Can you agree that the cupboards were pretty bare... ?
Explain to me again this "cupboards were bare" legend.
Three linemen (Collins, Valentine, and Gregory) that would have been seniors this year are good enough to play in the NFL.
The other two defensive linemen that left were good enough to play or start on many teams and a third is starting at Nebraska now.
Nebraska has the same starting quarterback in Tommy Armstrong (who Riley has now figured out).
The starting running back (Newby) was in the cupboard.
Westerkamp and Reilly are from the previous staff, as is Alonzo Moore. Combined with #15 below, I would say that's a pretty full cupboard at wide receiver.
Riley's three deep tight ends are all from before, with Cethan Carter having a shot at the NFL.
They also left the top punt returner in the nation (Pierson-El) here when Riley took over, although he's not getting many opportuniites now.
Sam Foltz was one of the best punters in the country and would probably be heading to the NFL after his Senior year.
Now, the offensive line had only Alex Lewis, who played "not very well" at Nebraska his last year but went to the NFL, so I don't know whether to put him in the plus or minus column.
So most of the movers and shakers on offense in this now Top Ten team were ones "in the cupboard" when Riley rolled in from Oregon State.
I guess this is how urban legends get started...