Roster Analysis
Quarterbacks
QB Greg Paulus (rSR) 6’1” 185 87ovr 87thp 84tha 79spd
QB Cameron Dantley (rSR) 6’1” 218 78ovr 85thp 80tha 68spd
QB Ryan Nassib (SO) 6’3” 215 74ovr 85thp 78tha 65spd
Greg Paulus returns to Central New York and the folks in Syracuse couldn’t be happier. Paulus played his high school ball for Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse and will reunite with one of his favorite targets from high school, Lavar Lobdell. Behind him will be Cameron Dantley. Ryan Nassib looks to be the future at quarterback.
Half Backs/Full Backs
RB Delone Carter (rJR) 5’10” 214 83ovr 87spd 84btk 65cth
RB Averin Collier (FR) 5’11” 195 75ovr 88spd 74btk 68cth
RB Antwon Bailey (SO) 5’8” 196 74ovr 89spd 70btk 70cth
FB Daniel Collier (rSR) 6’0“ 240 62ovr 65spd 70str 55rbk
Delon Carter was a freshman All-American but the injury to his hip has slowed his development significantly. If the offense is to have any balance this year he needs to be as productive as Curtis Brinkley was last season. There is promise behind Carter in Collier. Dan Collier will be the fullback; don’t look for anything special from him.
Recievers/Tightends
WR Mike Williams (rSR) 6’2” 204 85ovr 89spd 82cth 78spc
WR Lavar Lobdell (SR) 6’3” 200 81ovr 88spd 80cth 70spc
WR Da’Mon Merkerson (JR) 6’1” 182 79ovr 94spd 74cth 70spc
WR Donte Davis (rJR) 6’0” 169 78ovr 92spd 74cth 65spc
WR Daniel Bailey (rJR) 5’7” 167 77ovr 90spd 70cth 70spc
WR Marcus Sales (SO) 6’0“ 180 76ovr 90spd 72cth 70spc
WR Van Chew (SO) 6’1“ 165 65ovr 88spd 56cth 65spc
TE Andrew Robinson (rSR) 6’3” 225 53ovr 76spd 65cth 59rbk
TE Mike Owen (rSR) 6’4” 255 51ovr 68spd 65cth 62rbk
TE Cody Catalina (SO) 6’3“ 221 43ovr 65spd 68cth 56rbk
Getting Mike Williams back from academic purgatory was huge. Team him with Lobdell and Paulus is going to have some big boys to throw to. Track athlete Da’Mon Merkerson’s move to wideout will be a big one next year after his finishes his redshirt season.
Offensive Line
T Tucker Baumbach (rJR) 6’5” 307 82ovr 89str 84pbk 88rbk
T Nick Speller (FR) 6’5“ 307 80ovr 87str 84pbk 82rbk
T Josh White (SO) 6’5“ 290 79ovr 88str 78pbk 88rbk
G Adam Rosner (rJR) 6’6” 308 84ovr 90str 88pbk 86rbk
G Andrew Tiller (rJR) 6’6” 360 81ovr 91str 80pbk 85rbk
G Ryan Bartholomew (rJR) 6’3“ 290 72ovr 88str 80pbk 89rbk
G Justin Pugh (rFR) 6’5” 275 69ovr 85str 80pbk 80rbk
C Jim McKenzie (rJR) 6’4” 280 80ovr 82str 85pbk 85rbk
These are decent sized guys with just enough strength and run blocking ability to not piss Mac off. This group is extremely shallow and that is cause for concern.
Defensive Line
DE Jared Kimmel (rJR) 6’6” 259 74ovr 78spd 78pmv 80fmv
DE Chad Battles (rSO) 6’3” 224 65ovr 82spd 58pmv 65fmv
DE Zary Stweart (SO) 6’4” 229 62ovr 76spd 68pmv 66fmv
DE Mikhail Marinovich (rSO) 6’4” 234 57ovr 80spd 55pmv 62fmv
DE Romale Tucker (rFR) 6’4” 231 53ovr 78spd 60pmv 60fmv
DT Arthur Jones (SR) 6’4” 291 88ovr 89str 84pmv 79fmv
DT Bud Tribbey (rJR) 6’2” 280 69ovr 82str 78pmv 67fmv
DT Anthony Perkins (rJR) 6’4” 272 66ovr 78str 65pmv 74fmv
DT Ollie Haney (rSO) 6’3” 288 65ovr 85str 72pmv 78fmv
DT Andrew Lewis (rJR) 6’3” 282 63ovr 84str 68pmv 68fmv
Arthur Jones is a stud and will play in the NFL, as for the rest of this group who knows. There are enough bodies here to keep everyone fresh and that energy late in games will have to make up for the lack of talent.
Linebackers
OLB Derrell Smith (rJR) 6’1” 225 67ovr 82spd 75tak 78pur
OLB Shane Kimmel (FR) 6’1” 238 66ovr 78spd 80tak 76pur
OLB Doug Hogue (JR) 6’2” 216 66ovr 87spd 68tak 75pur
OLB Dan Vaughn (rFR) 6’2” 221 64ovr 78spd 70tak 77pur
OLB Ryan Gillum (rSO) 5’11” 220 62ovr 82spd 70tak 85pur
ILB Mike Stenclik (rJR) 6’0“ 225 70ovr 82spd 78tak 70prc
ILB Earl Carter (FR) 6’0“ 220 64ovr 82spd 71tak 72prc
There is not a single attribute that sticks out within this group. They don’t have tremendous size, physical skills, or brain power. They might be the definition of average.
Corners/Safeties
CB Nico Scott (JR) 5’10” 180 78ovr 89spd 83mcv 80zcv
CB Grant Mayes (SO) 6’0” 175 77ovr 89spd 77mcv 82zcv
CB John Mark Henderson (JR) 5’11” 190 75ovr 91spd 75mcv 85zcv
CB Michael Holmes (rJR) 5’11” 185 73ovr 91spd 80mcv 75zcv
CB Dale Peterman (FR) 5’11” 160 65ovr 89spd 64mcv 70zcv
S Randy McKinnon (JR) 5’10“ 200 66ovr 87spd 62cth 72prc
S Max Suter (JR) 5’11” 190 62ovr 92spd 62cth 65prc
S Kevyn Scott (rSO) 5’11” 197 59ovr 87spd 56cth 68prc
Average talent at the corner spot is going to be made to look much worse because the safeties are so bad. Suter is a fan favorite because of his Mighty Mouse style of play but that doesn’t mean he is going to be a difference maker. The one positive about this group is that they all return next year.
Kickers/Punters
K Shane Raupers (FR) 5’10” 175 81ovr 85kpw 84kac
P Rob Long (JR) 6’4” 175 87ovr 92kpw 87kac
Rob Long is a very good punter and Shane Raupers is going to be the best kicker in the Big East in a year.