Bobcatzblitz, you are closer to the team than a lot of us are, if I can ask, exactly what is it about the team that makes you excited for next year? I ask with no “snark” intent at all; I am genuinely curious.

I want to be excited, and I am probably one of these people others on this board deride as an “Solich optimist”. But every year, something always seems to get in Ohio’s way, be it poor/conservative playcalling, lack of playmaker at the QB position, lack of depth, ill-timed injuries, etc. We get on the cusp of something big, and then whammo, the team inevitably falls off a cliff. Why is next year different? Again, I always drink the green coolaid, so I genuinely am curious to know your thoughts and the basis for your optimism.

[/QUOTE]Legit things that scare the crap out of me: Burrow and Albin both back. [/QUOTE]This is all I need

Add Irons at RB to the excited list.

Scare the crap out of me list is spot on.

QB play is crucial and we have one of the best in only his first season of college football. Lots of young players and both lines have some depth that they're excited about. Irons should be back healthy and more mature.

Rourke at QB
AJ, Irons, and Ross at RB
White, Odom, and Ball at WR along with 4 talented freshmen that redshirted this year.
4 out of 5 return on the OL

A lot of the young talent we have recruited on D should start seeing time next year.

Fox, Brooks and Hudson return at CB. Hagan and Nelson return at S.

Croutch returns at LB. Connor and Popp each played a little this year but with the 3 starters we have staying healthy, there was only so much time for them to play. Add in Robinson and some of the other LB recruits, and I dont think we see too much drop-off. We always seem to have good LB play.

The DL is where we will see the largest adjustment, with all 4 starters graduating. Payne, Berger, Arp, Evans, and Chukwu all played in at least 9 games (most played in all) and we have Caesar, Coleman, and Ogun-Semore whom all redshirted this year.

I think the offense will be better than this year and the defense may take a step back but will get better as the year goes on as the youth on the DL and LB find their way.

With Alan adding another variable (Burrow transferring to Ohio) to consider for next year, I can now see this thread growing enough to equal the post count of last year's thread on Malik Zaire coming to Athens.

What do you think, Allen?