AROTC 325: Behind Enemy Lines

0:46 Welcome back, boundary Corner podcast, along with my partner in crime. Brian Scott, Sigler, what's up? Curtis Wilson, Brian. How are you today? Big guy. I am good, buddy. I'm good. It is a nice Thursday night here. We're recording. Got a bruin hand. Got a little bit of water rolling to been a long day. Been working on. School, work and work work and everything else in between, but it's it's coming to an end. So how about you buddy enjoying a nice little gin and tonic here tonight. It's been a very long day, Brian. Don because I took PTO today, no.

1:28 And, you know, as you get older, PTO becomes less and less fun. Even get asked by somebody when I asked him to back me up at work, hey we'll be out there. You're probably doing something fun like no, I'm really not. Yeah, power wash. Seeing and sealing, my deck, nice man all day today between me and the wife. We were taking stuff off power, washing the deck and I'm tired. I got to seal it so I'm gonna go to Home Depot in the morning. Get that stuff. Hope to goodness it dried out especially after the rain storms tonight but we lost power for a little bit so yeah it was pretty heavy coming through the night buddy. Oh yeah it was. You must have got the one a little later. We got the one that Afternoon battle stop right in the middle of it.

2:13 And you know it's summer though. This is what we like, nice. So yeah, summer, we got both on. We got the we got the like the 3:00. ER, and then like right after five the big one came through buddy. Well, glad you got power back. Now I'm assuming since we recorded. Yeah yeah I was only out for about 30 minutes. Okay. That's not bad at all. Not bad at all. So yeah, so folks we're just doing Dad life stuff, working deal with power outages, putting kids to bed. All sorts of fun stuff here, but today what we're going to be taking a look at is we are going Behind Enemy Lines. What does that mean? We're taking a look at the four ACC opponents that we are playing on the road this year.

2:57 Road matchups in the conference fellows, buddy. And let me tell you, it's some some very interesting and intriguing matchups, probably many of you know who were playing, but we're going to get into some details and some things we're seeing and how we feel about. Mmm. But before we get into all that, we do have quite a list of some few things to hit in. Brian, I'm gonna throw the first big one at you man. 6 foot 4 to 25 out of st. Peter's prep in Jersey City, New Jersey quarterback, ties. Bullet commits how you feeling about it. That definitely takes a big sting out of the DDD commitment. I like this kid. I watched this film. He's got kind of similar to him and hookers. Style, especially both size.

3:44 And what do you think? What to do? As a prospect coming out of high school? So especially through his junior year, at least to this point, he's got a pretty live arm, he can he's athletic, he can run around, he's good at making throws on the Run, needs to clean up his mechanics a little bit and I think that's going to be the big thing. But, you know, look at our quarterback room. He's got some time to do that. So there's nothing really negative about this. Pick up. No, not at all into Point like you given you hit me up and you talked about all the stuff you like. But you mentioned the mechanics, they mean you kind of had this conversation. Well you got hinted this year and next year you still got Quincy he'd still have some eligibility left.

4:26 Some really 2023 is the earliest, the guy could be on the field. So he's got potentially multiple years in Blacksburg to clean those mechanics up. So yeah, I love the size because you know, you can talk About mechanics and some of the stuff he does good. But dude to be a High School, junior, six-foot-four your 225, they don't make many of those. They, you know, you can look at Demetrius Davis and he is an unbelievable Talent, Demetrius, and, father love than about 195 pounds. He's what you typically seeing and any High School level, but this kid is kind of like, whoa, he could walk in through a group of grown, man, and you be like, let's see like 30.

5:08 Oh my gosh, the other thing, One the that I cannot think of the league. It's been mentioned one of the big boys up in New Jersey as a junior. LED that team to the State title. Yeah, that's a big thing because everyone was talking about, you know, the meteors Davis having that winning pedigree. So nice, kind of, if we're going to have to fill in that that void that was created by Him, be committing, it's nice to have another guy that has that proven level of playing, not only big-time High School football, but being able to win a state championship doing it, absolutely man. And And I really like to pick up to its it helps you know, helps kind of quarterback now asset. We've got it locked in, we can go put the resources elsewhere and we did put the resources elsewhere. Brian VA to VT kalai Lawson out of the valley, Stephen City, the 6 foot 4 2005, athlete tell me what you saw on him. I know some of his takes a little old because he was injured last year, but what do you see from this again? Except for 205 pounds and he's a junior. Yeah, let's read it out here.

6:15 We're talking about Out from a just a raw perspective. He's got the similar type of traits and build that Tremaine Edmunds had all. Don't don't say this game. We're talking about, I'm not saying that we're going to get to that level, but in terms of build, and in terms of athletic traits, he could get there. And I mean, right now he's his ranking on 24/7 and in general is lowered as you stated because of that, those injuries that they've been dealing, with this guy's probably going to see his his stock climb a lot this year, especially if he puts that are really productive year. So look for that to work in our favor because right now some of these Rankings are pulling, are particularly Lawson's and Belichick. The the kid from Germany, those two rankings are pulling down our class average a little bit but I think his is going to go up a good amount.

7:12 I don't think we're going to see any change much in the on the German kids ranking but look for him to climb a little bit and that's going to help our overall ranking. So this kid's got really good measurables and just watching him play, he's an athlete to be as big. He is, I'll say this man and I'm glad you mentioned it because a lot of people have mentioned him on edge and mentioned him on edge because of that 64, because of that frame. But I'm with you. I see a kid, he played, I think he played the three in basketball. He done some track and field like the long jump. I believe this this guy and you talked about looking at Tremaine I think Tremaine was six foot four, I think 220 coming up.

