Only one short year ago we were spoiled when we watched D-Will get us back into games with his big time returns.  We had Stupar and Mauti crushing opposing return men on Kickoffs.  Now we fumble punts, average around the 20 yd line on kick returns and allow big returns on kicking game. 

So here is my take for the coming year.  One we should be giving Fera a chance on kickoffs to pins people deep.  Plus we will insert a lot more speed on kick coverage.  Imagine Hodges, Carson, Fortt, Royer, among others rushing down the field to blow up some poor folks!  We should see a lot more forced fumbles and big plays.   

The big change will be in the return game.  We have been waiting for speed and skill to get on campus and it has finally arrived.  Should see Brown back to return punts and hopefully local guy Kenny will get a shot.  Both have great hands and the ability to break a long return.  Neither man is amazingly fast but like Williams they have a nac for finding small creasing and exploding for big returns.  We should (hopefully) see D. Smith, S. Green (if he can get healthy)  and the emergence of Silas Redd!  Redd has unbelievable quickness the Big Ten Network dubs him as having "Reggie Bush-like quickness!!!"  Also we must take into account we lost a lot of leadership last year in our special teams units.  This year we will be deep enough to spread the wealth and have the right guys in the right positions .  Just pray that our punter works out the kinks early! 

It's fun to think what if??  However signing day usually knocks us back to reality.  Keenan Allen to Cal, Micheal Thornton to Georgia, and THE DAGGER Adrain Coxson to the Gators!  We still have an excellent class which should still finish in the top ten.  With the classes we have brought in the past couple years we are in a really good spot right now.  Every position looks to be at least two deep (really could have used a legit safety though).  Of course we go as the O-line goes.  I don't know what this sounds like to you but... LT-Shrive , LG-The Wiz , C-Dieffenbach , RG-Stank, RT-Pannel again fun to think what if... 

We are nearing our limit when it comes to recruiting however we are also nearing signing day.  With the recent decommitsit opens the door for recruits that wouldn't have been in the running otherwise.  With the play of our defensive backfield this past year when can definitelyuse some help.  Help might be on the way with safety Earnest Thomas out of Saint Mary's Prep School in Orchard Lake, MI.  If that high school sounds familiar it should he just happens to be the teammate of our possible future qb Robert Bolden. 

Thomas has got great size for a safety and has decent speed.  The most intriguing attribute to me though is his instincts off line and ability to tackle.  I don't know about you but it seems like our safeties are always one step behind.  I can't tell you how many times I saw sukay come out of nowhere and drill someone only to have them make the catch.  Thomas was ranked the #20 best player out of the state of Michigan and is ranked the #46th best safety overall.  He originally committed to UCLA but recently decommitted and is looking at Michigan, Minnesota, and Penn State.  He wouldn't be the biggest land however if we move Hodges to LB we will create a lack of depth at that position.

Having a total of four DE's already commited that position is pretty well sown up.  Evan Hailes is currently the only DT in the class (it seems as though Sharrif Floyd is leaning toward the swamp) however Penn State has added a monster to their list of hopefuls. James Carmon would be a juco transfer from Gulf Community College he is 6'7" 368lbs and is currently rated rivals: 4 star scout: 4 star.  He currently has PSU last on his list behind Ole Miss, Bama, Tenn, however I believe we have just started recruiting so we should quickly climb the list.  As you can see by his list of schools he is an emerging talent.  If we could add Carmon this would definetly bolster our front four and he would be coming to us as a junior.  I could only imagine if we had Khairi Fortt playing behind this front.....