Looking ahead to 2022 / 2022 early rankings

Cougar Football
1

I think we can safely say that 2021 was a significant year in the building of Dana Holgorsen’s program. He finally has the roster depth issues that plagued his first two years behind him for the most part, and has a great core of contributors returning for what will likely be the Coogs last year in the AAC. Let’s look ahead to who is scheduled to return in 2022, and what the coaching staff needs to target in the transfer portal.

Returning starters, offense
QB Clayton Tune, Senior
RB Alton McCaskill, Sophomore
WR Tank Dell, Junior
TE Christian Trahan, Senior
OT Patrick Paul, Sophomore
OG Tank Jenkins, Junior

Returning contributors, offense
RB Ta’Zhawn Henry, Senior
WR Ke’Sean Carter, Senior
WR Peyton Sawyer, Junior
C Jack Freeman, Junior
OG Cam’Ron Johnson, Sophomore

Offensive Newcomers (Portal and freshman)
Transfers
WR Sam Brown, West Virginia
WR Joseph Manjack, USC
WR Brice Johnson, Ole Miss
TE Logan Compton, New Mexico Military Institute
WR Willie McCoy, Kilgore JC

Freshmen
WR Matthew Golden
C Demetrius Hunter
WR CJ Nelson
G Tevin Shaw
T Karson Jones
TE Bryan Henry
TE Trent McGaughey
K Trevor Helburg

Returning starters, defense
BANDIT Derek Parish, Senior
NG Chidozie Nwankwo, Sophomore
MLB Donovan Mutin, Senior
BS Hasaan Hypolite, Jr.
FS Gervarrius Owens, Sr.

Returning contributors, defense
DE D’Anthony Jones, Senior
BANDIT Nelson Ceaser, Sophomore
DT Sedrick Williams, Junior
DT Atlias Bell, Senior
DT Latrell Bankston, Senior
NG Jamykal Neal, Senior
LB Malik Robinson, Senior
LB Mannie Nunnery, Sophomore
LB Elijah Gooden, Senior
NB Amaud Willis-Dalton, Sr.
CB Jayce Rogers, Sr.
CB DJ Small, Sr.
CB Art Green, Sr.
CB Alex Hogan, Sr.
S Garrison Vaughn, Jr.
S Antonio Brooks, Jr.
S Thabo Mwaniki, Sr.

Defensive Newcomers, portal and freshmen
Transfers
LB Jamal Morris, Oklahoma
LB Trimarcus Cheeks, Samford
CB Moses Alexander, Kilgore JC
DE Zykeius Strong, Hutchinson CC
DE Nadame Tucker, Hutchinson CC
DT Amipeleasi Fifita, Independence CC
CB Abdul Lateef-Audu, College of the Canyons

Freshmen
DT Anthony Holmes, Spring Westfield
LB Treylin Payne, Converse Judson
CB Dorian Friend, Spring
DE Quardale Patt, Stafford

18 Likes
2

TC10: Thank you for that analysis and overview. Of that long list on the defense how many of those are projected to be contributors next year? Depth is always a concern and has been one of the issues that CDH has had to address. Are we in dire need of filling any defensive positions other than cornerback?
What does the transfer portal inventory hold for offensive linemen?
I hope we can get the TCU running back. What are our chances there?

3 Likes
3

Thankfully, we return both CDH and CDB.

17 Likes
4

Very good summary

3 Likes
5

Great breakdown. The D is going to be very good again.
We have Moses at CB and T med as a rush end joint the program this spring.
We can never have enough guys who can cover but this group looks really solid from top to bottom.

The additions through the portal this off season should primarily focus on offense.

We need OL and the need is to add starters.

I am unsure about the need at RB after AMC. This spring will be interesting.

WR seems to end a focal point. We have one of the best with a few solid players around him but I think we would like 2-3 guys who can come in and contribute immediately. With our FR joining the program this spring I hope he will be an option.

3 Likes
6

IMO we could use some size at WR to compliment the smaller guys.

3 Likes
7

Yes if they can play. We have had some good ones like Dunbar and Iglesias but even they were possession receivers. Good often the big receivers are just that ONLY bigger. Give me speed and I will be happy.

1 Like
8

We need another big RB.

8 Likes
9

I hope we can sign Doug Brooks. He would compliment AMC and Henry well.

1 Like
10

I was concerned about TE but you have Trahan returning. That is huge. Do we have any other TE on the roster who could plug into that second spot.
D looks deep. Still losing our best CBs has me concerned.

2 Likes
11

We brought in a JUCO TE named Matt Byrnes last off-season that had good tape that is 6’6”. I hope he develops because he could help block and be a nice target to offset Trahan.

4 Likes
12

13-1

13

14-0 or 15-0 :sunglasses:

14

The bigger of the Brooks brothers from Shiner?

I know he played some RB but I thought he was coming in as a DL?

1 Like
15

All of the guys I listed on defense project to contribute in 2022, unless someone enters the portal late. I wouldn’t say that we have a “dire” need anywhere from a portal standpoint outside of quarterback. Two of our three JUCO signees are on the defensive side of the ball, one a CB, so they should be able to contribute right away.

A couple more guys to keep an eye on in the portal:
QB Deuce Hogan, Iowa
Hogan went to HS at Grapevine Faith Christian, and had an offer from this staff coming out of HS in 2020. There are some physical similarities to Clayton Tune (size, arm strength, etc.) Probably would be more open to coming in and sitting behind Tune for a year than Cam Ward would be.

OL Rafiti Ghirmai, Texas
Ghirmai went to HS at Frisco Wakeland, and had an offer from UH out of HS in 2018. Only has one year to play, but can play guard or tackle.

2 Likes
16

As was mentioned, we have Matt Byrnes, as well as Dekalen Goodson, behind Trahan at TE. Also, we have a couple 215-220 pound guys who are currently “inside receivers”, Ja’Kori Morgan and Darius Edmonds, who could probably put on 15-20 pounds and play TE.

1 Like
17

Linemen.

Get more.

Then get another one.

8 Likes
18

Outstanding work. Much obliged.

2 Likes
19

Only thing I’d change is I’d call Cameron a starter he’s the one who played most of the minutes at the end of the year at G. He beat out Murphy and was significantly better all year. Also Carter starts at WR. Hogan is also a starter at CB, we play nickel so he plays on the outside and Jones was in the slot a lot. But man we have a lot of depth and people returning. After this game I’m confident in our CB for next year. We still need to add depth there and get a slot CB. We also need a consistent WR2 and backup RB. I think our team will be even better next year, tune has made big jumps every year so I think he will again and he will be healthy and have his legs all year

21

We will also be working in Beatles and Lawrence in the DL rotation .
Working in Guidry and Golden into wr. We also have Street, he is a bigger tarted that looked pretty good at the end of 20 but didn’t get in much in 21 .