#SWARM - RELOADED

[moose141]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

Catching up on everything that I've missed recently... what a bowl game! I thought that it might be Henderson's breakout party that pushed him onto draft boards, but him coming back for one more year will definitely solidify him as a first rounder next April, plus teams probably love seeing his dedication to his team trying to take them to the next level.

Solid recruiting class with a lot of solid talent, even if no studs necessarily. Definitely your progression system will help some of those youngsters have a chance to contribute early on, so will be interesting to see who continues to contribute this season.

[dfsJunkie]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

Great storyline with the brawl.

Looking forward to seeing how Dudley performs.

[Careless Whisper]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

The Campbell transfer news is juicy, looking forward to that Westlake/FAU game when it happens! I'm assuming the dismissals were from a randomizer/roll? Can't remember if you did that or not.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

Offense

This offense is going to be VERY pass-heavy. B.J. Henderson is one of the nation's best QBs, and he's got the weapons to put up big numbers. Expect to see Barkley strategically mix in deep shots to hurt defenses.

B.J. Henderson could be the first non-P5 Heisman winner since Ty Detmer 30 years ago. The senior could have jumped to the NFL after his junior year, but decided to come back and try to make good on his promise to win Westlake State a conference title.

His successor? Likely Barrett Phillips. The big-bodied junior has all the physical tools, but lacks accuracy. Freshman Kevin Houston is OK at everything, but lacks a standout skill.

Position Grade: A+. Henderson is so good, and Barrett Phillips has a lot of potential.

These backs aren't going to see that many touches. Henderson will likely lead the team in rushing for the 3rd straight year, and none of these guys can be the bell cow. Frank Nelson can't run up the middle and Johnny Nash is too slow to hit the edge.

Aaron Jefferson has upside. At 5'10, 225, he runs a reported 4.32, and has the strength to run over defenders. He lacks agility and can't catch, but he'll get some touches this year and will likely take over as the lead back in a year or two.

Position Grade: C. There's no lead back yet.

Bryan Carter is OK for what the Swarm need on the rare occasions they use a fullback. Transfer Eugene Wilson is in that same mold.

Position Grade: C-. These guys aren't that talented.

Xavier Meeks took everyone by surprise last season, catching 73 balls for 1233 yards and 17 scores in his first season as a wideout. He's poised to be the #1 target once again, with Eric Monroe and Robert Coley as co-#2s. Josh Roach looks out of shape, but his hands are still very good, as are Nic Johnson's. They'll be the possession guys to round out a very solid receiving corps.

Past them, don't expect to see much from anyone. Speedy Dallas Morgan could become a contributor, as could true freshmen Erik Riggs and Justin Williams.

Position Grade: A-. These guys are very talented. Robert Coley still has a bit of a drops issue, but he's great at everything else.

Tight ends don't have that much of a place in this offense. Barrett Miller is a solid safety blanket, but he lacks athleticism. Ricky Alston is a better athlete, but isn't a great receiver. Jason McLaurin disappointed in camp, and likely won't play this year. Finally, Jeremy Watson is an interesting project who could start seeing a few snaps.

Position Grade. C+. Miller and Alston are OK tight ends, nothing more.

Tim Pembroke and Tom Arnold both took massive leaps forward, and will anchor this line. Expect Sean Robinson to slide inside and play left guard.

Position Grade: C+. Some talent, but overall not a strong line. Good thing Henderson is elusive.

Defense

Standard 4-3 defense. We're gonna stay aggressive with a variety of blitzes, and look for takeaways.

No more Bryan Young. Joe Davenport and Stephen Parham are going to have the tall task of trying to replace his 17 sacks from last year, and I don't know if they're up to that task. Pierre Turner has been 1st team all-AAC for the past 2 seasons, and should shore up the defensive front once again.

Position Grade: C. Not a lot of talent here. Parham's ceiling is high, but he's being thrown in when he really isn't quite there physically.

Nick Watts and Leon Alexander return. Alexander stagnated a bit over the offseason, but will still start opposite Watts. Davion Williams will start inside. He's athletic and hits hard, but he's inexperienced and his tackling technique is shoddy.

Position Grade: C+. Athletic group, but these guys lack polish.

Kevin McFarland was bad last year. He blew assignments often, including at the end of the Swarm's loss to UCF that ultimately eliminated them from the division race. He's looked very good in the preseason, as has his offseason workout partner Jeremy Jackson. Senior Mark Landrum stagnated, but is still a good slot corner.

Ernie Mills is one for the future. He needs experience in a D1 environment, but he has all the makings of an elite press corner.

Ibrahim Dudley will start at free safety. He lacks the recovery speed that Arthur Rogers brings, but his ball skills and coverage are better, and he hits harder. Tyrell White should once again be dependable at strong safety.

Position Grade: B. These guys are talented, and there's a lot of young talent for the future.

Adam Ferwerda isn't a great kicker. Luckily, the Swarm don't kick many field goals. Kevin Tate is an elite punter who'll help.

Position Grade: B-.

Schedule

Anything less than 10 wins would be disappointing. This offense is so dynamic that no AAC defense is going to be able to stop it. Boise State are good, but we would have beaten them last year if not for Martez Scott having the game of his life. Illinois will be a very tough test early on. We're getting paid to play that one, as part of our deal with the Big Ten.

Prediction: 12-2, with an AAC title and bowl win.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

Great storyline with the brawl.

Looking forward to seeing how Dudley performs.

Thanks man, and same here!

The Campbell transfer news is juicy, looking forward to that Westlake/FAU game when it happens! I'm assuming the dismissals were from a randomizer/roll? Can't remember if you did that or not.

Yeah my dismissals are part of the progression system I use. I also have an injury roll I still have to do, that'll be done when I wrap the preseason.

I'm excited to play Campbell in 2021, it'll be interesting to see how he does as a QB.

Catching up on everything that I've missed recently... what a bowl game! I thought that it might be Henderson's breakout party that pushed him onto draft boards, but him coming back for one more year will definitely solidify him as a first rounder next April, plus teams probably love seeing his dedication to his team trying to take them to the next level.

Solid recruiting class with a lot of solid talent, even if no studs necessarily. Definitely your progression system will help some of those youngsters have a chance to contribute early on, so will be interesting to see who continues to contribute this season.

I'm so glad he stayed. Our QB options aren't great past him, and our run game is lackluster. He'll for sure be a first rounder, I expect him to be top 3 in passing yards and scores this year with how much we'll be throwing it.

Unfortunately, none of the incoming guys got a big bump like how Watts did last year. Still a very solid class, and we'll have a few contributors.

Thanks for commenting guys! I've been off the boards because I've been binge watching House of Cards for the past 5 or so days, but I'll be back soon to kick off 2020!

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

Reports by Isaac Robinson | August 28th, 2020

Henderson odds-on favorite for the Heisman

As we get closer to the 2020 college football season, Heisman talks are already starting. Vegas have just released their preseason odds, and our very own B.J. Henderson leads the pack, at +250 odds.

Here are the top 5, with all odds coming from the Westgate Vegas Sportsbook.

B.J. Henderson, QB, Westlake State: +250

He needs no introduction, but we'll recap his 2019 season: 9 wins, first ever Westlake State bowl win, 4037 pass yards, 1100 rush yards, 51 total touchdowns. He could have gone early in the draft, but he decided to stay and try to lead his team to an AAC title. No player from a non-P5 conference has won a Heisman since 1990, but if anyone can do it, it's Henderson.

Joe Jones, QB, Penn State: +300

Jones nearly led the Nittany Lions to a national championship in 2018, but didn't even make the conference title game last year despite throwing for 3850 yards and 43 scores. He can run a bit too, with 480 yards and 5 scores on the ground in 2018.

Mike Hayden, QB, UCLA: +400

Hayden took a huge step forward in 2019, throwing for 4136 yards (2470 in 2018), 44 scores (up from 21), and completing 62% of his passes (up from 52%). We'll see how that Bruin offense does with hotshot OC Deuce Vader leaving for his first head coaching job.

