West Florida 2023

[Argonut]

From the starters in the playoff game at Ferris State last year the OL loses the all conference LG Simpler to graduation and the Jr. C Elam to D1 Coastal Carolina. They keep Sr. RT Doucoure and GCS preseason first teamers Sr. RG Stipe and Sr. LT Bruce.

More importantly, they also keep OL coach Saunier who has been with the Argos since the start and decided not to follow Shinnick to Towson State.

The 19 man roster from last year lost a total of 6 and the Argos picked up 7 (4 HS and 3 transfers), including 2 D1 sophomores and a graduate from Northwest Missouri State, Freeman, who saw action the last two years and has two years of eligibility. One of the sophomore transfers is a local Gulf Breeze High player who is 6’8” and 320.

The 20 man roster for 2023 has 7 upperclassmen and 14 of the 20 players are 300+ lbs. The Argos seem well equipped with size, experience and coaching to run or pass protect. The 2023 OL looks like more of a case of reloading than rebuilding.

[Argonut]

The fall fan scrimmage is this Wednesday night (August 23) at 6 pm at Pen Air Field on UWF campus.

Correction, the school just changed scrimmage to Friday night (August 25) at 6 pm at same location.

Another correction by the school now says the the fan scrimmage is WEDNESDAY, (August 23) at 6 pm.

Geez, this is so frustrating. Do you really want people to come to the scrimmage or are you playing hide the ball so no one comes?

[Argonut]

The position group with the greatest remix has to be the DL starting with all new DC and DL coaches. There is a northern flavor to the new faces with the DL coach and two players from the GLIAC conference. I don’t know if this is just coincidence or intentional having a coach and players who see Ferris State every year, but I’m sure it will be helpful if the Argos see Ferris again in the playoffs this year.

There is also a change from a base three man front to a four man front and this will be accomplished with a 16 man roster that averages 275 and only has three players over 300 lbs. Last year the 18 man roster averaged 292 lbs. and had 7 players over 300 lbs.

From the comments of the coaches and players in fall practice, the four man front is supposed to be more active and aggressive in going after the ball. The early lightweight Argos got pushed around in their three man front the first few years, although they had lots of sacks from blitzing. This could be an Achilles heel of the defense and we will just have to see if it works out or not.

The Argos lose 8 from last year’s DL, including starter Pooda Walker who transferred to Kennesaw State and two who graduated. They pick up 6 including one HS and 5 transfers that includes 2 D1 players and Grad. Jacob Dorn from Saginaw Valley. The DL roster is evenly split with 4 players at every class level, which is one more upperclassman than last year’s team.

The players and coaches report the battles between the OL (full of 300 pounders) and the DL have been pretty even in fall practice, so the fast and active four man front may be effective in short time frames. The question to be answered is whether this works over an entire game in the early season heat against a big running team. I hope it works.

[UWARTime]

I’m in Tallahassee and thinking about going to the famu-UWF game on 9/16. Which UWF fans on this board is planning on driving over?

[Argonut]

I’m in Tallahassee and thinking about going to the famu-UWF game on 9/16. Which UWF fans on this board is planning on driving over?

I'm going. Let me know how you want to meet up and we can sit and enjoy the game together. I'll be sitting on the 50 in the visitor side in Argo gear.

[Argonut]

The least affected position group for 2023 appears to be the LB who retain all 3 starters from the Ferris State playoff game. All conference LB Breland did not transfer and the Argos have just as many upperclassmen this year as last year despite losing 4 seniors who were contributors. The new DC is an ex Clemson and NFL LB and will also be coaching up the LB.

The LB roster drops from 18 to 13, but that really doesn’t matter much with change to 4 man front and need for only 2 or 3 LB instead of 4 with old 3 man front. Argos have lots of big DBs who can fill in if necessary. The Argos didn’t pick up any transfer LB and just added a couple of HS freshman. Most of this roster are LB recruited by the Argos with only 3 transfers of the 13 on the roster.

