I'm about as depressed with this program, as everyone else here, especially the defense. How could we be so awful? What led us to this point? I decided to go back and look at our recruiting classes from 2018-21, which should be the classes we depend upon this season. Used ESPN as source for Class lists. Read em and weep(literally):
2018 (Mullen's First Class):
Watkins-Bust
Burney-Current starter/marginal impact/major liability
Chatfleld-Bust
Dean-Current starter/major liability
Randy Russell-Medical DQ(sad deal)
D. Reese=Bust
M. Langham-Bust
D. Lang/Zanders- Moved to TE/Bust on D
OVERALL: 5 busts, 2 contributors whom we all want to see benched, one medical DQ
2019 (10 win season, lots of great press)
Elam-3 year starter, now in NFL. great recruit
Steele-Bust
L. Sumerall-Bust to this point
Bogle-Transfer/Bust
Diabate-good player, transferred to Utah
Hopper-good player, transferred to Mizzou
Humphries-Bust
Black-Bust to this point
Hill-good player, but is recovering from injury. Hopefully will continue to improve as rust wears off
J. Pierre-Bust
Kimbrough-Bust/Transfer
OVERALL: 7 Busts, 2 good players that transferred, 1 player(Hill) with potential upon full recovery, 1 NFL type player
2020 (Orange Bowl win, 11 win season)
Dexter-5 star player that hasn't contributed to his level of hype
Powell-playing, but minimal impact
Rogers-Bust
Pouncey-Bust
J. Brown-Bust
Wingo-Bust
Princely-Playing, has potential, but minimal impact
Wilcoxson-Bust
Torrence-Playing, but minimal impact/liability
McDaniel-Bust
Lee-playing, but minimal impact
Goods-Bust
T. Johnson-Playing but minimal impact/liability
Cox-Makes plays, but is undisciplined and not worthy of hype
OVERALL: 7 clear busts, 5 players that play regularly but are overall minor contributors to major liabilities, and 2 players that play, but don't measure up to their hype
2021 (Season that ended with Mullen mailing it in)
Marshall- Solid starter
Collier-No impact
Williams-Playing, verdict out as to on-field impact
Sapp-Same as above
Borders-No impact
McMillion-No impact
Watson-Coronary waiting to happen. Needs to lose 75-100 to help to program
Boone-shows promise
Thomas-No impact
Mitchell-No impact
Young-No impact
Newkirk-gone(Rent a Player)
Shelton-gone(Rent a Player)
Meeks-Who?
OVERALL: 7 No impact players, 2 portal rentals now gone, 3 that play with varying degrees of success, 1 solid starter, and one that is morbidly obese, but plays out of necessity. Didn't think I should call a second year a bust, but those with no impact yet could fall in that category
FINAL NUMBERS: Forty-Seven total signees on Defense from 2018-21 classes
Busts/No impact Players/Medical DQ: 27 (57%)
Good players that transferred/Portal Rentals: 4
NFL draftees-1
Players seeing the field this year, regardless of impact: 15 (No All-SEC performers)
I find this amazingly bad, almost impossible to achieve. Our best player on D(Ventrell Miller) was signed by Mick Hubert's buddy, Jim MacElwain. I'm no expert on coaching schemes, and maybe some of that needs to be different, but this level of awfulness cannot be schemed over in the SEC. I think this is why Higdon keeps saying RECRUITING MATTERS, and we need to be prepared for more uneven performance until the talent level gets fixed.
2018 (Mullen's First Class):
Watkins-Bust
Burney-Current starter/marginal impact/major liability
Chatfleld-Bust
Dean-Current starter/major liability
Randy Russell-Medical DQ(sad deal)
D. Reese=Bust
M. Langham-Bust
D. Lang/Zanders- Moved to TE/Bust on D
OVERALL: 5 busts, 2 contributors whom we all want to see benched, one medical DQ
2019 (10 win season, lots of great press)
Elam-3 year starter, now in NFL. great recruit
Steele-Bust
L. Sumerall-Bust to this point
Bogle-Transfer/Bust
Diabate-good player, transferred to Utah
Hopper-good player, transferred to Mizzou
Humphries-Bust
Black-Bust to this point
Hill-good player, but is recovering from injury. Hopefully will continue to improve as rust wears off
J. Pierre-Bust
Kimbrough-Bust/Transfer
OVERALL: 7 Busts, 2 good players that transferred, 1 player(Hill) with potential upon full recovery, 1 NFL type player
2020 (Orange Bowl win, 11 win season)
Dexter-5 star player that hasn't contributed to his level of hype
Powell-playing, but minimal impact
Rogers-Bust
Pouncey-Bust
J. Brown-Bust
Wingo-Bust
Princely-Playing, has potential, but minimal impact
Wilcoxson-Bust
Torrence-Playing, but minimal impact/liability
McDaniel-Bust
Lee-playing, but minimal impact
Goods-Bust
T. Johnson-Playing but minimal impact/liability
Cox-Makes plays, but is undisciplined and not worthy of hype
OVERALL: 7 clear busts, 5 players that play regularly but are overall minor contributors to major liabilities, and 2 players that play, but don't measure up to their hype
2021 (Season that ended with Mullen mailing it in)
Marshall- Solid starter
Collier-No impact
Williams-Playing, verdict out as to on-field impact
Sapp-Same as above
Borders-No impact
McMillion-No impact
Watson-Coronary waiting to happen. Needs to lose 75-100 to help to program
Boone-shows promise
Thomas-No impact
Mitchell-No impact
Young-No impact
Newkirk-gone(Rent a Player)
Shelton-gone(Rent a Player)
Meeks-Who?
OVERALL: 7 No impact players, 2 portal rentals now gone, 3 that play with varying degrees of success, 1 solid starter, and one that is morbidly obese, but plays out of necessity. Didn't think I should call a second year a bust, but those with no impact yet could fall in that category
FINAL NUMBERS: Forty-Seven total signees on Defense from 2018-21 classes
Busts/No impact Players/Medical DQ: 27 (57%)
Good players that transferred/Portal Rentals: 4
NFL draftees-1
Players seeing the field this year, regardless of impact: 15 (No All-SEC performers)
I find this amazingly bad, almost impossible to achieve. Our best player on D(Ventrell Miller) was signed by Mick Hubert's buddy, Jim MacElwain. I'm no expert on coaching schemes, and maybe some of that needs to be different, but this level of awfulness cannot be schemed over in the SEC. I think this is why Higdon keeps saying RECRUITING MATTERS, and we need to be prepared for more uneven performance until the talent level gets fixed.
