The spring game is 13 days away, so I figured we take a look at the offense and the production returning for the Bulldogs in 2024.
In parenthesis, we will have career starts & career statistics at the FBS level.
QB: Jack Turner (4 starts, 57%, 1,193 yards, 6 TDs, & 7 INTs), Blake Baker (NA), Evan Bullock (0 starts, 40%, 21 yards, 1 INT), Ty Keyes (3 starts, 51%, 355 yards, 3 TDs & 4 INTs)
RB: Donerio Davenport (0 starts, 458 yards, 2 TDs), Omiri Wiggins (NA)
WR: Marlion Jackson (0 starts, 12 catches, 161 yards), DeColdest Crawford (0 starts, 2 catches for 17 yards) or Jay Wilkerson (NA)
WR: Tru Edwards (5 starts, 23 catches, 284 yards, 2 TDs), Dedrick Latulas (0 starts, 3 catches, -2 yards)
WR: Solo Lewis (0 starts, 2 catches for 56 yards), Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim (11 career starts in FBS, 20 catches, 220 yards, 2 TD *had 2,488 yards & 22 TDs at Alabama A&M)
TE: Eli Finley (1 start, 2 catches for 10 yards), Nate Jones (7 starts, 29 catches, 285 yards, 1 TD)
LT: Daniel Keys (0 starts), Hayden Christman (0 starts)
LG: Bert Hale (18 starts), Ashanti Cole (0 starts)
C: Landon Nelson (0 starts), Zarian McGill (
RG: Jerren Gilbert (10 starts), Ja'Marrion Kennedy (0 starts)
RT: Kenneth Bannister (1 start), Brett Canis (0 starts)
Notes:
*Marquis Crosby, Keith Willis, and Hunter Tipton are out due to injury right now. Bannister got banged up Thursday, but he was a 1 prior to that.
*Very inexperienced across the entire offense. Will need numerous players to step up around Jack Turner to help his transition into the starting role.
*As far as the identity of the offense, Bert Hale said post-practice on Thursday that they are really still trying to figure that out and might not know until we get into games this fall. If Crosby, Willis, and Davenport are all healthy at RB, I think it has to be 60/40 or 65/35 run to pass if they offensive line is getting any sort of push. Those are easily your 3 most talented players on offense.
*In terms of Turner, Scott Parr said post-practice on Thursday that the belief is Jack just needs to play football and he'll develop adequately. He mentioned that he didn't play much in high school or junior college and that his first real reps were last season.
*In terms of WR, there's obviously not a Smoke Harris or Cyrus Allen in the room. Parr said post-practice on Thursday that the group is very competitive top to bottom and not having to force it to a go-to-guy might can help the unit.
*I'll do this same exercise for the defense on Thursday.