Confirmed Committed Transfers

[Northeast Stinger]

There were also communication issues. We were back to seeing a safety and a LB filling the same gap, even later in the season. Maybe it was players trying too hard and covering someone else’s assignment, but it’s clear why Key was ranting about “doing your job”.

Gideon had some square pegs and triangular pegs in the LB group, and he use them as round pegs



We did a horrible job of disguising what we were doing, even though we tried. Zone drops were bad too. When Adazzio goes off on the persistent coverage hole across the middle in all of our ACCN games, you know every opposing coach has seen that in film sessions

We were bad at blitzing too. I cringed whenever people on here called for more blitzes because we usually gave up a 20 yard play whenever we did.

 

[DeepSnap]

Efford reminds me of David Curry, another LB who stayed a little too long...... both were/are 2x CAPTs, but a step slow in today's game.

I'm puzzled how you're puzzled. He's a neck roll downhill LB. Give him a gap and he attacks. Gideon's scheme asked him to sit back and read multiple gaps, zone drop to space, and basically be a completely different type of LB. Clearest example of scheme not fitting personnel I've ever seen. Then, as if that isn't bad enough, that same scheme oftentimes asked him to line up to show a pass coverage in a place that wasn't heads up on his assigned run fit which I don't think ANY LB in the history of football as a sport has ever been able to do well, so there's that piece of it.

There were also communication issues. We were back to seeing a safety and a LB filling the same gap, even later in the season. Maybe it was players trying too hard and covering someone else’s assignment, but it’s clear why Key was ranting about “doing your job”.

Gideon had some square pegs and triangular pegs in the LB group, and he use them as round pegs

We did a horrible job of disguising what we were doing, even though we tried. Zone drops were bad too. When Adazzio goes off on the persistent coverage hole across the middle in all of our ACCN games, you know every opposing coach has seen that in film sessions

 

[slugboy]

Efford reminds me of David Curry, another LB who stayed a little too long...... both were/are 2x CAPTs, but a step slow in today's game.

Maybe I’m wrong, but I felt like Curry should have been a strong safety, but we put him at LB because we didn’t have enough depth there.

It’s been a while, so who knows?

 

[LargeFO]

I'm not an expert on Xs and Os. But my impression was that:

1. The legend of 'Kyle Effort' got a little overblown in 2024. I love the guy. He does play with max effort and focus. But he was never the best athlete on the field. Playing beside athletic Sr Tren Tatum in 2024 he shined at times. But then in 2025 the expectations were that he would be leader of the defense and perform at a high level in all phases of the defense. Let's be clear: he was good. He led the team in tackles. But the living legend expectations were too high.
2. His total tackles were up significantly. But TFLs and Sacks were down. That feels like scheme and not positioning him for maximum success.
3. IMHO - Our secondary was stronger than DL in 2024, our DL was a little stronger in 2025. So, Efford was being asked to support the pass defense more in 2025. That's not his strength. He's a tackler, not a pass defender. If he's covering someone, put money on him making the tackle; but after the catch is made. I feel like Kyle was born to be a stud Edge rusher. He's just about 3 inches too short and 40lbs too light.
4. Re-watching some lowlights from Pitt and NC State. On a lot of plays, pre snap, he's directing the defense and trying to get guys in position right up until the ball gets snapped. Then it feels like trying to figure out where he needs to go himself. E.G. the play below vs NC St @ 59:52 I'm not sure what he was supposed to do. But it seems like he was too busy trying to get other players in position to do it. (Again, I'm not an Xs and Os expert.)

Unfortunately, we've lost basically the entire secondary to graduation or the portal and haven't brought in much help. We've brought in more help for the DL. We're going to be young and inexperienced (but talented) in the secondary next year. I hope Semore can find ways to put Kyle in positions to succeed next year. He's one of my favorite players and I hope he has a monster SR season.

I don’t think Gideon had Efford playing to his strengths this year. IMO

 

[alagold]

I mean graduation has hurt us worse than the portal is my point

I was counting grads but Stockton,Taylor ,Moore and Butler are not inconsequential at all. btw---If you are counting on the guy from Ala to replace Moore/Tana.They had 300 more snaps than he did at ctr at. least.

 

[yeti92]

I was counting grads but Stockton,Taylor ,Moore and Butler are not inconsequential at all. btw---If you are counting on the guy from Ala to replace Moore/Tana.They had 300 more snaps than he did at ctr at. least.

That's probably a good thing - most of those 300 snaps were bad.

 

[alagold]

I'm not an expert on Xs and Os. But my impression was that:

1. The legend of 'Kyle Effort' got a little overblown in 2024. I love the guy. He does play with max effort and focus. But he was never the best athlete on the field. Playing beside athletic Sr Tren Tatum in 2024 he shined at times. But then in 2025 the expectations were that he would be leader of the defense and perform at a high level in all phases of the defense. Let's be clear: he was good. He led the team in tackles. But the living legend expectations were too high.
2. His total tackles were up significantly. But TFLs and Sacks were down. That feels like scheme and not positioning him for maximum success.
3. IMHO - Our secondary was stronger than DL in 2024, our DL was a little stronger in 2025. So, Efford was being asked to support the pass defense more in 2025. That's not his strength. He's a tackler, not a pass defender. If he's covering someone, put money on him making the tackle; but after the catch is made. I feel like Kyle was born to be a stud Edge rusher. He's just about 3 inches too short and 40lbs too light.
4. Re-watching some lowlights from Pitt and NC State. On a lot of plays, pre snap, he's directing the defense and trying to get guys in position right up until the ball gets snapped. Then it feels like trying to figure out where he needs to go himself. E.G. the play below vs NC St @ 59:52 I'm not sure what he was supposed to do. But it seems like he was too busy trying to get other players in position to do it. (Again, I'm not an Xs and Os expert.)

