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Just a few changes to my speculative summer roster. I added some tidbits to the true freshmen. I think when you are offered by FBS programs, which many were, the talent level is improving. QB Carlos Davis, Nathan Kent, Sean Brown, freshman Winston Watkins, Sean Smith, Jack Pellicciotti Analysis: Davis adds a playmaker with a big arm. I know there will be a competition between Kent and Rogers, but IMO, Rogers just needs not to screw this up. Take care of the ball and make the necessary throws. Kent has the experience with this system, but is more of a game-manager. Let's face it, he also won just one game at home. Not all his fault, BUT, Towson was 12th in pass efficiency in the CAA, 10th in completion percentage (57.6%), 12th in passing yards/completion (6.41), 12th in passing yards/attempts, 11th in passing yards (2,161) out of 15 teams. Time for a change. BTW, Winston Watkins (6-6, 230) is a 3* from Mount Saint Joe's. RB Devin Matthews, Chris Watkins, Tyrell Greene, Ike Daniels (Syracuse transfer), Trey Engram (K-State transfer), Kahseim "Caddy" Phillips (5-8, 185) Analysis: Matthews is the north-south runner as is Greene. Watkins gives the offense explosion and is a pretty good receiver. Daniels is the x-factor. Will get some touches. Freshman Caddy Phillips from St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia and will get a look. Phillips was offered by Akron amongst others. Towson averaged 153.5 yards rushing per game to rank 7th and 4.7 yards per rush to rank 5th. TE: Carter Runyon (6-6, 250), CJ Schaefer (6-3, 235), Malik Jackson (6-3, 230), freshman Jordan Stallworth (6-4, 21cds0), freshman Luke Baldwin (6-4, 220). Analysis: Probably could have used another body, but let's face it, Runyon is one of the premier tight ends in the CAA and possibly FCS with about 10 added pounds. WR: DK James (6-1, 190), Zay Perkins (6-2, 210), John Dunmore (6-3, 190), Lukkas Londono (5-10, 185), Cee Chosen (6-0, 180), Brady McElhaney (6-0, 175), Jaceon Doss (6-0, 170), Zack Jackson (6-1, 205), freshman Cleveland Charlton (6-5, 165), freshman Nayad Walker (6-0, 150), Analysis: . Doss is a transfer from Fresno State and played a year in junior college before that. James, Perkins, Dunmore and Londono could be more productive with Rogers at QB. Junior Sam Reynolds could return from a health issue. Freshmen Cleveland Charlton (6-5, 180) and Nayad Walker (5-10, 160) are probably going to redshirt, but you never know. Charlton is a track guy who runs a 4.5 40 and Walker was offered by ODU and UMass. . LT: Dan Volpe (6-6, 320), Tkhi Alexander (6-5, 300). C Ralph Paige Jr. (6-3, 305), Joden Nelson (6-4, 295), Ian Markham-Miller (6-3, 300) LG: Ibrahim Giwa (6-4, 290), Flo Staehler (6-7, 300), Jaelin Montgomery (6-3, 310) RG: Jean Germain (6-6, 350) if he's healthy, Joden Nelson (6-4, 295) RT: K.J. Brooks (6-3, 305), Kevin Gaston (6-5, 290), freshman K.J Towns (6-4, 305) Analysis: Little concerned about depth at tackle, but this looks like a major strength with two All-CAA players back in Volpe and Paige Jr. Brooks was outstanding as a true freshman last season. Question at left guard though Giwa is a Wagner transfer, but if Staehler and Germain are healthy, there should still be competition at left and right guard. Nelson had a really good spring. True freshman T'khi Alexander (6-5, 280) is a huge tackle from Richmond, who might be able to add depth. As of now (July 28), they did not add a transfer and could use one more player for depth and next season with Germain, Paige and Giwa probably not back. KJ Towns, who had an offer from Liberty is probably the best newcomer to see action this year since he's around 300 pounds. Alexander was listed at 330 in HS, but is 280 on the roster. He was offered by Charlotte. DL (3/4) In terms of rush defense, Towson ranked a pathetic 14th, allowing 192.91 yards per game on the ground. That has to get better and it starts up front. NG Dion Crews-Harris (6-0, 290), Junee Dunbar (6-0, 305), Daniel Johnson (6-2, 290) DT Rion Roseborough (6-2, 315), Brockman Wallace (6-2, 285), Shamir Boyd (6-2, 290), Anthony Delle Donne (6-1, 290) DT/E Ernie Smith (6-2, 290), Elijah Tarlton (6-5, 240), Mazio Randall (6-5, 300) Analysis: I really like Roseborough, but he's just a redshirt freshman. Putting him as a starter is probably a bit of a reach, but he looked very good in the spring. With RJ Evans and Jesus Gibbs