7:55 So slightly bigger already had the pounds on him, but you No, the frames there and you see some of those workouts I'm with you. I think me and you're on the same page. Don't put him on the edge. Let him play linebacker because that's where you're going to get your most bang for your buck. You've already got some guys at defensive. End coming in some young guys. Make this the next Tremaine make this your next first round. Talented linebacker. So yeah so Brian so we've got one from the r-va right? Yes yes. And we got one from over in the valley, down the mountains. I'm Stephen city. Right, there we go. We got one way up in Northern Virginia, right in the engine.

8:40 So we take a drive down 95 from a mr. Strohman house, and we pull up in the North Stafford football power there and we get another one cornerback Sean Asbury. The second out of North Staffordshire hate kind of similar to Lawson got injured last year during the season and that ranking. It's kind of hurting us but you look at some of this tape. I know you did Brian. He an 84. Now this guy's going to be someone that I think can come in and he's going to kind of be the natural successor, I think maybe two chimoree Connor. He's going to be that whip nickel type player, but he in a pinch, you can play outside. So I think that's the that's the big thing. Look with this guy.

9:21 And again, we're talking about Trends, we're talking about these versatile players, you know, you look at Lawson. That's a guy that I think is going to project his As a as a backer but could put his hand in the dirt Asbury. A guy that can play the nickel but also probably in a pinch slip outside. So when you're looking at the depth that we're trying to build here we're looking at those versatile players, I really like what we're doing here and Asbury I think as we've said is going to be a guy that's going to see his rankings go up as he gets a productive senior year and there hopefully Absolutely, I know you're you mentioned Nikolai. No, I think he's played Safety. Kind of letting his athleticism and letting his ball hawk in nature.

10:05 Take advantage of in the high school level, which is awesome to see. But I'm really hoping they move them outside, because right now, we don't have one of those guys sort of the depths of little little, little bit shaky there. The DJ just we're not even going to mention now. That just put on this program. Hold on, Brian. I'm taking this step because that angered me, so much stuff about grilling him and him knocking the video breaks down that of the ballpark and I love it, but Brawn, there's our buddy, Jason long song says I almost gave up drinking Three commits in like ten days it's like we are on fire and on the hold Wednesday happened and he is not our 24/7, highest-rated guy, but our composite highest-rated guy.

11:12 Got me. And you both kind of in love with six foot three. 315 tyus at Arkansas, D commits, you know, you told me. Brian tried to soften the blow, right? You said it even even after DDD committed. He's like I don't I don't like to ask Martin. He's like I feel like he sort of got his hand on the door you told me that. Yeah so so when Dedede committed I was like I think we're looking at Neville probably having one foot out the door and ties Martin probably has his hand on the door now if we're going to use some metaphors here so that was that was kind of what I saw ultimately both of them. I was hoping that the combination of T and T would be enough to keep keep barging in the boat where as Neville didn't have.

12:06 I think that's somewhat type of relationship with the staff that Martin may had even though, you know, both of those guys haven't had any sort of official visit at Virginia Tech yet, but you know, you took a turn and, you know, it's disappointing because we're looking situations where, you know, the writing is on the wall. But at the same time, these guys got in for A reason we need to be better about keeping them committed, despite some of the things that are going on outside that that we can't control. Yeah, it's 100% true man. I think the staff and now that this happened multiple times. Again, if you're recruiting for one guy, he's going to be your linchpin. You can't recruit like that.

12:46 I think. Hopefully, what happens is we see some self-reflection on on this now. Another type of hashtags. There you go. Don't hype up hash Eggs, figure out what the kid really wants to commit to, you know, sometimes the hype gets going, there's 17 year old 18 year, old kids hide can happen. They can commit and then to three months later. Yeah, so yeah. Um, but I'm just gonna run down, but I'm sure you saw it. Although highest decommitted Todd leak Williams in his top six, like the way we look on that because that's another big guy with some real good skill and again. Then like Taya style leak would probably come in day one and start playing.

13:30 So true that we just got, we just got a crystal ball thrown in their entire week, so that's trending in our Direction. Obviously, sometimes crystal balls, you can take them for what they're worth if it's not close to a kid committing. So it's definitely taken with a grain of salt. But it wasn't someone that is the Hokey Insider so that definitely, you know, gives a little I think a little No more Credence than than, what a typical crystal ball ranking would would give their so we shall see, but I feel like we're at least in good in good position. A lot of its going to depend on how serious some of the the bigger dogs in this race that are in that top, six are about getting him to take. And obviously, the relationship that he has with the coaching staff, overall and tap and tear linked in particular. 100% man hundred percent on that.

14:27 I ate Braun sports are finally coming back, brother. Last part has been going. We've got some good golf tournaments baseball's. Finally. Agreed, let's not baseball figured something out. I swear, man, that was such a frustrating thing to watch and follow man. Oh, it's so much was it was such a pain in the ass because, you know, it's nothing. It's posturing and you know, whose side do you want to fall on? Let's just not get into that but it's coming back and about the time. It comes back in about a month from now. The NBA will Starry starting up. The NHL will be starting back up. Whoa, buddy.

15:09 Um, go ahead be a week or two in the camp we could to into Camp college. Football camp will be getting kicked off the two-week, free Camp. So here's what I'm going to say. Brian, all you guys who are married have girlfriends that. Listen. To us, honey. Do list. Anything get them done in the next four weeks. Because when this thing starts up, its going to be a rocket ship, and it's going to be insane to a honey-do list, get your deck finished, all these things that your wife wants you to do them now or you're going to be the guy when it's like NBA playoff oh Saturday NBA playoff at 3:30 some awesome golf tournament would tiger and Phil on holy crap.

15:55 Wait a second, the NHL playoffs are on. Oh my God, and My favorite baseball team is playing, what am I supposed to do? You're gonna be stuck in the yard if you don't get that stuff done. Now you know you know a lot of this stuff is coming through. You need to get it done by the end of July. Yeah my anniversary is July 24 so get it done by my anniversary. Brian's going to sacrifice on the sword for those first open and days, my anniversary is not far behind yours and early. Part of August, and the weekend of our anniversary, we actually have a wedding to go to Nice. So it just kind of work out but don't have stuff like that on the horizon. Get your stuff done now.

