Just for kicks, here's a look at the true freshmen from the past recruiting class, and how many of them saw action in 2022. I'm not dealing with JUCOs and transfers, since their exact eligibility is kind of a mystery in some cases.
(Anyone appearing in 4 games or less retains their redshirt for this year and will still have four full years of eligibility remaining.)
APPEARED IN ALL 11 GAMESJabari Mack (CB, 6-1, 175, Jacksonville Beach, Fla./First Coast HS/Fork Union Mil.)
3-ESPNJaFredrick "Fred" Perry (SAF, 5-11, 180, Warner Robins, Ga./Warner Robins HS)
3-247Sports10 GAMESChuck Taylor III (DT, 6-2, 295, Lake Wales, Fla./Lake Wales HS)
3-ESPN9 GAMESJacob Barrick (TE, 6-3, 220, Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg HS)
Larry Worth (LB, 6-4, 210, Jacksonville, Fla./Baldwin HS)
5 GAMESKeyon Clark (DE, 6-3, 230, Tampa, Fla./Tampa Bay Tech HS)
3-ESPN4 GAMES (retains redshirt for 2022)Terrell Carmicheal (WR, 6-1, 187, Carrollton, Ga./Carrollton HS)
3 GAMES (retains redshirt for 2022)Jordan McCants (WR, 6-0, 170, Pinson, Ala./Hewitt-Trussville HS)
3-247Sports,
3-ESPN2 GAMES (retains redshirt for 2022)Jibreel Al-Amin (BAN, 6-3, 210, Woodbridge, Va./Freedom HS)
3-ESPNTe'Sean Smoot (QB, 6-0, 170, Springfield, Ohio/Springfield HS)
3-247Sports,
3-Rivals,
3-ESPN1 GAME (retains redshirt for 2022)Ronnie Ellis (SAF, 6-2, 195, Macclenny, Fla./Baker County HS)
3-ESPNDID NOT PLAY (retains redshirt for 2022)Xavier Bausley (OL, 6-5, 310, Charleston, W.Va./South Charleston HS)
3-ESPNReggion Bennett (RB, 5-9, 170, Hartsville, S.C./Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate HS)
3-247Sports,
3-ESPNBrad Harper (LB, 6-1, 210, Auburn, Ala./Auburn HS)
3-ESPNJumarion Larry (DE, 6-4, 237, Hazlehurst, Miss./Hazlehurst HS)
3-ESPNKraeton Muenchau (OL, 6-4, 245, Springfield, Ohio/Springfield HS)
3-ESPNHarvey Ray (TE, 6-6, 230, Homewood, Ala./Homewood HS)
3-247Sports,
3-ESPNJaden Thomas (LB, 6-3, 225, Hueytown, Ala./Hueytown HS)
3-247Sports,
3-ESPNHayden Zepp (OL, 6-3, 300, St. Petersburg, Fla./Northside Christian HS)
3-ESPNA few quick comments...
As good as our running game was in 2022, it's hard to believe
RB Reggion Bennett was projected as a starter (or at least, on the two-deep) before his injury in the preseason. If he comes back strong from his injury and is as good as advertised, our offensive backfield should be in GREAT shape for the next several years.
Three O-linemen,
Xavier Bausley, Kraeton Muenchau, and
Hayden Zepp, will take redshirts for 2022, which is exactly what you WANT to see. Redshirt senior linemen are SOLID GOLD. Barring transfer or injury, it means these three could potentially be the anchors of our O-line during our first three years of bowl eligibility.
Five true freshmen appeared in 9 games or more. While this could indicate lack of depth at their position, it could also point to a player who was just too good to keep off the field. Either way, these are our players to watch for the next three seasons:
TE Jacob Barrick, CB Jabari Mack, S Fred Perry, DT Chuck Taylor III, and
LB Larry Worth. Note that neither Barrick nor Worth were rated by recruiting services coming out of high school, proving the old axiom "Stars aren't everything."