Sunday, August 30, 2009

Patrick Benoist tops our list of the Top 75 Vandy players; expect several players to make a move soon


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

No comments: