Nothing new at QB1, where Collins continues as the consensus pick based on all available previews. I’m a little exhausted by the QB trade narrative but understand the need to mention it. Despite listing Varnes as the #2, Steele does refer to Skyler Williams as “the QB of the future.” That line caught my attention in a “now why is that” Brian Windhorst kind of way. Smart play from Mack if he pushed Collins as the starter during their interview - I don’t think KSU wins the CUSA title last year without Dexter Williams leading throughout the summer.
“Mack feels they have a three-headed monster at running back in Murrell, Morgan, and Woods.” That line comes from Steele’s writeup on the Owls’ offense. Following spring ball, that was one of my biggest questions: Who would join Murrell and Morgan, KSU’s safest bets, as the third man in the RB rotation? This conversation with Mack would be the first time we’ve seen someone specific elevated into that lead pack. True freshman Celley Davis also warranted a mention from Steele, for what it’s worth. Two trends from the magazine circuit this summer: Murrell hasn’t gotten enough love in CUSA, and nobody can spell Triston Morgan. Steele fixed one of those issues, putting the West Georgia transfer as fourth-team All CUSA.
He’s sleeping on KSU’s receiving unit. Steele picked Kennesaw’s receiving corps as CUSA’s second-worst, the same 9th-place ranking as the RB room. I think that’s underrating what should be an improved, deeper unit this season. The trio who started the spring game - Bryson, Rogers, Munroe - gets the projected top billing in a crowded WR room. Outside of QB, that race to be the go-to slot receiver is the most important position battle on the team with Bryson, Booker, and a couple more in the mix. Is JUCO transfer Reed Jesiolowski (who started his career at Southern Miss) a little bit ahead of Jamari Harrold? Perhaps, but tight end feels like it could easily turn out to be a 50/50 split.
A shakeup at left tackle. JD Lee, one of only KSU’s only two returning starters on offense, shifts over from his tackle spot to make room for Duska, according to this prediction. The Swiss Army knife and Elon transfer boasts experience across the entire OL and is Steele’s only starter up front who didn’t appear on the opening drive of the spring game. Make of this what you will: Steele ranks the Owls in a tie for the third-best offensive line in CUSA. If that comes to fruition and QB play is at least replacement level, KSU will repeat as conference champs.
On defense, Cooper and Grimes team up at tackle, but take everything on this side of the ball with a grain of salt based on how much the Owls substitute. Grimes’ quickness and versatility gives the Owls flexibility on the interior at either position. Either way, Mattioli will give serious snaps to 10+ players in the front four using a variety of looks if they can find some depth on the interior. The door’s wide open for someone unexpected - past Steele’s starters and Buffalo transfer Devin Morgan - to emerge in the rotation. Nasir Smith at 290 would be an insane physical change from last season, when he was listed at sub-260.
Kai Russell on the edge opposite Marcus Patterson. No surprise on #6, one of the most locked-in starters for Kennesaw on the entire roster. That Russell pick’s intriguing, especially with Westmoreland penciled in as the third option and Baylor transfer Corey Kelly (a spring game starter) listed even further down the list. We need to monitor the situation in the competition at Rush end - the most wide-open job on KSU’s defense. Maybe even some offseason tradecraft in terms of injuries, too. Byron Jackson and a couple of the freshmen could make an impact here too.
Not much out of the ordinary in the secondary, where three returners are expected at nickel and the two safety spots. Mack talked up the length and athleticism boost from the newcomers, too. Steele also projected positions for the transfers who could fill multiple roles: Tony Williams, Perry Fisher and Maliki Wright at safety and Jecari Bryson classified as a nickel. Sound like a broken record here: KSU’s experience at defensive back gave Mattioli some room to experiment here without a desperate need to find sure-thing starters in the portal.
Welcome back, Tyler Hallum. Steele projects Hallum as a starter and went as far as selecting him to first-team preseason All-CUSA as he returns from a season-ending injury suffered during fall camp last year. Feels like that kind of co-sign doesn’t happen by accident and could be a good sign he’s gotten a clean bill of health. Tay’vion Lawson is going to be a stud this fall, too.
