By: Cole Mantell (@lightningdragon)
Season 23 is in the books. Congratulations to the National Champion UNC Tar Heels! With the season over, the next phase of the offseason is what the CFSL audience is excited for. Players will graduate, and the transfer portal will fill up. ADs change, and with that so do roster priorities. As I do every offseason, let’s see which teams need players, and at what position.
I challenge myself to review each roster to determine what is needed most for each team next season. So with a few exceptions, I try to stick to one or two position groups. Teams are listed in alphabetical order. This article only considers graduating seniors. We don’t know the full list of transfers yet, and with all 24 teams returning next season, there are no new teams either. So if a player is returning on paper, they are returning for this article.
Alabama Crimson Tide – Outside Linebacker
Alabama has always recruited well, and even with an AD change, I don’t expect much actual change on the roster for the Crimson Tide. Alabama fought well in the playoffs, and they have one of the strongest cultures in the CFSL.
Alabama loses seven to graduation, including star QB Johnny Ray Davis. While getting a new QB will be the headline in the offseason, the linebacker core will return with no one at the OLB position. MLB Billy Savage is going to need reinforcements as the only guy left, and Alabama will need to recruit hard to replace those losses. There are other places to recruit around the roster, but this feels more like a reload than a rebuild for the Crimson Tide, even with a new AD.
Auburn Tigers – Halfback
Auburn was victorious in the SEC this season, and arguably more importantly, in the Iron Bowl in Week 8. However, Alabama got revenge in the playoffs, defeating Auburn 41-29. That loss stings, and now Auburn has four seniors to replace as they look to stay atop the SEC. While all four graduating seniors were 5 stars, one name stands above the rest.
HB Thomas Scally was maybe the most underrated player in the entire CFSL this season. With Taylor James at Colorado getting the spotlight, Scally quietly was nearly just as good, rushing for career yardage totals that have not been seen at Auburn in many seasons. Only Billy Carter had more rushing yards in a career at Auburn than Scally. Replacing that is going to be the story of the offseason for Auburn. The Tigers rolled with just one halfback on the roster this season, and that worked with Scally. I suspect, however, AD Justin Duke will go after at least two this offseason if he has the scholarship room.
Clemson Tigers – Safety
Clemson remains a young team under AD Logan Wetzel, and that includes just two seniors on this season’s roster for the Tigers. FS Rocky Fink is the only senior 5-star graduating for the Tigers, leaving two others, Mo Love and Robert Wetzel, as the remaining safeties on the roster. Both are rising seniors, so the time is now to replace some young depth at the position.
I predict Wetzel will go after at least one, if not two, freshmen safeties this offseason depending on the room he has available. Depending on how many 3 stars he keeps and if he has transfers, Clemson AD Logan Wetzel might have the easier offseason of any AD ahead of him this offseason.
Colorado Buffaloes – Halfback
It was true for Auburn, and it is true for Colorado as well. A program legend at halfback departs, and now the impossible task of replacing him begins. Taylor James will go down not only as one of the best HBs in history, but one of the best players in CFSL history, period.
On the roster, rising 4-star junior Hendrix Dodd remains. But he can’t do it alone, especially if Colorado continues the style of offense that has made them a consistent playoff team the last few seasons. Colorado is almost surely going to prefer two HBs for their offense, and what an easy pitch there is for AD Skyler Shearer to make. While replacing James is impossible, replicating him might not be.
Florida Gators – Quarterback
This isn’t the first team we’ve covered replacing a QB. But for Florida, the loss of Jack Schmidt is a huge part of their offensive identity gone. Florida has nine seniors graduating, and coming off a down season by AD Adam Smith’s standards, there is a lot of work to do.
Florida provides a prospective QB a lot of opportunity. A known and well-respected AD. The senior season of phenom Stacey Smith, and a tough conference, but winnable if Florida can find a way to get past Auburn and Alabama. Can Florida take that next step? It may very well depend on who the QB is throwing passes for the Gators next season. No pressure.
Florida State Seminoles – Wide Receiver
The Seminoles will lose seven to graduation, including three wide receivers. While CJ Jackson and Alexander Schultz are both talented WRs who can fill the gaps, the depth will be lacking for now at FSU.
