The Golden Eagles will enter the 2016 football season with a slew of new faces on the team, headlined by a new coach in Jay Hopson. Names such as Nick Mullens, Ito Smith and Cameron Tom can be written in pen as starters after a successful year in 2015. But almost half of the depth chart faces uncertainty with a new staff coming in to evaluate the players.
The most questionable spots on the team heading into the new season will be the linebacking corps, the tight ends group and the receiving core behind D.J. Thompson as the presumptive No. 1 receiver. Anyone from Isaiah Jones from East Mississippi to redshirt junior Marquise Ricard, the No. 2 receiving spot can go to anyone. Also, the depth among the offensive line and running back rotation is shallow to say the least due to injuries.
On the depth chart, spring injuries were taken into account as seen by the exclusion of players such as Tez Parks, George Payne and Taylor Marini.
Incoming players such as Wyatt Richthofen and Lorenzo Dantzler will warrant playing time as incoming freshman. Wil Freeman, a redshirt senior, is making the transition between offensive and defensive lines. So his spot is up for grabs also.
LT
Jacob Fleming
Tyler Stutzman
LG
Brandon Farmer
Brian Long
C
Cameron Tom
Brandon Farmer
RG
Oliver Bates
Devin Farrior
RT
Ty Pollard
Drake Dorbeck
WR-X
D.J. Thompson
Isaiah Jones
TE
Ricky Parks
Julian Allen
Rusty Clark
WR-Y
Marquise Ricard
Jordan Mitchell
WR-Z
Reid Rials
Tyre’oune Holmes
RB
Ito Smith
Patrick Brooks
Collin Kilcrease
QB
Nick Mullens
Kwadra Griggs
Parker Adamson
DE
Xavier Thigpen
Ja’Boree Poole
DT
Dylan Bradley
LaDarius Harris
Derrick Dixon
Wolf
Darian Yancey
Ja’Boree Poole
LOLB
Sherrod Ruff
Isaiah Spencer
MLB
Elijah Parker
Evan Osborne
ROLB
C.J. Perry
D’Saveon Patrick
Nickel
Picasso Nelson Jr.
LCB
Cornell Armstrong
Jomez Applewhite
RCB
Trae Collins
Ernest Gunn
FS
Devonta Foster
Picasso Nelson Jr.
SS
D’Nerius Antoine
Deshadrick Truly
Incoming Players: QB Keon Howard, QB Andrew La Bruna, LB JaCorey Morris, LB Racheem Booth, OT Jacob Johnson, DE Jacques Turner, DE Lorenzo Danztler, WR Terrance Watkins, OT Wyatt Richtofen, RB Andre Hale, ATH T.J. McGinnis, DT Demarrio Smith, OT Cru Birdyshaw, OT Jacob Johson and QB Tyler Russell