16:38 All right, Brian. Let's let's, let's put on some camo, you don't black face paint. Mark it up. Like, we're getting into the woods here because we are going Behind Enemy Lines today and dropped off into the shit. You say my friend, but we're ready to go. Go in life Braun lets me and you get in the car, let's get down 95. Let's try about two and a half hours. Let's Get on 40, kick a little bit east and who get to Durham and let's start in Chapel Hill with the University of North Carolina, Tar Heels and Brawn. I take a look that returning some folks, man, 17 total starters, returning 10 on offense. Seven on defense and they didn't lose that much. But I know there's a couple guys you saw that you kind of want to hit on about who they lost.

17:35 Yes. The big one offense. I mean you mentioned the 10 returning starters the one that's not is a big one and that's Charlie. Heck offensive tackle. Got drafted by Houston. He's going to be the one to watch because he's the guy that was the primary protector for Sam. How long those passing downs. And with this type of offense, three swings, the ball. Around a lot that's going to be something to watch and see if they're able to do something to plug in that spot for for 2020. So that's going to be the big little office. We've got a couple of Defense. I want to highlight Jason strobridge the defensive, tackle was drafted by the Dolphins. He was 13 male CC in 2019, going to be hard to replace. That production here.

18:19 Forty five, tackles and 4 sacks. And then we also had miles Dorn. And set safety, they all eat. CC, honorable mention and he had 83 tackles in 2019, which was third on the team. So, those are the big three key departures that we're going to get that UNC is going to need to replace the biggest would be Charlie. Heck being the only departing guy on offense whatever to keep position. Yeah, that's big because you're talking about protecting house Blindside. I mean that was his first year and I tell you you have somebody out there that's getting NFL looks and gets drafted in the NFL as a quarter. You don't think about getting smashed from The Blind Side. But here's the piece I say, Brian at defense.

19:01 Wasn't that good in from what you're giving us here? Is their kind of losing two leaders and you can say all you want. Yeah. But you know Talent leadership still very important on the defensive side of the ball they weren't that good last year. Losing two guys, one gets drafted one and honorable mention ACC. I'm very interested to see if they will rebound. But Brian I'll say this man. They got some Talent. We take a look at the 24/7 recruiting class rankings 2017. There were Twenty Ninth, twenty eighteen, they were 20th, 2019. They were 30th. So there is some Talent, still there, you know, still on the, on the roster. And who?

19:44 Who's your key? Who your key guys? I'm no one's going to be the obvious couples will be. Obviously, it's kind of some guys that you feel if North Carolina's Gonna Stand from, They were seven and six. They weren't eight, nine, ten win team. They were a seven and sixteen and literally every game came down to the razor thin margin. Yeah. And that's what we're looking at. And I think it's going to start with, you know, can they carry that offensive momentum that they had in 2019 over into 2020? That's going to start with Sam. How freshman All-American quarterback, ACC Rookie of the Year, third team, all-acc stats out the roof. For a freshman 3641 yards and 38 touchdowns. Can he take the next step, whatever that looks like, you know, compared to those numbers and be more consistent. I think the consistency is going to be the thing because I think you get a couple games we're in.

20:42 Crunch time, he wasn't always the same player that he was, you know, throughout the game. So I think we saw that, you know, in Even in our game once hooker went down and keep Eagles in. Are you know that was the game that probably could have went the other way very easily and we were able to fight that one off and win it. It should have went the other way because not only did h.h. go down, Willis made this huge screw-up and Farley was down in the second half of that game. So they couldn't be this without starting quarterback and potentially actually not potentially. One of the highest-rated Corners in the country, very interesting on that. But Brian, I'm gonna go with some you said here, I mean, it's almost like a fantasy football. I'm looking at his stats here.

21:32 Regression has to happen to say, I mean, if he goes above thirty eight touchdowns, thirty-six hundred yards this year, he's not playing for them. After next season, he will be in the NFL, there's won't even be a question, but he's definitely got some good targets. He's got the, you got some good Target? So that, I mean, the big one obviously is going to be the Ami Brown. He was 30 All ACC he led the team in touchdowns at the wide receiver position with 12 and he was over a thousand yards receiving. So that's the big one. The other one that we know a lot more about unfortunately is Das Newsome. 757 products heavily recruited by the Hokies, but, you know, he's down there and in Chapel Hill, he was second-team, all-acc little bit lower on the touchdown in yards, ranking then. Brown.

22:25 He had thousand 18 and 10 touchdowns but that kids a playmaker, he makes plays all over the field and that's a dynamic one-two punch as you're going to see in the ACC. Absolutely. And we know the dads new something 757 dad went to Tech, I can't remember is beyond brother or cousin, the lineage was there. It was. This is our guy, we miss on him Tommy Brown. Same way out of Charlotte. Um, you know, he's a A four-star coming out. And literally, when he came down to decision time, it was between us and Carolina. And he went to Carolina. So, you know, you look at Brown, you talk about those 12 touchdowns. The guys are 62 guy, he's a big body guy. So makes a lot of sense but on the other side of the ball run. So the big one on the other side of the bar, we're going to talk about its chest to rot.

23:19 Linebacker last season, he was first team all-acc and runner-up ACC defensive player of the year before spray. It last year. He was a quarterback. Yes he was. So talk about going from being a quarterback on on the depth chart to being a cc runner-up for for defensive player of the year, in less than a calendar. Year is a pretty impressive feat there. Sure, I'll be one second in the ACC and tackles with 115. So I mean this guy can make plays all over the field. He's Dynamic probably other than Rook is the only other linebacker that I would say you know, is going to give him a run in terms of total tackles this year.

