Will 2018 be a Rebuild or a Reload?

[Cougatron]

I believe there are 13 senior starters so it's logical to think there will be a drop off next year. Has Leach recruited well enough to avoid a losing season in 2018? Will Coug fans be able to handle a drop off? Oregon St probavly regrets running Riley out of town at this point.

A top flight JC DT would sure help with the transition.

It's always tough to tell how things go from season to season.

So we are losing 13 Senior starters. Here's the list with the replacement for them.

Luke Falk --> We know its Hillinski. We've seen good things already from him. He still is young, but we know who our future QB is and we will be fine at QB.

3 Guys on the OL - Madison, Salmonson, and O'Connell

That's a lot of Beef to lose, but we have Dillard, Meyers, Bigge-Duren, Watson etc. the Goon Squad will continue on.

RB Morrow/Wicks - We will miss Morrow and Wicks, but there are a lot of great players like James Williams, Caleb Perry, Solomon Cooper and even Harrington could return to play next year.

So there are options.

Defensively there are a lot of talented people leaving, Robert Taylor, Pippens, Pelleur, Dotson, Luvu, Ekuale etc. etc.

It's quite a bit.

But there are guys here and there.

I think the defense front 7 will struggle, I think we take a step back defensively, but I expect we will do okay. Maybe squeak a bowl game as the young guys get acclimated.

We'll take a step back but not TOO far back. It will be frustrating, but the young guys have to grow up sometime.

 

[YakiCoug]

It's always tough to tell how things go from season to season.

Defensively there are a lot of talented people leaving, Robert Taylor, Pippens, Pelleur, Dotson, Luvu, Ekuale etc. etc. It's quite a bit. But there are guys here and there. We'll take a step back but not TOO far back. It will be frustrating, but the young guys have to grow up sometime.

Currently listed at d-end are the following:
Will Rodgers 6-5 227 fr.
Christian Mejia 6-2 223 fr.
Preston Hendry 6-5 234 jr. (JC transfer who appears to be redshirting)
Dallas Hobbs 6-6 243 fr.
Mason Vinyard 6-5 237 rs-fr (had a sack v. Oregon State). Also listed as a rush LB.
Derek Moore 6-1 248 rs-soph (also listed as a rush LB)

Listed generally as "defensive line":
Nnamdi Oguayo 6-3 237 rs-soph
Hercules Mata'afa 6-2 252 rs-jr
Kingston Fernandez 6-2 276 rs-jr
Nick Begg 6-5 264 rs-jr
Hunter Mattox 6-3 286 rs-soph (still on the team?)

There is absolutely no question this staff needs transfers and a couple big frosh d-tackle types. If it fails to bring them in, it's going to be a disaster. A once highly rated HS d-linemen is leaving Auburn. I'd start with him.

The numbers are a little better at linebacker:
Logan Tago 6-3 247 jr
Jahad Woods 6-0 213 rs-fr
Dymond Richardson 6-3 216 so (JC transfer who appears to be redshirting)
Dominick Silvels 6-3 219 fr
Justus Rogers 6-2 225 rs-fr
Chima Enyeukwu 6-2 220 rs-jr
Greg Hoyd 6-1 228 rs-jr
Willie Taylor 6-4 221 fr
Fa'avae Fa'avae 6-0 207 fr
Cole Dubots 6-1 192 fr
Mark Meynisse jr 602 210 jr (JC transfer/redshirting?)
Karson Block 6-1 241 jr (JC transfer/redshirting?)