Name: Trevor Keegan
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 324 lbs.
High school: Crystal Lake (IL) Crystal Lake
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #77
Last year: I ranked Keegan #54 and said he would be a backup offensive tackle (LINK). He played in five games on special teams and three games at offensive guard.
TTB Rating: 81
Keegan was a highly rated offensive tackle prospect in the offensive line-heavy 2019 class. It's been rather curious to see which of those linemen would filter out and which would rise to prominence. Keegan finally seemed to break through a little bit late in the shortened 2020 season. Filling in at times for left guard Chuck Filiaga, Keegan made some nice blocks and seemed like an upgrade in some ways.
Filiaga supposedly had a good off-season, but if you have a neck-and-neck battle, I think you go with the younger guy. Why coach up a fifth year senior when you can potentially get a couple more seasons out of coaching up a redshirt sophomore? My belief is that Keegan will take over the starting left guard position. But because the team has Filiaga and other talented linemen as backups, I have Keegan toward the lower end of my projected starters in order of importance.
Prediction: Starting left guard
Such a large human. All we need is for this OL to gel, as there is no shortage of size & talent ... can the coaches make it happen?
ReplyDeleteThe OL coming together is at least as important as whoever pops out of the QB battle. In my mind there is a bigger range of uncertainty on the OL (ranging from all around disaster like last year to maulers who can run on most of our opponents at will). Our strongest spot is RB but those guys aren't going to be able to go out there and MAKE PLAYS if the OL isn't consistently making holes at the LOS.
DeleteThere is no lack of size or talent. Experience isn't ideal but there should be enough to build off and expect improvement. If they look confused again and they're shuffling guys around all year this staff will be polishing resumes.
Usually a starting OL should go higher, one with talent and upside like this especially. But I think the argument here is sound, Filiaga or Vastardis aren't bad options if Keegan isn't ready to pass them.
ReplyDeleteOne small quibble - Note here though that Filiaga could still return for a 6th year because of COVID. He's probably not an NFL player, so if he plays reasonably well he could be useful to bring forward into 2022.
By the historical eligibility standard he's only entering his junior year. RS CV JUNIOR = LOL.