this class was often vilified in the early going for what seemed like CWT's efforts in recruiting as 'sleep walking' and taking guys that were not up to snuff. But after watching several perform the past two years we've got to look back at CWT's commitments, and CCS's late signees and say this class could be a good one.
1. St. Felix- not much needs to be said here- a stud in the making.
2. Kelvin Kegler- 5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, and 4 QBH's as a true sophomore...he keeps this up and he's got all-conference written all over him.
3. Nick Roberts- he stepped up his game against ECU, and seems to improve each snap. We thought he would be a corner, but he's looking sharp as a safety. Needs to improve coming downhill on run plays with more authority, and breaking better on the ball, but the instincts are top notch and those traits will improve as he gets more reps.
4. Demetris Harris- already a starter, but has been injured past two games.
5. Duran Bell- I was skeptical from seeing him in HS, that he could be physical enough, or change direction...but has shown the ability to do both and was valuable in the GTECH game until he got hurt.
6. Bentlee Sanders- made crucial fumble happen against GTECH, still very raw, but you can see a bright future with his ability to use that speed to cover ground.
7. Mekhi LaPointe- has a start already, another guy that is raw but you have to love the size and speed...still struggles tackling a bit, and taking correct angles, and looks like he is guessing on plays out there, but over time those can be corrected with more reps and coaching.
8. Kelvin Pinckney- a key freshman contributor last year, this year is struggling a bit, somewhat of a sophomore slump so far, but his potential is there, and he just needs to continue getting bigger and stronger.
9. Kierston Johnson- great freshman season, didn't see much time in the first three games for whatever reason, but had a good game against ECU, and looks to be a key contributor going forward. He hits with authority, and plays with reckless abandon, uses his feet so well to make himself difficult to block especially with his low center, and a very disruptive blitzers...needs to get better at recognition of play, and taking proper angles to ball carriers out of the backfield, but huge potential.
10. Naytron Culpepper- surprised as a freshman starter, and was a key contributor as a freshman, had a great spring, but inexplicably has not seen the field as a sophomore....appears to be an injury or team suspension. We need him back because he was a physical, and rangy DB who has a lot of versatility.
11. Donnell Thomas- same thing as with Culpepper. We really need both players back, because they were ahead of the curb in their development. Just not sure what is going on there.
12. Jean Marcellus- was pushing for time in the spring, but has battled injuries since. Many around the team believe he will be a great guard when it is all said and done.
13. Jernard Phillips- played some as a freshman, and made a couple catches. I am not sure his potential as there seem to be freshmen options that have passed him by.
14. Dingle- was going to be great, but that issue we all know about. To bad what a loss.
15. Farrar- a throw-in JUCO, who has seen a lot of special teams play.
16. Good things have been said about scout team player Jabreel Stephens...right now at the deepest position on USF's defense at DE, but I expect he will be an emerging talent starting next year.
Of the 20 kids that showed up on campus...16 seem to have bright futures (assuming Culpepper, and Thomas can get back on the field and continue showing the promise they displayed last season). One was a late throw-in, Chauncey Smart, to see if this speedster could make it in football. A worthy experiment that failed, but overall this class has a lot of ability. Granted some of it has to do with the fact the 2016 class has been a relative bomb with only Hampton, Salomon, and Wigg proving to be players so far out of a class of 17....but thankfully the 2017 class appears to be an underrated bunch that are already panning out very positively.
1. St. Felix- not much needs to be said here- a stud in the making.
2. Kelvin Kegler- 5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, and 4 QBH's as a true sophomore...he keeps this up and he's got all-conference written all over him.
3. Nick Roberts- he stepped up his game against ECU, and seems to improve each snap. We thought he would be a corner, but he's looking sharp as a safety. Needs to improve coming downhill on run plays with more authority, and breaking better on the ball, but the instincts are top notch and those traits will improve as he gets more reps.
4. Demetris Harris- already a starter, but has been injured past two games.
5. Duran Bell- I was skeptical from seeing him in HS, that he could be physical enough, or change direction...but has shown the ability to do both and was valuable in the GTECH game until he got hurt.
6. Bentlee Sanders- made crucial fumble happen against GTECH, still very raw, but you can see a bright future with his ability to use that speed to cover ground.
7. Mekhi LaPointe- has a start already, another guy that is raw but you have to love the size and speed...still struggles tackling a bit, and taking correct angles, and looks like he is guessing on plays out there, but over time those can be corrected with more reps and coaching.
8. Kelvin Pinckney- a key freshman contributor last year, this year is struggling a bit, somewhat of a sophomore slump so far, but his potential is there, and he just needs to continue getting bigger and stronger.
9. Kierston Johnson- great freshman season, didn't see much time in the first three games for whatever reason, but had a good game against ECU, and looks to be a key contributor going forward. He hits with authority, and plays with reckless abandon, uses his feet so well to make himself difficult to block especially with his low center, and a very disruptive blitzers...needs to get better at recognition of play, and taking proper angles to ball carriers out of the backfield, but huge potential.
10. Naytron Culpepper- surprised as a freshman starter, and was a key contributor as a freshman, had a great spring, but inexplicably has not seen the field as a sophomore....appears to be an injury or team suspension. We need him back because he was a physical, and rangy DB who has a lot of versatility.
11. Donnell Thomas- same thing as with Culpepper. We really need both players back, because they were ahead of the curb in their development. Just not sure what is going on there.
12. Jean Marcellus- was pushing for time in the spring, but has battled injuries since. Many around the team believe he will be a great guard when it is all said and done.
13. Jernard Phillips- played some as a freshman, and made a couple catches. I am not sure his potential as there seem to be freshmen options that have passed him by.
14. Dingle- was going to be great, but that issue we all know about. To bad what a loss.
15. Farrar- a throw-in JUCO, who has seen a lot of special teams play.
16. Good things have been said about scout team player Jabreel Stephens...right now at the deepest position on USF's defense at DE, but I expect he will be an emerging talent starting next year.
Of the 20 kids that showed up on campus...16 seem to have bright futures (assuming Culpepper, and Thomas can get back on the field and continue showing the promise they displayed last season). One was a late throw-in, Chauncey Smart, to see if this speedster could make it in football. A worthy experiment that failed, but overall this class has a lot of ability. Granted some of it has to do with the fact the 2016 class has been a relative bomb with only Hampton, Salomon, and Wigg proving to be players so far out of a class of 17....but thankfully the 2017 class appears to be an underrated bunch that are already panning out very positively.
