Lots to process in Day One. Here is what I observed ...
The first offense looked like this:
LINE: LT Grant Hermanns, LG Alex Criddle, C Viktor Beach, RG Will Bramel, RT Matt McCann
Skinny: Amazing Criddle ran with the No. 1s after just moving from DT. Bramel is a redshirt freshman. Beach looks the part, at 6-4, 305. Keep an eye on him. He is a big key in more ways than one. Hermanns and McCann looked good coming off seasons marred by knee issues.
QB; Elijah Sindelar
Skinny: No shock. Sindelar did note the team is using a new brand of ball that he prefers. His arm looked good today. He has a rocket.
RB: Tario Fuller
Skinny: The guy looks to be in AMAZING shape. Can he stay healthy? Zander Horvath and Alfred Armour also saw lots of action.
WR: Amad Anderson, Jared Sparks, Jackson Anthrop
Skinny: Really, there was a mish-mash of options all day. Even Noah Ellison and Tyler Hamilton took turns along with redshirt freshman Jordan Bonner. This position will be impacted moreso than any other by incoming freshmen. You know the names. Rondale Moore was out sick today, as well. Bottom line: The time is now for unproven commodities to make a move. Hard not to notice 6-5, 200-pound redshirt freshman Kory Taylor.
TE: Darius Pittman. Redshirt freshman Payne Durham was No. 2, but he looks good. Brycen Hopkins missed today (back).
The second o-line went thusly: LT Eric Miller, LG Jimmy McKenna, C Spencer Holstege, RG DJ Washington, LT Mark Stickford
Skinny: Holstege is a true freshman. Miller and McKenna are redshirt freshmen. Sophomore Sam Garvin projects as the second center but is nicked up. Still, keep an eye on Holstege. This FINALLY is beginning to look like a Big Ten o-line.
DEFENSE
Here is how the top unit looked:
LINE: E George Karlaftis, T Giovanni Reviere, T Anthony Watts, E Kai Higgins
Skinny: Higgins also is expected to work at tackle. Remember: Derrick Barnes is out, along with Lo Neal. Karlaftis is an early enrollee who already has turned heads.
LBS: Ja'Qurius Smith and Jaylan Alexander worked with Jack Cravaack.
Skinny: Smith and Cravack are redshirt freshman; Alexander a true soph. Keep an eye on Cravaack. He looks good. Remember: Markus Bailey (hip) is out along with Cornel Jones (foot).
DBs: Kenneth Major and Dedrick Mackey were the top CBs. Navon Mosley and Cory Trice were the safeties.
Skinny: Major is a cut-above and looks good. He may be the alpha. Trice is a physical freak at 6-3, 210. How good is he gonna be? Like Spider-Man.
BACKUPS:
At DL: Lawrence Johnson and Jeff Marks worked at tackle. Robert McWilliams, Willie Lane and Branson Deen worked at end. Johnson, Lane and Deen are redshirt freshmen. Marks is a true soph. LOTS of bodies for the staff to sort through. This unit is looking up. Johnson is a load at 305. McWilliams looks a bit thicker at 230.
At LB, Jonah Williams and redshirt freshman Elijah Ball--listed as a DB on the roster--had their moments. Williams--a walk-on from WL High School--made a nice pick. Ball is intriguing and impressed. He can move.
At DB, Simeon Smiley and redshirt freshman Jordan Rucker were the No. 2 CBs. Kadin Smith and Jalen Graham were at safety. Graham is an impressive-looking early enrollee. Smiley can play safety, too. Byron Perkins also worked with the second team at CB. Brennan Thieneman is out (leg). Lots of size in the secondary. New CB coach Greg Brown was active. Think of this: Brown was on staff when the Mollenkopft Center OPENED in 1990!
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