demoncore1031
Well-Known Member
Ellis was not very good when it came to taking angles, and he missed a lot of tackles. Did some good things, but overall I didn't think he was a P4 player.
2025 Portal Activity
- Thread starter tleonwdm
- Start date
You don’t understand what I’m saying. Our LBs were god awful this year in large part due to injury (and if everyone stayed healthy I think our best case would be average). Our run D would have been bad in any scheme.
Just to clarify I thought Bacon broke his tibia not a knee injury. But a lot of injuries for sure.
He seemed a step or two slow for this level. He'll probably only have FCS interest
Agreed. I thought Ellis, while not perfect, was a solid LB. Not perfect, no, but he was a good solid player. Like a lot of our other LB's I don't know if he was a top tier LB in the conference but one you could obviously win games with, if maybe not be elite.
Agree on the DE. ANd even more than Sacks, we just need to be able to create more negative plays for the offense.
Runs even just for no gain or a 1 yard loss make a huge difference to an offense. Getting pressure to force a throw away instead of a 3 yard dump down.
Those seem inconsequential to the average eye but they add up and as DC or OC, there is a big difference between 3rd and 5 and 3rd and 8. Same with 2nd and 11 versus 2nd and 8. Seems rather small, but it 100% exists
The primary reason most players enter the portal is for more playing time or the threat of less playing time as they foresee competition ahead as players get healthy and new recruits arrive. A select few do see a financial reward. I doubt any of the current Cyclones are doing it for the money. Without knowing what DC Heacock’s strategy is with the pressure applied by the 3 DL’s, it appears that losing McDonald to the Jets took away that aspect of the 3-3-5. I agree that type of player is our biggest need. I was surprised when we had 0 1st team Big 12 players but it is a reflection of the roster and CMC’s ability to finish with 10 wins speaks to his coaching abilities. IMO, Noel was worthy.
P4 teams with more than 20 outgoing transfers as of 8am on 12/12/24
Arizona: 29
Arkansas: 25
UCF: 23
Mississippi State: 23
Purdue: 22
Nebraska: 20
Kentucky: 20
Arizona: 29
Arkansas: 25
UCF: 23
Mississippi State: 23
Purdue: 22
Nebraska: 20
Kentucky: 20
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LOL Arizona is getting decimated.
They gave their coach another year but he's good as gone with that type of turnover.
Most likely I agree. Although, depending on how bad that locker room was... it might be a positive step albeit a painful one
So,.... we're probably not going to get him. But if you asked my christmas list
James Thompson Jr. (Wisconsin) 6'5, 296. Missed the year due to injury but Illinois, Arkansas, Cincy, Tech, all offered or considered in on him. 52 career tackles, 13 TFLs, 5 sacks, etc. One year only but given the loss of JR + Jones + Synder... depth there would be good and is a good sized lad. With that build, he'd fit in as being able to play inside/ outside.
Slightly more realistic probably
Corey Walker (Western Michigan) 6'5, 270, 6.5 TFl, 5 sacks and 38 tackles including 5 broken up passes. Is a Junior from Illinois.
Anterio Thompson (originally from Iowa, from Dubuque) 6'3, 293 also from Western Michigan - 29 tackles and a sack.
Also like the kid coming in on a visit from was it NW Missouri?
James Thompson Jr. (Wisconsin) 6'5, 296. Missed the year due to injury but Illinois, Arkansas, Cincy, Tech, all offered or considered in on him. 52 career tackles, 13 TFLs, 5 sacks, etc. One year only but given the loss of JR + Jones + Synder... depth there would be good and is a good sized lad. With that build, he'd fit in as being able to play inside/ outside.
Slightly more realistic probably
Corey Walker (Western Michigan) 6'5, 270, 6.5 TFl, 5 sacks and 38 tackles including 5 broken up passes. Is a Junior from Illinois.
Anterio Thompson (originally from Iowa, from Dubuque) 6'3, 293 also from Western Michigan - 29 tackles and a sack.
Also like the kid coming in on a visit from was it NW Missouri?
Ellis was solid, but he wasn't really a "pass rusher". His sacks were typically a function of being a spy and reacting to QB trying to run. He had 1 sack and 2 QB hurries. I think we'll be able to replace that production.
I understand Willich' history of knee injuries, but not aware that Bacon has a injury history other than getting hurt in ISU's first game. So I'm not buying those guys aren't reliable parts of ISU's future LB rotation.
If Ellis wants to be a starter and get a lot of snaps, I just don't see that with the LB's on ISU's roster: Bacon, Willich, Ebel, McLaughlin, Brezina, Goodwin, Barnes, Imming, Sadowsky. All have played, have at least a couple years of eligibility and I bet there is an INTENSE push to improve this offseason to earn snaps in 2025.
Arizona is in DEEP DEEP trouble... They may not win a single game.
Anterio Thompson spent Fall 23 on the Hawks roster before hitting the portal to WMU (before that he was at Iowa Western for 1yr). He was mainly a special teams guy as a Hawkeye. I believe he only has 1 year of eligibility, so that would be an interesting add by the staff.
I don't know what this kids potential suiters were but this is a surprising landing spot.