AD Tom Pence is one of the best in the business at recruiting, and so his focus will be on the offense this offseason. I’ll also add that two LBs graduate as well, with two more becoming seniors. I think that will be another area of focus this offseason for the staff. FSU has a legendary defensive culture, and that must be maintained for FSU to bounce back next season.
Georgia Bulldogs – Linebacker
And so we reach our second team with a new AD in Season 24. Unlike Alabama, Georgia will be getting a new AD from a different coaching staff, which points to the likelihood of some changes on the roster. However, when counting just graduating seniors, there are seven for Georgia this offseason.
Nowhere is there more work to do than at the linebacker position. All three LBs on the roster, all 5 stars, are graduating. That leaves no linebackers left, creating a gaping hole in the middle of the defense. This will be the first of many areas to address for Georgia, as the new staff begins work on these areas and starts the process of rebuilding the roster.
Iowa Hawkeyes – Wide Receiver
We just discussed Georgia and the work they need to do. If they want an example of a team making a splash, just look at Iowa last season. Iowa expanded into the CFSL last season, and they were maybe the strongest recruiters on the trail. Recruiting an entire roster is never easy, but Iowa did it en route to a playoff berth for the Hawkeyes in their first season back in the CFSL.
So with a very young team, this roster will only see four true senior graduations this offseason. In complete opposition to last offseason, Iowa will have very little recruiting to do this offseason. One area they will need to replace depth is at WR. With 5-star Arnez Gray and 3-star Boone Hyatt graduating, only Dante De La Vega and Brykem Alvarez remain on the roster at WR. Iowa will need at least two, maybe three new guys at the position this offseason. With that, Iowa could be a dark horse to watch in preseason predictions given their complete roster and little turnover.
LSU Tigers – Wide Receiver/Tight End
LSU has nine seniors graduating this season. With the AD change, we won’t be looking at any players leaving with Josh Claydon or coming in from Oregon with Gavin Lussier. So, in terms of the losses to graduation, the focus is on offense.
Lussier has a lot of work to do, as four of the nine graduations for LSU are 5 stars at WR and TE. Dakoda Cydrus, Matthias Irvin, Slye Bender, and Jesse King represent four of the biggest names on LSU, and all are now gone. So, the question is – does Lussier grab some of his players from Oregon to fill the losses? Or grab some freshmen with the pitch of taking down #1 Oklahoma en route to a Semifinals appearance? Either way, Lussier will be one of the most active ADs in recruiting on offense this season in the entire CFSL.
Miami Hurricanes – Quarterback
Similar to LSU, the Hurricanes have nine graduations, of which most of them are on offense. In addition to QB TJ Cunnington, Miami loses HB Donovan Walls, WR Daniel Brown, WR Darren Sway, WR Nick Morrow, and TE James O’Connor to graduation, just on offense. That’s a huge portion of the offensive talent, so Miami will be in a lot of recruiting battles with LSU for those replacements on offense this offseason.
It is also another team that is a symptom of the large recruiting class we have on our hands in the CFSL this offseason. But of course, the main story is at QB. Miami has a great history at QB, and this should once again be one of the premier openings in the CFSL at the position. Miami AD George Yost is fresh off the second AD of the Year Award of his career this season. His reputation precedes him, and he will be on the hunt for the next great Miami QB to get some revenge against UNC for this season’s National Championship.
Michigan Wolverines – Defensive Line
Michigan had one heck of a rebound this season, winning their third Conference Title in team history, and second in the last four seasons. Even better for AD Aaron Eichenberg, with so many other teams having many seniors graduate, Michigan is only losing four seniors in this upcoming class. So with fewer spots to fill and many players expected in the class, Michigan might be in one of the best spots of any team in the CFSL this recruiting cycle.
The place where they will almost certainly focus on is the Defensive Line. Two of the four graduations were 5-star DE Brooks Ike and 5-star DT Vinny Jackson. While there is depth on the roster to replace these guys, none of the remaining players at DL for Michigan are 5 stars currently. So expect at least one 5-star target to join Michigan there this offseason.
Nebraska Cornhuskers – Defensive Line
Given the young nature of the recent expansion team, Nebraska had zero graduating seniors this offseason. That’s great for AD Noah Johnson, who now is looking to build depth instead of replacing it. Nebraska’s biggest need then is where there are the fewest scholarship players currently on the roster.
