[Phogge]

From TOS.

[Phogge]

From TOS.

[JohnR34231]

From TOS.

Will the last player leaving Stanford please turn out the lights.

[JohnR34231]

From TOS.

Will the last player leaving Stanford please turn out the lights.

[OutsiderFan]

There was an article yesterday about Clemson and how it got to be like Alabama, by emulating Alabama. One of the key takeaways for me was how Alabama and Clemson really make an effort to convince talented players to stay to complete their eligibility, and certainly not leave after redshirt Soph seasons.

Stanford appears to have a real problem on its hands, and is fighting a ridiculous up-hill battle in college football, making it harder on itself than frankly makes any sense at all. Consider these Stanford realities:

- Make recruits complete application process far more arduous than any other school
- Entrance requirements are higher than any other school 
- No early enrollment
- No JC players allowed
- Grad transfers out are common, Grad transfers in are virtually non-existent
- More guys retire and forego last year of eligibility than other schools
- Making matters even worse, Stanford employs a complicated offense that takes a long time to learn and get players producing

Teams are suppose to thrive on 5th year Seniors.  Just in 24 hours Stanford lost two such players in OL Wilson and DL Jackson.  Why should Stanford be offering full scholarships to players who don't want to stay for what is often the year they are most valuable to the program? Doesn't it seem the changing dynamics of college and pro football are making it clear Stanford needs to evolve its approach?

Those who fail to adapt to changing conditions usually die and certainly don't thrive. Has Stanford adapted enough? Where can it make some tweaks to augment the absurd amount of pressure it faces on so many of these fronts?  If I was David Shaw, I'd be really, really bothered by so many players not completing eligibility and getting a bit tired of dealing with so many obstacles my competition doesn't have to right now. It's one thing to face the higher admission standards, but quite another to deal with all the factors now driving guys out of the program, with no countermeasures to make up for them.

[OutsiderFan]

There was an article yesterday about Clemson and how it got to be like Alabama, by emulating Alabama. One of the key takeaways for me was how Alabama and Clemson really make an effort to convince talented players to stay to complete their eligibility, and certainly not leave after redshirt Soph seasons.

Stanford appears to have a real problem on its hands, and is fighting a ridiculous up-hill battle in college football, making it harder on itself than frankly makes any sense at all. Consider these Stanford realities:

- Make recruits complete application process far more arduous than any other school
- Entrance requirements are higher than any other school 
- No early enrollment
- No JC players allowed
- Grad transfers out are common, Grad transfers in are virtually non-existent
- More guys retire and forego last year of eligibility than other schools
- Making matters even worse, Stanford employs a complicated offense that takes a long time to learn and get players producing

Teams are suppose to thrive on 5th year Seniors.  Just in 24 hours Stanford lost two such players in OL Wilson and DL Jackson.  Why should Stanford be offering full scholarships to players who don't want to stay for what is often the year they are most valuable to the program? Doesn't it seem the changing dynamics of college and pro football are making it clear Stanford needs to evolve its approach?

Those who fail to adapt to changing conditions usually die and certainly don't thrive. Has Stanford adapted enough? Where can it make some tweaks to augment the absurd amount of pressure it faces on so many of these fronts?  If I was David Shaw, I'd be really, really bothered by so many players not completing eligibility and getting a bit tired of dealing with so many obstacles my competition doesn't have to right now. It's one thing to face the higher admission standards, but quite another to deal with all the factors now driving guys out of the program, with no countermeasures to make up for them.

[JohnR34231]

There was an article yesterday about Clemson and how it got to be like Alabama, by emulating Alabama. One of the key takeaways for me was how Alabama and Clemson really make an effort to convince talented players to stay to complete their eligibility, and certainly not leave after redshirt Soph seasons.

