Is It Too Early To Talk About Next Year?

Updated: December 8, 2008

With the 2008 regular season in the books and a date with USC in "The Granddaddy of Them All," (Official Rose Bowl Countdown Ticker) it's not to early to talk about next year, is it? I don't think so, especially since it's the underclassmen that will get most of the reps over the next six weeks. With that in mind, here is my projected depth chart going into spring practice and the Blue-White Game.

OFFENSE:

Quarterback

1. Daryll Clark
2. Pat Devlin
3. [Freshman]--Hopefully, Kevin Newsome
   

Running Back

1. Evan Royster
2. Stephfon Green
3. Brandon Beachum or
4. Brent Carter

Fullback

1. Joe Suhey or
   
2. Michael Zordich
   

Wide Receiver

1. Brent Brackett
2. Graham Zug
3. Derek Moye
4. Chaz Powell
5. A.J. Price or
   
6. [Freshman]--Hopefully, Justin Brown
7. [Freshman]--Hopefully, Antone Exum

Tight End

1. Andrew Quarless or
   
2. Mickey Shuler
3. Andrew Szczerba
4. Mark Wedderburn
   

Left Tackle

1. Deon'tae Pannell
2. Nerraw McCormick or
   
3. Nate Cadogan (F) or
   
4. Adam Gress (F)
   

Right Tackle

1. Dennis Landolt
2. Nerraw McCormick or
   
3. Eric Shrive (F) or
4. Adam Gress (F)
   

Left Guard

1. Lou Eliades
   
2. Johnnie Troutman
3. Matt Stankiewitch

Right Guard

1. J.B. Walton
2. Johnnie Troutman
3. Matt Stankiewitch

Center

1. Stefen Wisniewski
2. Quinn Barnam or
3. Matt Stankiewitch
   
4. Ty Howle (F)
   

DEFENSE:

Defensive End

1. Aaron Maybin (if not the NFL Draft)
   
2. Maurice Evans (if not the NFL Draft)
3. Jack Crawford or
4. Kevion Latham
5. Jerome Hayes (if he comes back fully from 2nd ACL)
6. Eric Latimore
   

Defensive Tackle

1. Jared Odrick (if not the NFL Draft)
2. Abe Koroma or
   
3. Ollie Ogbu
4. Devon Still
5. Chima Okoli or
   
6. Brandon Ware
   

"Sam" Outside Linebacker

1. Navarro Bowman
2. Bani Gbadyu
   
3. [Freshman]--Hopefully, Jelani Jenkins
   

"Fritz" Outside Linebacker

1. Nate Stupar or
2. Michael Mauti
3. Michael Yancich
   

"Backer" Middle Linebacker

1. Sean Lee
2. Josh Hull or
   
3. Chris Colasanti

Cornerback

1. A.J. Wallace
2. D'Anton Lynn
3. Darrell Givens (F) or
   
4. Derrick Thomas (F) or
   
5. Stephon Morris (F)
   

Strong Safety

1. Knowledge Timmons
2. [Freshman]--Hopefully, Gerald Hodges
3. Cedric Jefferies

Hero

1. Drew Astorino
2. Nick Sukay

SPECIAL TEAMS:

Place Kicker

1. Collin Wagner or
2. Anthony Fera (F)
   

Punter

1. Jeremy Boone
2. Ryan Breen
   

Kick Returners

1. A.J. Wallace
   
2. Chaz Powell
   
3. Devon Smith (F) 0r
4. Derrick Thomas
   

Punt Returner

1. Devon Smith (F) or
2. Derrick Thomas or
3. [Other Freshman]