Eric Morris tweeted three check marks.
It is 2023 and cryptic tweets aren’t so cryptic anymore. Everyone scrambled to figure out the new commits. They were quickly tweeted. Larry Moore, tackle transfer from Texas Tech. Paula Talimoni Vaipulu offensive lineman from Georgia Tech. Chandler Rogers, QB from ULM.
It is a New Denton.
Larry Moore — Played his high school ball at Missouri City, Texas for Fort Bend Marshall. He has mostly done scout team work for the Red Raiders but given the Morris-staff’s connection with Lubbock, we can expect that he meets the requirements for being a quality team guy. We discussed the current crop of guys in a previous post, and while you can never have too many offensive lineman, it is unclear why Moore decided to transfer. It could possibly be because Tech was looking at putting him on defense? In any case, Moore has good measurables. He is a 4th year junior.
Paula Vaipulu — He’s a former 3-star guy from Channelview, Tx (Houston area) that got some run at Georgia Tech. He’s cousin to NT iron man Manase Mose, and that connection no doubt played a big part in this deal. He’s a 4th year junior.
Chandler Rogers — The prize of the triplets, mostly because of fan angst. A google search will reveal many fan blogs lusting over the idea of this dual-threat QB with *amazing* accuracy. Vannini wrote about him at 247sports. It is likely he is better than his stats suggest, simply because his ULM teammates were dropping passes for him. The video and statistics show a guy who can run — he looks like he is hitting anther gear vs Southern Miss — and has impressive completion percentage. ULM liked to run him about 10-times per game, and rarely put the ball in the air a ton. He doesn’t have great size — just the 6’0″ — but the all-time record holder at North Texas didn’t either.
There is plenty of offseason and spring ball, and fall practice to come, but my early prediction is that Moore and Vaipulu were brought in to compete for the starting gig, but won’t necessarily start. We wrote previously that a glut of transfers would indicate the staff think they need top-line starters. Given Moore and Viapulu haven’t had a ton of playing time, this indicates a reach for depth, but a possible reach for options at the front. Rogers is faster than Earle, but maybe not as tough of a runner — I honestly don’t know, because I haven’t watched that much ULM. You can’t have too many great QBs on your roster, and even if this is just about stocking the depth chart it is a good reach. Modern college football is about having a dynamic QB that can put the ball on time and on target. Ol’ walk-on Stetson Bennett and Max Duggan in the national championship game used their legs to great effect and also can put it on the money. Rogers also spent time at Blinn, you know, where Cam Newton went.