The Argos have 4 bigs (220+), 6 mediums (200-219) and 3 lightweights (-200) on the roster, which should be enough given the 4 man front and 4-5 DB formations. The LB interviewed at fall practice seem pleased with their experience and depth and believe they are the least affected roster from last year. Can’t wait to see them at the scrimmage tomorrow.

[Argonut]

The position group with the greatest turnover is the DBs. Of the 18 on the roster last year (including all of the starters in the Ferris playoff game), 9 are gone including 2 D1 transfers and 3 seniors. Of the 9 carryovers from last year's roster, 3 are now upperclassmen and none have any listed game experience. The Argos pick up 9 (5 transfers and 4 HS) to fill out the roster to 18 and the transfers are 3 CC and 2 D2 players. One of the D2 players, Lemons, from Pembroke is the only one with any extensive game experience and he was also used extensively as a kick and punt returner.

The upperclassmen this year numbers 7 to last year's 8 and the experienced players with game time this year is 5 vs. 7 for last year. This year's DB group have 11 over 6 feet and a couple of bigger guys over 200 that could spot for a fast cover LB, if needed. This drastic lack of experience could be a mirage since I'm just going by the lack of posted information on the Argo roster and I suspect that a lot of the carryover players did have some substitute time in games last year, it's just not listed on the roster website. The 5 starters last year didn't play every snap in every game to the exclusion of all the other players.

The one bright spot is that they are being coached by a coach that was a DB himself, has coached DB's to conference awards at multiple locations, has years of experience coaching DBs and was the LB coach for the Argos LB on the 2019 title team. If there is any position group that gives Argo fans cause for worry on the 2023 team, it's the DBs. Hopefully, playing against the Argo offense this spring and fall has given them a leg up on this season. The coaches have said neither the offense or defense has dominated the scrimmages this fall, so that relieves some worry, but not all worry the way the game is played today.

[Argonut]

Speaking of UWF QBs, former Argo QB Austin Reed and his No. 1 receiver at Western Kentucky have both been announced as being on the Senior Bowl watch list. Wish them both the best and hope to see them in Mobile.

[Argonut]

Fall Scrimmage notes:

New Astroturf looks great with alternating light and darker green every 5 yards and double white/blue strip on sidelines between 20’s.

Home side seats are all seatbacked and visitors the same as last year.

Lots of construction like landscaping where food trailers were last year, something being done for upgrade not completed yet.

New handicap paths around south end zone to both stands.

Fall camp has been on adjoining open grass field and not on new Astroturf field.

New concrete path around whole field outside metal fence behind bench.

Team on field in all green offense and all blue defense. Assuming O and D opposite sides for now. About a dozen players not dressed.

Setting up for kickoff return. They ran it and tackled.

Each side is playing offense and defense and blue is third and fourth string.

D is 4 down and 3 LB.

Punt team returned and tackled.

Not tackling QB.

DShifted to 4 down and 2 LB. QB completed pass midrange in middle of field.

Not sure who #1 RB is and Argos have added 3 more RB to roster including Sr. 5’11” 220 lb. Bruiser from Troy State. Bigger RB on first team and scatback on both sides.

Short FG good.

Looks like Pembroke DB Lemons is KR and PR. He’s good.

Third string QB Nezat wearing #14. Just threw slant for TD. Second team up 7-6.

Pass to TE!!!!!

NAIA transfer P is #1 P.

Freshman QB from local HS taking snaps for third team. First team up 8-6 with safety. No Marcus Stakes at QB yet, but he’s dressed on first team side.

Just ran 2 TE set with TE running route and pass to RB. Can’t believe it!!!! Toss to RB in flat with TE split and blocking.

More short and intermediate passes vs bombs away.

53 yd FG short but straight.

Offense playing fast now. Lots of smart passes and third team just threw 30 yd TD with outstanding catch Third team up 14-8.

FG practice kicks from 42 for all PK.

Another sideline pass to TE!!! Way more formations with TE, sometimes both at same time. Mixing up formations a lot more with motion.