Van Reed, QB, Texas: +600

Reed is the best Texas QB since Colt McCoy. He tossed 36 scores to just 5 picks last season, completed 69% of his passes, threw for 3037 yards and ran for 649 more. Despite all that, his Longhorns won just 9 games last season. Will he bring Texas back? We'll see.

Trey Carter, QB, Kansas: +600

Carter led Kansas to 7 wins and a bowl last year, throwing for 3130 yards, rushing for 877, and combining for 41 scores. This is a weird pick to me, as I'm not sure Carter can do much better than he did last season, and Kansas don't have the talent to win more than 7 or 8 games in a tough Big 12.

Patrick, Jackson go down, forcing freshman Mills into action

Camp is always tough. With players getting back into shape, injuries are a foregone conclusion. This year, the secondary has been hardest hit, with starting corner Jeremy Jackson and dime corner Danny Patrick both going down with ankle injuries. Jackson is expected to miss just 2 to 3 weeks, meaning he'll miss the Swarm's opener at Boise State, but Patrick will miss 4 to 5 weeks, meaning he may be out until the Swarm begin American play in Week 6.

True freshman Ernie Mills was supposed to redshirt this season, but will now likely be forced to play.

"I'm excited," he said. "We've got a good defense, and I'm excited to be a part of it. This is my shot, and I'm not gonna let it go. Sometimes you only get one. I'm ready."

Linebacker Nick Watts, an All-AAC selection last season, broke his hand and will miss 4 to 6 weeks. That's a big loss for the front 7, and it'll force redshirt freshman Davion Williams to play in the nickel alongside Leon Alexander.

Lastly, junior tight end Jason McLaurin has torn his ACL, putting him out for the year.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

CAC Outlook, 2020

[Careless Whisper]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

Slaughter's ready to build Tulane the same way Deegeezy did!

Really feel like you should reach that 10-win mark at least, though I can definitely see the defense struggling. Thankfully you have Henderson, and he can single-handily get you to the goals you're looking to achieve.

[dfsJunkie]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

Nice breakdown. Man, that freshman out of Illinois is going to be a thrill to watch

[Deuce2223]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

Is Taylor Memphis's starting QB? Also is he a pocket QB or does he have some wheels. I am trying to figure out if Vader should stick with a Air Raid type offense with a RB that is as talented as Gray. Might have to try a more balanced attack maybe going with a BSU style playbook.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

Is Taylor Memphis's starting QB? Also is he a pocket QB or does he have some wheels. I am trying to figure out if Vader should stick with a Air Raid type offense with a RB that is as talented as Gray. Might have to try a more balanced attack maybe going with a BSU style playbook.

I think either a Spread or Multiple, run first scheme fits best. Gray is far and away the best player, and neither QB has a great arm. Taylor has wheels, 80 speed, only 79/76 for his arm though. 81 AWR which is solid, and he's a redshirt freshman, he'll be really good in a couple seasons.

I could throw Boise's book and a 60% run tendency on there, Gray is a phenomenal back.

Slaughter's ready to build Tulane the same way Deegeezy did!

Really feel like you should reach that 10-win mark at least, though I can definitely see the defense struggling. Thankfully you have Henderson, and he can single-handily get you to the goals you're looking to achieve.

Gonna be interesting to see what happens over in Louisiana! There's some talent on the roster, but it's mostly seniors. Slaughter's recruits will have chances early.

I want 12 wins and an AAC title. Anything less with the talent we have in the pass game will be a bit underwhelming. Defense is definitely going to struggle IMO, especially with the injuries to Watts and the corners.

Nice breakdown. Man, that freshman out of Illinois is going to be a thrill to watch

Thanks man! Fields is gonna be insane for sure.

Thanks for the comments! Haven't played much lately, but I'll get the season rolling soon enough.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

Top Stories

Cinderella? -- With Heisman favorite B.J. Henderson at the helm, and WR Xavier Meeks returning after bursting onto the scene with 17 TDs as a junior, Westlake State will have BCS ambitions this year.

