EKG1996 said:

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Google transfer portal

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Google "Supply and Demand". That's not the greatest strategy …….

By my count, we have 6 scholarship(not counting today) on the roster. We obviously will work the portal very hard but as mentioned the really good ones are highly sought.

Wurk said:

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EKG1996 said:

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Google transfer portal

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I googled it and found Texas A&M picked up one (Onyedim) after losing 3 starting DL to the draft. Shocking

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Two of those were edges.

based on what is presumed to be back next year most
our money will be spent on 3 offensive lineman and a couple defensive tackles. the need in the portal will be a lot less as we build our depth internally. i do recall people being very concerned about our d line coming into this year and we were significantly better.

NyAggie said:

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At 11-1 it's hard to argue with what Elko has done on the dline

Dline was better this year than it was last year with jimbo's nfl guys

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End of thread…

Its definitely a concern. DT is the most physically demanding of all positions, but the hardest to find. Having 10 on a team is ideal - 4 for regular rotation, 4 in development, and 2 hybrids or practice fodder.

Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, and Ohio State seem to load up on them all the time. And yes, Jimbo was excellent at loading up on NFL-level DTs. Elko still has a ways to go here. IMO this is the reason why teams like Indiana and Texas Tech are suspect - i don't see them holding up for 60 mins vs the like of Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Alabama or even Ole Miss. Maybe vs TAMU whose run game didn't shine last we saw them.

Bird Poo said:

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We loaded up last year and they are developing

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Loaded up?

Yes, we took 3. Staff had DE as a higher priority in this Hs class for that reason. They are really happy with our younger DTs on campus.

Do some of you think we can carry 13 DTs? Ideally we wanted a 2nd this class but we weren't going to reach. BPW can also likely be a hybrid player and play inside, too.

Wurk said:

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EKG1996 said:

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Google transfer portal

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I googled it and found Texas A&M picked up one (Onyedim) after losing 3 starting DL to the draft. Shocking

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Why did you switch from DT recruits to total DL lost?

We lost 1 starting DT and picked up a DT in the portal. We lost 2 starting DEs and picked up 3 DEs in the portal

gA_CMAB_FA said:

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Its definitely a concern. DT is the most physically demanding of all positions, but the hardest to find. Having 10 on a team is ideal - 4 for regular rotation, 4 in development, and 2 hybrids or practice fodder.

Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, and Ohio State seem to load up on them all the time. And yes, Jimbo was excellent at loading up on NFL-level DTs. Elko still has a ways to go here. IMO this is the reason why teams like Indiana and Texas Tech are suspect - i don't see them holding up for 60 mins vs the like of Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Alabama or even Ole Miss. Maybe vs TAMU whose run game didn't shine last we saw them.

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Jimbo never once carried 10 DTs on scholarship.

Most years we had 6-8.

beerad12man said:

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gA_CMAB_FA said:

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Its definitely a concern. DT is the most physically demanding of all positions, but the hardest to find. Having 10 on a team is ideal - 4 for regular rotation, 4 in development, and 2 hybrids or practice fodder.

Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, and Ohio State seem to load up on them all the time. And yes, Jimbo was excellent at loading up on NFL-level DTs. Elko still has a ways to go here. IMO this is the reason why teams like Indiana and Texas Tech are suspect - i don't see them holding up for 60 mins vs the like of Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Alabama or even Ole Miss. Maybe vs TAMU whose run game didn't shine last we saw them.

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Jimbo never once carried 10 DTs on scholarship.

Most years we had 6-8.

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And look at the results. Not even one division title.

Neither did Saban or Kirby. Hth. 10 is a high number, unless you're including walkons. Very unusual to carry that many. That was my point.

And jimbo didn't fall short because of our dl, so your point isn't a great one either way. You literally just said he was great at loading up at nfl DT.

Eleven and Fricking One!

Elko has already said he is looking at two larger bodies in the middle from the portal. Almost like the 11-1 head coach of a major program has a plan.

cevans_40 said:

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Crazy how many guys sitting at home can manage a roster with limited scholarships and NIL so much better than our current staff who have somehow lucked into a playoff spot.