Afew bombs by Pee Wee broken up by DBs. Short corner route for TD by PeeWee. First team up 15-14.

TE over middle for big chunk gain. Both sides cheer.

Marcus Stokes in with first team. First pass is 50 yard on money for catch!!! He looks quicker on feet than other QB. Follows up with 30 yd TD pass on money in end zone. Looks like better Reed. First team up 22-14. He throws more catchable ball than Jarrett.

Big bruiser RB running through people. Switching back and forth between bruiser and scatback RB.

Pass to TE in motion. Lining TE next to tackle split out close and wide and moving them around in motion.

A Reverse!!! Didn’t work but nice try.

Marcus Stokes came in on last drive of scrimmage and made a nice third and long run for first. He glides smoothly when he runs and is deceptively fast. He may be faster than Jarrett and he and Jarrett are the two best QB runners who know when and where to run.

Stokes made sustained drive to red zone where easy dropped pass by TE ended it. He threw more to TE than other QB.

Overall Impressions

Overall good night and no blow out by either side. The DBs played better than I expected and the returners did well. The kickers were solid and they played all QB and all the 10 RB as best I could tell with the numbering.

They mixed up the big and small backs and threw to them and the TE on designed plays and not just as a last resort. The big and small RB were stuffed by the D and had some big gainers too.

VERY impressed with the use of the TE from the formations to actual designed plays. They were using the TE like the NFL teams.

Also very impressed with Stokes and his very catchable ball. The passing was a lot of short and intermediate routes with a few bombs by each QB. They threw all over the field to everyone like they have been talking all fall camp.

No interceptions by D but lots of well defended balls. Only a couple of loose balls on ground. Only one injury and that player may have walked it off after all.

Good job coach Nobles. Can’t wait till next Friday’s opener at home.

[Argonut]

Given the addition of three transfer RB and the alternating use of all 10 of the RB at the fall scrimmage it is not clear who the starter is and we will have to wait until opening night to see who starts. I guess it is possible that we may see multiple RB rotating in and out in the opener as well.

A 10 deep RB roster is the largest the Argos have ever had and when combined with the 5 QB who also are runners that makes a 15 deep rushing attack. They also ran a reverse run play using WR so the potential rushers are a couple of dozen. The coaches also seemed to like alternating big and small RB during each drive, so I’ve listed a detailed description of the 10 RB and their most recent production below.

#8 (Sr.) C.J. Wilson, 5’10” (200 lbs.) transfer from South Dakota State; was #4 rusher for Argos last year with 540 yds. and 12 TDs. Likely starter, but who knows?

#9 (Sr.) Jamontez Woods, 5’11” (220) transfer from Troy State this fall; was #3 rusher for Troy in 2021 with 240 yds. and 6 TDs.

#32 (So.) Gavin Grice, 6’1” (215), local Pine Forest High recruit who has no stats for Argos, but ran for 900 yds. and 9 TDs in HS career.

#45 (F) Troy Coughlin, 6’1” (215), another local recruit from Gulf Breeze High who ran for 1,400 yds. and 12 TDs last year.

#23 (F) T.J. Lane, 5’10” (195), another Florida recruit who ran for 1,986 yds. and 18 TDs last year.

#21 (Gr.) Jaylen Bussey, 5’5” (160), transfer from North Dakota State this fall and ran for over 900 yds. and 9 TDs in career for Bison.

#25 (Jr.) Daryel Garcia, 5’7” (190), transfer from Delaware State last year; no stats for Argos and none listed for Delaware State.

#28 (Jr.) Seth Johnson, 5’7” (195), Florida recruit who had 50 yds. and 1 TD for Argos last year.

#17 (So.) Jaylen Fortune, 5’8” (170), NAIA transfer this fall from Kentucky Christian with no listed stats last year.

#37 (RF) Kam Fuller, 5’9” (180), transfer this fall from Wingate with no stats from Wingate last year.