Safeties
Schematically, Vonte Davis & Nate Ritchie have the position down, though almost certainly not at Blackmon/Burgess levels. (That was PhD level work we saw last year.)
Scalley may dial up some unexpected stuff with Vonte & Nate, but I’d be surprised if we see anything too crazy on Saturday.
But let’s look at the 2s:
Kamo’i Latu - 6-3/190 FR from Saint Louis HS in Honolulu
Zemaiah Vaughn - 6-2/175 FR from Beaumont, TX
First of all, they wouldn’t be on the depth chart if Scalley didn’t think they can grasp the Safety position, which is a credit to both of them, right now.
Hopefully they’re not needed if the one of the 1s gets nicked, but Latu has the height & probably the frame to fill out and become a LB, so whatever experience he gets at S is money in the bank.
Vaughn is the mystery kid. Beaumont is Scalley’s recruiting territory, east of Houston, so without having seen him, and seeing this kid came in as a walkon, I have a hunch this kid may be the latest recruiting coup Scalley has made in finding gems to play S.
Everyone remember the lanky Marcus Williams as a freshman? Marcus got a lot more snaps, but I wonder if this kid is an under the radar prodigy that will similarly fill out and become a serious center fielder.
The Texas kids come in much better prepared to play than the west coast kids, so I think #16 Zemaiah Vaughn is somebody to keep an eye on.
If something crazy happens and the wheels fall off the cart, Scalley could always move Nephi Sewell back to play SS. He definitely impressed when we saw him late last year - athleticism and now he has the pop at 225 lbs.