For kicks, we've ranked the Top 75 Commodores based on career games, starts, stats and their position on the preseason (and pre-preseason practice) depth chart. We'll update this list after the opening day lineup is released, and regularly throughout the season. In the future, expect James Williams and Tim Fugger to make big moves on the list, and expect Zac Stacy to make his debut. Here we go:
TOP 10
1. LB Patrick Benoist, SR: 29 career games, 17 starts; All-SEC last year; preseason All-SEC; preseason starter at weakside backer; sure-fire starter
2. CB Myron Lewis, SR: 35 games, 25 consecutive starts; preseason All-SEC; preseason starter at cornerback; sure-fire starter
3. FS Ryan Hamilton, R-SR: 37 games, 34 starts; preseason starter at free safety; sure-fire starter
4. LB Chris Marve, R-SO: 13 games, 13 starts; All-SEC freshman; preseason All-SEC; preseason starter at middle backer; sure-fire starter
5. P Brett Upson, SR: 37 games, 37 starts; preseason All-SEC; preseason starter at punter and co-starter with Ryan Fowler at kicker; sure-fire starter at punter, still battling with Fowler for kicking duties
6. C Bradley Vierling, R-SR: 34 games, 13 starts; preseason starter at center; sure-fire starter
7. DE Steven Stone, R-SR: 37 games, 25 starts; preseason starter at end; sure-fire starter until sidelined with injury for six weeks
8. DT Greg Billinger, SR: 35 games, 13 starts; preseason starter at tackle; sure-fire starter
9. OT Thomas Welch, R-SR: 33 games, 13 starts; preseason starter at left tackle; sure-fire starter
10. DE Broderick Stewart, R-SR: 35 games, 11 starts; preseason starter at end; sure-fire starter
REST OF THE TOP 25
11. RB Jared Hawkins, R-SR: 34 games, 10 starts: preseason starter at tailback; still battling injury and true freshmen to keep starting position
12. TE Brandon Barden, R-SO: 13 games, 10 starts; All-SEC freshman; preseason co-starter with Austin Monahan at tight end; likely starter who could be in same lineup with Monahan
13. QB Mackenzi Adams, R-SR: 37 games, 9 starts; preseason co-starter with Larry Smith at quarterback; still battling Smith for the starting position though most experts think Smith's the man
14. DT Adam Smotherman, R-JR: 18 games, 11 starts; preseason starter at tackle; likely starter who'll share time with T.J. Greenstone
15. LB John Stokes, JR: 15 games, 10 starts; preseason co-starter with Brent Trice at strongside backer; appears to be losing battle with Trice to start
16. OL Reilly Lauer, R-JR: 13 games, 10 starts; preseason co-starter with James Williams at right tackle; now competing with Eric Hensley for starting right guard position
17. OG Eric Hensley, R-SR: 24 games, 7 starts; preseason starter at right guard; now battling Lauer to keep his starting role
18. OL Kyle Fischer, R-SO: 13 games, 7 starts; All-SEC freshman; preseason co-starter wtih Ryan Custer at left guard and co-second-team left tackle with Ryan Seymour; still battling Custer for starting role
19. DT T.J. Greenstone, R-SO: 13 games, 2 starts; All-SEC freshman; preseason second-teamer at tackle; will once again get plenty of snaps in the three-man rotation at tackle
20. LB Brent Trice, SR: 36 games; preseason co-starter with John Stokes at strongside backer; appears to be winning battle to start ahead of Stokes
21. CB Jamie Graham, R-SO: 12 games, 9 starts at receiver and running back; preseason co-starter with Casey Hayward at corner; top candidate to play nickel and moonlight on offense
22. QB Larry Smith, R-SO: 2 games, 1 start; preseason co-starter with Mackenzi Adams at quarterback; still battling Adams, though many believe he'll start
23. OG Ryan Custer, R-SR: 30 games, 12 starts; preseason co-starter with Kyle Fischer at left guard; still battling Fischer for the position
24. SS Sean Richardson, SO: 13 games; preseason starter at strong safety; sure-fire starter
25. CB Casey Hayward, SO: 13 games; preseason co-starter with Jamie Graham at corner; appears to be D.J. Moore's replacement at corner
REST OF THE TOP 50
26. WR Alex Washington, R-SR: 31 games; preseason starter at wide receiver; likely starter
27. TE Austin Monahan, R-SO: 13 games, 4 starts; preseason co-starter with Brandon Barden at tight end; likely backup who'll get plenty of snaps and may line up in same formation with Barden
28. S Joel Caldwell, R-SR: 37 games, 11 starts; preseason second team at free safety; will see action as senior backup in secondary
29. OT James Williams, R-SO: 3 games; preseason co-starter with Reilly Lauer at right tackle; appears to have sewn up the starting role at right tackle
30. WR Udom Umoh, R-SO: 13 games; preseason starter at wide receiver; likely starter
31. WR John Cole, R-FR: 1 game before injury; preseason starter at wide receiver; still battling injuries but appears to be on track to start on opening day
32. PK Ryan Fowler, R-FR: Preseason co-starter with Brett Upson at kicker; still battling Upson for placekicker role though coaching staff wants him to win the position
