First a disclaimer, what the media got to see is not much. There are no pads on and a lot of the work was special teams and fundamentals. That said here are a few thoughts broken down by positions:
Quarterbacks: Ryan Tice pointed out that when you see freshman Matt McKay in a group setting, he does still look skinny compared to others, but McKay still throws a nice ball. What stood out to me though was redshirt junior Ryan Finley looked in total command of the drills that I saw up close.
Running backs: Interestingly, junior Reggie Gallaspy was getting the first string snaps (although junior Nyheim Hines) rotated in. Then it was fifth-year senior Dakwa Nichols. Gallaspy definitely looked leaner/fitter to me.
Wide receivers: Fifth-year senior Gavin Locklear may have the early inside track at slot. I didn't get the second string receiving corps in its entirety but did see redshirt freshman Daeshawn Stephens and redshirt sophomore Jakobi Meyers with them. Did look like fifth-year senior JuMichael Ramos was a full go, and have to say that redshirt freshman C.J. Riley is one impressive-looking freshman.
Tight ends: Did not see freshman Adam Boselli out there, but the rest of the group definitely passes the look test. I saw redshirt freshman Dylan Autenrieth make a heck of a one-handed catch.
Offensive line: No surprises on the first string, but it looked the second string from left to right was: redshirt sophomore Philip Walton, fifth-year senior Peter Daniel, redshirt freshman Joe Sculthorpe, redshirt sophomore Aaron Wiltz and redshirt sophomore Emanuel McGirt. From what I could tell, I think the two freshmen are on opposite ends of the spectrum: Joshua Fedd-Jackson needs to lose a few pounds and Bryson Speas needs to get stronger.
Defensive line: As you'd might expect, the older guys are definitely a physically imposing group, which probably means the younger ones look even more like freshmen by comparison. What stood out to me was how vocal defensive line coach Kevin Patrick was ... he pushes them hard during drills and is not a fan of wasted time. Among the freshmen, I would say Kevince Brown looks the part the most. I did not see freshman defensive tackle Dante Johnson out there. (My guess is he and Boselli were in the training room but that is unconfirmed).
Linebackers: Seniors Jerod Fernandez and Airius Moore were backed up by juniors Germaine Pratt and Riley Nicholson. This is going to be a fun position battle to watch play out over preseason camp. This group in general looks in excellent shape, and the addition of the three freshmen really boosts the numbers to where it is a noticeably larger group for Dave Huxtable.
Safeties/nickels: As noted in the live thread, it looked like senior Shawn Boone is sliding over to nickel with redshirt junior Dexter Wright and redshirt sophomore Jarius Morehead are the safeties, backed up junior Freddie Phillips at nickel and sophomore Tim Kidd-Glass and redshirt freshman Isaiah Stallings at safety.
Corners: Redshirt freshman Bryce Banks and fifth-year senior Johnathan Alston were second string to sophomore Nick McCloud and senior Mike Stevens. As noted on the live thread, it was noteworthy that redshirt freshman James Valdez, previously suspended, was out with the group.
Special teams: The only note worth bringing up here was that redshirt junior Carson Wise did get the first field goal try that we saw in the brief live drills.
Quarterbacks: Ryan Tice pointed out that when you see freshman Matt McKay in a group setting, he does still look skinny compared to others, but McKay still throws a nice ball. What stood out to me though was redshirt junior Ryan Finley looked in total command of the drills that I saw up close.
Running backs: Interestingly, junior Reggie Gallaspy was getting the first string snaps (although junior Nyheim Hines) rotated in. Then it was fifth-year senior Dakwa Nichols. Gallaspy definitely looked leaner/fitter to me.
Wide receivers: Fifth-year senior Gavin Locklear may have the early inside track at slot. I didn't get the second string receiving corps in its entirety but did see redshirt freshman Daeshawn Stephens and redshirt sophomore Jakobi Meyers with them. Did look like fifth-year senior JuMichael Ramos was a full go, and have to say that redshirt freshman C.J. Riley is one impressive-looking freshman.
Tight ends: Did not see freshman Adam Boselli out there, but the rest of the group definitely passes the look test. I saw redshirt freshman Dylan Autenrieth make a heck of a one-handed catch.
Offensive line: No surprises on the first string, but it looked the second string from left to right was: redshirt sophomore Philip Walton, fifth-year senior Peter Daniel, redshirt freshman Joe Sculthorpe, redshirt sophomore Aaron Wiltz and redshirt sophomore Emanuel McGirt. From what I could tell, I think the two freshmen are on opposite ends of the spectrum: Joshua Fedd-Jackson needs to lose a few pounds and Bryson Speas needs to get stronger.
Defensive line: As you'd might expect, the older guys are definitely a physically imposing group, which probably means the younger ones look even more like freshmen by comparison. What stood out to me was how vocal defensive line coach Kevin Patrick was ... he pushes them hard during drills and is not a fan of wasted time. Among the freshmen, I would say Kevince Brown looks the part the most. I did not see freshman defensive tackle Dante Johnson out there. (My guess is he and Boselli were in the training room but that is unconfirmed).
Linebackers: Seniors Jerod Fernandez and Airius Moore were backed up by juniors Germaine Pratt and Riley Nicholson. This is going to be a fun position battle to watch play out over preseason camp. This group in general looks in excellent shape, and the addition of the three freshmen really boosts the numbers to where it is a noticeably larger group for Dave Huxtable.
Safeties/nickels: As noted in the live thread, it looked like senior Shawn Boone is sliding over to nickel with redshirt junior Dexter Wright and redshirt sophomore Jarius Morehead are the safeties, backed up junior Freddie Phillips at nickel and sophomore Tim Kidd-Glass and redshirt freshman Isaiah Stallings at safety.
Corners: Redshirt freshman Bryce Banks and fifth-year senior Johnathan Alston were second string to sophomore Nick McCloud and senior Mike Stevens. As noted on the live thread, it was noteworthy that redshirt freshman James Valdez, previously suspended, was out with the group.
Special teams: The only note worth bringing up here was that redshirt junior Carson Wise did get the first field goal try that we saw in the brief live drills.
