Football Depth Chart Features a Few Surprises

It’s game week.

That means the release of an updated depth chart – one that was rather predictable but still featured a few interesting surprises.

The depth chart was bound to differ from the one Bill O’Brien released in early June considering the transfers, but there were a few intriguing tidbits, specifically at the backup quarterback, slot receiver, and defensive end spots. Below is the full depth that was released yesterday afternoon along with a few talking points beneath that:

OFFENSE

Center
54 Matt Stankiewitch (6-3, 301, Sr/Sr)*
66 Angelo Mangiro (6-3, 291, So/Fr)
55 Wendy Laurent (6-2, 278, Fr/Fr)

Right Guard
64 John Urschel (6-3, 307, Gr/Jr)
75 Eric Shrive (6-6, 305, Sr/Jr)
62 Frank Figueroa (6-3, 208, Sr/Jr)

Right Tackle
78 Mike Farrell (6-6, 306, Sr/Sr)* OR
58 Adam Gress (6-6, 311, Sr/Jr)
79 Kevin Blanchard (6-7, 311, So/Fr)

Left Guard
65 Miles Dieffenbach (6-3, 300, Jr/So)
66 Angelo Mangiro (6-3, 291, So/Fr)
56 Anthony Alosi (6-4, 287, So/Fr)

Left Tackle
76 Donovan Smith (6-5, 316, So/Fr)
70 Nate Cadogan (6-5, 293, Sr/Jr)

Quarterback
11 Matt McGloin (6-1, 201, Gr/Sr)*
7 Paul Jones (6-3, 258, Jr/So) OR
12 Steven Bench (6-2, 204, Fr/Fr)
2 Shane McGregor (6-1, 211, Sr/Sr)

Running Back
1 Bill Belton (5-10, 202, So/So)
24 Derek Day (5-9, 193, Sr/Sr)
22 Akeel Lynch (6-0, 209, Fr/Fr) OR
40 Zach Zwinak (6-1, 232, Jr/So) OR
26 Curtis Dukes (6-1, 245, Sr/Jr)

Fullback
9 Michael Zordich (6-1, 236, Gr/Sr)*
35 Pat Zerbe (6-1, 236, Sr/Jr)

Tight End – Y
89 Garry Gilliam (6-6, 262, Sr/Jr)
18 Jesse James (6-7, 264, Fr/Fr)

Tight End – F
87 Kyle Carter (6-3, 247, So/Fr)
82 Brian Irvin (6-3, 242, Sr/Sr)
83 Brent Wilkerson (6-3, 239, Fr/Fr)

Tight End – Y/F
84 Matt Lehman (6-6, 258, Sr/Jr)

Wide Receiver
8 Allen Robinson (6-3, 201, So/So)
16 Eugene Lewis (6-1, 199, Fr/Fr) OR
80 Matt Zanellato (6-3, 198, So/Fr)

Wide Receiver
81 Shawney Kersey (6-1, 197, Sr/Jr) OR
10 Trevor Williams (6-1, 186, Fr/Fr)
17 Christian Kuntz (6-4, 218, Sr/Jr) OR
85 Brandon Moseby-Felder (6-2, 195, Sr/Jr)

Wide Receiver
15 Alex Kenney (6-0, 192, Jr/So) OR
4 Evan Lewis (5-10, 174, Gr/Sr)*
20 Malik Golden (6-1, 182, Fr/Fr) OR
88 Jonathan Warner (6-1, 198, Fr/Fr)

DEFENSE

Defensive End
18 Deion Barnes (6-4, 246, So/Fr) OR
59 Pete Massaro (6-4, 256, Gr/Sr)*
98 Anthony Zettel (6-5, 253, So/Fr)

Defensive Tackle
91 DaQuan Jones (6-3, 324, Jr/Jr) OR
93 James Terry (6-3, 316, Gr/Sr)*
99 Austin Johnson (6-4, 297, Fr/Fr)

Defensive Tackle
47 Jordan Hill (6-1, 292, Sr/Sr)
84 Kyle Baublitz (6-5, 287, Jr/So)

Defensive End
90 Sean Stanley (6-1, 243, Sr/Sr)
86 C.J. Olaniyan (6-3, 248, Jr/So)

Outside Linebacker
42 Michael Mauti (6-2, 232, Gr/Sr)*
38 Ben Kline (6-2, 224, So/Fr)

Middle Linebacker
40 Glenn Carson (6-3, 235, Jr/Jr)
33 Michael Yancich (6-2, 233, Gr/Sr)
OR
5 Nyeem Wartman (6-1, 236, Fr/Fr)

Outside Linebacker
6 Gerald Hodges (6-2, 237,Sr/Sr)
43 Mike Hull (6-0, 228, Jr/So)

Cornerback
4 Adrian Amos (6-0, 205, So/So)
39 Jesse Della Valle (6-1, 190, Jr/So)
1 Jordan Lucas (6-0, 188, Fr/Fr)

Safety
10 Malcolm Willis (5-11, 209,Sr/Jr)
23 Ryan Keiser (6-1, 200, Jr/So)

Safety
7 Stephen Obeng-Agyapong
(5-10, 207, Sr/Jr) OR
27 Jake Fagnano (6-0, 206, Sr/Sr)

Cornerback
12 Stephon Morris (5-8, 186, Sr/Sr)
3 DaʼQuan Davis (5-10, 161, Fr/Fr)

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter
45 Alex Butterworth (5-10, 206, Jr/Jr)

Kicker
97 Sam Ficken (6-3, 172, So/So)

Holder
4 Evan Lewis (5-10, 174, Gr/Sr)*

Kick Snapper
57 Emery Etter (6-1, 221, Sr/Jr)

Kick Returners
TBA

* Fifth-year senior

•  One thing that just jumps out right away is how redshirt freshman Deion Barnes flew up the depth chart and is now listed as a co-starter with Pete Massaro, opposite Sean Stanley at a defensive end spot. Massaro was incredibly effective when he was healthy in 2010. Both will see the field, but Barnes is worth keeping an eye on.
• True freshman quarterback Steven Bench is listed as a co-backup to Matt McGloin along with Paul Jones. This surprising move comes on the heels of O’Brien’s media day quote that said “Paul [Jones] will play this year.” Bench has clearly impressed in camp to pull into a tie with Jones.
• Adam Gress and Mike Farrell are listed as co-starters at right tackle. The job seemed like Gress’ to lose during the spring and summer. They may both play some significant snaps.
• Several true freshmen made the depth chart as immediate backups, and Trevor Williams was even named a co-starter with Shawney Kersey opposite Allen Robinson at wide receiver.
• Adrian Amos will start the season at cornerback opposite Stephon Morris despite some talk that he could play safety.
• Speaking of the safeties, Jacob Fagnano and Stephen Obeng-Agyapong are listed as co-starters opposite Malcolm Willis. The job was Fagnano’s back in May, but a hamstring injury has slowed him throughout the summer.
• As good as the linebackers are, they need to stay healthy. There is not as much depth as there once appeared to be with Khairi Fortt now in California.
• Alex Kenney was thought to be the go to slot receiver with Devon Smith gone. Does Evan Lewis steal some playing time?
• Nothing listed in terms of a kick or punt returner yet. Will O’Brien reveal it at his press conference today or make everyone wait until Saturday to find out?

A few questions remain, but most position battles have been settled for now. The remaining ones will play out on the field.

That’s right — actual football in four days.