With the coaching change and the recent recruiting panic attacks, it is easy to forgot what we have returning next year on both sides of the ball. While we may not get the credit we deserve due to the coaching change, there is no doubt that we will have a top 10 team on paper next year. Here is a look at the production we have returning on both sides of the ball:

OFFENSE:
-Returning 107 of 132 (81%) starts from 2017.
-Returning 2998 of 3005 (99.8%) rushing yards from 2017
-Returning 566 of 568 (99.6%) rushing attempts from 2017
-Returning 26 of 26 (100%) rushing touchdowns from 2017
-Returning 1512 of 2043 (74%) receiving yards from 2017
-Returning 127 of 180 (71%) receptions from 2017
-Returning 693 of 748 (92.6%) offensive touches from 2017
-Returning 4511 of 5048 (89.4%) total offensive yards from 2017.
-Returning 35 of 43 (81.4%) offensive touchdowns from 2017
-Returning every member of the backfield.
-Returning 4 of 5 starting offensive linemen, as well as a Left tackle who started 4 games this year.


DEFENSE:
-Returning 98 of 132 (74.2%) starts from 2017.
-Returning 631 of 783 (81%) tackles from 2017
-Returning 67.5 of 74 (91.2%) TFL from 2017.
-Returning 27 of 30 (90%) sacks from 2017.
-Returning 7 of 9 (78%) interceptions from 2017.
-Returning 12 of 14 (86%) forced fumbles from 2017.
-Returning 8 of 8 (100%) fumble recoveries from 2017.
-Returning all but one contributor from the front 7.


Essentially, we lose 8 contributors/starters. 4 on the offensive side (Rankin, Donald Gray, Gabe Myles, and Jordan Thomas) and 4 on the defensive side (JT Gray, Dez Harris, Tolando Cleveland, and Lashard Durr). In the last four games of the season, these 8 guys combined for only 16 of a possible 32 starts. All eight of these guys sat or were injured at some point of the season, and a returning player filled their spot without a noticeable downgrade.

I can say somewhat confidently that the 2017 team (with a fully committed coach) would have gone 8-4, 7-5 at worst without the 8 guys that are graduating. When you consider this, and then throw in Chauncey Rivers, Lee Autry, Brian Cole, J. Landrews and others on the defensive side, and Malik Heath, Stephen Guidry, Whop, Malik Dear, Austin Williams, Tyree Phillips and Tommy Champion among others on the offensive side, we may just have the best combination of talent and experience in Maroon and White ever.

Put all of this on paper, except put LSU's name on top, and you are looking at a preseason top 5-10 team.