Stanford appears to have a real problem on its hands, and is fighting a ridiculous up-hill battle in college football, making it harder on itself than frankly makes any sense at all. Consider these Stanford realities:

- Make recruits complete application process far more arduous than any other school
- Entrance requirements are higher than any other school 
- No early enrollment
- No JC players allowed
- Grad transfers out are common, Grad transfers in are virtually non-existent
- More guys retire and forego last year of eligibility than other schools
- Making matters even worse, Stanford employs a complicated offense that takes a long time to learn and get players producing

Teams are suppose to thrive on 5th year Seniors.  Just in 24 hours Stanford lost two such players in OL Wilson and DL Jackson.  Why should Stanford be offering full scholarships to players who don't want to stay for what is often the year they are most valuable to the program? Doesn't it seem the changing dynamics of college and pro football are making it clear Stanford needs to evolve its approach?

Those who fail to adapt to changing conditions usually die and certainly don't thrive. Has Stanford adapted enough? Where can it make some tweaks to augment the absurd amount of pressure it faces on so many of these fronts?  If I was David Shaw, I'd be really, really bothered by so many players not completing eligibility and getting a bit tired of dealing with so many obstacles my competition doesn't have to right now. It's one thing to face the higher admission standards, but quite another to deal with all the factors now driving guys out of the program, with no countermeasures to make up for them.

Yeah the way players are bailing I'm beginning to think the people predicting doom and gloom for next year may not be so far off base.

[JohnR34231]

There was an article yesterday about Clemson and how it got to be like Alabama, by emulating Alabama. One of the key takeaways for me was how Alabama and Clemson really make an effort to convince talented players to stay to complete their eligibility, and certainly not leave after redshirt Soph seasons.

Stanford appears to have a real problem on its hands, and is fighting a ridiculous up-hill battle in college football, making it harder on itself than frankly makes any sense at all. Consider these Stanford realities:

- Make recruits complete application process far more arduous than any other school
- Entrance requirements are higher than any other school 
- No early enrollment
- No JC players allowed
- Grad transfers out are common, Grad transfers in are virtually non-existent
- More guys retire and forego last year of eligibility than other schools
- Making matters even worse, Stanford employs a complicated offense that takes a long time to learn and get players producing

Teams are suppose to thrive on 5th year Seniors.  Just in 24 hours Stanford lost two such players in OL Wilson and DL Jackson.  Why should Stanford be offering full scholarships to players who don't want to stay for what is often the year they are most valuable to the program? Doesn't it seem the changing dynamics of college and pro football are making it clear Stanford needs to evolve its approach?

Those who fail to adapt to changing conditions usually die and certainly don't thrive. Has Stanford adapted enough? Where can it make some tweaks to augment the absurd amount of pressure it faces on so many of these fronts?  If I was David Shaw, I'd be really, really bothered by so many players not completing eligibility and getting a bit tired of dealing with so many obstacles my competition doesn't have to right now. It's one thing to face the higher admission standards, but quite another to deal with all the factors now driving guys out of the program, with no countermeasures to make up for them.

Yeah the way players are bailing I'm beginning to think the people predicting doom and gloom for next year may not be so far off base.

[Hurlburt88]

Jackson and Wilson really surprised me.   More locker room problems than we realize?    Obviously something went really wrong with Herbig.....

[Hurlburt88]

Jackson and Wilson really surprised me.   More locker room problems than we realize?    Obviously something went really wrong with Herbig.....

[82lsju]

Redshirt junior Dylan Jackson said goodbye on his Instagram account but did not clarify what his plans about retiring or transferring for a graduate year. He was academic first team All Pac-12 the past two years. It seems likely he will transfer.

https://stanford.rivals.com/news/kaden-s...e-expected

[82lsju]

Redshirt junior Dylan Jackson said goodbye on his Instagram account but did not clarify what his plans about retiring or transferring for a graduate year. He was academic first team All Pac-12 the past two years. It seems likely he will transfer.

https://stanford.rivals.com/news/kaden-s...e-expected

[2006alum]

Stanford appears to have a real problem on its hands, and is fighting a ridiculous up-hill battle in college football, making it harder on itself than frankly makes any sense at all. Consider these Stanford realities:

- Make recruits complete application process far more arduous than any other school
- Entrance requirements are higher than any other school 
- No early enrollment
- No JC players allowed
- Grad transfers out are common, Grad transfers in are virtually non-existent
- More guys retire and forego last year of eligibility than other schools
- Making matters even worse, Stanford employs a complicated offense that takes a long time to learn and get players producing

All of the bolded have nothing to do with the football program and everything to do with the university. Clemson and Alabama have 50% acceptance rates; Stanford's is 5% with a far more competitive applicant pool. In recent years, Stanford has taken between 0 and 40 transfers, almost all of whom are hard-scrabble success stories, military, or community college all-stars. Almost all of Stanford's grad programs are close to as competitive as the undergrad admissions, and it's probable the average desirable football player simply wouldn't have hit the academic metrics necessary to be admitted. 

