As difficult as this year has been the future is extemely bright. Our recruiting is really taking off on both side of the ball. TTech has entered the world of getting kids from Okla., La, and now FL and even MS. Who would have really thought that? I love Ruff and I D is getting so much better. Scheme will come as we get better players and we are getting better players. Wreck’Em Tech

but there could be worse problems. Hopefully they’re getting some meaningful reps in practice and will really develop in the spring. If these guys want it, they’ll have several years of play to get their name out there.

am excited to see guys like Myles Wade and Chris Perry step up and contribute to this Defensive Unit. It excites me as much as our lack of DE’s scares me.

We will probably lack depth at LB although we should be solid and our depth in the Secondary will be one of our strengths.

at DE. Such is life though. Hopefully some of these guys will step up.

You are not alone in hoping T. Charbonnet sees more time on the field next year. I’d be lying if I claimed to have watched him specifically on film vs the other corners… but the whole Charbonnet dynasty just makes me smile. I’m also stoked about Aaron getting a shot. Looks like the 2 deep will be tough for him to crack next year, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a dominant performance on special teams in a similar fashion to his two older brothers’ starts. I don’t have any ties to the Charbonnets, nor could I even point any of the three out in a crowd… just love the story line and the fact that the players like it at TTU enough to encourage their siblings to come as well. Hopefully this trend carries over to the Fehekos… I hear the one graduating this year is awesome, but that the youngest who is just getting started in high school could be the best of the lot.

I like the young group that is coming up. They have more talent than we have seen at Tech and it is spread across every position. While these guys may be young I think they will work just right. Look at Cody Davis this year. He is young, but very talented and just makes plays. That’s all we need guys to make plays.

Key, to, is the return of Carona, Williams and Erxleben along with Eric Stephens on returns. The Special Teams have been very good and it’ll be nice to have some continuity.

is a beast and could make a push at DE immediately with his skills. I’ve watched him play and would say he’s probably one of the best recruits we have coming in if not the best. Dial could also be another Brandon Williams type player. Our defense at a glance looks adequate but if some of these younger guys see the field right way it could be crazy good. Corner back position has me worried the most but I’m sure things will balance out once camp begins.

We don’t know much about the DE’s for sure and they are young in age. Who knows they may be players. Haliburton got some experience, but I did not see much difference in his play than either Wade’s or Perry’s this season. We can reasonable expect Richards to be making a strong move for pt, he is supposed to be one of the very best in Texas this year. Think blue chip caliber when the words had meaning.

Similarly, we don’t know that much about the DT’s, except Whitlock, who is a player, and Perry, who has not cracked the playing time arena yet. Wade and Graves look good because they have gotten attention, but neither bring that much difference than the young DE’s in terms of experience.

Yes, it is time for David Neil to play DT !!!

I am intrigued with Polk (certainly not the tall rangy type). His size is almost LB size.

Dial is listed as tall and rangy, he might need about 20=25 LBs to be effective as a DE.

Rumph is small for a DT, I could see him making a switch to DE, he is listed with good speed.

It would not hurt to recruit another good DE and DT for this class. Maybe as signing gets closer Coach Ruff and company can execute another “Pearlie Graves” type switcheroo !!!

I think we are going have a good LB corps, their game will, of course, depend on the guys in front, there is a good mix of experience and potential there. I am looking for Mahoney, just because of the way he came in. Chidozie is intreguing as well, just because he is not all that big but has the eye of his DC.

As much as I am going to miss Wall, the secondary is going to be an asset, there is a strong large group (abt 20) of guys vying for pt there, both as safties and as cb’s.

Much like Jacob Karam, Graves travels with the team and that’s an indication that his personality in infectious and reading the tea leaves, he is going to be a player next year.

I also think coaches put redshirts on their travel squad for the worst case scenario that everyone ahead of them on the depth chart is injured in the game, they’re the next man up. IOW, Graves is the best young DT y’all have, and if forced to, could play right now.

The Raider defense is starting to gain a persona. The face of that element is R.MCNeill and the team or unit if you like displays an entirely appropriate swagger. I think it will only gain momentum and much like the last 2 x years offense fueled by # 5’s level of talent we can expect a key player to emerge for the defense. Very likely it’s a Def End or Line backer. Could be a D. Slay like secondary guy.. these are even harder to find though. I am remembering Senior Sack here. A player who demands 2 x blockers and back to chip them. Now that’s an exciting thought my friends a Raider who plays like Mr. Pawelek of the Bears. Someone who takes away a third of the field from opposing offenses. Go Raiders recruit like hell!