That’s the defensive line, which had just 3-star DE Justin Austin on scholarship there this season. So now Nebraska will be one of more than a few teams competing for players at the group. But Johnson will have youth on his side, and with the ability to build rather than replace, Nebraska already is positioned well going into Season 24.
North Carolina – Quarterback/Halfback
While other teams lose more players, I’m not sure more impact is lost to graduation this season on any other team. What a season for UNC, and AD Daniel Gunn and his Tar Heels finally have their first National Championship. Of course, among the big wins, now UNC must prove they can do it again. And the work starts fast for the UNC staff.
With Cole Mantell and Carver Clark graduating, two critical positions need replacing fast for UNC. At HB, Eric Martin might be HB1 next season, but he is a rising senior too. And of course, with Cole Mantell gone after only a season at UNC, the Tar Heels knew they would once again be in the QB market this offseason. Heavy is the crown, as they say.
Notre Dame – Defensive Line/Depth
It looks like it will be a complete transformation for Notre Dame, as the Fighting Irish bring in a new, but well-known, AD in Josh Claydon. Almost certainly, there will be a lot of turnover, but for this article, we are only looking at graduating seniors. Notre Dame’s four graduating seniors this season are HB Olin Norris, TE Tom Brown, DE Wojtek Panzer, and K Bradley Adams.
The easiest place to start for AD Josh Claydon will be the Defensive Line, which has only three scholarship players on the roster right now. However, with so many three stars on the roster, my guess is there will be much more turnover. Claydon will likely start a roster turnover, and so his goal will be to start rebuilding depth around the roster. For Notre Dame to compete in the ACC, they’ll need to build talent fast. Claydon has done it once before in South Bend. Now, his goal is to repeat that task in Season 24.
Ohio State Buckeyes – Quarterback
Ohio State is going to go through a roster refresh this season. The Buckeyes have passed almost better than anyone else in the CFSL the past few seasons. But this season, eight players graduate, punctuated by QB Jaylen Tyree. Ohio State always used their QBs well. But QB isn’t the only big offensive position being lost. The Buckeyes will also lose some WRs.
Maybe Ohio State continues its legacy of passing with a new QB. Maybe they switch strategies. But one thing is certain. Ohio State will be reforming their offense this season, and has an unusually large recruiting class to do it. It’s going to be one of the most interesting teams in the CFSL to watch this offseason for these reasons.
Oklahoma Sooners – Linebacker
Oklahoma was the strongest team in the CFSL in the regular season. And they retain much of their talent on offense, headlined by QB Himoteo Del Este. The work this offseason for AD Dustin Hall is on defense. Of the three LBs on the roster this season, two of them, 5-star Jackson Chambers and Akuma Hunter, graduate.
5-star MLB Wesley Wiersema is the only remaining LB, and he is a rising senior too. To get over the hump for their first National Championship, Oklahoma is going to need to get talent at LB fast this offseason. Wiersema is a great piece to build around, but he cannot do it alone. But no surprise, Oklahoma is a great recruiting team who will once again be a force to reckon with in Season 24.
Oregon Ducks – Cornerback
As we’ve said multiple times in this article, with new AD Cole Mantell in the fray, there likely will be roster turnover we cannot anticipate. But Oregon has seven graduations this season, and three of them are at CB. With no CBs returning right now at Oregon, no matter what happens, Mantell’s first piece of business will be reinforcing the defense.
Under previous AD Gavin Lussier, the Ducks had maybe their best season since their National Championship in Season 11. To continue that success, Mantell will have to fill multiple holes on defense. It isn’t just at the CB position, but we know for sure that will be the first area Oregon will have to attack in recruiting.
Penn State Nittany Lions – Kicker
Penn State is another great example of a growing force as a very young team. With only four seniors graduating, there wasn’t much to choose from for Penn State. The four graduations are 3-star DT Jonny Wang, 5-star DE Buck Bolden, 5-star CB Scooter Swift, and K Kalani Nakamura. While the defensive line might need some depth, the Nittany Lions have quite a few players on the roster already.
So I chose kicker instead. Kickers can be very finicky in the CFSL, and Nakamura was a steady force in their career at Penn State. So Penn State finding a worthwhile replacement should be among their top priorities. Also, it’s very rare in this article that I get to choose the kicker, so I am taking my chance to do that now.
