Departures and Additions 2021-22 Postseason

[Zeek 16,649]

Quarterback

Outgoing:

• Bo Nix -> transferred to Oregon
• Grant Loy -> exhausted eligibility

Incoming:

• 4* Holden Geriner -> 2022 signee
• 3* Zach Calzada -> transferred from Texas A&M
• 3* Robby Ashford -> transferred from Oregon

Current Scholarship Players:

• Zach Calzada
• TJ Finley
• Dematrius Davis
• Holden Geriner
• Robby Ashford

***Most expect one of the current QBs to transfer out (TJ and/or Dee)***

Running Back

Outgoing:

• Shaun "Worm" Shivers -> transferred to Indiana

Incoming:

• 4* Damari Alston -> 2022 signee

Current Scholarship Players:

• Tank Bigsby
• Jarquez Hunter
• Jordon Ingram
• Damari Alston

***The staff might add another RB either from the 2022 class or the transfer portal. 2022 4* TreVonte Citizen is the primary target at this moment in time***

Wide Receiver

Outgoing:

• Kobe Hudson -> transferred to UCF
• Elijah Canion -> transferred to Purdue
• Demetris Robertson -> exhausted eligibility
• Caylin Newton -> exhausted eligibility

Incoming:

• 4* Omari Kelly -> 2022 signee
• 3* Camden Brown -> 2022 signee
• 3* Jay Fair -> 2022 signee

Current Scholarship Players:

• Shedrick Jackson
• Ze'Vian Capers
• Ja'Varrius Johnson
• Malcolm Johnson Jr.
• J.J. Evans 
• Tar'Varish Dawson
• Omari Kelly
• Camden Brown
• Jay Fair

The staff is looking for a transfer WR to add to the 2022 class. If the right guy were to jump in the boat we might even take two. There are half a dozen names mentioned as being targets but none seem serious yet.

Tight End

Outgoing:

N/A

Incoming:

• 3* Micah Riley-Ducker -> 2022 signee

Current Scholarship Players:

• John Samuel Shenker
• Luke Deal
• Tyler Fromm
• Brandon Frazier
• Landen King
• Micah Riley-Ducker

Funny enough at one point the staff was pursuing yet another TE. Shenker returning has alleviated the desire to do so from what I can tell. MRD is one of my favorite additions from this recruiting class.

Offensive Line

Outgoing:

• Brodarious Hamm -> declared for the NFL Draft
• Brandon Council -> exhausted eligibility
• Tashawn Manning -> transferred to Kentucky

Incoming:

• 3* OT Eston Harris -> 2022 signee

Super Seniors (using their COVID-19 year of eligibility):

• Nick Brahms
• Austin Troxell
• Alec Jackson

Current Scholarship Players:

• Kilian Zierer
• Brenden Coffey
• Kam Stutts
• Jalil Irvin
• Keiondre Jones
• Avery Jernigan
• Tate Johnson
• Colby Smith
• Garner Langlo
• Eston Harris

The staff is wanting to add 2-3, and possibly even 4 if they could get that many, from the portal. We are currently offering almost every starting lineman in the portal and a number of them were all conference players. We have made some headway with at least two of them so far.

Defensive Line

Outgoing:

• Tony Fair -> exhausted eligibility
• Dre Butler -> entered the transfer portal
• Daniel Foster-Allen -> transferred to South Alabama
• JJ Pegues -> entered the transfer portal
• Lee Hunter -> entered the transfer portal

Incoming:

• 4* Jayson Jones -> transferred from Oregon
• 4* Jeffrey M'ba -> transferred from Independence C.C.
• 3* Enyce Sledge -> 2022 signee

Current Players on Scholarship:

• Marquis Burks
• Colby Wooden
• Marcus Harris
• Zykeivous Walker
• Jayson Jones
• Jeremiah Wright
• Jeffrey M'ba
• Marquis Robinson
• Tobechi Okoli
• Ian Matthews
• Enyce Sledge

Might add one more player here with the departure of Lee Hunter and JJ Pegues. 

