[J Rocksville]

I think we hammer UCLA. Our team is more motivated after going through last season, and wants to prove a point.

I think WVU and BYU are toss-ups. I probably like our chances against BYU more, since we’ll be fired up, have better depth, and I just don’t think BYU will get the bounces that they did last year.

ASU, I think we drop that game. That team is still pretty loaded, and RB production is usually replaceable.

Baylor and Kansas are tough. I could see us dropping one of those two.

If we drop ASU, and 2 of the 4 WVU/BYU/Baylor/Kansas, I think that’s still a successful season all things considered. 9-3 with a decent bowl and a mid 20’s final ranking.

[J Rocksville]

I don’t think we should stop recruiting LDS athletes. I think the U offers a different experience, that is likely appealing to a lot of LDS athletes. I also think, judging a lot by what I hear from my wife who is a family therapist, that there is a large and growing group of more nuanced LDS people out there and I suspect that population will only continue to grow in size and in voice. They certainly would prefer a more diverse experience than what BYU can offer.

BYU is certainly a “special” place, and there are lots of people that want that experience too I suspect. But it’s a bubble, for better or worse. My personal opinions aside, I think over time the number of LDS recruits that prefer a more diverse and real-world collegiate experience will gradually outnumber the ones that find the BYU experience to be appealing.

[J Rocksville]

This feels like a kid that knows he’s our best option, but isn’t being paid like a top 15 team’s #1 option and wants to.

I have a feeling he’s coming back.

[J Rocksville]

I think that narrative is exactly the same for almost (almost!) every team in the B12. If x y z goes our way, we’ll contend for a conference title. If one or more of them don’t then it’s back to the drawing board. Like, subtract 2 wins for each variable that doesn’t work out.

Really, that’s probably the case for about any team at this point, including the big brands in the B1G and SEC. Nobody really knows how their new assortment of shiny toy mercenaries are going to gel and come together. Honestly, I’d rather compete for 8-10 win seasons and conference championships in the B12 than end up in the middle to lower tier of the B1G like UCLA.

At the minimum, I think we can at least say that there is a potential path for us to be good with the pieces that are trending to be around in the fall. There are a few teams that can’t even say that.

[J Rocksville]

Whitt is so fond of Rising, that it wouldn’t surprise me to see Rising stick around as a GA this year. Why keep killing your body? Get a head start on a coaching career, if that’s what he’s into. It’s certainly more lucrative than Criminal Justice.

Our best success with Ludwig was when Cam was changing the plays at the line. He very well may have a knack for play calling. You can make a lot of money doing that.

[J Rocksville]

I guess if I had to choose between Lyons and Nate Johnson, I’d take Lyons? Lyons has more recent history as a receiver, Johnson might have more speed and utility as a back-up QB? Toss up.

[J Rocksville]

I still would love to keep Woods. We need a smaller back for changeup. Right now we have a few midsize guys (Mitchell, Parker, Rogers) a power back (Washington), but lost our smaller and shiftier guys. Quite the reversal from a few months ago ha ha. Maybe Guillory or Bray can be that guy. I know the Guillory kid was super highly regarded, and only carried the lower rating because he reclassified up a year so he’s a year younger (and thus a year behind physically). I can’t remember where I saw it, but somewhere I read talk of him possibly being a top 100 kid if he stayed in the 26 class.

[J Rocksville]

lol, yes when I think of “fun” and “college” BYU is definitely top of that iceberg.

[J Rocksville]

A top 5 recruit doesn’t cancel an Oklahoma visit to use Utah as leverage.

Line coach proven to put guys in the league (we have more lineman drafted in the last ten years than Texas does, despite getting lower ranked recruits)

Potential for early playing time.

4 dudes on the team he played ball with growing up.

Potential for road games in Texas a couple times every year.

Maybe he just wants to put his head down and work. Not get caught up in the glam of Texas. Maybe his family values a lighter spotlight?

Who knows. I’m sure we’re still not even close to the favorite, but he’s definitely not coming here for a free trip to slc or to use Utah for leverage. I also bet we can get in the ball park for nil. Texas can’t pay an entire team of 4 and 5 star kids millions, but I bet we have some wiggle room when a top 5 dude wants to come here.

[J Rocksville]

Definitely optimism. I hope NJ can see the field. If he would have accepted his fate 2 years ago he’d be 2 years ahead in development as a WR.

If we can get Singer back again, and if Lyons pans out (and sticks around), we should have some weapons next year (if we can manage to use them).

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