Tennessee Volunteers – Safety
Tennessee has four graduations this season. They are 5-star QB Sterling Verdugo, 4-star WR Dusty James, 5-star FS Alex Thompson, and 3-star SS Gage Henry. The biggest story for recruiting for Tennessee will be at QB. Sterling Verdugo is a program legend, and the Volunteers will have a hard time replacing him. Especially in a QB class this competitive this offseason. But I’d argue safety is more crucial for Tennessee.
Only two 3 stars remain on the roster at the position. In a conference with dynamite QBs, pass defense is as important as ever. And Tennessee already struggled with pass defense at times last season. So now, can Tennessee upgrade at the position group? That will be the key for Volunteers AD CJ Furman this offseason.
Texas Longhorns – Linebacker
The Longhorns have five graduations, and the biggest name is probably HB Jett Sims leaving this offseason. But with two 5-stars at LB graduating, that is the key for this offseason for Texas. Brandon Chen and Jason Dawson are both big names to replace in their own right. While Texas has depth, the Longhorns are going to need to find new gamebreakers, either from the portal or freshman recruiting.
Texas will need a new starting halfback too, but for now the key will likely be on defense. For Texas to return to dominating the Big XII from rival Oklahoma, the defense in general will need to improve. When Himoteo Del Este is lurking in your conference, the answer will never be easy. But Texas AD Ryan Moreland has proved himself before. Now it is time for him to try to do it again.
Texas A&M Aggies – Front Seven (Defensive Line/Linebackers)
The Aggies have been a force ever since Kade Padgett got to town. Two National Championship appearances aren’t easy, especially for a team that historically was far from a force. But Texas A&M has a lot of work to do this offseason. The Big XII is not getting any easier. And the Aggies have 12 graduations, among the most of any team in the CFSL.
Nowhere are the losses more apparent than at the front of the defense. Almost everyone is gone, and that leaves an immense amount of work to do for the staff in College Station. Even worse, rival Texas has similar holes to fill. Once again, it seems the Aggies and Longhorns must compete with each other for players, among many other national rivals, too. It should be another great story to recruit this offseason.
USC Trojans – Safety
USC is an interesting case this offseason. The National Championships are not too far in the rearview mirror, yet. But this season was a stumble, and now the Trojans have work to do this offseason to get back to those highs. While nine graduations are a lot, AD Jacob Cobb has built this team well. Almost every spot with a graduation has someone already on the roster ready to step in next season. But at safety, only three 3 stars remain.
5-star FS Morgan Winters graduates, and I think that spot will be wide open for improvement this offseason. Depending on how many 3 stars Cobb elects to keep, USC could see a completely transformed position group there next season. Safety has always been one of the toughest positions to go after each offseason, so for USC, this will be the biggest key to getting back to where the Trojans want to be.
Virginia Tech Hokies – Quarterback
Virginia Tech is our final team with a new AD, with Nate Schnier officially being given the permanent status for the job this offseason. Four players are true seniors for the Hokies. They are 5-star QB Saint Major, 4-star CB Augustus Gravley, 5-star FS Ziggy Zelinski, and K Shane Kit. There is no question that Saint Major is going to leave the biggest hole through his graduation.
Major was a force for the Hokies in the ACC, and powered multiple playoff runs in his time in Blacksburg. This offseason, as we’ve discussed, has multiple big-name teams with QB openings. Replacing Major will not be easy. But it is the first big test in his permanent position for Schnier. This offseason could set the tone for the VT future moving forward. No pressure, Nate.
West Virginia Mountaineers – Halfback/Wide Receiver
West Virginia has a lot to work to do after going 1-7 this season. No one knows that better than WVU AD Nate Murphy. Six players graduate this season, and that includes two safeties in 5-star Brent Dale and Elwood Gray. But while the safety position will be important and a focus for the WVU staff, I’d argue offense is the key area this offseason for WVU to work on.
QB CJ Yost is a talented QB, but he loses three offensive pieces this offseason. HB Keith Samuels, WR Hunter Dowell, and WR Jay Pittman all graduate as 5 stars. That leaves no HBs on the roster, and only two scholarship WRs too. This is a tough competition for many guys that West Virginia will have to make do with. The Mountaineers are a team with potential. But to build on that, they will have to get to work this offseason.
