Position Breakdown -- WR

[purplestorm]

This is the deepest and most talented position on the team (next is DE, OL and the Safety position). I don't know if I can remember a time that this position has been so deep. Yes, we've had some pretty darn good WR's in NSU history (M. Duper, V. Oatis, D. Toussaint, F. Turner, O. Turner, A. Edwards, P. Palmer, N. Black, T. Zeigler and D. Guice), but the crew we have now is impressive. This is what they look like and how I "think" they will stack up depth-wise. Heights and weights are withing an inch and five to ten pounds, of course. Again, I could be off on which slot which WR fills on the field, but I should have all the names included on this list. If not, it's a pure oversight on my part:


Ed Eagan -- 5'10"-195lbs -- Senior -- LA -- Just a pure dynamo; NFL bound if he stays healthy; Wes Welker type.
Tuff McClain -- 6'0"-190lbs -- Junior -- TX -- He'd start at many places and is very, very good. He will replace Eagan next year! 
Brandon Monrose -- 5'10"-190lbs -- Senior -- LA -- Also can play Holder; just a tough-nosed kid who will see some time on the field. Very talented. 
Bryson Bourque -- 5'11"-190lbs -- Sophomore -- LA -- Unheralded player from New Iberia; has the potential to be very good before he leaves.


Cody Jones -- 5'10"-195lbs -- Senior -- LA -- Super athletic; played QB in HS and is just a football player; could get a camp invite if he has a good year. 
William Mafi -- 6'2"-195lbs -- Junior -- CA -- One of the top WR's in the JUCO world last season. The kid can flat-out play and will play a lot.
Cameron Lazare -- 6'0"-195lbs -- Sophomore -- LA -- Has untapped potential and should become a force on the field in the next couple seasons.
Marlon Horne -- 6'0"-180lbs -- Freshman -- GA -- Atlanta, GA area player who can catch the rock; leftover from Robby Brown's tenure at OC and will be a good one.
Deshon Ficklin -- 6'2"-220lbs -- Freshman -- LA -- Local kid who should be redshirted and will bulk up and play TE/HB in the coming years. Very good player.
 

Shakeir Ryan -- 5'7"-165lbs -- Junior -- LA -- I was told by an LSU fan that Ryan is the fastest player on the football field in LA since Trindon Holliday! He's that fast! 
Glenn Irons -- 5'9"-175lbs -- Freshman -- LA -- I was told by this same LSU fan that Irons is just as good as Speedy Noil, his HS teammate at TAMU, just smaller.
Nick Fabrizio -- 5'11"-190lbs -- Sophomore -- FL -- Navy Prep transfer; very, very talented, fast and will play some Wildcat, as well. 
Bobby Chan-Chan -- 6'0"-190lbs -- Sophomore -- TX -- Unknown who came to us from an NAIA in Kentucky. Word is he's definitely D-1 talent and will be a good one.
Marco Richard -- 5'8"-150lbs -- Junior -- LA -- Journeyman player who should get a little playing time this year. He has stuck it out and deserves it. Tough and fast.
 

*Damien Boone is listed as a WR on the roster, but he's at TE now. Very much like Ficklin, who will move to TE, as well.
 

Bottom line, we have speed, great route runners and superb hands. If we can get our QB(s) to get them the ball enough, we'll win some football games this fall. This is one heck of a group! We'll see, but they have the potential to be one of the best to ever don the purple, orange and white ... in history. And there are only four Seniors out of the 14 listed. 



 

[Patrick]

I am not entirely sure how you have the guys listed in terms of depth but it is pretty obvious that Eagan, Tuff McClain, Cody Jones and Shakeir Ryan are the first four guys on the depth chart.

I will take issue with you on one thing. Eagan is not really a Wes Welker-type. He's bigger than Welker, faster than Welker and plays wide, as opposed to Welker, who plays almost exclusively inside. Welker is more of a possession receiver, not as much a deep threat or home run hitter. Eagan is the very definition of a home run hitter. They are quite similar in the return game, though Welker doesn't usually return kickoffs.

A much better comp for Eagan is Steve Smith. Small but strong, good speed (4.3-4.4 while Welker is 4.6) and a deep threat who will catch almost anything thrown in his vicinity no matter the DB on him.

[Thb46]

Went to scrimmage on Saturday, Mafi is the real deal smooth rout runner and great hands. He will have a big impact this year! Should be entertaining on offense . Hopefully the defense can step up and if they do we are going to be pretty salty.

[purplestorm]

Patrick, You would know way better than me. I just assumed Eagan would be a bit small compared to many NFL receivers. I had McClain behind Eagan because I figured he would play a lot and was probably quicker than Mafi. I tried to put the real "speed" guys under Ryan, but, again, I'm not in the know like you are. This is just for conversation sake only. Trust me, I get out of the way when someone like you adds to the forum. Yes, Thb46, we could be really salty if certain things fall into place, QB being that certain thing. The defense will come around as the season progresses, I think. I think we're out of the hole and the pieces are in place to take the next step. Will it be this year or the next couple seasons? We'll see.

[Patrick]

Oh okay, now I see how you have it laid out. The first guy in each group is the starter, everyone under him the backups. Got it. I just didn't understand how you laid it out in terms of depth. I think how you have it laid out is pretty accurate. I think Chan-Chan would be a little higher on the list. Otherwise, pretty solid. Eagan, Jones, Shake and Tuff are the first four. Everyone else is fighting for time. Irons, Chan-Chan, Mafi, all those guys will be in the mix

[purplestorm]

No worries! These breakdowns are just to stir conversation and thoughts among the fans. By no means are they how Coach Thomas sees it.

[Cajundemon11]

Its because he's white!!


Kidding, but I see what you mean, although he is more of a deep threat than Welker.