Edge Rusher

Outgoing:

• T.D. Moultry -> exhausted eligibility
• Caleb Johnson -> entered the transfer portal
• Romello Height -> entered the transfer portal

Incoming:

• 3* Powell Gordon -> 2022 signee listed as a LB but likely will transition into an edge rusher.

Current Scholarship Players:

• Derick Hall
• Eku Leota
• Dylan Brooks

Linebacker

Outgoing:

• Zakoby McClain -> declared for the NFL Draft
• Chandler Wooten -> exhausted eligibility

Incoming:

• 4* Robert Woodyard -> 2022 signee that may take some time to recover from a surgery he had senior year of high school.

Current Scholarship Players:

• Owen Pappoe
• Cam Riley
• Kam Brown
• Wesley Steiner
• Desmond Tisdol
• Joko Willis
• Robert Woodyard

The staff is being patient but definitely plans on adding a linebacker through the portal to add some experience. However, we also appear to feel really positive about the development of our current guys on the roster.

Cornerback

Outgoing:

• Dreshun Miller -> entered the transfer portal
• Roger McCreary -> declared for the NFL Draft
• Malcolm Askew -> exhausted eligibility

Incoming:

• 4* Austin Ausberry -> 2022 signee
• 4* JaDarian Rhym -> 2022 signee
• 4* Keionte Scott -> transferred from Snow College
• 3* DJ James -> transferred from Oregon

Current Scholarship Players:

• Nehemiah Pritchett
• Jaylin Simpson
• Ro Torrence
• A.D. Diamond
• Keionte Scott
• Austin Ausberry
• JaDarian Rhym
• Eric Reed Jr.

We are, believe it or not, looking at another DB in the portal still.

Safety

Outgoing:

• Smoke Monday -> declared for the NFL Draft
• Bydarrius Knighten -> exhausted eligibility
• Ahmari Harvey -> transferred to Georgia Tech
• Ladarius Tennison -> transferred to Ole Miss

Incoming:

• 3* Caleb Wooden -> 2022 signee
• 3* Marquise Gilbert -> JuCo transfer

Current Scholarship Players:

• Zion Puckett
• Donovan Kaufman
• Marquise Gilbert
• Cayden Bridges
• Caleb Wooden

The first three listed are expected to see the bulk of playing time this season. I would be somewhat surprised if we don't add another safety for depth but there hasn't been any smoke around the position (pun somewhat intended). Gilbert is expected to fight Kaufman for the starting job.

Specialists

Outgoing:

N/A

Incoming:

• 3* Alex McPherson -> 2022 signee

Current Scholarship Players:

• Anders Carlson (Kicker)
• Oscar Chapman (Punter)
• Alex McPherson (Kicker)

This will be something to watch going forward. Carlson will be returning from an injury to compete with a true freshman who just finished high school rated as the #1 kicker. It might not be as much of a lock as some think.

 

[AUFlyer99 647]

What were the rules around the extra Covid year?

[japantiger 4,051]

Thanks for this.  I finally got around to watching Geriner's film.  What level of competition does he play against in HS?  It appears to be a small military prep school.  Is this basically 1A? or do they play upper classification talent?

He throws a nice ball; I didn't see film of him throwing under pressure.  He runs good enough; and appears to know when to run...his release is quick; not high.  But at 6'3" that is probably not a major issue.  

[meh130 1,043]

Good info. With the COVID year, it is possible some seniors will stay to get another year to try to impress the NFL scouts. Others will leave even without NFL prospects to get on with their lives. Some may transfer to use their extra year elsewhere.

For the draft-eligible underclassmen, much will depend on how they score in NFL draft evaluations.

Do we know which Seniors are already COVID “Super Seniors”, and which could potentially stay or transfer because they have one more year of eligibility.

[au302 2,669]

Going to be fun to watch the melts on here this offseason when 15 or so reserves enter the portal. Going to be a lot of turnover, but it's needed

[Tigerpro2a 5,650]

2 hours ago, Zeek said:

Players with a line through their name are not returning. Players' whose names are bolded will return for next season. Players with an orange name have entered the transfer portal.

