[SamuelMcF]

Thanks, Langdude.  That's some interesting roster imbalance.  

With 9 edge players and 8 inside linebackers on scholarship for a total of 3 starting spots, I wonder whether Jorgenson and Keck are returning to walk-on status.  If there is a shortage of scholarships (and maybe there isn't because people are leaving or retiring who haven't announced), it simply does not make sense to offer scholarships to players who don't start and who play positions with roster depth.

That would be a total of FIVE starting spots thanks to the 4-3 switch. Four in nickel.

EDGE DL DL EDGE
   SAM MIKE WILL

The SAM will likely be someone in the Edge group, but could be a heavier/more pass-rush-inclined ILB. Curtis Robinson would've been a perfect example. MIKE and WILL are ILBs. (I also think we shouldn't be using "ILB" anymore and instead just "LB" - or even better "SAM/MIKE/WILL" - but that's the fault of the official roster.)

For the record, I believe Keck is not on scholarship anymore (returning as a grad student) but Jorgensen still is. If accurate, that means this year we will have just two non-specialist walk-ons on scholarship - the lowest number in many many years.

[SamuelMcF]

Thanks, Langdude.  That's some interesting roster imbalance.  

With 9 edge players and 8 inside linebackers on scholarship for a total of 3 starting spots, I wonder whether Jorgenson and Keck are returning to walk-on status.  If there is a shortage of scholarships (and maybe there isn't because people are leaving or retiring who haven't announced), it simply does not make sense to offer scholarships to players who don't start and who play positions with roster depth.

That would be a total of FIVE starting spots thanks to the 4-3 switch. Four in nickel.

EDGE DL DL EDGE
   SAM MIKE WILL

The SAM will likely be someone in the Edge group, but could be a heavier/more pass-rush-inclined ILB. Curtis Robinson would've been a perfect example. MIKE and WILL are ILBs. (I also think we shouldn't be using "ILB" anymore and instead just "LB" - or even better "SAM/MIKE/WILL" - but that's the fault of the official roster.)

For the record, I believe Keck is not on scholarship anymore (returning as a grad student) but Jorgensen still is. If accurate, that means this year we will have just two non-specialist walk-ons on scholarship - the lowest number in many many years.