I think (a) we drastically underestimate how well the football program has done given these hurdles, and (b) personally, would prefer the status quo to the alternative. OK, we'll never be Alabama or Clemson. In literally any other context, that's a virtue, not a flaw.

[2006alum]

Stanford appears to have a real problem on its hands, and is fighting a ridiculous up-hill battle in college football, making it harder on itself than frankly makes any sense at all. Consider these Stanford realities:

- Make recruits complete application process far more arduous than any other school
- Entrance requirements are higher than any other school 
- No early enrollment
- No JC players allowed
- Grad transfers out are common, Grad transfers in are virtually non-existent
- More guys retire and forego last year of eligibility than other schools
- Making matters even worse, Stanford employs a complicated offense that takes a long time to learn and get players producing

All of the bolded have nothing to do with the football program and everything to do with the university. Clemson and Alabama have 50% acceptance rates; Stanford's is 5% with a far more competitive applicant pool. In recent years, Stanford has taken between 0 and 40 transfers, almost all of whom are hard-scrabble success stories, military, or community college all-stars. Almost all of Stanford's grad programs are close to as competitive as the undergrad admissions, and it's probable the average desirable football player simply wouldn't have hit the academic metrics necessary to be admitted. 

I think (a) we drastically underestimate how well the football program has done given these hurdles, and (b) personally, would prefer the status quo to the alternative. OK, we'll never be Alabama or Clemson. In literally any other context, that's a virtue, not a flaw.

[JohnR34231]

Redshirt junior Dylan Jackson said goodbye on his Instagram account but did not clarify what his plans about retiring or transferring for a graduate year. He was academic first team All Pac-12 the past two years. It seems likely he will transfer.

https://stanford.rivals.com/news/kaden-s...e-expected

I read somewhere that he said he was looking forward to getting his masters (in Mechanical Engineering) from Stanford.

[JohnR34231]

Redshirt junior Dylan Jackson said goodbye on his Instagram account but did not clarify what his plans about retiring or transferring for a graduate year. He was academic first team All Pac-12 the past two years. It seems likely he will transfer.

https://stanford.rivals.com/news/kaden-s...e-expected

I read somewhere that he said he was looking forward to getting his masters (in Mechanical Engineering) from Stanford.

[OutsiderFan]

Stanford appears to have a real problem on its hands, and is fighting a ridiculous up-hill battle in college football, making it harder on itself than frankly makes any sense at all. Consider these Stanford realities:

- Make recruits complete application process far more arduous than any other school
- Entrance requirements are higher than any other school 
- No early enrollment
- No JC players allowed
- Grad transfers out are common, Grad transfers in are virtually non-existent
- More guys retire and forego last year of eligibility than other schools
- Making matters even worse, Stanford employs a complicated offense that takes a long time to learn and get players producing

All of the bolded have nothing to do with the football program and everything to do with the university. Clemson and Alabama have 50% acceptance rates; Stanford's is 5% with a far more competitive applicant pool. In recent years, Stanford has taken between 0 and 40 transfers, almost all of whom are hard-scrabble success stories, military, or community college all-stars. Almost all of Stanford's grad programs are close to as competitive as the undergrad admissions, and it's probable the average desirable football player simply wouldn't have hit the academic metrics necessary to be admitted. 

I think (a) we drastically underestimate how well the football program has done given these hurdles, and (b) personally, would prefer the status quo to the alternative. OK, we'll never be Alabama or Clemson. In literally any other context, that's a virtue, not a flaw.

