I had several concerns coming out of the bowl game when I was looking ahead at the defensive line. But after talking to people my optimism increased with the defensive tackles, although players are going to have to step up. My worries at defensive end have stayed the same.
Let’s start with the defensive tackles. Gone are two of the top producers on the interior in Devin Phillips and Gage Keys. Phillips hands down the best inside player. Panagos was high on Keys, and I had him set as a starter until he entered the portal and signed with Auburn.
The thing I like about the defensive tackle position is there are several candidates who can step in and play snaps. If you look at the way the defensive tackle has worked, Panagos likes to rotate players in to keep them fresh.
Last season there were six players who played 150 snaps or more. I think Tommy Dunn and DJ Withers can provide a solid group at the top coming back. The addition of Javier Derritt was the biggest pickup in the portal in my opinion. I expect him to be in the group that plays near 300 snaps or more.
That leaves several players who will get an opportunity to get in the rotation including Ron McGee, Caleb Taylor, Kenean Caldwell, Blake Herold, and Marcus Calvin. Spring will be important for players to position themselves for fall camp in the rotation. There will be a lot of competition trying to get into the main group.
The defensive end position has some holes. Austin Booker is gone, and he was an All-Big 12 performer who changed the pass rushing position. He was really good and there is no replacement for him right now. Booker graded out at 82.2 and earned his way on NFL draft boards. But also gone behind him are Hayden Hatcher and Patrick Joyner. You can’t discount those losses. Hatcher played 272 snaps and graded out at 66.9 and Joyner 235 snaps at 64.4. Those aren’t numbers like Booker, but they were number two and three on the depth chart leaving the position thin.
The only player on the roster returning with snaps at the pass rush spot is Dylan Brooks with 103. Dean Miller was never able to get much traction and saw spot action. He is still sitting in the 225-pound range and needs to get bigger to take on offensive tackles.
Four-star pass rusher Dak Brinkley will go through spring football after arriving on campus in January. I heard his injury is getting better, but it is not known how much contact he will have over the next four weeks.
Jereme Robinson will start on the opposite side, and I hope to see more consistency from him. Last year his tackling grade was 30.9 and only had four sacks. He will need to be a leader this season. There just isn’t much behind Robinson. Davion Westmoreland could not get on the field much and give Robinson a rest. Robinson played 120 more snaps than Booker. That tells me they didn’t have confidence in many players behind him.
Dylan Wudke joins the roster and at 6-foot-4, 265 pounds he will play the same position as Robinson. Wudke hopes to give Taiwo Onatolu quality depth to spell Robinson. McGee could get time on the outside but coming off knee surgery. I want to see how well Wudke rushes the passer and if he could ever move to the pass rush side.
Final Thoughts and Looking Ahead:
The pass-rushing issue must be addressed. Booker changed games and made life easier on the secondary. His nine sacks and 27 QB hurries will be missed.
The staff will be watching the portal by the minute this spring and will go after any quality players.
Brooks is the player I keep scratching my head about. He’s got the size and the frame. He played in the UA All-American game. He had offers from Bama, FSU, Florida, LSU, Texas and several others. He was one of the top 10 DE's in the nation coming out of high school. There must be ability somewhere in that body.
I’m getting ahead of myself, but Deshawn Warner may be pressed into action. It doesn’t matter how talented a player is, playing as a true freshman is a tall order against linemen who are more experienced and much stronger.
I believe there are enough candidates to build a rotation at defensive tackle. I count eight players who will compete for 5-6 spots. Panagos likes to keep players fresh, and I believe the depth is there for him to continue that. I would like to see four players rise to the top and be the main guys in the rotation and my prediction is Dunn, Withers, Derritt, and Taylor make that move to the top.
Let’s start with the defensive tackles. Gone are two of the top producers on the interior in Devin Phillips and Gage Keys. Phillips hands down the best inside player. Panagos was high on Keys, and I had him set as a starter until he entered the portal and signed with Auburn.
The thing I like about the defensive tackle position is there are several candidates who can step in and play snaps. If you look at the way the defensive tackle has worked, Panagos likes to rotate players in to keep them fresh.
Last season there were six players who played 150 snaps or more. I think Tommy Dunn and DJ Withers can provide a solid group at the top coming back. The addition of Javier Derritt was the biggest pickup in the portal in my opinion. I expect him to be in the group that plays near 300 snaps or more.
That leaves several players who will get an opportunity to get in the rotation including Ron McGee, Caleb Taylor, Kenean Caldwell, Blake Herold, and Marcus Calvin. Spring will be important for players to position themselves for fall camp in the rotation. There will be a lot of competition trying to get into the main group.
The defensive end position has some holes. Austin Booker is gone, and he was an All-Big 12 performer who changed the pass rushing position. He was really good and there is no replacement for him right now. Booker graded out at 82.2 and earned his way on NFL draft boards. But also gone behind him are Hayden Hatcher and Patrick Joyner. You can’t discount those losses. Hatcher played 272 snaps and graded out at 66.9 and Joyner 235 snaps at 64.4. Those aren’t numbers like Booker, but they were number two and three on the depth chart leaving the position thin.
The only player on the roster returning with snaps at the pass rush spot is Dylan Brooks with 103. Dean Miller was never able to get much traction and saw spot action. He is still sitting in the 225-pound range and needs to get bigger to take on offensive tackles.
Four-star pass rusher Dak Brinkley will go through spring football after arriving on campus in January. I heard his injury is getting better, but it is not known how much contact he will have over the next four weeks.
Jereme Robinson will start on the opposite side, and I hope to see more consistency from him. Last year his tackling grade was 30.9 and only had four sacks. He will need to be a leader this season. There just isn’t much behind Robinson. Davion Westmoreland could not get on the field much and give Robinson a rest. Robinson played 120 more snaps than Booker. That tells me they didn’t have confidence in many players behind him.
Dylan Wudke joins the roster and at 6-foot-4, 265 pounds he will play the same position as Robinson. Wudke hopes to give Taiwo Onatolu quality depth to spell Robinson. McGee could get time on the outside but coming off knee surgery. I want to see how well Wudke rushes the passer and if he could ever move to the pass rush side.
Final Thoughts and Looking Ahead:
The pass-rushing issue must be addressed. Booker changed games and made life easier on the secondary. His nine sacks and 27 QB hurries will be missed.
The staff will be watching the portal by the minute this spring and will go after any quality players.
Brooks is the player I keep scratching my head about. He’s got the size and the frame. He played in the UA All-American game. He had offers from Bama, FSU, Florida, LSU, Texas and several others. He was one of the top 10 DE's in the nation coming out of high school. There must be ability somewhere in that body.
I’m getting ahead of myself, but Deshawn Warner may be pressed into action. It doesn’t matter how talented a player is, playing as a true freshman is a tall order against linemen who are more experienced and much stronger.
I believe there are enough candidates to build a rotation at defensive tackle. I count eight players who will compete for 5-6 spots. Panagos likes to keep players fresh, and I believe the depth is there for him to continue that. I would like to see four players rise to the top and be the main guys in the rotation and my prediction is Dunn, Withers, Derritt, and Taylor make that move to the top.