24:04 So look for him to make some noise on that defense and be that leader. That's going to step up with some of the departing leaders that are that are now. He's either in the NFL or lost to graduation. Are you give that kid all the credit in the world was actually pretty good, ready quarterback coming out and he makes that switch in and be essentially steps, you know, not only in into a solid role but excels at it shows you he's a football player, not just a specific quarterback wide receiver. One of you want to say and I again he they CC co-defensive player of the year last year defensive player of the year and they still work. Terrible on defense.

24:50 Yeah, and again he's a linebacker. All right, you mentioned the guy that's getting drafted just before is he going to be able to Excel without somebody up front? Making that kind of Havoc like strobridge did I'm very a lot of people are very bullish on North Carolina right now. Brian I'm bear because they had all the elements last year because they it was soon. Under to Louisville, who will discuss later. They were a bad team, they quit on their coach, it doesn't take much if a guy can come in and motivate good players to have a turnaround, it really doesn't.

25:32 But um, how about this Brian? I'm talking bearish, I'm getting ahead of myself here, who some guys that maybe have been behind the curtain that have to emerge if they're going to improve upon their seven and six record. So if we're talking What about some of the reason why people are jumping on this UNC bandwagon part of this got to do with their 20s and what they wanted done. So far the 21 class but with the 20 class which method number one, ranked defensive player Desmond Evans, North Korea on a product.

26:12 They're looking for him to have an instant impact. Your one on, he's going to be a guy that can that that's up front. That's going to be able to make some plays. For them. So that's going to be step one for them. If he can come in and be an incident that player that's going to shore up some of the problems they have on the long that they're their defensive front talking about some other guys. Let's look at camera on Kelly who we also know a little bit about Oh yes, camera on Kelly. Let's see, committed to text decommitted recommence to Auburn these Auburn after the spring to recommit to North Carolina. Yeah, yeah. It's a fun time, huh?

26:53 But he did play in five games last year and gotten to the point where he was in the starting role before he went down with an injury. So he's going to look to step into a key role at safety for them 2020. And then we've got good ol stormed. Duchess either, the best of the worst cornerback name in history. He came on late in the season. He posted non-starch last year, cornerback started a couple games I say people I think, but finished off at quarterback he's looking a lockdown that position this year. That's going to be important for them to stop the passing game. Like I said, I think they're setting the linebacker position but they've got some question marks in the in the secondary.

27:36 And they got some question marks up front, whether they can You know replace trowbridge's production of defensive tackle and whether it has been Evans can come in and be an instant impact player. Yeah, storm. Ducks going to me be a real key and not only because he's a quarterback but more or less, it's kendre blast each Corners how to play the game of football, you can give this first year and say, Hey, you know, we're we're going to give him a pass because for the simple fact, this was his first year ever coaching. We get it that that's not too crazy on the other kid. Yep, you're going from high school to college first year. He's got a good bill, 66 to 45.

28:27 I've been trying to research it here. I'm not sure what Lee County is. As far as play goes. I was just like a to a or a one, a school where he was the biggest kid out there, he's going to look Diamond it Because you should, that's something very interesting. I'd like to know, we should probably dial in Robbie Compton right now. He'd probably be able to tell us in three seconds. What Lee County is it? Is it essentially in one of those higher higher leagues where it's like, oh, you're playing studs are like do a, if he ain't dominating at that level then there's a lot of problems. So there we go.

29:11 All right, Brian, do you wanna get back in the car? Let's get back in the car, man. Worried in, let's get on 40. Let's say that eight miles up the road. Let's head down to Duke. The Blue Devils. But man, that was a tough game to watch last year. I don't even take another sip. Yeah, since 9:00 defense. So, with some experience coming back. As much as I hate. He put it on this last year, love. Cutting those out of coach.

29:54 But Brian they obviously they've lost a few starters, what where's there? Some of the key, guys? They lost that that might might slow them down from getting back into a Bowl this year. So I mean, if you watch Duke every, you know that, you know, they're sound all around. But they generally have a pretty good front seven on defense and that's what they're losing a couple key components of here, defensive tackle. Khaled GE, Sarah Nord, he was probably their best interior player last year. They've lost him also trade, hornbuckle defensive in had 34 tackles and 4 sacks last year. They rotate a lot of guys.

30:37 So a lot of guys, get some time on that defense of wide. But he was kind of the big playmaker in terms of getting a lot of snaps but also making some plays. And Kobe Kwanzaa, who's the linebacker? He was the emotional leader on the field for them. That that's definitely a big presence that's going to be missed for them. He was all ACC 1305, tackles, including 13 against us and that god-awful game we played against them. And he was also fourth in the ACC, four tackles per game. So he's a playmaker, he's a guy who can get out there and get it done and they're gonna definitely miss him this year. Yeah, and you defense was pretty good last year, especially if on that front seven, as you mentioned, it's something they're always good at again.

31:23 David cutcliffe, man. What can, what can you say about the guy? But it's do, the expectations are low. They kind of could sneak up on you and Ron, the recruiting, it's never been out of this world. I mean, the 2017 class was 47. 20 1863, 20, 1949, but cut tried. He tries to find football players. He tries to find fits But who's coming back to who could make the think there are 47 or 48 in a 4.7 who can put them to 67 wins and get them back into a bowl. Who are you? Feeling is some of their key returning starters. So returning guys I mean they don't really have a whole lot of what you call big-name guys with the guys, I want to focus on. We got in particular Chris rumph the second Junior defensive end, he's getting a lot.

32:20 Of Pro Football Focus Buzz based on how he graded out across the board last year. He had six and a half sacks, even though he wasn't what you would call, a starting defensive end for the Blue Devils but he was a guy that was very much a specialist when it came to pass rushing. But he was all well enough. All around were when he graded out, he graded out very high. Only started one game so we'll see if he can be the guy that can impact every down and not just you. Those specialty type situations that he played a lot last year. Other guy want to look at is Noah gray, so he's been he's a tight end.