Stanford admits football players with transcripts, GPAs, and test scores that wouldn't get them admitted if they weren't playing sports, so the 5% acceptance is a bit of a canard, isn't it? What you're talking about is degree of restrictions on athletes. To me, allowing early entries and taking JC transfers would be the most accommodating moves that don't compromise academic standards. There are many guys who are too small for D1 scholarships out of high school or who really get serious about school in JC that can thrive as a student and help teams win. Plus, having JC transfers and early entries would diversify the student population, which is always beneficial.

[OutsiderFan]

Stanford appears to have a real problem on its hands, and is fighting a ridiculous up-hill battle in college football, making it harder on itself than frankly makes any sense at all. Consider these Stanford realities:

- Make recruits complete application process far more arduous than any other school
- Entrance requirements are higher than any other school 
- No early enrollment
- No JC players allowed
- Grad transfers out are common, Grad transfers in are virtually non-existent
- More guys retire and forego last year of eligibility than other schools
- Making matters even worse, Stanford employs a complicated offense that takes a long time to learn and get players producing

All of the bolded have nothing to do with the football program and everything to do with the university. Clemson and Alabama have 50% acceptance rates; Stanford's is 5% with a far more competitive applicant pool. In recent years, Stanford has taken between 0 and 40 transfers, almost all of whom are hard-scrabble success stories, military, or community college all-stars. Almost all of Stanford's grad programs are close to as competitive as the undergrad admissions, and it's probable the average desirable football player simply wouldn't have hit the academic metrics necessary to be admitted. 

I think (a) we drastically underestimate how well the football program has done given these hurdles, and (b) personally, would prefer the status quo to the alternative. OK, we'll never be Alabama or Clemson. In literally any other context, that's a virtue, not a flaw.

Stanford admits football players with transcripts, GPAs, and test scores that wouldn't get them admitted if they weren't playing sports, so the 5% acceptance is a bit of a canard, isn't it? What you're talking about is degree of restrictions on athletes. To me, allowing early entries and taking JC transfers would be the most accommodating moves that don't compromise academic standards. There are many guys who are too small for D1 scholarships out of high school or who really get serious about school in JC that can thrive as a student and help teams win. Plus, having JC transfers and early entries would diversify the student population, which is always beneficial.

[2006alum]

I don't think it's a canard, because while it's true that football players are assessed via a different pipeline, they still need to be viable candidates in their own right, and be able to academically flourish at Stanford. The 25th percentile for SAT scores at Stanford roughly corresponds to the 95th percentile nationwide. We don't have nonsense majors like UNC where the profs write the papers for the students. The athletes need to hang, just like everyone else, and admitting students who are literally two standard deviations below their peers does a disservice to everyone.

Even for the other things: the mandatory freshman orientation and random roommate first-year dormitory experience is not something Stanford is all of a sudden going to compromise just to try to eke out one more football win per season. Admitting students early means they don't join the freshman class in the fall like everyone else, their roommates will likely be football players from day one, and they will not have the same orientation experience that other students undergo. Summer session enrollment is a compromise that doesn't forgo the athletes from fully participating in their freshman dorm/year experience. (And, as a practical matter, the academic requirements for Stanford mean a lot of students simply won't have completed them all in seven semesters of high school.)

And as for taking JC transfers: that would mean taking fewer other transfers - literally thousands of people applying for 0-40 slots. There's so much pressure on the university regarding transfer admissions as it is, I just don't see that happening for a candidate that isn't bringing a 4.0 GPA and a significant life story from a community/junior college.

[2006alum]

I don't think it's a canard, because while it's true that football players are assessed via a different pipeline, they still need to be viable candidates in their own right, and be able to academically flourish at Stanford. The 25th percentile for SAT scores at Stanford roughly corresponds to the 95th percentile nationwide. We don't have nonsense majors like UNC where the profs write the papers for the students. The athletes need to hang, just like everyone else, and admitting students who are literally two standard deviations below their peers does a disservice to everyone.

Even for the other things: the mandatory freshman orientation and random roommate first-year dormitory experience is not something Stanford is all of a sudden going to compromise just to try to eke out one more football win per season. Admitting students early means they don't join the freshman class in the fall like everyone else, their roommates will likely be football players from day one, and they will not have the same orientation experience that other students undergo. Summer session enrollment is a compromise that doesn't forgo the athletes from fully participating in their freshman dorm/year experience. (And, as a practical matter, the academic requirements for Stanford mean a lot of students simply won't have completed them all in seven semesters of high school.)

