I am so turned off by what I saw and experienced live last year that, when coupling it with a very uninspiring off-season recruiting/transfer portal haul, I have not read as many preseason prognostications as usual. Yours is probably the most fair and comprehensive I have seen.

Some quibbles.

Wide Receiver: I cannot disagree with much specifically, but I will say that multiple members of this group are capable of elevated or breakout seasons if the offense around them can simply not be terrible. Last year was one of the most uninspiring QB/OL/Offensive Coordinator performances I can recall. With a healthy Epps, this group could deliver a solid upgrade if we can simply demonstrate competence offensively.

Safety: A couple walkons overdelivered. They're back. The talented Damuni is more experienced. Alfrey should be healthy. Harper (who was to be a lynchpin last year) should be back. That's a solid upgrade.

Running Back: I'd move the downgrade to slight. I missed the OU game with a work conflict and thus did not see Robbins at his best, but whether his fault or (more likely) that of injuries and an abyssmal run blocking performance, he was AWOL most of the year as a difference maker. Would've loved to have had him back, but I'll take LJ, a healthy Ropati, and Davis if we can somehow recover some level of competency in run blocking and scheme.

Corner: Losing Heckard hurts, but McKenzie has already been hailed as a potential all-time great by Hill, who has not been given to hyperbole. Bamba has intangibles we just do not see. Both are faster than Heckard/Garrettt. Yes, I am betting on some unknowns and their upside, but I'd call this a slight downgrade.

And lastly, a couple non-personel related factors: 1) The schedule slightly better than '23 and 2) Historically, Kalani has done better beating the odds than when favored.