33:02 He was a team leader both on and off the field for them last year. Caught 51 Falls had three touchdowns almost say it again. Two of them were against Virginia Tech, so it seemed like all the key players on the Duke Squad had their best game against us last year. So, You know, it is what it is at this point but so no grades. Another got to look at to maybe take another step forward. Coming to a key role in that offense as they look to replace some key components. Despite returning a decent amount of on that side of the ball. They were also looking at Deon Jackson.

33:42 He's a, he's running back. He's going to be the key key running back to watch for them this year. He had six foot 141 yards and six touchdowns in 2019. This is going to look to improve upon that and become more of a consistent playmaker for them, but they probably will employ some level of platoon system at running back. Like, Most teens are doing now, but he's going to be the rb1, a, at least I got you, you know, offensively, I you never really kind of don't worry about Sutcliffe because cutcliffe will find a wrinkles every year a little different things to do. I can remember watching the Alabama game last year with with Quentin Harris and Corey comes out looking like Georgia Tech and for a quarter and a half. He had Alabama, completely befuddled. Now eventually Talent wins but I talked about a few minutes ago cut they're never going to have the highest ranking. Chris rumph is one of those guys man. I mean he was a three-star, an 82 grade coming out of Florida and now he's probably on the verge of getting drafted next year and it's just one of those things that's like How does this happen?

34:51 It's like David cutcliffe knows football. Now, Brian you mentioned, No Gray mentioned GI and Jackson. One of the big stories this year for Juke that kind of made. It did make it to a national level but for college football fans like ourselves, definitely made it. Cut went down to Clemson and he found him something. Yeah. So you know, other, some of those other key departures we talked about earlier, the big one is obviously Quinn. Harris starting quarterback last year, so they said, we need to find something here. So what they do, they got chase price, so he was backing up.

35:35 Trevor, Lawrence, looks like a guy that's definitely capable of stepping in and being a day. One starter for them. Obviously he's going to have some competition from from the other guy. On the depth chart there. But looks to step in and make his name known right away. Not a whole lot of stats on and other than garbage time, but the one key game he did play in was he led a comeback against Syracuse in 2018, when when Lawrence went down with the rich injury and that was right after Brian he put his name out there to transfer so it was a pretty big situation there that this guy pretty relative unknown stepped in and Got them a win in conference play there so that's definitely able to get the job done. And this is something just kind of Little off-topic Brian. But you know, when case price came out, he was essentially, he was like an eighty eighty-eight eighty-nine type rated guy. So right on the verge of being that forced our top 20 quarterback and he commits to Clemson who had already had at that point in time.

36:44 The number two rated quarterback. So it's one of those things people we talked about recruiting, sometimes it's like, dude, why are you going there? And then the next year, they get Trevor and the guy spends time on the bench, thankfully for him, there's transfer portals and there's ways to get out where you can share your talents. So I'm very interested to see Chase Bryce, but Brian, you wasn't great offense early last year they put it on us but they weren't typical cut put thing but They might have some other guys helping out, who do you? See helping potentially out on that offense. So the big ones going to be Jalan Calhoun, he had a good true freshman campaign at wide receiver in 2019 was kind of a guy that started to come on late as the season went on despite them having problems with being competitive in the ACC play other than when they played us but he's going to be looked on as as the key wide receiver for them in 2020 to step up especially with breaking in a new starting quarterback.

37:52 Quarterback. And in that same vein we're looking at a guy like Jacob monk who's going to be the key on that offensive line for the, he's gonna be the linchpin to kind of hold everything together and is going to have to count it on Big Time this season again. We're breaking in a new starting quarterback got to protect the the franchise as it were, so he's going to be leaned on heavily. Nice. All right. Um, do did have some coaching changes in the offseason, the offensive line, coach Jim Bridge, he resigned his position and it's taken over by Greg. Fry fries actually coming up from Florida, where he was an offensive analyst in 2019.

38:36 His last coaching role was in 2018 at FSU, as the Orion coach Run game coordinator. We've discussed before FS, you've had some offensive line struggles but you go back to 2017. I mean he was at Michigan where he was there tackle and tight end Coach also their run game coordinator. Now one of the key losses and it's very interesting when you see a guy get this sort of promotion, Derrick Jones was the defensive back coach free for Duke last year. He went to Texas Tech. He's now a co-defensive coordinator. He's been replaced by Chris Hampton who comes from Tulane. This is his first power 5, coaching gig Hampton did play collegiately at South Carolina and bring them around back up.

39:19 We missed UNC. Let's get back to go. Back to Capitol Hill for just a second. Their biggest only make one big change. Scott, Boone was let go as a special teams coordinator engine Van de Wit replaced him DeWitt comes over from Nebraska. He's also going to be the outside linebackers coach. He also was with frost during the undefeated season at UCF. Pretty good special teams coach coming over. So a good pickup by Mack Brown and them. So, yeah, so both teams making coaching changes. What do you feel about the coaching changes down in Dental Tobacco Road? So I think the Special Teams is going to be key because I think if UNC can Shore up some of the things they do on special teams to go with their offensive Improvement and hope and what they I'm sure they hope is going to be at least a step up on defense of production that could be scary. I'm not I'm not quite as bare as you are but I'm not in the the full-on Tar Heel height train that the majority of the college football writers are at Right now. So I'm somewhere in the middle.

40:32 Clap plastic me right there in the middle. But yeah, I think they're going to be a good team but I think you're right there and I think maybe maybe a team like pits going to be right there who were going to talk about here in a second. Terms of Duke. I don't, I'm not sure what type of impact that's going to be. Obviously, having a guy stepping into a power 5 gig for the first time is going to be something that could could be something to keep an eye on. So, I think that's definitely gonna potentially be a step down at that position, but we'll keep our eyes open and see what that looks like. Yeah, that's a big key to the first power 5, but I always find it interesting, though. When you lose a guy in the next thing, you know, he is title as a code, something whether Co offense or defense because it says, okay, if this guy did well enough to get in that type of position, what was he doing schematically or gameplay and wise with the old defensive coordinator? Because when you see a guy do that, it has Ben and coordinator for it usually says they put some responsibilities on him with his old team where he was well enough. And first enough to walk into another Palatine program and now we'll get a title which obviously is going to bring for responsibility more money.

