First:
Portal Work with Morgan, find me some talented OL/DL options a RB and a starting LB. I think you probably need a starting Guard and Center looks like Brailsford is likely gone since we're already pursuing some transfer center options. I think OL and DL are the BIGGEST and most important spots where we need to spend $$ and find older, veteran replacements guys with good football IQ.
Coleman is intriguing, we will not be the highest bidder. Texas and TAMU will be much higher so how much of a discount does he give Nix and friends he has here over the $$? If our QB situation is in flux also (TY getting drafted or staying) may also have a factor here, he probably wants to play with a talented QB so he can push his draft stock.
Anyways, outside of the starters we will need to try to find, we probably need 5-10 back-ups and fill-in players that can try to work for playing time, probably a few RS Freshman or Sophmores to fill the gaps, here we can take some more chances and really need to try to scout diamonds in the rough.
Second:
I'd review film for the entire year and dissect what went wrong in all the games, even the ones we won by double digits. I'd mark down good and bad things and notes. I'd bring up plays and have discussions with coaches and position coaches all the way down to assistants/grad assistants. I'd make everyone go over the tapes and learn how to read and make adjustments off of what we were seeing and then I'd take interviews with position coaches and go over why they didn't adjust or what they were seeing and why nothing changed during the year or why things did change and what good things they did. Afterwards, I'd call in the ones I didn't feel comfortable with their answers or performance through the year explained it all.
I'd relieve Kaplovic, Nunez and Gillespie of their positions and look for replacements in those areas.
OL:
Huff (Seahawks) - Throw the bag at him if you can
Bob Bostad (Indiana) - Throw the bag at him if you can he runs their O-line and Run game coordinator give him the same spot here but an increased role and more $$
ST:
Thomas Sheffield (Hawaii) - Special Teams Coordinator (Has a good eye for talent and development as well). Freshman Punter avg 46+ yards per punt and Senior Kicker @ 93% field goal percentage shows both growth and ability to spot talent. Punt return and kick returns this year aren't great but in 2024 he average 14.5 yards per punt return. He's capable of making it work in that department as well.
Grant Cain (Indiana) - One of the top FG kickers, one of the best Punt Return averages 16 yards per return his punting stats are fairly average though (39.9 avg)
Special teams is tough, so many intangibles and pieces here it's hard to pinpoint exact fits but these are two I think would work fine plug and play.
RB:
James Montgomery (Boise State) - I'd throw the bag at this man if I could, he's young, smart, capable of developing talent and knows how to get a lot out of his backs. (Yes he coached Ashton Jeanty)
Darian Hagan (SDSU) - Previously at Colorado, has consistent rushing yards. He's used to doing a workhorse back and swapping so can do either.
Stan Drayton (Penn State) - Helped develop Ezekiel Elliot and Bijan Robinson previously, Has some strong backs he's developed through the years and consistency is key here he's getting consistent running. With Franklin leaving and the change of guard, I'd snatch him up if possible if the man from Boise State says no. Hagan would be my 3rd choice.
3rd:
I would have assistants pour through tape/packages for the players to study mistakes and things they did good to better increase football IQ in the building. I would want to bring in people to help better with this also, maybe speakers or coaches or NFL guys to build more on the culture that we aren't going to sit idle, we're going to develop and push ourselves to be better.
I'd get ready for Spring practice and hopefully have a few battles to deal with and I'd keep a sense of urgency. I'd replay the Indiana Highlight video of them scoring on us over and over again and us failing to do anything until the players get sick of it.