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The current staff went 11-1, they lost the last game. Those of us sitting at home did not lose a single game, we are undefeated. Undefeated! (Of course, we are winless as well, but that is topic for another thread.)

tu recruited (3) high school interior DL in the '25 class. But loaded up in the Portal with 5. Elko has stated he ideally wanted one more from the portal but tu grabbed all the ones worth bringing in. Elko has more than proven his ability to manage the portal. I'll waste my energy handwringing over finding a serviceable placekicker.

beerad12man said:

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Neither did Saban or Kirby. Hth. 10 is a high number, unless you're including walkons. Very unusual to carry that many. That was my point.

And jimbo didn't fall short because of our dl, so your point isn't a great one either way. You literally just said he was great at loading up at nfl DT.

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Jimbo got some good quality DTs, but not great depth.

Plus its 105 ships now vs 85 in Jimbos days. Load em up Elko!

Hehateme1 said:

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Did any of y'all watch Rink play (#99) ?? Pretty impressive for a fish as a DT

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See earlier post. He's going to be great but there's a reason he averages about 4 snaps a game.

Some of you need to really go and look at other SEC rosters or even elite Big10 teams. We have to get more bodies in the interior.

10 DT is a lot

8 is probably the most you need. That's 4 deep


UGA had 14 total DL this year

vander54 said:

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10 DT is a lot

8 is probably the most you need. That's 4 deep


UGA had 14 total DL this year

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Yup. UGA. 105 ships now, PLUS the potential to play 17 freakin games now. SEVENTEEN! Need DTs!!!

If Hicks comes back next year, we will have 6-7 DTs.
Hicks
Scarlett
Evans
Rink
Sanders
Simms
+ True Fish
That's plenty if the talent is there.

As Elko said in the press conference, we went 3-1 DT to DE last year and 1-3 this year to balance out the 2-class unit.

Remember, we did have that early commit from the kid from NC that switched to UNC when Belicheck was hired. And we were in on Lamar Brown.
So yeah, we would've taken another if we could but we weren't going to just pick up a warm body.

How many 300 lb 18 year olds come out of HS every year and how many of those have played football as a defensive lineman?

https://www.gobigrecruiting.com/recruiting101/football/positional_guidelines/defensive_line

FBS Power 5 Defensive Line
Height: 6'4" Weight: 260 lbs.

https://www.lanceosrecruitingnetwork.com/team-1

Defensive Line (DL ) D1 FBS
Height/Weight: 6'3"6'6", 250320 lbs


https://12thman.com/news/2024/12/4/football-texas-am-announces-2025-early-signing-class

Signees:

Landon Rink DL 6-3 280
Marco Jones DL 6-5 245
DJ Sanders DL 6-3 315
Chace Sims DL 6-3 295

could that reason be he is a true freshman ??

I guess you missed last year. And us struggling against the run thus year has nothing to do with defensive tackles.

So you struck out twice. Maybe follow the team a little better.

You know that guy in the stands who loudly talks about play calls and strategy and "why don't we run I-form Fullback dives sometimes" like he'd do a better job than the professional coach?

That's your typical sports forum poster.

Unfortunately, there are 2-3 that haven't panned out already as true interior (some due to lack of playing time, but a couple may not be true SEC interior DL - but can hope they develop and improve). Inexperience is the definition of this list (vs. good SEC competition) and it's a problem next year.

Hicks is key to next year (need him to come back), and important for Sanders and Simms to step up (very inexperienced). Scarlett and Evans are the unknowns (haven't truly flashed, but hopefully due to lack of playing time). Evans is also an in-betweener and probably not really a DT (he's stuck b/w DE and DT, but truly not a DT today and more towards a DE).

Think we'll take 2 interior DL in the portal (as need at least 8 DT and that counting1 fish just signed), but depends who on that list 'stays' (sometimes they are 'valued' less than what they think) and who is available in the portal.

https://texags.com/aggie-football/class-breakdown