41:54 All right, Brian. Let's get back in the car, man. Let's let's hit up 95. Let's get up to d.c. Let's hang a left on the Pennsylvania, Turnpike and head to pit. So the wonderful Pitt Panthers returning 17 starters, not on offense and on defense couple guys, man kind of didn't go the way of the NFL draft that people thought, so some very luck there but they did lose a few. Key guys. Yeah, so there's two there's two big ones that I want to point out the big one. The biggest one being Jane Jackson their corner back. There was drafted in the seventh round by the bills.

42:35 He was all-acc second-team last year so that's going to be a big blow for them in the secondary and then on the other side of the ball their key wide receiver or res French eight hundred fifty yards and four touchdowns in 2019 despite missing two games. One of them against Virginia Tech, he ended up getting picked up as much right to free agent by the chief. So those are two big big-time contributors one on each side of the ball that they're going to be missing out on next year. Yeah anytime you any time you lose a corner who gets drafted, you know that there was some potential chance chances are during weeks where it was like we don't have to worry about that size of the side of the field. So that's definitely a big loss for They bring a lot back on defense they also again it's pit they're not the biggest, they're not getting top 15 top 20 classes but again it's Narducci. Much like cutcliffe he finds Fitz, he makes it happen. Twenty Seventeen, Thirty seventh, ranked class twenty eighteen forty, eighth ranked class, the 2019, the 59th ranked class so it has been going down.

43:47 But Brian they return some Talent, man. Yeah, big-time Town, especially a couple guys here, I'll start with the big one, which is Jalen Twyman. What can you really say about this guy? 41, tackles and ten and a half sacks has an interior defensive, lineman and, 2019 second-team, All-American and first-team all-acc complete stud in that interior defense of wine. And, you know, looking to make an additional jump on those numbers coming into 2020. So that's Be the big one. And right next to him. There is going to be Patrick Jones. The second with 43 tackles and a teammate to have sex last year at the defensive end spot.

44:32 He was all second-team all-acc, making plays all over the field, good off the edge. So those are the big two in terms of getting pressure on the quarterback and that was really their Hallmark, their calling card last year was getting at the quarterback and that they were helped out a little bit by by safety. Paris for just coming back as well. First-team, all-acc, and looking to improve on that impressive, 2019 campaign, as well. So those are the big three on defense. Keep your eye out for in 2020. Absolutely. You look at Twyman in Paris forward, I think nor doozies, very lucky that those guys came back.

45:12 Twyman is ready to play it in FL level watching him. He was one of those guys being you kind of watch that pit game. You kind of saw and And you just kind of said and it has a beast and Paris Ford has been the truth since he was recruited for star. One of the best players in his recruiting class back in 2017, you know, Paris for believe it or not. A Ford was a top hundred player stayed home and same way. He's a guy that you're very kind of shocked that came back for one additional year, but Brian you've mentioned it. Lot on defense, but I mean is it is it any question who he's the key?

45:58 Oh, maybe if pits going to do anything in 2020, it's going to be that Kenny pick. It takes another step forward as a quarterback, they're looking to probably get to the nine win range. If they're trying to win a coastal championship and and go play probably Clemson in the ACC Championship. So if they're going to make any any sort of Run it that it's going to be because a guy like Kenny picket at quarterback is going to take another step forward and be more consistent getting the ball to his Playmakers. I mean we saw in the in the Virginia Tech game and he struggled sometimes getting accurate throws when he had pressure coming at him.

46:39 And I think if he can get some improvement of that area, they might make some noise in the coastal. And if they don't they're just going to be a team with a really good defense that can't score. Ants. Yeah, well you mentioned the tech game again. Me and you got to go to last year coming in that game. They were one of the hottest teams in the ACC. They had won six of seven. The only laws was a four-point loss to Miami and then the last two games we goose egg on. And then they lose to BC at home by touchdown, Which just kind of put a huge damper on them. Because when they walked in that dgn, they were one of those teams that they could beat us.

47:19 They potentially could make the ACC Championship they didn't in those last few games, man. You know, pick, it was terrible at Virginia Tech. It was he was off, we had the strip sack, fumble very early in the game roof. Brooks trypsin big Crawford, snatches it up, runs it in. And then, you know, you take a look at the pit game. I mean, you know, 30 or 40. For 300 yards, one pick sacked, four times. I mean, the question is, during that six of seven, win streak dick, Kenney Pickett is, did he hit the ceiling? And if he hit a ceiling is seven or eight their Max. And if he has some of those bad games, like he did against Tech, could they come back to earth Brawn? I have a feeling, you're not, ask you who's going to emerge, I don't think it's gonna be anybody on defense. This is it.

48:21 No, I mean the primarily we're looking at guys on offense, need to take a step forward. I think defense, the guys they have coming in are necessarily better than their losses but they're solid. And you know, they've already got a lot of talent returning already, but we're looking guys, we need to step up and take a step forward for them. In 2019, that's all on the offensive side of the ball and it's going to start with shocky jacques-louis, their wide receiver. He's going to step into a key role. The You're after starting six games last year, had right at 350 yards and two touchdowns in 2019, seasonal looked need to improve upon those numbers, probably at least get into the 5800 yard range as one of their primary targets if they're going to take another step forward.

49:09 When we talk about some other targets, that any Pickett's going to have, we need to look at a guy, crawl graduate transfer out of Florida. Ow, who's awesome time for the Gators and 18 and 19. So he's will look to have probably some instant impact that it offense after their shaky finish to close out the year. But it'll be another Target for chitty chicken there and it seemed the field, some pit but has seen some power five snaps there. So look for him in the final, he's going to be Vince. Beavis, who's the running back true freshman. Last year showed that was very impressive in some spots in between.

