{"id":871958,"date":"2026-04-22T14:48:38","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T14:48:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/871958\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T14:48:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T14:48:38","slug":"catching-up-with-the-coordinators-ryan-aplin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/871958\/","title":{"rendered":"Catching Up With the Coordinators: Ryan Aplin"},"content":{"rendered":"

With spring practice done, GSEagles.com caught up with each of the three coordinators to get their thoughts on their areas. Up second is offensive coordinator Ryan Aplin<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Q: What were your goals as an offense going into the spring, and do you feel like you met them?<\/p>\n

RA: The biggest thing was figuring out who we are. We lost a lot, really about 12 starters when you include both centers, so there were a lot of new pieces to work through.<\/p>\n

A big focus was building cohesiveness. On offense, everyone has to be pulling in the same direction. At the same time, we were installing the system for a lot of newcomers while also asking guys who hadn’t played major roles before to step up and compete for starting jobs.<\/p>\n

As the spring went on, you could feel that chemistry start to build. We’re not all the way there yet, but I really like the progress, especially over the last couple of weeks. It was also important to get the new guys comfortable in the system and figure out where they fit best. We moved some pieces around and worked guys back from injury, so there was a lot of learning happening. Overall, we made progress. We didn’t fully meet the goal yet, but we’re on the right track.<\/p>\n

Q: You mentioned it a bit, but the entire starting offense is gone. How do you approach that?<\/p>\n

RA: That’s just the reality of college football right now. The good thing is we still have some guys who may not have been starters but have played and know the system.<\/p>\n

Those guys have been really important in helping others along. You see them getting together on their own, watching film, talking through mistakes, and sharing what they learned when they were new. That’s a big part of building cohesion. We’ve got a few returning players who have been extremely valuable in that way.<\/p>\n

Q: Let’s start with the quarterbacks. What did you think of that group?<\/p>\n

RA: I love that room. It’s a great group that spends a lot of time together. I’ll come out of a staff meeting and find them in my office watching film and going through things on their own. That’s what you want at that position. If you want to be elite, you’ve got to invest more time than everyone else. I’ve been really pleased with their work ethic and how intentional they are.<\/p>\n

Early on, it was about managing all the new pieces, but I thought they handled tough moments well. You saw leadership and communication, which is critical when things aren’t going perfectly. Harrison Faulkner Jr.<\/a> and Max Johnson<\/a> are new. Harrison is a true freshman who should still be in high school, but his work ethic has been incredible. He’s constantly in the playbook and film room, and he’s really figured out how to manage his time. His growth, especially in the last couple of weeks, has stood out.<\/p>\n

Max has been in some really good systems. Early on, he was getting comfortable with communication and learning the offense, but his progress over the last couple of weeks has been noticeable. He’s a strong communicator and asks great questions. That’s something I appreciate about the whole room. There’s a humility to it. If they don’t know something, they ask. That eliminates gray areas, which is critical at quarterback.<\/p>\n

And Weston Bryan<\/a>, people forget this was his first spring. He’s learning a lot about himself and doing things he hasn’t been asked to do before, which has been great for his development.<\/p>\n

Q: From an experience standpoint, Max, Turner Helton<\/a> and Weston have an advantage. What stands out about each guy, and what will decide the starter?<\/p>\n

RA: Max and Turner have been around the game a long time, so they’ve experienced more. They’ve made mistakes before and know how to respond to them. They’ve done a great job helping the younger guys, pulling them aside, encouraging them, and teaching them. That leadership has been really valuable.<\/p>\n

You saw quicker day-to-day improvement from those older guys, while Weston’s growth was more week to week. But he had his best practice in the spring game. He operated well, made the right reads, and created some explosive plays. That’s what spring is for. You want guys to go through tough moments and learn from them.<\/p>\n

What I’ve really liked is how the group works together. It’s competitive, but it’s not divisive. They communicate, share ideas, and push each other. That helps everyone grow. At the end of the day, the decision will come down to decision-making, accuracy, and timing. You’ve got to keep the offense on schedule, avoid negative plays, and make the right choice in the moment. Those are the things we’ll evaluate as we move into summer and fall camp.<\/p>\n

