Raquan Williams returning for senior season

[johnny2x2x]

He could have been a 3rd or 4th round pick IMO. He's got a chance to be an All American next season.

Layne is leaving.

Bachie is planning to stay it sounds like. Willikes sounds like he's staying.

We had the #2 defense in the country for S&P, behind only Clemson. Scott returning healthy should replace Layne. Butler back healthy is a very good #2 corner.

Willis gets replaced by Henderson, those are big shoes to fill.

Andrew Dowell had a great senior season, but Simmons should be able to step in nicely.

8 defensive starters returning and all of the backups less one DT, Owens. Could be a special group in 2019.

FIRE WARNER!

 

[Spartanmack]

He could have been a 3rd or 4th round pick IMO. He's got a chance to be an All American next season.

Layne is leaving.

Bachie is planning to stay it sounds like. Willikes sounds like he's staying.

We had the #2 defense in the country for S&P, behind only Clemson. Scott returning healthy should replace Layne. Butler back healthy is a very good #2 corner.

Willis gets replaced by Henderson, those are big shoes to fill.

Andrew Dowell had a great senior season, but Simmons should be able to step in nicely.

8 defensive starters returning and all of the backups less one DT, Owens. Could be a special group in 2019.

FIRE WARNER & BOLLMAN!

FIFY - surprised to see you say that, welcome to the club!

I like Baccie and Willekes but they'd be insane to leave early, Bacci especially. He has the potential to be a great college LB but he's cut from the same undersized (for the NFL) mold as Gary Jones and Max Bullough - and I don't think he's as good as either of them.

Willekes reminds me a bit of Julian Peterson - he's actually bigger but still small for DE and not as fast as Peterson was as a DE at MSU. He's probably not fast enough to make the transition to OLB at the next level but he's a great small DE for D1.

In my mind, staying is definitely the right move for both those guys.

 

[johnny2x2x]

Willekes is a monster, 2nd team All American and still overlooked because he was a walk on. He's got NFL size and length for an edge rusher. 6-4, 260 lbs with long arms and a great first step. People can't watch him objectively, if he had gotten 4 stars next to his name out of high school he'd be a household name, because he's among the best athletes on the field in our conference. The first half of the Ohio State game this season he was unblockable, just a freak. Ohio State doubled and triple teamed him all 2nd half. He'll be an edge rusher in the NFL, I think he gets drafted in the top 3 rounds. His film doesn't lie. And his film isn't of just a blue collar player, it's of a great athlete who's beating the man in front of him with ease play after play.

Bachie is way way better in pass coverage than Jones or Bullough. He can run.

 

[Spartanmack]

Time will tell on Willekes - I hope for his sake you're right.

Baccie doesn't have near the LB instincts Jones or Bullough had, both those guys marshaled the defense better than anyone in a long time. He may be better in pass coverage, I don't know but that's not going to get him to the NFL, even as a safety and it's not enough for him to get the nod as the better LB than either of those guys were in college. I'm not knocking the guy - I like Baccie, I just don't think he's at the same level as Jones or Bullough and neither of them are NFL caliber talents.

 

[johnny2x2x]

Time will tell on Willekes - I hope for his sake you're right.

Baccie doesn't have near the LB instincts Jones or Bullough had, both those guys marshaled the defense better than anyone in a long time. He may be better in pass coverage, I don't know but that's not going to get him to the NFL, even as a safety and it's not enough for him to get the nod as the better LB than either of those guys were in college. I'm not knocking the guy - I like Baccie, I just don't think he's at the same level as Jones or Bullough and neither of them are NFL caliber talents.

6-2, 238 lbs is not small for an NFL LB, the average NFL LB is 6-2, 244 lbs.

 

[mhughes0021]

Just too many top tier DTs comming out with Rd 1 projections. Good move to stay and try to make more money in next years draft. He can easily be a rd 1 projection guy next year vs a rd 3ish guy this year. Makes sense...

 

[boogerlovejoy]

Time will tell on Willekes - I hope for his sake you're right.

Baccie doesn't have near the LB instincts Jones or Bullough had, both those guys marshaled the defense better than anyone in a long time. He may be better in pass coverage, I don't know but that's not going to get him to the NFL, even as a safety and it's not enough for him to get the nod as the better LB than either of those guys were in college. I'm not knocking the guy - I like Baccie, I just don't think he's at the same level as Jones or Bullough and neither of them are NFL caliber talents.

Coverage LB?s will always have a spot in today?s NFL. To me, Bachie will be a 4th-7th round pick and stick if he can cover NFL RB?s and TE?s.

If he can?t.....he?ll be a practice squad/6th LB guy.

 

[jwlcosu]

Willekes is a monster

The best player on the field (OSU vs. MSU) this year was the Buckeye punter. Second best was Willekes. It blew my mind to learn he was a walk on. Have no idea how that happened. Great looking player.

 

[Spartanmack]

Coverage LB’s will always have a spot in today’s NFL. To me, Bachie will be a 4th-7th round pick and stick if he can cover NFL RB’s and TE’s.

If he can’t.....he’ll be a practice squad/6th LB guy.

he cant. he is not really a cover LB. the claim made is that hes a better cover LB than bullogh or jones - even if thats true, that doesnt make him a cover LB.

im surprised anyone who watched him play some pretty awful games this year would be surprised he isnt turning pro. when first read the OP the first thought to cross my mind was "was he seriously considering it?"

 

[Sbee]

Wilikes is listed as the #10 DE available by McShay, he would be playing on Sundays next year. If he decides to come back, it will be because he loves playing college football. He could improve his status but he could slide too. Bacie really isn't that fast for a NFL linebacker, given the way that the offenses have changed, I don't see him leaving this year.


Williams coming back is huge, he anchors that DL and was a huge reason we had the #1 rush defense in the country. Layne will be missed but that's a position of strength, if Butler comes back healthy we should be strong at corner with Scott, Butler, Gervin, and maybe Barnett.