49:57 Nineteen, he had 314 yards, rushing and five touchdowns so you know, to find the end zone pretty well. So they're looking for him to take a step in the offseason and help them out. Because if you look at what, what pit was doing on ovens last year, they just could not run the football, they cannot run the football. So he's gonna you need to be the guy that's going to step up and make some of those big plays in the running game. So take a little bit of pressure off of Kenny Pickett and what they're trying to do passing the ball. Yeah. You're a hundred percent right by that but there's one thing I worry about Vincent Davis man, he's 58 he's 175 pounds and if and you saw you feel like the touchdowns are good. He has some handsome different parts of the game that can help out.

50:45 But is he going to be the guy and it 58 175? Can he be the guy or is it going to be Rose rotational things? Which you know, in today's era of college football? It does happen. But if you take one of your best players off the field because you can't give him that pounding, it definitely hurts co-prime, believe it or not, it made no coaching changes, none, shocking. But let me ask her to Z is he's holding what? Has, huh? He is, but I'm gonna ask you this. He's only had one losing season since he's been at Pitt, but no Seasons with more than eight wins. If he has a bad season, could he be on the hot seat? I think so.

51:32 I think he's definitely going to be put on the hot seat if he doesn't come out. And when I think he almost has to win the coastal this year, to not have some level of fire under his ass, going into the next offseason. But at the same time, if he doesn't get to that, that nine win threshold, whether they go play for the coastal or not, I think it's going to be still something that they're going to look at, because I know that pits never been at least in recent history a team that's going to go out and shatter the Earth but at some point you have to get a little tired of mediocrity and I think there's stuck in mediocrity.

52:15 I think we've been a little bit above that, just not the last two seasons necessarily, but we've been A step above that and I'm hoping that we take another step back into that same direction this year. But it's definitely been in that good. But never great category or a long Common especially under are doozies Direction. Yeah, it's absolutely about Virginia Tech. The first two seasons, under Justin Fuente, ten and nine wins. We were well above, we have to rebuild it six. Then we had the eight last year but as many of us who have a few cocktails and then start looking, we say, we could have won 10 games last year, widely, screw the pooch. A few times.

53:00 So, but let's move on, Brian. Let's go get some bourbon. You wanna go get some bourbon over in Louisville? Let's do that, man. Let's do it. All right, so Louisville, last year, hell of a rebound year by Scott Satterfield in his first season, but he lost some guys, of all the teams we discussed today, they are returning. The least amount of starters. They overturn the 15 starters, seven on offense, 8 on defense and Brian. If me if I drove the your house, Mechanics bill and we kicked down heading down to the East End over the Highland Springs. There is a big big loss but yeah.

53:40 Big-time lost Big Time loss. We got Makai becton, Holland spring Springer of the 804 drafted 11th. Overall in the first round to the Jets, that's a big time factor for them now, it was probably the right decision for him. Obviously after getting drafted 11th. Yeah. It was a junior so that was a potentially unexpected departure for them on top of losing their senior tackle, Tyler hatecraft, so they're losing both tackles and one of them being what you would call an all-world type tackle. So that's going to be big-time blow for them on offense.

54:22 Now, when we talk about defense and who they are, who they lost the biggest thing is going to be Kane pass. He was a safety and he have the the second most tackles on the team s was solo tackles on the team in third, most tackles total and he got a good look by some NFL Scouts as well. In terms of the undrafted free agent Market. That's a big loss in the secondary, some of the other guys that they lost some of them were kind of portal guys. And some of them were guys from the old regime that that decided, you know, Moving on. But in terms of the key, Contributors to that 2019. Turn around.

55:02 Those are the big three. They are the two tackles in the safety. Yeah. Obviously, you talked about losing to book in tackles one, who is obviously, you said it all World. Believe he's an NFL player. Now, drafted in the first round, the other on the right side, I mentioned this the other day, I wish we played them earlier in the season because as, you know, from playing offensive line, one of the toughest things to do is get a new line to jail, especially when you're playing. Facing bookends now Brian there they actually had some Talent. Macau is part of the 2017 class, which is thirty fourth ranked 2018 30th rank, 2019, their 69th rank.

55:43 But after the freaking dumpster fire Bobby Petrino set on fire there. It's a miracle. Satterfield pulled 69 off that recruiting class that was impressive very impressive but they clearly have some Talent coming back. I'm not we're not dipping below that five on each side of the ball. So who do you feel? It's got to be some of those guys to potentially for them. They did win more games than you and see last year to potentially get them a little higher up and maybe give Clemson a fight. So the biggest key returning starters for them are going to be their wide receivers, particularly 22 at. Well, who's the big play thread?

56:29 He's coming off 1,000-yard season? Reminds me a lot of Hollywood Brown when you look at that speed and a playmaking ability of getting him back this year. So that's the big plays throughout the were looking at. And also desk Fitzpatrick, is there are other key wide receiver. He's the more of a possession Target. He's moving the sticks and have the yard numbers that at will had, but he's the guy that runs good routes and have strong hands. So he's going to be forgetful when things break down that you're looking forward to just kind of get the ball out and move the chains and keep the drive going. Look at the other guys coming back. It's going to be Javion. Hawkins is the other key guy on offense, running back, he had a great year last year as a redshirt freshman second-team, all-acc honors.

57:18 Rushed for over 1,500 yards. So look for him to potentially have a Repeat Performance or improve upon that in 2020. And obviously still in the offensive side of the ball. We're looking at McHale Cunningham and quarterback. He showed last year. These more than just an athlete had over 2,000 yards throwing was really efficient with the football. When you did throw it, they didn't throw the ball, son. Obviously, he was running a lot and they had a good Good little run and shoot there with em in the in Hawkins, but when he did throw the ball, he was throwing it down the field and making some plays. So, those are the big guys on offense that they look to return, they're going to be solid on that side of the ball on the defensive side of the ball.