Q: Let’s move to the running backs. How do you feel about that group?<\/p>\n

RA: That’s a position where you need depth. It’s a physical position, and guys get banged up. It’s been great to have Terrance Gibbs<\/a>, David Mbadinga<\/a>, and Jamarian Samuel<\/a> back and healthy. This is the first full spring Terrance has had, which is great to see. He’s been through a lot, and you can feel a different energy from him right now.<\/p>\n

You’ve also got guys like Tyrese Woodgett<\/a> and Taeo Todd<\/a> stepping in. That group has depth, experience, and a variety of skill sets. The thing I like most is their physicality. Whether it’s pass protection or finishing runs, they bring a toughness you need at this level. It’s a really solid room.<\/p>\n

Q: What about the tight ends?<\/p>\n

RA: Losing Ahmon Green<\/a> was tough. He brought a lot of value for us. Getting River Helms<\/a> back is big. He has experience and looks like he’s made some physical changes. JP Mikhael<\/a> has taken a big step forward. His approach has been excellent. He’s consistent with his work, getting extra reps, and doing everything you want to see from a guy stepping into a bigger role.<\/p>\n

Jackson Long<\/a> is back and healthy, which has been great. Henry Gregory<\/a> is still developing physically, but he got valuable reps this spring. Same with JQ Crosby<\/a>. Even with some injuries, it gave younger guys a chance to learn through experience. They made mistakes, but that’s part of the process. Overall, I’ve been really pleased with their mindset and approach.<\/p>\n

Q: Let’s talk about the inside receivers.<\/p>\n

RA: We’re still waiting on Josh Dallas<\/a> to get fully back, but we know what he brings. His absence gave younger guys more reps, which has been valuable. Peyton Plott<\/a> has taken advantage of that. Antavious Murphy<\/a> had his first full spring and has grown a lot. Jeremiah Ware<\/a> is another guy with a lot of talent who started to build confidence and make plays as the spring went on.<\/p>\n

Taylor Bradshaw<\/a> also showed flashes and maturity, which we needed with Josh out. We’re still working hard to get Kam Mikell<\/a> back too. It’s a young group, but there’s a lot of potential and growth happening.<\/p>\n

Q: The outside receiver group has a lot of new faces. What have you seen there?<\/p>\n

RA: We lost a ton of production, so we had to rebuild that room. That’s always a challenge. But I’ve been really pleased with the talent and the chemistry. Those guys work hard, spend time together, and support each other. That matters when you’re bringing in a lot of new pieces.<\/p>\n

They’ve handled the transition well, even with some tough days. They’ve stayed positive and kept pushing. Guys like Ashton Hollins<\/a> and Alex Taylor<\/a> picked up the system quickly. Andre Greene Jr.<\/a> showed improvement as the spring went on. King Phillips<\/a> is raw but has big-play potential. Cam King<\/a> and, eventually, Noble Johnson<\/a> add even more to that group. There’s a lot of talent. We’re not all the way there yet, but the foundation is strong.<\/p>\n

Q: Let’s talk about the offensive line.<\/p>\n

RA: That’s probably the biggest area of transition. We lost a lot of experience, and that group has to be in sync for everything to work. There have been some ups and downs, but you’ve seen growth. Guys like Brandon Stoner<\/a>, Matthew Williams<\/a>, Colin Alexander<\/a>, and Ethan Williams<\/a> have all made progress.<\/p>\n

Ty Furnish<\/a> has been a key leader. He has the most experience and brings the kind of presence we need after losing so many starters. We’ve also got younger guys developing and some players working back from injury like Caelan Williams<\/a>. It’s a group with a lot of moving parts, but I’ve been encouraged by their progress. Our defense has challenged them a lot, which will help in the long run. Now it’s about finding the right combination and building consistency.<\/p>\n

Q: How has the offensive coaching staff come together?<\/p>\n

RA: The staff has been outstanding. The chemistry is great, and everyone works hard. They’re all self-starters and do a great job building relationships with the players. There’s a lot of continuity, even with some role changes. Guys already knew each other, so it wasn’t a complete reset. That made the transition smoother.<\/p>\n

We’ve also got a lot of experience on staff. There are multiple guys who could be coordinators, which is a huge benefit. Everyone gets along, communicates well, and supports each other. They take a lot off my plate and allow me to focus on other areas. It’s been a really strong group, and I feel fortunate to have them.<\/p>\n

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