This will eventually lead to a series of recruiting pieces I have planned for Thanksgiving week, but figured I'd throw out some observations I made while studying the current UTSA roster.
First, I tried to make a list of all the possible scholarship players on the team. Then I separated them into classifications, added up the amount per position, per side of the ball, etc. Take into account I included guys like Dalton Sturm and a few other former preferred walk-on guys that I figure will be on scholarship by now or in the spring. I may be off by two or three here and there, but this is what I found.
Seniors: 14
Juniors: 18
Sophomores: 21
Freshmen: 30
Out of those freshmen, 10 are redshirt freshmen that will be sophomores in 2016 and I counted eight at least nine true freshmen -- Steward, Winnegan, Dick, Hall, Woods, Butler, Godfrey, Levine to have played this season. So that means about around 11 of the freshmen will remain freshmen for the 2016 season.
So without taking into account the eventual 2016 class (which will include JUCO's so it won't all be freshmen added to list below) and take away the current seniors about to run out of eligibility, UTSA has 69 (nice) or so scholarship players on the roster entering spring. It should be noted we're not taking into account JUCO transfer who may play in the spring, attrition on the UTSA side, etc. This is if the roster stays as is before taking into account any new players and adding the 2015 season into eligibility. So for example, Michael Egwagu is considered a senior below.
2016 spring
Seniors: 18 (4 starters)
Juniors: 21 (nine or so starters)
Sophomores: 18 (two starters)
Freshmen: 12 (none because currently redshirting)
That's the best balance UTSA has probably ever had in program history. The number of starters could be skewed a few here and there depending on if you count Sturm or Bogie as the starter, etc.
2016 Recruiting
That leaves about 16 to 20 scholarships available for the class. Most programs try to recruit towards the current juniors. So, in that case, UTSA would have zero quarterbacks to replace but three/four running backs. However, the Roadrunners are so bottom-heavy on the roster that UTSA may recruit this class based on the number of sophomores/freshmen at each position unit.
Here is how each position looks if you add up the number of freshmen/sophomores most likely on scholarship. Again, it could be off by one or two at a few spots, but not very many.
QB: 4
RB: 5
WR: 7
TE: 1
OL: 9
DT: 5
DE: 4
LB: 1
CB: 4
S: 5
Offense: 26
Defense: 19
That would made tight end, linebacker and defensive end big priorities. Running back is losing four juniors after the 2016 season, but there are five running backs in the cupboard with one being a fullback.
To be on the low side, I gave myself 16 scholarships to use in 2016 and here is what I'd do. Not saying this is what is happening, but just how I'd attack it if I could pick how many commits I got from each position.
QB: 1
RB: 1
WR: 2
TE: 2
OL: 2
DT: 0
DE: 2
LB: 3
S: 1
CB: 2
During this whole thing, I decided to put together my starting 11 on each side of the ball if the roster remained the same, which it won't because of attrition and addition.
QB: Blake Bogenschutz
RB: Jarveon Williams
WR: Kerry Thomas, Dannon Cavil, JaBryce Taylor
TE: Shaq Williams
OL: (LT to RT) Reed Darragh, Kyle McKinney, Juan Perez, Austin Pratt, Cody Cole
DE: Marcus Davenport/Ben Kane (redshirt freshmen may win Kane's spot)
DT: Kevin Strong, Jonathan Tuiolosega
LB: La'Kel Bass (Mike), Marcos Curry (Hawk)
CB: Aneas Henricks, Stanley Dye (Nkeal Bailey in Nickel)
S: Michael Egwuagu (Dawg), Nate Gaines (FS), C.J. Levine (Rover)
First, I tried to make a list of all the possible scholarship players on the team. Then I separated them into classifications, added up the amount per position, per side of the ball, etc. Take into account I included guys like Dalton Sturm and a few other former preferred walk-on guys that I figure will be on scholarship by now or in the spring. I may be off by two or three here and there, but this is what I found.
Seniors: 14
Juniors: 18
Sophomores: 21
Freshmen: 30
Out of those freshmen, 10 are redshirt freshmen that will be sophomores in 2016 and I counted eight at least nine true freshmen -- Steward, Winnegan, Dick, Hall, Woods, Butler, Godfrey, Levine to have played this season. So that means about around 11 of the freshmen will remain freshmen for the 2016 season.
So without taking into account the eventual 2016 class (which will include JUCO's so it won't all be freshmen added to list below) and take away the current seniors about to run out of eligibility, UTSA has 69 (nice) or so scholarship players on the roster entering spring. It should be noted we're not taking into account JUCO transfer who may play in the spring, attrition on the UTSA side, etc. This is if the roster stays as is before taking into account any new players and adding the 2015 season into eligibility. So for example, Michael Egwagu is considered a senior below.
2016 spring
Seniors: 18 (4 starters)
Juniors: 21 (nine or so starters)
Sophomores: 18 (two starters)
Freshmen: 12 (none because currently redshirting)
That's the best balance UTSA has probably ever had in program history. The number of starters could be skewed a few here and there depending on if you count Sturm or Bogie as the starter, etc.
2016 Recruiting
That leaves about 16 to 20 scholarships available for the class. Most programs try to recruit towards the current juniors. So, in that case, UTSA would have zero quarterbacks to replace but three/four running backs. However, the Roadrunners are so bottom-heavy on the roster that UTSA may recruit this class based on the number of sophomores/freshmen at each position unit.
Here is how each position looks if you add up the number of freshmen/sophomores most likely on scholarship. Again, it could be off by one or two at a few spots, but not very many.
QB: 4
RB: 5
WR: 7
TE: 1
OL: 9
DT: 5
DE: 4
LB: 1
CB: 4
S: 5
Offense: 26
Defense: 19
That would made tight end, linebacker and defensive end big priorities. Running back is losing four juniors after the 2016 season, but there are five running backs in the cupboard with one being a fullback.
To be on the low side, I gave myself 16 scholarships to use in 2016 and here is what I'd do. Not saying this is what is happening, but just how I'd attack it if I could pick how many commits I got from each position.
QB: 1
RB: 1
WR: 2
TE: 2
OL: 2
DT: 0
DE: 2
LB: 3
S: 1
CB: 2
During this whole thing, I decided to put together my starting 11 on each side of the ball if the roster remained the same, which it won't because of attrition and addition.
QB: Blake Bogenschutz
RB: Jarveon Williams
WR: Kerry Thomas, Dannon Cavil, JaBryce Taylor
TE: Shaq Williams
OL: (LT to RT) Reed Darragh, Kyle McKinney, Juan Perez, Austin Pratt, Cody Cole
DE: Marcus Davenport/Ben Kane (redshirt freshmen may win Kane's spot)
DT: Kevin Strong, Jonathan Tuiolosega
LB: La'Kel Bass (Mike), Marcos Curry (Hawk)
CB: Aneas Henricks, Stanley Dye (Nkeal Bailey in Nickel)
S: Michael Egwuagu (Dawg), Nate Gaines (FS), C.J. Levine (Rover)
