[BostonCard]

https://247sports.com/Player/Arlen-Harris-Jr-46076710/

Off to a sorely-needed strong start in this class. I believe we're actually going for 2 RBs and 2 TEs, so having 4*s in the fold already means we're now playing with house money at both positions.

Still, my kingdom for more 4* defenders! (Thank you Aaron Armitage for signing!)

To be honest, even a well stocked high-3* defense will do.  I mean, would it be too much to ask to not have to rely on former walk-ons to have a two deep?  We have two scholarship defensive tackles on the roster, one of whom is a true freshman.  We should have twice that many.  We have five scholarship defensive ends; we should have 7 or 8.  With some shuffling, we have seven scholarship outside linebackers, but three are injured and one is a former walk on.  We have eight inside linebackers, though one is a converted former walk-on safety and one is a converted OLB, and 4 are injured.  Nine cornerbacks is the one position where we have adequate depth, even with injuries to 3.  We have six safeties, but I think half are converted CBs or former walk-ons.  All in all, we have 36 scholarship defensive players, of which I think 4 were are former walk-ons who subsequently received a scholarship.  I don't want to denigrate them by saying they didn't earn it, but many of those were because extra scholarships were available than because the walk-on performed exceptionally.  We should have closer to 40+ scholarship recruited players for a well-stocked, well-recruited defense.  A few 4* difference makers scattered throughout would be great, but especially for a defense, a weak link can be exploited by a competent offense, so bringing up the low end probably gets you more bang for the buck.

BC

[BostonCard]

https://247sports.com/Player/Arlen-Harris-Jr-46076710/

Off to a sorely-needed strong start in this class. I believe we're actually going for 2 RBs and 2 TEs, so having 4*s in the fold already means we're now playing with house money at both positions.

Still, my kingdom for more 4* defenders! (Thank you Aaron Armitage for signing!)

To be honest, even a well stocked high-3* defense will do.  I mean, would it be too much to ask to not have to rely on former walk-ons to have a two deep?  We have two scholarship defensive tackles on the roster, one of whom is a true freshman.  We should have twice that many.  We have five scholarship defensive ends; we should have 7 or 8.  With some shuffling, we have seven scholarship outside linebackers, but three are injured and one is a former walk on.  We have eight inside linebackers, though one is a converted former walk-on safety and one is a converted OLB, and 4 are injured.  Nine cornerbacks is the one position where we have adequate depth, even with injuries to 3.  We have six safeties, but I think half are converted CBs or former walk-ons.  All in all, we have 36 scholarship defensive players, of which I think 4 were are former walk-ons who subsequently received a scholarship.  I don't want to denigrate them by saying they didn't earn it, but many of those were because extra scholarships were available than because the walk-on performed exceptionally.  We should have closer to 40+ scholarship recruited players for a well-stocked, well-recruited defense.  A few 4* difference makers scattered throughout would be great, but especially for a defense, a weak link can be exploited by a competent offense, so bringing up the low end probably gets you more bang for the buck.

BC