And as for taking JC transfers: that would mean taking fewer other transfers - literally thousands of people applying for 0-40 slots. There's so much pressure on the university regarding transfer admissions as it is, I just don't see that happening for a candidate that isn't bringing a 4.0 GPA and a significant life story from a community/junior college.

[82lsju]

Redshirt junior Dylan Jackson said goodbye on his Instagram account but did not clarify what his plans about retiring or transferring for a graduate year. He was academic first team All Pac-12 the past two years. It seems likely he will transfer.

https://stanford.rivals.com/news/kaden-s...e-expected

I read somewhere that he said he was looking forward to getting his masters (in Mechanical Engineering) from Stanford.

I think that is Wilson based on his instagram post which says in part

 I’ve been able to get a great education and I’ll even be able to pursue a masters degree in Mechanical Engineering. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsEkf_VHuIsF...ddWoMxpY0/

Jackson's bio shows him as a PoliSci major

https://gostanford.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=11678

[82lsju]

Redshirt junior Dylan Jackson said goodbye on his Instagram account but did not clarify what his plans about retiring or transferring for a graduate year. He was academic first team All Pac-12 the past two years. It seems likely he will transfer.

https://stanford.rivals.com/news/kaden-s...e-expected

I read somewhere that he said he was looking forward to getting his masters (in Mechanical Engineering) from Stanford.

I think that is Wilson based on his instagram post which says in part

 I’ve been able to get a great education and I’ll even be able to pursue a masters degree in Mechanical Engineering. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsEkf_VHuIsF...ddWoMxpY0/

Jackson's bio shows him as a PoliSci major

https://gostanford.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=11678

[needle]

I just watched the vid below. The publish date is Sept. of 2018.

Dylan Jackson talks about a.)how much he likes Stanford and b.) his interest in business or law school post-graduation. Says he's a poli-sci major.

Nothing about NFL aspirations.

I highly, highly doubt that Jackson is leaving because of some kind of internal strife within Stanford football. He was a guy coming out of HS who was considering staying close to home (I think Vandy and maybe Tennessee were his options). I don't think his leaving "early" (after four years) says anything much about the Stanford football program. I'm glad he enjoyed his time at Stanford.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFq6mwDB...outu.be&a=

[needle]

I just watched the vid below. The publish date is Sept. of 2018.

Dylan Jackson talks about a.)how much he likes Stanford and b.) his interest in business or law school post-graduation. Says he's a poli-sci major.

Nothing about NFL aspirations.

I highly, highly doubt that Jackson is leaving because of some kind of internal strife within Stanford football. He was a guy coming out of HS who was considering staying close to home (I think Vandy and maybe Tennessee were his options). I don't think his leaving "early" (after four years) says anything much about the Stanford football program. I'm glad he enjoyed his time at Stanford.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFq6mwDB...outu.be&a=

[JohnR34231]

Redshirt junior Dylan Jackson said goodbye on his Instagram account but did not clarify what his plans about retiring or transferring for a graduate year. He was academic first team All Pac-12 the past two years. It seems likely he will transfer.

https://stanford.rivals.com/news/kaden-s...e-expected

I read somewhere that he said he was looking forward to getting his masters (in Mechanical Engineering) from Stanford.

I think that is Wilson based on his instagram post which says in part

 I’ve been able to get a great education and I’ll even be able to pursue a masters degree in Mechanical Engineering. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsEkf_VHuIsF...ddWoMxpY0/

Jackson's bio shows him as a PoliSci major

https://gostanford.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=11678

Yeah, I got the two mixed up. Sorry.

[JohnR34231]

Redshirt junior Dylan Jackson said goodbye on his Instagram account but did not clarify what his plans about retiring or transferring for a graduate year. He was academic first team All Pac-12 the past two years. It seems likely he will transfer.

https://stanford.rivals.com/news/kaden-s...e-expected

I read somewhere that he said he was looking forward to getting his masters (in Mechanical Engineering) from Stanford.