Seniors and draft eligible players:

• Bo Nix - Junior - QB - Draft Eligible
• Jalil Irvin - Junior - OL - Draft Eligible
• Kilian Zierer - Junior - OL - Draft Eligible
• Kameron Stutts - Junior - OL - Draft Eligible
• Dre Butler - Junior - DL - Draft Eligible
• Caleb Johnson - Junior - DL - Draft Eligible
• Eku Leota - Junior - DL - Draft Eligible
• Owen Pappoe - Junior - LB - Draft Eligible
• Zion Puckett - Redshirt Sophomore - DB - Draft Eligible
• Nehemiah Pritchett - Junior - DB - Draft Eligible
• Jacob Quattlebaum - Junior - LS - Draft Eligible
• Grant Loy - Senior - QB
• Shaun Shivers - Senior - RB
• Jacob Jasinski - Senior - RB
• Demetris Robertson - Senior - WR
• Malcolm Russell - Senior - WR
• Jackson McFadden - Senior - WR
• Shedrick Jackson - Senior - WR
• Caylin Newton - Senior - WR
• John Samuel-Shenker - Senior - TE
• Hayden Brice - Senior - TE
• Nick Brahms - Senior - OL
• Brenden Coffey - Senior - OL
• Tashawn Manning - Senior - OL
• Brodarious Hamm - Senior - OL
• Alex Jackson - Senior - OL
• Austin Troxell - Senior - OL
• David Shannon - Senior - OL
• Brandon Council - Senior - OL
• Tony Fair - Senior - DL
• Marquis Burks - Senior - DL
• TD Moultry - Senior - DL
• Barton Lester - Senior - LB
• Russ Logan - Senior - LB
• Brooks Walton - Senior - LB
• Chandler Wooten - Senior - LB
• Dreshun Miller - Senior - CB
• Zakoby McClain - Senior - LB
• Malcolm Askew - Senior - DB
• Bydarrius Knighten - Senior - DB
• Smoke Monday - Senior - DB
• Trey Elston - Senior - DB
• Roger McCreary - Senior - DB
• Devin Guice - Senior - DB
• Anders Carlson - Senior - K
• Aidan Marshall - Senior - P

Current additions:

• 4* QB Holden Geriner - commit
• 4* RB Damari Alston - commit
• 4* WR Omari Kelly - commit
• 3* WR Jay Fair - commit
• 3* TE Micah Riley-Ducker - commit
• 3* OL Eston Harris Jr. - commit
• 3* OL Drew Bobo - commit
• 4* DL Caden Story - commit
• 3* Powell Gordon - commit
• 4* DB Tre Donaldson - commit
• 3* DB Ja'Kobi Albert - commit
• 3* DB Caleb Wooden - commit
• 3* K Alex McPherson - commit

I believe all of our Juniors and Redshirt Sophomores will not yet declare for the NFL Draft. Owen Pappoe is the only one I think really might be likely to depart. Last I read he was leaning towards returning.

Will update this throughout the offseason/postseason.

You forgot Colby Wooden. He is draft eligible. 

I think the only one who possibly leaves is Pappoe but I believe he comes back, too.

[abw0004 10,110]

For what it is worth, Owen Pappoe did not walk out with the seniors.  In the past, if they know they will declare, they walk out with them.  

[woodford 3,655]

Not being selfish but none of these juniors or RS sophomores should leave early. Would be a silly decision.

[W.E.D 11,070]

3 hours ago, AUFlyer99 said:

What were the rules around the extra Covid year?

Essentially 2020 doesn't count against your eligibility. So you either get a 5th year if you didn't RS or a 6th year if you did RS

[W.E.D 11,070]

Anyone know of Dreshun Miller has an extra year available? I know he was JUCO then WVU, but not sure if this was his 5th year or not

[AUFlyer99 647]

1 hour ago, W.E.D said:

Essentially 2020 doesn't count against your eligibility. So you either get a 5th year if you didn't RS or a 6th year if you did RS

Thanks.  That’s what I thought.  Hopefully we get a few seniors that stay the extra year.  I’d love to see Worm again for one. 