58:07 The big one that we wanted to focus on that was a playmaker. Last year is going to be CJ, Avery weakside linebacker for them. He had 93 tackles three sacks and six pass breakups. So he was another guy that we talked about guys. All over the field, making plays making plays in different ways, he's somebody to keep an eye on for 2020. Got you for Cunningham the first he's my first thought when you mention these guys and I think about who they lost once again. Yep he showed. He's more than just a runner. He could throw the ball but again, he got McCobb X on the left side. Dude, nobody the side of the macaws.

58:48 Unbelievable. And yes, he was not up. Great polished. You know, past Pro Set. But do he got his hands on you? Nobody's going to touch the quarterback. I'm more interested to see how those two losses affect Hawkins because again, your book ends, you think of an all-purpose back like him, smaller shift, your guy probably getting around, which essentially means you have to have some good tackle play, so essentially he can get to those edges. I want to see if he can repeat or if he has a regression this year now Brian clearly. Makka victims Kong who has the unbelievable tough job of filling those giant shoes. So the guy looking to step in to beckons role is going to be ad honest bun and we've actually saw him a little bit last year when I went back and got nicked against NC State, he stepped in played pretty well.

59:48 And back to the absence I know back then was Who's on the sidelines, coaching them up there, but it looks like he stepped in pretty well in that that small sample size. So it'll be interesting to see if he's able to do it for a full season. Having that that role is a full-time starter at left tackle. All right, well who else Braun, who else do you feel like for them to potentially take that step compete with Clemson? Who's got to have a good season both sides, both sides of the big one on defense is going to be Dunya. Bernard he's the defensive tackle, he was actually a walk-on. Oh wow.

1:00:30 Walk on and earned a scholarship in 2019 and had started rolling a few games last year and was a rotational player for the rest of the seasons. He's looking to step into a defensive tackle, rolled potentially as a starter this year to really Elevate them on the defensive side of the ball. And And actually going on that same vein. We're looking at another guy that might step in and be a big playmaker. This year is another guy that was a walk-on that earned a scholarship in 2019, and that's Michonne for the tight end. This kid actually led the ACC and touchdowns by at I did last year.

1:01:11 Oh man, yes, so he's looking to potentially improve on that in terms of getting his yardage numbers up, but he was a big-time Red Zone threat in the ACC last year. Very nice. Those two guys, definitely. You love to hear that, you love to hear also, that probably something Scott said or Fields brought down there to that culture, giving walk on scholarships and then seeing them perform, but the bun thing that's going to be tough man. Because again again you played offensive line, Brian. When you lose somebody like a McCobb active and you're an offensive line coach What does it make your head?

1:01:51 First of all, when you have someone like him, is it just one of those like automatic? Like, don't have to worry about that side the Night vs? Yeah. That's, that's the thing. I think we're looking at the problems that it creates losing both. Bookends, it's not like in some situations where you lose your your number one tackle and you just kind of swap over and you do it. You do it. Next man up but when you lose your two, best tackles that. That's a lot to fill in. There because you're grinning in guys are both positions that haven't seen a ton of snaps and I think that could be problematic for them. You know, they are aided by having a quarterback that is athletic. So some of that edge pressure may not be as much of a problem, but you can still going to be a struggle for them. I think at least early on, like you said, I wish we had them maybe in the first month of the Season instead of Little bit further down the road.

1:02:53 Absolutely. All right Brian. This is the question you posed and it's going to be our fan engagement question. This week, which AC co-wrote opponent makes you the most nervous. Well I'm going to go. I'm going Louisville just because someone of the unknown factor we don't play them very often. We're still learning what they're doing as an offense with a new head coach and with some of these new players they have coming in. So it's still going to be a hard hard thing to Scout and a hard thing to prepare for from that angle on top of the fact that they're really talented on offense, especially running the football and running with the quarterback which is kind of been our a Bugaboo. So they scare me the most.

1:03:43 I think we can definitely score points against them that that doesn't concern me. But in the shootout it's going to be an interesting outcome. So what about you buddy? Hi, I'm not gonna go Louisville almost went that way, but that is on Halloween day. So that's one of those things. The crowds probably going to be pumped. It's they have a good crowd anyway. So there's going to be energy in the stadium. So it's not going to be hard to get up for the, the flip side of which, when we got home early because they have to find their offensive line to jail. Well, by that time by Halloween, they're going to have seven to eight games on tape.

1:04:29 So we're going to know what they're doing. Offensive ly, so easier to prepare for, but I'm going to go flip it. Six days after that hit on a Friday night, you won't talk about probably a place that will have zero to no energy. It will probably be very mundane and rdz screaming his head off because he didn't get the first call. When his team's go screwed it up that Excuse me, because they're not as talented as us and you want to just go upstairs and squash them. Now, here's my tote. This Is My Hope for that early November game. You want to hear the sound? We haven't lost everybody's hike because we just beat Louisville at home and Halloween, and everybody just start scooping up tickets to Hind and that becomes Lane Stadium Pittsburgh style, and it's 40,000. Toki fans sitting there screaming and the energy comes and it hopefully helps the kids out. So folks that is going to wrap this episode of The Boundary Corner podcast up, my name is Curtis Wilson. I'm Brian Sigler.

1:05:42 Follow us on Twitter. Facebook, subscribe for podcast on your favorite sources, including Spotify and apple podcast. We always let our friend Jason Long. Play us out, catch him on Spotify, and apple music. Thank you for listening. And as always, let's go. Oh, keys, where it almost gave up drinking. I could back the three and 50. I even started exercising, I quit smoking Marlboro.

1:06:32 Last week she up. I even started exercising, I quit smoking Marlboro. Last week she up.