Before I get to the OL situation, best wishes to Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie-Thompkins has hired an agent so he for sure has played his last game in Athens. Leslie has not yet hired an agent but I don't have high hopes he will return. Do I think he should return, YES, if he is not a 1st round pick. Also, the NBA lockout threat seems to be very possible but then again, unlike football, basketball players that are needing cash I guess could always go to Europe to play-the football players, like AJ, Houston, those guys can only continue to cash out from agents until the NFL gets the contract settled. So, guys like AJ especially, that stand to make a LOT of money (most likely far less than the class of 2010) can be drafted but can't sign the contract and begin to see some cash. Back to Thompkins and Leslie, I think Thompkins is probably as ready as he is going to be-I still think he could use some additional strength as he still likes to come outside more than play inside. That being said, he seemed to have injury after injury and I am sure he was concerned about another injury possibly doing damage to his status-remember James Forrest from GT years ago. So, I wish Trey the best of luck and hope he has a long and successful NBA career. Let's face it, having former players in "the League" only helps Mark Fox on the recruiting trail. As for Travis, as I mentioned, he has yet to hire and agent and I am sure he will look to the draft advisory board to see what grade they give him. IF he gets a 1st round designation, I think he should go without question. But, if he doesn't, I think he should return and there is no doubt he can improve his stock by learning to handle the ball better, continue to improve his outside shot etc. He has a LOT he can work on to become a better basketball player. As for being an NBA/pro athlete, there is no doubt Travis already is a pro athlete, just not a pro basketball player yet. Just my two cents of course.
Now, the OL situation. First of all, anyone that could say they were counting on Sturdivant to play the entire season healthy, well, probably was dreaming. Yes, we could say we were hopeful he would be healthy all year, have a great year and then get drafted high in the NFL draft. But, with his track record, you can't count on that happening. With that said, losing him sure does hurt just because he was starting to get back to his dominating form-remember, this kid enrolled early out of HS but still, it is rare that a true FR can start at OT in the SEC from basically day one on campus-that tells you how much talent this kid had when he arrived. Unfortunately, injuries have been a big part of his college career. We can only wish him the best in his rehab and whatever he decides for his future, wish him well. His injury this time, while no injury is ever a good thing, IS better than the first time it happened-in game one a couple years ago against Oklahoma State. With it happening in the spring it gives new OL coach Friend a chance to carefully consider his depth along the line. It also should provide some incentive for those young kids in HS to come ready to play. Now, I still don't really believe there will be one of our true FR to see significant minutes this fall but then again, Kenarious Gates was a last second switch on recruiting day last year and he started 3 games last year and this year will start from day 1. So, you truly never know who might be ready to come right in and play. If I had to pick one potential kid to come right in to play it would be Zach DeBell. I think you can safely say, Theus, Long, and Ward will all redshirt. That leaves Andrews, DeBell and Dantzler. Andrews could potentially get some PT just for the fact that Ben Jones is a SR and his backup, Chris Burnette figures to be in play for a starting spot at OG. Dantzler has the size, at 6'7 and 315 for the OT position but I will be honest, from looking at him on film and just still photos, he looks like he needs a year of strength on conditioning. On the other hand, if you look at DeBell, he is also 6'7" but 265 and he looks strong as a bull. To me, he is ready to play at the SEC level right now strength wise, just a matter of if he has the mental ability to pick everything up. If I were to say who will start right now, I could rattle off some names but instead of doing that, I will list out a group of about 8-10 guys that I believe you could easily throw out and have a pretty decent OL.
First you have to start with Cordy Glenn and Ben Jones-those guys will most certainly hold down 2 of the 5 spots. Glenn is scheduled to play OT and Jones C. Next up is Kenarious Gates, could shift to OT or stay at guard. Also in the mix at guard, Chris Burnette-due to injuries this spring, has spent a lot of time at #1 OG, he also serves as the backup center. Another player that maybe some have forgotten about, Bean Anderson-who moved to NT last year but is now back to his orignal OL job-I personally believe he will start at one guard position. Another kid that came in with HUGE upside and potential is AJ Harmon-the kid was very highly recruited out of HS, and at 6'5" and 345, a big man. You also can throw out Brent Benedict, a redshirt FR that until injured during his senior year of HS, was one of the most highly recruited OL in America-he will be a factor at a guard postion. A couple others that have a chance now to step up, Kolton Houston and Austin Long. I think you can see, we have some potential and depth on the OL and it will just be a matter of who steps it up and takes the job. For now, to me there is one spot open on the line because I think Glenn, Jones, Gates and Anderson have 4 jobs locked up. One thing to look at here is just how HUGE these guys are-Ben Jones is small compared to most and he is 6'3" 316. Besides Jones and Burnette, EVERY OL we have in Athens right now is 6'5. Of the recruits coming in, only Andrews and Long are below 6'5". If you look at how much these guys weigh, Harmon 345, Glen 348, Anderson 342, Gates 328, Burnette 313, Benedict 312, Austin Long 304, and Houston 291. Now, if based on size we would be in great shape, it remains to be seen if these guys can fire off the ball and give our backs some spaces to run and can protect a mobile Aaron Murray. I also think, if Crowell is all most think he is, he will give us the first back we have had since Knowshon that can make an average OL look like a great OL. There truly is something to be said for a back that is good enough to take a little bit and make a lot out of it. Moreno obviously did that his two years in Athens. Our backs since him, to me have not been able to do that except in bits and pieces but I have said for years now, it takes a combination of the two in most cases to be a great running team. You need a good OL but you need that back that can make it happen as well. My point to all of this, yes, losing Sturdivant hurts us because he was one of our best, a SR leader and was playing a crucial spot on the OL, protecting the blind side. But, if we can't replace one OL and make it work, we simply are just not a very good/deep football team. Spring game is right around the corner, from what I have heard, teams will be drafted this year by players instead of teams assigned by assistant coaches. Murray/Boykin will pick one team, Jones/Robinson will pick the other-so you will have #1's against #2's all across the board and it should make for a very interesting game-well, as interesting as a spring game can be. Course you just have to wonder how many guys will be healthy enough to play. I believe the teams were selected yesterday but as of yet, I have not seen team rosters.
Last note, the baseball team plays in Atlanta tonight, second of 3 games against the Nerds. They smoked us last time, winning 15-6 in Athens. Tech is ranked in the top 10 while I noticed UGA was in the top 30 I do believe despite our # of losses. Let's hope we can beat these guys tonight and get ready for the big series this weekend agianst the Gators, at one point ranked #1 in the country I might add.
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