[SRBautigerfan 1,040]

1 hour ago, Tigerpro2a said:

You forgot Colby Wooden. He is draft eligible. 

I think the only one who possibly leaves is Pappoe but I believe he comes back, too.

Does Wooden or Pappoe have a chance to be drafted??  

[AUinGA44 265]

4 hours ago, japantiger said:

Thanks for this.  I finally got around to watching Geriner's film.  What level of competition does he play against in HS?  It appears to be a small military prep school.  Is this basically 1A? or do they play upper classification talent?

He throws a nice ball; I didn't see film of him throwing under pressure.  He runs good enough; and appears to know when to run...his release is quick; not high.  But at 6'3" that is probably not a major issue.  

Geriner plays AAAA ball in GA. His region is not very good but the non-region schedule was tough for him this season. They will likely win AAAA, he is legit.

[Dual-Threat Rigby 8,662]

that was alot of senior leadership to go 6-6. Say what you want about the talent level of that leadership, but that really makes you tepid on predicting much out of 2022 

[shabby 1,956]

Hopefully Nix returns. Not sure what the plan would be if he declares. We would need to Hit the transfer portal I imagine for a qb?

[SRBautigerfan 1,040]

On 11/28/2021 at 2:47 PM, Dual-Threat Rigby said:

that was alot of senior leadership to go 6-6. Say what you want about the talent level of that leadership, but that really makes you tepid on predicting much out of 2022 

That's what I was thinking.  35 freaking SR's... wow.  

[AUApostle 7,651]

I count 23 senior scholarship contributors.  Going to be tough to hit the 85 scholarship mark when you account for typical attrition.  Do transfers count against the 25 rule this year?

[Tony4AU 386]

From my understanding the 85 limit is back and next year potentially could sign up to 32 initials if you have the room.  

[AUGoo 2,659]

On 11/28/2021 at 2:47 PM, Dual-Threat Rigby said:

that was alot of senior leadership to go 6-6. Say what you want about the talent level of that leadership, but that really makes you tepid on predicting much out of 2022 

Friend is gonna have to perform some miracles next year

[W.E.D 11,070]

15 minutes ago, AUDevil said:

I count 23 senior scholarship contributors.  Going to be tough to hit the 85 scholarship mark when you account for typical attrition.  Do transfers count against the 25 rule this year?

 

5 minutes ago, Tony4AU said:

From my understanding the 85 limit is back and next year potentially could sign up to 32 initials if you have the room.  

Transfers count against the 25, but for the 22 class you get up to 7 replacement slots for each transfer out. So if we have 7 guys enter the portal, we can add 7 transfers that don't count against the 25.  They are in a +7 replacement pool

[Old fan 47 769]

48 minutes ago, Dual-Threat Rigby said:

Good god, that was alot of senior leadership to go 6-6. Say what you want about the talent level of that leadership, but that really makes you tepid on predicting much out of 2022 

Agree. I also think Tank could hit the portal. Why should he stay here behind the line AU trots out? A lot of holes on this team and needs to address and that includes the coaching staff. This is a few recruiting cycles, which obviously need to be better assessed than the last few, away from really challenging UGA. We hung w Bama and w less talent, but that’s not unheard of over this rivalry the last few years when AU plays them at home. 

[Tigerpro2a 5,650]

2 hours ago, SRBautigerfan said:

Does Wooden or Pappoe have a chance to be drafted??  

I think potentially either of them could be, but I think it makes a ton of sense for both to come back and improve their odds.

[bigbird 60,501]

 

[JDUBB4AU 5,112]

I see tremendous opportunity for recruits coming in all over that list . 

[W.E.D 11,070]

1 hour ago, Old fan 47 said:

Agree. I also think Tank could hit the portal. Why should he stay here behind the line AU trots out?

Lots of sites have stated we're going to be heavy on OL in the portal and that they have already been talking to players via back channels.

I hope he waits and sees what we do before he bolts.