33. WR Tray Herndon, R-SO: 12 games, 7 starts at Minnesota; preseason second team at receiver; still competing for major playing time
34. OL Joey Bailey, R-JR: 13 games, 5 starts; preseason second team at center; not competing for a starting position
35. DE Theron Kadri, JR: 22 games; preseason co-backup with Teriall Brannon at end; left team last week but has returned and will provide depth
36. LB Nate Campbell, R-JR: 24 games; preseason second team at weakside and middle backer; will play key backup role
37. DE Terrial Brannon, R-JR: 13 games, 1 start; preseason co-backup with Theron Kadri at end; will play key backup role
38. DE Tim Fugger, R-SO: 9 games; preseason second team at end; likely starter to replace injured Stone
39. LB Chris Johnson, R-SR: 36 games; not on preseason depth chart; graduate who returned for fifth season as special teams hit man
40. RB Kennard Reeves, R-JR: 21 games; preseason second team tailback; battling true freshman Zac Stacy for backup role
41. RB Gaston Miller, R-JR: 18 games; preseason third team tailback; likely to focus on kick returns
42. LB Austin Newton, R-JR: 19 games; not on preseason depth chart
43. FB Ryan van Rensburg, R-SO: 8 games on special teams; not on preseason depth chart
44. WR Justin Green, R-JR: 18 games; not on preseason depth chart; moved from tight end in preseason camp
45. DT Rob Lohr, R-FR: Second-team as freshman, did not play; preseason co-backup with Colt Nichter at tackle; still battling Nichter and Taylor Loftley
46. QB Jared Funk, R-JR: Has not played; not on preseason depth chart; likely third-team quarterback
47. DT Colt Nichter, R-FR: Travel team as freshman, did not play; preseason co-backup with Rob Lohr at tackle; still battling Lohr and Taylor Loftley
48. DB Micah Powell, R-FR: Preseason co-backup with Al Owens at safety; playing time depends on emergence of true freshmen
49. OT Ryan Seymour, R-FR: Preseason co-backup with Kyle Fischer at left tackle; being groomed for a possible starting role next season
50. DE Johnell Thomas, R-FR: Preseason third team at end; battling Kadri and Brannon for backup minutes
REST OF THE TOP 75
51. LB DeAndre Jones, R-FR: Not on preseason depth chart; competing for backup role, should contribute on special teams
52. LB Tristan Strong, R-FR: Not on preseason depth chart; competing for backup role, should contribute on special teams
53. WR Chris Reinert, R-SR: 13 games; preseason second team receiver; returned from injury and could see playing time
54. WR Turner Wimberly, R-JR: 10 games on special teams; preseason second team receiver; still battling for key minutes
55. WR Akeem Dunham, R-FR: Preseason third team receiver; competing in a wide-open field of receivers
56. LB Dexter Daniels, R-FR: Not on preseason depth chart; competing for backup role, should contribute on special teams
57. DT Taylor Loftley, R-FR: Not on preseason depth chart; battling Lohr and Nichter to back up rotation at tackle
58. DB Al Owens, R-FR: Preseason co-backup with Micah Powell at safety; playing time depends on emergence of true freshmen
59. SN David Giller, R-SO: 9 games as snapper; preseason backup to John Stokes at snapper
60. WR Rich Tompkins, R-SO: 4 games on special teams; preseason second team corner, moved to wide receiver; not likely to play much
61. OL Chris Aaron, R-JR: 1 game; preseason second team at right guard; not competing for a key role on the offensive line
62. LB Michael Garcia, R-JR: 17 games on special teams; not on preseason depth chart; currently injured and hopes to return to special teams role
63. RB Jermaine Doster, R-SO: Redshirted, then suspended; not on preseason depth chart; impressed as inside runner in preseason camp and may have precipitated redshirt of Wesley Tate
64. DL John Burrow, R-FR: Not on preseason depth chart; good preseason, battling for backup role at tackle
65. LB Archibald Barnes, R-FR: Not on preseason depth chart; has delivered big hits in preseason
66. DE Josh Jelesky, R-FR: Not on preseason depth chart; battling for reserve role at end
67. OG Rob Ashabranner, R-SO: 1 game; not on preseason depth chart; not competing for key role
68. P Richard Kent, R-FR: preseason second team punter; playing time not likely behind Upson
69. OL Caleb Welchans, R-FR: Not on preseason depth chart; likely not in early playing rotation
70. OL Richard Cagle, R-FR: Not on preseason depth chart; likely not in early playing rotation
71. LB Davis Flowers, R-SO: 1 game on special teams; not on preseason depth chart; competing for special teams time
72. PK John Laughry, R-SR: 3 games; not on preseason depth chart; playing time unlikely
73. CB Eric Samuels, FR: Three-star prospect; likely the first true freshman to play on defense this season
74. CB Trey Wilson, FR: Three-star prospect; missed most of preseason practice after dropping bed on toe but could work way into rotation in secondary
75. WR Brady Brown, FR: Three-star prospect; possibility in wide-open race to crack receiving rotation
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