I think that is Wilson based on his instagram post which says in part

 I’ve been able to get a great education and I’ll even be able to pursue a masters degree in Mechanical Engineering. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsEkf_VHuIsF...ddWoMxpY0/

Jackson's bio shows him as a PoliSci major

https://gostanford.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=11678

Yeah, I got the two mixed up. Sorry.

[slide]

OF -- good post to prompt discussion.  thanks.

a couple of random responses.  first, Alabama and Clemson have more early NFL departures than we do almost every season.  second, with Alabama and Clemson (and other top programs), 5th years are not counted on systematically -- they are more of an aberration.  if we want to avoid R-Jr departures, we should be playing talented true FR more often.  Adebo, Hooper and Solomon Thomas (in addition to Smith) readily come to mind.  others are burned the other way like Shittu, Tucker etc.  it seems we don't do a great job of evaluating our own talent and pipeline planning for it.  

there are a lot of seemingly easy tweaks staff could make in recruiting (more early offers to qualified top 300 types, use of spring official visits, use of technology and non-coaching staff in preparatory recruiting tasks, leverage head coach in-home visits, especially earlier in the process, etc) that would help, but there seems to be resistance to change at the top.  

'19 looks like a tough year for us.  tough OOC schedule and big ?s marks at ILB and OL, among other positions.  '19 spring practice looks to be a repeat of '18, in '18 we often lacked enough healthy bodies to have full contact scrimmages.  on the bright side though, we will have multiple scholarship QBs for the '19 spring practices.

[slide]

OF -- good post to prompt discussion.  thanks.

a couple of random responses.  first, Alabama and Clemson have more early NFL departures than we do almost every season.  second, with Alabama and Clemson (and other top programs), 5th years are not counted on systematically -- they are more of an aberration.  if we want to avoid R-Jr departures, we should be playing talented true FR more often.  Adebo, Hooper and Solomon Thomas (in addition to Smith) readily come to mind.  others are burned the other way like Shittu, Tucker etc.  it seems we don't do a great job of evaluating our own talent and pipeline planning for it.  

there are a lot of seemingly easy tweaks staff could make in recruiting (more early offers to qualified top 300 types, use of spring official visits, use of technology and non-coaching staff in preparatory recruiting tasks, leverage head coach in-home visits, especially earlier in the process, etc) that would help, but there seems to be resistance to change at the top.  

'19 looks like a tough year for us.  tough OOC schedule and big ?s marks at ILB and OL, among other positions.  '19 spring practice looks to be a repeat of '18, in '18 we often lacked enough healthy bodies to have full contact scrimmages.  on the bright side though, we will have multiple scholarship QBs for the '19 spring practices.

[terry]

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.

[terry]

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.

[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

[terry]

I would have guessed next year's starting OL would be Little, Hamilton, Dalman, Powell, Sarrell. This is based on the fact that Hamilton, Dalman, and Powell all started games at guard this year, while Wilson did not. I would have figured Wilson to be a reserve next season, barring injury.

Jackson has been a starter at DE. However, I think Thomas Booker would have pushed him for playing time next season.

[terry]

I would have guessed next year's starting OL would be Little, Hamilton, Dalman, Powell, Sarrell. This is based on the fact that Hamilton, Dalman, and Powell all started games at guard this year, while Wilson did not. I would have figured Wilson to be a reserve next season, barring injury.

Jackson has been a starter at DE. However, I think Thomas Booker would have pushed him for playing time next season.

[yvonne]

Edwards is not playing football anymore. "retired"

[yvonne]

Edwards is not playing football anymore. "retired"

[JohnR34231]

Edwards is not playing football anymore. "retired"

Does anyone have any good news?
Something almost seems rotten in Denmark.

[JohnR34231]

Edwards is not playing football anymore. "retired"

Does anyone have any good news?
Something almost seems rotten in Denmark.

[yvonne]

The "something rotten" is that a young man is injured, consulted his parents and doctors, and concluded that it's wisest not to play football.

[yvonne]

The "something rotten" is that a young man is injured, consulted his parents and doctors, and concluded that it's wisest not to play football.