Here are the numbers I have from the roster.
Incoming HS freshmen 20
RS Freshmen 26
JC Transfers 3
Transfers (non JC) 4
1 year Varsity 27
2 year Varsity 13
3 year Varsity 9
Total number of players with Some varsity experience 49
Without breaking it down by position, its hard to say whether we field an " young team" or not. It looks pretty even to me with 53 players with no on field experience and 49 total returning players with experience. We will replace 3 of 5 starting OL spots, starting RB, TE and one or two WRs. All we really return on O are the QB, 2 OL spots and one or two receivers.
I am not familiar enough with the D starters to figure that part out but I know we replace about one half of each group (DL, LB, DB) so that's about average.
In my opinion, an experienced squad is one that returns 7 or more starters on offense and defense. I think we return 5 or 6 on each side so about average, maybe a little lower. One thing I think we will see again is the rise of a few RS guys on both sides of the ball.
The biggest shoes to fill will be at RB. DJ was a steady force last year and will be missed. Shaq has lots of playing time though so hopefully will fill those shoes nicely but I think we go back to more of a committee approach to RB again this year like we did in 2012 with at least 3, maybe 4 RBs getting touches every game.