gone, was hoping they added more transfers aside from juco Mazio Randall (6-5, 300). Another transfer could be on the way, but who knows? It's getting late. Tre Birch (6-2, 315) is a 3* recruit from Kansas. He had an FBS offer from Western Ky. JR Stegall (6-3, 295) is a talented DT from Fort Worth. Aaron Clark (6-0, 310) is a NG from West Virginia. Too early to tell if one or more will be in the rotation. But I wouldn't be shocked if at least one played right away. LB: Even with Mason Woods gone to Kent State, I really like this unit. Due to various injuries, Woods was not very effective last season and there was not enough depth. OLB: Rodney Roane Jr. (6-2, 225), Evan Rutkowski (6-2, 210) OLB: Daniel Raymond (6-0, 220), Alfred Thomas (6-1, 220), Nick Haynes (6-1, 210) IL: John Gioia (6-1, 230), Alijah Bivens (5-11, 220) IL: Josh Knapp (6-3, 215), Will Middleton (5-11, 215), Branson Peters (6-1, 215). Analysis: The addition of Josh Knapp (6-3, 215) from VMI was a big move. Had 87 tackles and two sacks last season. Had two picks, two INTs and eight passes defended in four seasons at VMI. Guessing they can move him around. Middleton is a transfer from Saint Francis and Gioia from Wagner. Gioia had a terrific camp and Middleton should help against the run and pass. So here's the thing, Gioia, Middleton and Peters are all transfers. But they are placeholders because there will be a transfer or two at most likely EDGE and a very talented freshman coming in led by Alfred Thomas (6-1, 220) from Orlando. Thomas was offered by App State, Bowling Green and Ark State. I also like Peters, who is fast and can play inside or out. Should be a strong special teams player. Isaiah Yates (6-1, 205) was a Navy commit out of Archbishop Curley. DB Towson ranked 14th in total defense (446.4 ypg allowed). They were 11th in pass defense efficiency (144.64) and 13th in passing yards allowed per game (253.4ypg). Unfortunately that was with Robert Javier, one of the top corners in the CAA (now in Titans' camp). S Kaden White (6-1, 190), freshman Jason Shiggs (6-1, 170), freshman Emiril Gant (5-11, 175), S Xavier Terry (5-10, 190), Kam Snell (5-11, 195), Mike Swain (5-10, 180), freshman TJ Sands (6-2, 190), freshman Cody Williams (6-0, 180) CB Myles Brodie (6-2, 175), Justin Toler (5-10, 175), freshman Shamir Johnson (6-0, 175). CB Shafeek Smith (5-10, 175), freshman Zakaa Brown (6-1, 165) Analysis: This will be the most important competition in preseason camp. Not sure that anything is locked in though I think White gets the start at safety. Kaden Smith played at Butler JC last season and had 3 picks and 38 tackles. Started his career at Mississippi Valley State. Kam Snell was brought in from Gannon where he was on the second-team all-conference and should immediately give them an experienced safety. But they brought in Shiggs and Zakaa Brown as freshmen along with White. But they are not done yet, as they really need a corner who can start, hopefully with some size though Brodie had a strong camp. In the summer, more freshmen are coming along with Emiril Gant (6-0, 175) from Apopka, Fla., T.J. Sands (6-2, 190) from Orlando, Cody Williams (6-0, 175) from DeMatha, Shamir Johnson (6-0, 165) from St. Joe's Prep in Philly. Gant is a 3* player from Florida who had an offer from Miami. As an aside, this is a loaded DB class, but some will have to play right away. I don't completely believe in the star system, but I do believe that if players are recruited and offered by FBS schools, they have some talent. For example, TJ Sands was offered by Temple and UConn amongst others. Cody Williams was offered by Marshall and Charlotte. Shiggs was offered by Syracuse and Temple. Shamir Johnson was offered by Maryland. But if they were here in the spring, as Zakaa Brown and Shiggs were, so they had an advantage over the others. Shiggs and Brown were also teammates at Irvington HS in New Jersey. Still would have been nice to add one grad student with experience from FCS or FBS.

Who or what has been the cause of the beef between us and Loyola? The Hounds released their schedule and they've got Lancaster Bible on there as their 2nd game of the season. I get that there wouldn't be a home-and-home series in season with them but doing a constant home-and-home with them would at least check one home game box for each side every other year. It's also kind of absurd that two schools that close in proximity don't play each other anymore.