Is this the year? -- Freshman QB Earl Thompson broke out in training camp, and will attempt to lead a loaded LSU team to their first title since 2007.

Week 1 Showdowns -- #10 UNC, fresh off a defeat in the national championship game, face off against Rick Walton-led Florida, who'll be out for blood after finishing in the top 10 last season. #3 Texas are on the road, facing #13 Auburn, led by former FSU QB Bryan Norwood, in a clash that could define the season for both teams.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

Y3 G1 Preview - @ Boise State

Head To Head: Boise State has won both prior meetings between these teams, beating the Swarm at home behind 4 rushing scores from Marques Ramsey in 2018, and on the road in 2019 behind a 297 yard, 6 TD breakout game from Martez Scott.

Coach Barkley's Take

We shut down Martez Scott, we win. Simple. Their new QB Andrew Henry isn't great. He's very accurate, but hasn't played much, has a weak arm, and can't really run. He doesn't have great weapons or a great line either, and we could make his life very hard if we pressure him.

Defensively, they're alright, with no major playmakers outside of maybe Gary Burnette at safety. We're going to look to throw it a ton, and we should be able to beat these guys deep.

[moose141]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

Definitely going to be an interesting season for you this year. It's really BJ or bust, isn't it? The kid is an absolute stud, but it's going to be a tough year with literally everything in the offense needing to go through him. Probably the biggest key will be limiting the turnovers, as you know he's going to get his yards one way or another so as long as he isn't turning it over too often then you will be putting up points left and right.

I worry about the line holding up long enough for those deep routes to open up, but Meeks is a beast and I'm very excited to see what you can do with Monroe and that 99 speed. Brutal luck for those CB injuries, because that was probably your best position skill wise. Probably going to be another tough year defensively, so hopefully you can pull out all of these shootouts that I expect you to be playing in!

Also: Not sure if it's still up for this season but I would love to jump in alongside everyone as a Create-a-Coach if possible!

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

Definitely going to be an interesting season for you this year. It's really BJ or bust, isn't it? The kid is an absolute stud, but it's going to be a tough year with literally everything in the offense needing to go through him. Probably the biggest key will be limiting the turnovers, as you know he's going to get his yards one way or another so as long as he isn't turning it over too often then you will be putting up points left and right.

I worry about the line holding up long enough for those deep routes to open up, but Meeks is a beast and I'm very excited to see what you can do with Monroe and that 99 speed. Brutal luck for those CB injuries, because that was probably your best position skill wise. Probably going to be another tough year defensively, so hopefully you can pull out all of these shootouts that I expect you to be playing in!

Also: Not sure if it's still up for this season but I would love to jump in alongside everyone as a Create-a-Coach if possible!

Moose! Always good to see you around man, thanks for checking in.

It is absolutely BJ or bust. We don't really have a great run game, defense is iffy with 2 of our best 3 players out in Jackson and Watts. Turnovers will definitely be the focal point, we're definitely going to limit the deep balls and only break them out strategically.

The line SUCKS. We're very weak at guard and left tackle, it's a good thing Henderson's mobile. The line is another reason why deep balls will be limited. Meeks is nuts, he shows out against Boise, and Monroe's speed does come into play! Really good receiver group we have, and Monroe/Coley are juniors.

Boise was a shootout haha, it's gonna be like that all season. I have the graphics and article ready to go, just a question of editing the pictures I'm putting in. Won't spoil the result but it came down to the wire!

If you want a coach, I'll put you in for this season, let's just say a coach pulled a Bobby Petrino or something. Totally forgot to put that option up in the preseason.

Name:
Age:
Specialty:
Skin Color:
Body Size:
Head:
Apparel:
Hat/Glasses (Optional):
Alma Mater:
Offensive Playbook/Play Style:
Offensive Run/Pass Ratio:
Offensive Aggressiveness:
Defensive Playbook/Play Style:
Defensive Run/Pass Ratio:
Defensive Aggressiveness:
Preferred Region: