We talk a lot about what positions should be the focus of each class. That depends, of course, on both the talent need and the raw numbers at the position. For this thread, I'm going to ignore the "talent" component and just look at raw numbers.
First, we're working from an 85-man roster.
Within that, I'm going to make several assumptions based on scheme:
Specialists
1 Punter
1 Kicker
1 Snapper
We'll subtract these 3 from the 85-man roster to do the math since no scholarship backups should be signed for specialists, which puts it outside the formula we'll use later.
Defense
4-man DL is played at least 90% of the time, so we'll go with 4/22 starters as DLs.
3 LBs are played about 1/3 of the time and 2 LBs are played about 2/3 of the time, so we'll go with 2.33/22 starters as LBs.
5 DBs are played about 2/3 of the time (Nickel) and 4 DBs are played about 1/3 of the time, so we'll go with 4.67/22 starters as DBs.
Offense
5-man OL is a constant, so we'll go with 5/22 starters as OLs.
1 QB is a constant, so 1/22 starters as QB.
1 RB is a constant (we'll see "empty" as often as a 2 RB set so it balances), so 1/22 starters as RB.
1 TE is the base but 2 TEs is used as is 0 TEs, so we'll say that balances and go with 1/22 starters as TE.
1 FB is also the base, but we probably only see a FB on 1/3 of the plays so we'll go with .33/22 starters as FB.
2 WRs or 3 WRs can be the base but we'll go 4- or 5-wide more often than a jumbo set of 1- or 0-wide, so we'll go 2.67/22 starters as WRs.
Given the above, here's what a roster should look like rounded to a whole number (give or take a player or two from each position group):
Quarterback: (1/22) x 82 = 4
Running Back: (1/22) x 82 = 4
Fullback: (.33/22) x 82 = 1
Wide Receiver: (2.67/22) x 82 = 10
Tight End: (1/22) x 82 = 4
Offensive Line: (5/22) x 82 = 19
Total Offense: 42
Defensive Line: (4/22) x 82 = 15
Linebacker: (2.33/22) x 82 = 9
Defensive Back: (4.67/22) x 82 = 17
Total Defense: 41
+3 Specialists = 86 (fractions suck, so we have to lose a guy from one of those position groups). I'd probably say OL and put that group at 18 to make the numbers work.
If you compare this with the current CU roster that includes the incoming freshmen, the thing that jumps out is that the team has too many DLs (23). I'd expect that a couple move to LB where we are under at 8 when the freshmen get here. Other spots where CU is under-represented is WR and -- especially -- DB.
First, we're working from an 85-man roster.
Within that, I'm going to make several assumptions based on scheme:
Specialists
1 Punter
1 Kicker
1 Snapper
We'll subtract these 3 from the 85-man roster to do the math since no scholarship backups should be signed for specialists, which puts it outside the formula we'll use later.
Defense
4-man DL is played at least 90% of the time, so we'll go with 4/22 starters as DLs.
3 LBs are played about 1/3 of the time and 2 LBs are played about 2/3 of the time, so we'll go with 2.33/22 starters as LBs.
5 DBs are played about 2/3 of the time (Nickel) and 4 DBs are played about 1/3 of the time, so we'll go with 4.67/22 starters as DBs.
Offense
5-man OL is a constant, so we'll go with 5/22 starters as OLs.
1 QB is a constant, so 1/22 starters as QB.
1 RB is a constant (we'll see "empty" as often as a 2 RB set so it balances), so 1/22 starters as RB.
1 TE is the base but 2 TEs is used as is 0 TEs, so we'll say that balances and go with 1/22 starters as TE.
1 FB is also the base, but we probably only see a FB on 1/3 of the plays so we'll go with .33/22 starters as FB.
2 WRs or 3 WRs can be the base but we'll go 4- or 5-wide more often than a jumbo set of 1- or 0-wide, so we'll go 2.67/22 starters as WRs.
Given the above, here's what a roster should look like rounded to a whole number (give or take a player or two from each position group):
Quarterback: (1/22) x 82 = 4
Running Back: (1/22) x 82 = 4
Fullback: (.33/22) x 82 = 1
Wide Receiver: (2.67/22) x 82 = 10
Tight End: (1/22) x 82 = 4
Offensive Line: (5/22) x 82 = 19
Total Offense: 42
Defensive Line: (4/22) x 82 = 15
Linebacker: (2.33/22) x 82 = 9
Defensive Back: (4.67/22) x 82 = 17
Total Defense: 41
+3 Specialists = 86 (fractions suck, so we have to lose a guy from one of those position groups). I'd probably say OL and put that group at 18 to make the numbers work.
If you compare this with the current CU roster that includes the incoming freshmen, the thing that jumps out is that the team has too many DLs (23). I'd expect that a couple move to LB where we are under at 8 when the freshmen get here. Other spots where CU is under-represented is WR and -- especially -- DB.