Now that Camp Rantoul has come to a close and Camp Hawthorn has begun (no, not Black Cat – the team is staying at the Hawthorn Suites for a week as camp moves back to campus), I’d say it’s time to look at an updated three-deep. These aren’t official depth charts released by the coaching staff or anything – just my feelings on how the depth chart will shake out come September 1st.

Offensive line is probably the hardest here. They’ve tried Michael Heitz and guard and tackle, tried Alex Hill and Teddy Karras with the first string, etc etc. I’m also splitting my tailbacks and my tight ends like I did last time – each will have a slightly different role, so I’m going with a power category and a speed category:

QB: Nathan Scheelhaase (JR) / Reilly O’Toole (SO) / Miles Osei (JR)
Scat-RB: Josh Ferguson (rs-FR) / Miles Osei (JR) / Devin Church (FR)
Power-RB: Donovonn Young (SO) / Dami Ayoola (FR) / LaKeith Walls (FR)
Split-TE: Jon Davis (SO) / Matt LaCosse (SO) / Tim Russell (JR walkon)
Power-TE: Evan Wilson (JR) / Eddie Viliunas (SR) / Justin Lattimore (JR)
LT: Hugh Thornton (SR) / Scott McDowell (rs-FR) /  Ryan Nowicki (rs-FR)
LG: Graham Pocic (SR) / Alex Hill (rs-SO) / Robbie Bain (FR)
C: Jake Feldmeyer (JR) / Tony Durkin (rs-FR) / Joseph Spencer (FR)
RG: Michael Heitz (rs-SO) / Teddy Karras (rs-FR) / Chris Boles (rs-FR)
RT: Simon Cvijanovic (rs-SO) / Pat Flavin (rs-FR) / Shawn Afryl (rs-SO)
WR1: Darius Millines (JR) / Jeremy Whitlow (rs-FR) / Peter Bonahoom (rs-FR walkon)
WR2: Spencer Harris (JR) / Fritz Rock (rs-SO) / Tim Lukas (JR walkon)
WR3: Ryan Lankford (JR) / Kenny Knight (rs-FR) / Justin Hardee (FR)

Leo: Michael Buchanan (SR) / Darrius Caldwell (rs-FR) / John Valentine (rs-FR walkon)
DT: Glenn Foster (SR) / Austin Teitsma (rs-SO) / Teko Powell (FR)
NG: Akeem Spence (JR) / Jake Howe (rs-SO) / Vontrell Williams (FR)
DE: Justin Staples (SR) / Tim Kynard (JR) / Kenny Nelson (rs-FR)
WLB: Houston Bates (rs-SO) / Ralph Cooper (SO) / Zeph Grimes (rs-FR)
MLB: Jonathan Brown (JR) / Henry Dickinson (SO) / Mason Monheim (FR)
Star: Ashante Williams (SR) / TaJarvis Fuller (FR) / BJ Bello (FR)
CB: Terry Hawthorne (SR) / Eaton Spence (rs-FR) / Jevaris Little (FR)
SS: Steve Hull (JR) / Earnest Thomas (rs-SO) / Ben Mathis (JR walkon)
FS: Supo Sanni (SR) / Patrick Nixon-Youman (SR) / Tommy Davis (SR)
CB: Justin Green (SR) / Jack Ramsey (SR) / V’Angelo Bentley (FR)

K: Nick Immekus (rs-SO) / Taylor Zalewski (rs-FR) / Brennen Van Mieghem (rs-FR)
P: Justin DuVernois (SO) / Ryan Frain (FR) / Garrett Stroup (rs-FR)

A few notes:

+ I think STEVEHULL will start if healthy, but he’s been out since the spring with this shoulder injury, and played only sparingly when I saw him in Rantoul.  There’s a good chance Earnest Thomas is our starting strong safety against Western Michigan.

+ Same goes for Justin Staples and Tim Kynard.  I think that position deserves the dreaded “OR”.  Kynard in obvious run situations, Staples as a pass-rush specialist.

+ I went with a Thornton-Pocic-Feldmeyer-Heitz-Cvijanovic line, but I still like Alex Hill to make some noise (Teddy Karras, too).

+ Freshmen that I have on the third string that might make a move to the second string before too long: V’Angelo Bentley, Zeph Grimes, Joseph Spencer, and Justin Hardee.

+ I’m switching to Nick Immekus as the starting kicker after what I saw in Champaign.  I’ll go with Zalewski as the kickoff guy and Immekus as the placekicker.  I’ll also say that Ryan Frain pushes Justin DuVernois for the punting job.

+ If Akeem Spence and Jonathan Brown entertain the NFL after the season, this defense loses nine starters.  Nine.  Only Houston Bates and STEVEHULL would return.  Ouch, 2013.