OCG Breakdown: Do the Argos still need help in the Portal?
The Argonauts roster is probably pretty close to done at this point in late May. They’re unlikely to add anymore high school prospects to the 2023 recruiting class at this point, although it isn’t impossible, and there are a few, diminishing JUCO options still floating around. On top of that, the Transfer Portal is closed with the exception of graduate transfers, who can enter the portal outside of the designated windows. The slowing of new potential options hasn’t stopped the coaches from scouring the HS/JUCO/Portal landscape for players who can help the Argos out right away. UWF just landed an intriguing TE transfer from Troy walk-on Jackson Blalock, who brings a different element to a room mostly full of blocking types. They also got a commitment from VUU transfer WR John Jiles, who snagged 9 TD last year. Let’s take a look at some positions where UWF could still benefit from some help.
Defensive Tackle
This room has a lot of bodies but not a lot of experience. Defensive Tackle has been a relative strength of the team the last two seasons with All-GSC performers Matt Gotel (‘21) and Pooda Walker (‘22) manning the single Nose Tackle spot, but after Walker transferred the group was left with little live game experience despite having seven guys on the roster tipping the scales at 280 or more. This was further exacerbated by the post spring loss of projected DT starter Michael Police. Of the guys expected to compete in the interior DL, they logged 43 appearances in 2022 and no starts. Only five returning interior DL recorded any stats last season, totaling 52 Tackles, 4.5 Sacks, 5.0 TFL, and 8 Hurries. Interior Defensive Line is a really difficult spot to come in as a True Fresh. and contribute at a high level, but UWF did sign a promising 2023 DT in Johnnie Perdue. Ultimately I think that this may be the #1 spot where the Argonauts attempt to shore up a starting level player via the portal between now and August camp. There hasn’t been any visible movement with potential DT transfers.
Cornerback
UWF already brought in one transfer CB in the 2023 group, Sioux Falls’ Justin Mathieu, but it is also a group where the Argonauts probably want 4-5 competent players and have a lot of inexperience. The group is lead by Anthony Johnson Jr. and in the spring a rotating cast of players seemed to be paired opposite #5 (Brandon Cross, Zach Johnson, Kasimir Absolu, Chester Fearon). Of that group, Cross is the only one with significant playing experience that the Argos can fall back on. That doesn’t mean these guys cant be high level players, but you have to think the new defensive staff will want to mitigate some of that risk and find someone who brings more seasoning to the field. UWF recently offered the exact kind of player to fill this role, UNC-Pembroke two year starting CB Virgil Lemons who had 95 Tackles 4 INT and 17 PBU in the last two seasons (21 games). The 6’0” 165 Deerfield Beach native was 2nd Team All-MEC last year and has two years of eligibility left, he could also contribute as a Kick Returner. They also recently offered a JUCO transfer, South Fort Myers native Quincy Milhomme, so there is interest in bolstering the room before fall camp.
Running Back
The theme here is, the portal is a two way street. Going into the offseason UWF looked like it would return their top four rushers from the 2022 season, Shomari Mason, Ra’veion Hargrove, Peewee Jarrett, and CJ Wilson. Coming out of spring, the room still looked like a strength of the team with Mason and Wilson leading the way. Now UWF finds itself with about 2000 yards of rushing to replace from the departures of Mason and Hargrove via the portal. Wilson is an excellent back and someone who I already had pegged as a potential breakout player in the 2023 campaign, but after him there just isn’t much there, Seth Johnson has about 100 career yards in three years with the Argos, and neither of the other two backs, Daryel Garcia and Gavin Gice, have any production to point to. UWF will soon add two good high school backs to the fold in TJ Lane and Troy Coughlin, but after Mason’s departure I think they could really use an experienced RB transfer to help bolster the room for the fall. With the relative freshness of the Mason transfer, there hasn’t been much visible movement there, UWF has shown some interest in Duke transfer and Florida native Eric Weatherly, but he seems like he is FCS bound.
Offensive Line
Coach Saulnier’s group will probably outpace my current expectations and end up being a strength of the team, but right now this is a group that has a lot of question marks going into the summer. Its a unit that should, for all intents and purposes, return three of five starters stalwart LT Jacob Bruce and both of the right siders, RG Oake Stipe and RT Nymonta Doucoure, but the group struggled this spring at times with pass rush. Part of this was Bruce being out and Doucoure playing LT, meaning three new faces taking most of the first team reps, but the Argos are low on numbers and an interior OL would be a valuable portal addition if they can find one. They did add Joseph Stone, a massive MTSU transfer and former Arkansas commitment, who didn’t participate in spring, and will bring in three HS signees this fall, Matthew McQueen, Konnor Mann, and Jordan Capraro. With that being said a little more experienced OL, especially one who could play multiple positions, would add a lot of value to the depth chart. The Argonauts have offered an FCS OL transfer, Ryan Young from Campbell, who started six games and appeared in all eleven for the Camels last season. Young officially visited the Argonauts in mid May. UWF also recently offered D2 transfer Ben Freeman from Northwest Missouri State. Freeman started 2 games and appeared in 9 for the 10-2 Bearcats last year, the 2019 signee has two more seasons of eligibility remaining.