Unfortunately, we've lost basically the entire secondary to graduation or the portal and haven't brought in much help. We've brought in more help for the DL. We're going to be young and inexperienced (but talented) in the secondary next year. I hope Semore can find ways to put Kyle in positions to succeed next year. He's one of my favorite players and I hope he has a monster SR season.

On that long completion behind Efford.That should be safety's ball ,Daniels.Classic case of "nearby" defense.We hardly ever touched a pass much less had ints .The 2 Shelley got were basically right at him.(certainly good to have but not great def plays.Ironically it was Daniel's int in Clem game that was the highlight of yr.

 

[alagold]

That's probably a good thing - most of those 300 snaps were bad.

That may be true but I would still rather had them back than having that Ala guy try to "learn" the position THIS yr.

 

[Spalding Jacket]

Maybe I’m wrong, but I felt like Curry should have been a strong safety, but we put him at LB because we didn’t have enough depth there.

It’s been a while, so who knows?

Idk about that, I still have visions of him trailing wrs and rbs 3 yards behind in pass routes. He seemed to have everything but speed.

 

[GTRock]

We were bad at blitzing too. I cringed whenever people on here called for more blitzes because we usually gave up a 20 yard play whenever we did.

Just terrible. But we were possibly even worse sitting back in zone.

 

[bensaysitathome]

But if you think about it, even if we had Philo we’d still have questions at QB because we have only seen him in small roles. And by losing Malik we’d still question our WR’s because it wasn’t like Canion and Stockton tore it up. We’d be asking can Canion take that step. And for LB’s our defensive scheme was so poor that it put those guys in a lose lose situation. I bet we kept Efford from the portal by getting rid of Gideon. I have no inside info on that but why would Efford stay in the same system. Spalding can be a stud with the right coaching.

I agree re:defense. But on the offensive side, Philo and Canion were the heir-apparents. Sure, there's a chance they don't live up to expectations. But they were being groomed for a starting role. This happens every year in the sport. We're just bummed that the plan was shaken up, and were looking at plan B. Or C.

 

[GriffinRamblinWreck]

I was counting grads but Stockton,Taylor ,Moore and Butler are not inconsequential at all. btw---If you are counting on the guy from Ala to replace Moore/Tana.They had 300 more snaps than he did at ctr at. least.

I agree , but Tana and Moore had no experience at center coming into this year. We had real problems with the Snap all season imo

 

[minorityoption]

I think we will be pleasantly surprised how well some of our incoming portal-ers make up for (or exceed) lost production.

 

[alagold]

I agree , but Tana and Moore had no experience at center coming into this year. We had real problems with the Snap all season imo

Well, Tana at least was a hi school ctr. The Ala transfer was basically 3rd string as I understand they normally moved a guard over to Ctr when they subbed out the 1st string guy instead of using him.

 

[GriffinRamblinWreck]

Joseph Ionata - 4 star IOL/Center from Bama - RS Soph, 6'5,305

Jaylen Mbakwe - 5 star DB/WR from Bama - RS Soph, 5'11 190

Jordan Walker - 3 star Edge from Rutgers, 6'4, 270

Alex Bachetta - 3 Star punter from Rice, SR , 6'2 227

Chris Corbo - 3 star, All Ivy TE from Dartmouth, Senior, 6'5, 250

Cal Keeler - Long Snapper from TCU RS Freshman , 6'2 190

Markell Samuel - 3 star OT from Oklahoma State - SR , 6’4 305

Vincent Carrol-Jackson - 3 star DL from Uconn RS JR , 6’5 290

Tawfiq Thomas - 3 star DL from Colorado , SR, 6'4 300

Favour Edwin - 3 star OT from Auburn , RS FR, 6'6 300

Noah Carter - 4 star - Edge from Alabama , RS sophomore 6’4 240

Taje McCoy. - 3 star - Edge from Oklahoma State , RS JR, 6’3 245

Spencer Mermans - TE from Yale , JR , 6'6 260

Justice Haynes - 4 star RB from Michigan , JR, 5’11 210

Tim Griffin - 4 star DL from Cincinnati, RS FR , 6/5 275

Jonas Duclona - 3 star DB from USF , JR, 5’11 190

Gavin Harris - 3 star TE from New Mexico State , JR , 6’3 240

Jaiven Plummer - 3 Star WR from California, RS JR , 6’3 215

 

[Mandingo Finkelstein]

I hope you aren't offended if I give them all 5 stars because they want to be Jackets...at least for the next 12 months or less. In fact, just go ahead and make them 17 stars. What difference does it make?

 

[TechPhi97]

Here are the Pitt, BC, and NCST games. I'll put them in a spoiler tag

Spoiler: Ugly game play

In a 4-2-5, you have to be quick, decisive, and get to the right spots. We really had a problem in hesitation and going to the wrong place. In zone pass coverage, at least one LB was too shallow

Almost always too shallow. What really made me angry was that it was evident - every game the same thing, announcers on TV almost exasperated that we didn’t change anything. The lack of either coaching the players up or not calling appropriate defenses was painful.

 

[UgaBlows]

Maybe I’m wrong, but I felt like Curry should have been a strong safety, but we put him at LB because we didn’t have enough depth there.

It’s been a while, so who knows?

He started at safety iirc at Tech, but grew into a LB and had nowhere near the speed needed for safety

 

[Northeast Stinger]

Almost always too shallow. What really made me angry was that it was evident - every game the same thing, announcers on TV almost exasperated that we didn’t change anything. The lack of either coaching the players up or not calling appropriate defenses was painful.

There’s a reason we have a new DC.

 

[LongforDodd]

Besides Rutledge have any of our OL transfers in had anything more than average results?