[BostonCard]

I don't think 5th year attrition is particularly unusual. We've always had some players who do not return for a 5th year for whatever reason -- limited playing time, wanting to pursue academic ambitions, not invited back, transfer, health issues, tired of the football grind, or just graduating and wanting to get on with life.

I don't have stats to back this up, but I think the last few years we have lost a larger share of attritable players after their third or fourth years than in the past.  While we've always had fifth year players elect to move onto something other than football when they had a chance to contribute in their fifth years as starters or meaningful contributors, those tended to be the exception and not the rule.  Now, it seems to be the exception, rather than the rule.  I mean, Dylan Jackson was a starter until he was injured, and he would be the senior leader on a youngish line next year even if he weren't starting.  Nick Wilson probably would have been a starter at guard.  If rumors about Barton are true, he would have been a starter at inside linebacker.

From the ultra helpful personnel tracker, here are our academic senior players with a year of eligibility, and how they project next year:
Cameron Scarlett: current back-up, likely starter
Reagan Williams: current starter, likely starter (to the extent we still use a fullback)
JJ Arcega-Whiteside: current starter, declared pro (obviously would have been a starter)
Nick Wilson: current back-up, projected starter (decided not to return)
Brian Chaffin: current back-up, possible starter (but likely back-up)
Dylan Jackson: injured, but was a starter, likely starter (decided not to return)
Casey Toohill: current starter, projected starter
Sean Barton: current starter, projected starter
Ryan Beecher: former walk-on, not a projected starter
Frank Buncom: current starter, projected starter
Ben Edwards: injured, but was a starter, projected starter

So far, out of 11 players, 10 of whom project to be a starter or significant back-up, two have decided not to return, one has elected to go pro, and there are rumors about several more.  And that's not counting Herbig and Smith (academic juniors who have decided to go pro).

I hope it is not a sign of discontent.

BC

[BostonCard]

I don't think 5th year attrition is particularly unusual. We've always had some players who do not return for a 5th year for whatever reason -- limited playing time, wanting to pursue academic ambitions, not invited back, transfer, health issues, tired of the football grind, or just graduating and wanting to get on with life.

I don't have stats to back this up, but I think the last few years we have lost a larger share of attritable players after their third or fourth years than in the past.  While we've always had fifth year players elect to move onto something other than football when they had a chance to contribute in their fifth years as starters or meaningful contributors, those tended to be the exception and not the rule.  Now, it seems to be the exception, rather than the rule.  I mean, Dylan Jackson was a starter until he was injured, and he would be the senior leader on a youngish line next year even if he weren't starting.  Nick Wilson probably would have been a starter at guard.  If rumors about Barton are true, he would have been a starter at inside linebacker.

From the ultra helpful personnel tracker, here are our academic senior players with a year of eligibility, and how they project next year:
Cameron Scarlett: current back-up, likely starter
Reagan Williams: current starter, likely starter (to the extent we still use a fullback)
JJ Arcega-Whiteside: current starter, declared pro (obviously would have been a starter)
Nick Wilson: current back-up, projected starter (decided not to return)
Brian Chaffin: current back-up, possible starter (but likely back-up)
Dylan Jackson: injured, but was a starter, likely starter (decided not to return)
Casey Toohill: current starter, projected starter
Sean Barton: current starter, projected starter
Ryan Beecher: former walk-on, not a projected starter
Frank Buncom: current starter, projected starter
Ben Edwards: injured, but was a starter, projected starter

So far, out of 11 players, 10 of whom project to be a starter or significant back-up, two have decided not to return, one has elected to go pro, and there are rumors about several more.  And that's not counting Herbig and Smith (academic juniors who have decided to go pro).

I hope it is not a sign of discontent.

BC