-2-5? Took out the Thompson position names, going generic for now.

DE - Chase Brackney (6-4, 291, RSo. Iowa) --- Will he play inside?
DT - Mason Brosseau (6-3, 276, Sr.) or Brodie Tagaloa (6-5, 270, Sr. Nebraska)
DT - Brandon Knott (6-3, 278, SR w/ MRS?) OR Kyle Stahlecker (6-6, 289, RSo.)
DE - Josh Cashiola (6-3, 229, Sr.) OR Fata Puloka (6-3, 221, RSo.)
MLB - Nakian Jackson (6-1, 227, Jr.)
MLB - Brennan Scott (6-1, 235, Sr. UNLV)
NB - Malini Ti’a (6-0, 205, Sr.)
CB - Ricky Lee III (5-10, 172, Sr. UAB)
CB - Elias Mullican (6-1, 172, Jr.) or Phoenix Rose?
SS - Jayden Davis (6-1, 190, Jr. ISU)
FS - Jackson Lataimua ( 5-11, 197, Sr. Wazzu)

 

[BuckeyeHornetFan]

We’re a long way away from being able to realistically predict line ups IMO.

Not only are the positional responsibilities and techniques different in this new offense, the coaching staff making the decisions is drastically different as well.

We’ll have a much better idea once spring practices get under way.

 

[stingthemgood]

Struggled for a place for this rant to live, think this is the best spot.

The fact that Phoenix Rose -- our highest ranked recruit ever -- was not kept by our current staff from what I am hearing, is bonkers. He'll go JUCO and a P4 FBS team.

I think no one is safe even once we get to spring practice. Everyone is replaceable might be the attitude. Maybe its a case of trying to not lose players in the future by taking these FBS drop downs and these DII move ups -- Or maybe it's something else. I don't know.

One thing I can tell you -- the building was very open when Troy was the head ball coach. Maybe too open. Coaches were told to be open to boosters. I think I'm not the only person in here that was basically getting the full rundown each week from the inside of the building.

It got quieter when AT took over, but they still wanted the boosters involved.

Now, it seems like people inside the building were surprised by some of these guys being asked to leave, let alone the word getting out to anyone connected by not attached.

I think this is the FBS dream coming true. The money at the end of this FBS rainbow is what our new head ball coach is seeing. And he wants to get there now and deal with those people. The boosters that have been here through the rough Mooshagian, Sperbeck and Sears years like me, we don't matter to these folks.

Which is fine. This is the new reality. But lets at least put a team out there that can win a few conference games in the meantime.

We have offensive and defensive players coming in without any scheme consistency. We have a bunch of run blocking o-linemen and tight ends -- we brought in a whole bunch of RBs and a 300 plus pound FB. Yet, we are going to run the Go-Go... ok...

Defensively, we are stacking up edge rushers and LBs -- which is great if we weren't bleeding in the defensive backfield. Our safety options are... Jayden Davis andddd... welll... he plays the same position as our two other experienced safeties returning, so who knows.

I'm really scratching my head about all of this.