Next season may be our best shot since WWII...
This becomes clear when you sit down and start looking at the numbers and what we are returning, as well as adding, to the roster.
-On offense, we are losing 4 guys who have started atleast one game:
WR Gabe Myles (10 GS)
WR Donald Gray (21 GS)
LT Martinas Rankin (17 GS)
TE Jordan Thomas (4 GS)
-Looking at the 4 offensive guys we are losing, each of their respective positions are returning a guy who has had a start at that position.
WR:
Losing- Gabe Myles(10 GS), Donald Gray(21 GS)
Returning- Keith Mixon(8 GS), Jesse Jackson(7 GS), Reggie Todd(3 GS), Jamal Couch (2 GS)
Adding- Malik Heath, Stephen Guidry, Devonta Jason(probably)
LT:
Losing- Martinas Rankin(17 GS)
Returning- Greg Eiland(4 GS)
TE:
Losing- Jordan Thomas(4 GS)
Returning- Farrod Green(12 GS)
-On Defense, we are losing 4 guys that have started atleast 1 game.
S JT Gray (17 GS)
MLB Dez Harris (11 GS)
CB Tolando Cleveland (19 GS)
CB Lashard Durr (11 GS)
-Looking at the 4 defensive guys we are losing, each of their respective positions are returning a guy who has had a start at that position.
Safety:
Losing- JT Gray(17 GS)
Returning- Brandon Bryant(26 GS), Mark McLaurin(17 GS), Johnathon Abram(5 GS)
MLB:
Losing- Dez Harris(11 GS)
Returning- Leo Lewis(19 GS), Errol Thompson(1 GS)
CB:
Losing- Tolando Cleveland(19 GS), Lashard Durr(11 GS)
Returning- Jamal Peters(8 GS), Chris Rayford(8 GS)
Looking at what the offense returns:
-the offense returns 13 guys that have started atleast 1 game with a combined 128 games started.
-The WR corp is returning 4 guys that have started atleast 1 game with a combined 20 games started.
-The TE corp is returning 1 guys that has started atleast 1 game in Farrod Green who has started 11 games.
-We know the QB situation, returning Fitz who has started 23 games.
-the RB group returns 2 guys who have started a game in Aeris Williams and Nick Gibson who have a combined 14 games started.
-the OL group is returning 6 guys who have started atleast 1 game in Stewart Reese, Deion Calhoun, Darryl Williams, Elgton Jenkins, Greg Eiland, and Michael Story who have started a combined 68 games.
Looking at what the defense returns:
-the defense returns 13 guys that have started atleast 1 game with a combined 152 games started.
-The safety group is returning 3 guys who have started atleast 1 game in Brandon Bryant, Mark McLaurin, and Johnathon Abram, who have started a combined 48 games.
-The Dline group is losing no one who has started a single game, and returns Montez Sweat, Jeff Simmons, Cory Thomas, Fletcher Adams, and Braxton Hoyett who have started a combined 45 games.
-the Cornerback group is returning Jamal Peters and Chris Rayford who have combined for 16 games started.
-the Linebacker corp returns Gerri Green, Leo Lewis and Errol Thompson who have combined for 43 games started.
-Looking at the big picture, we return 26 guys that have started atleast 1 game with a combined 280 games started. That's a pretty eye popping number.