Here's a roundup of the former Michigan player, former commits, and former coaches (or players-turned-coaches). NOTE: I will not regularly post updates about offensive linemen since stats are minimal and just posting PFF grades is kind of boring, but I did this week just to show who's playing where and what their opening day role was.
FORMER PLAYERS
WR Andrel Anthony (Oklahoma): Anthony has not played since week one due to an injury.
LB Jeremiah Beasley (Missouri): Beasley made 1 tackle in a 45-3 win over UMass.
QB Alan Bowman (Oklahoma State): Oklahoma State (3-3) had a bye following their third straight loss. So far this season, Bowman is completing 59.3% of his passes for 12 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.
LB Semaj Bridgeman (Michigan State): Bridgeman has not recorded any stats yet this year for MSU.
Hit the jump for more.
CB Cam Calhoun (Utah): Calhoun had 2 tackles and 1 pass breakup in a 27-19 loss to Arizona State.
C Zach Carpenter (Miami): Carpenter is Miami's starting center.
WR Darrius Clemons (Oregon State): Clemons made 5 catches for 39 yards in a 42-37 loss to Nevada.
WR Karmello English (West Georgia): English made 9 catches for 143 yards in a 34-33 loss to Central Arkansas.
TE Louis Hansen (UConn): UConn (4-2) had a bye. Hansen has 8 catches for 54 yards this season.
WR A.J. Henning (Northwestern): Henning made 3 catches for 61 yards in a 37-10 win over Maryland.
OG Amir Herring (Kansas): Herring is a backup offensive guard for Kansas.
TE Matt Hibner (SMU): SMU (5-1) had a bye. Hibner has 2 catches for 31 yards this year.
LB Nikhai Hill-Green (Colorado): Hill-Green had 10 tackles and 1 pass breakup in a 31-28 loss to Kansas State.
K Cole Hussung (Louisville): Hussung is a backup kicker for Louisville.
WR Giles Jackson (Washington): Jackson made 9 catches for 63 yards in a 40-16 loss to Iowa.
WR George Johnson III (FAU): Johnson did not record any stats in a 41-37 loss to North Texas.
DE Aaron Lewis (Rutgers): Lewis made 1 tackle in a 42-7 loss to Wisconsin.
QB Cade McNamara (Iowa): McNamara completed 8/14 passes for 108 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 40-16 win over Washington.
LB Hayden Moore (Washington): Moore did not record any stats in a 40-16 loss to Iowa.
S Jordan Morant (Mississippi State): Morant did not record any stats in a 41-31 loss to Georgia.
S R.J. Moten (Florida): Moten made 1 tackle in a 23-17 loss to Tennessee.
DT George Rooks (Boston College): Boston College (4-2) had a bye. Rooks has 17 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack this year.
S Keon Sabb (Alabama): Sabb made 12 tackles in a 27-25 win over South Carolina.
LB Deuce Spurlock (Florida): Spurlock has yet to record any stats this season.
OT Jack Stewart (UConn): Stewart is a backup offensive lineman for UConn.
RB C.J. Stokes (Charlotte): Charlotte (3-3) had a bye. Stokes has 7 carries for 33 yards and 1 touchdown this year. He also has 1 catch for 6 yards.
WR Jake Thaw (Delaware): Thaw had 5 catches for 34 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 44-21 win over Maine.
.@jthaw3 x2 ‼️ pic.twitter.com/CEty2cDqbR
— Delaware Football (@Delaware_FB) October 12, 2024
LB Joey Velazquez (Ohio State): Velazquez did not record any stats in a 32-31 loss to Oregon.
TE Dan Villari (Syracuse): Villari had 4 carries for 11 yards and 1 catch for 6 yards in a 24-17 win over North Carolina State.
CB D.J. Waller (Kentucky): Waller made 2 tackles in a 20-13 loss to Vanderbilt.
LB Cornell Wheeler (Kansas): Kansas (1-5) had a bye. Wheeler has 24 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 3 pass breakups this season.
FORMER COMMITS
DE Collins Acheampong (UCLA): Acheampong did not record any stats in 21-17 loss to Minnesota.
LB Aaron Alexander (Michigan State): Michigan State (3-3) had a bye. Alexander has 2 tackles this season.
WR Markus Allen (Eastern Michigan): Allen had 3 catches for 20 yards in a 38-14 loss to Miami-OH.
DE Ethan Burke (Texas): Burke made 2 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 sack in a 34-3 win over Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout.
S Taylor Groves (Ole Miss): Groves did not play in a 29-26 loss to LSU.
LB Tyler Martin (UMass): Martin made 4 tackles in a 45-3 loss to Missouri.
OG Micah Mazzccua (Nebraska): Mazzccua is a starting offensive guard for Nebraska.
DT Davonte Miles (BGSU): Miles made 2 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss in a 17-7 loss to Northern Illinois.
TE Andrew Rappleyea (Penn State): Rappleyea did not play in a 33-30 win over USC.
S Myles Rowser (Arizona State): Rowser made 6 tackles and 1 pass breakup in a 27-19 win over Utah.
DE Elias Rudolph (Miami): Miami (6-0) had a bye. Rudolph has 1 tackle this year.
DE Jacob Smith (Kentucky): Smith did not play in a 20-13 loss to Vanderbilt.
LB Jaden Smith (Kentucky): Smith did not play in a 20-13 loss to Vanderbilt.
DT Jerod Smith (Kentucky): Smith did not record any stats in a 20-13 loss to Vanderbilt.
DT Joel Starlings (North Carolina): Starlings did not play in a 41-34 loss to Georgia Tech.
DT Alex VanSumeren (Michigan State): Michigan State (3-3) had a bye. VanSumeren has 8 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 sack this year.
DT Denver Warren (Sam Houston State): Sam Houston State (5-1) had a bye. Warren has 5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, and 1 quarterback hurry.
LB Raylen Wilson (Georgia): Wilson made 1 tackle in a 41-31 win over Mississippi State.
FORMER COACHES
Don Brown (Head Coach, UMass): Brown is now 1-6 after a 45-3 loss to Missouri.
Ross Douglas (Wide Receivers Coach, Syracuse): Douglas is in his first season coaching the receivers at Syracuse under new head coach Fran Brown.
Jedd Fisch (Head Coach, Washington): Fisch and the Huskies are 4-3 after a 40-16 loss to Iowa.
JaRaymond Hall (Asst. OL Coach, Wayne State): Hall is now the assistant offensive line coach and director of recruiting for Wayne State under head coach Tyrone Wheatley, who recruited Hall to Michigan in 2017.
Scot Loeffler (Head Coach, BGSU): Loeffler is 2-4 after a 17-7 loss to Northern Illinois.
Curt Mallory (Head Coach, Indiana State): Mallory is 2-4 after a 31-27 win over Murray State.
Jim McElwain (Head Coach, Central Michigan): Central Michigan is sitting at 3-3 after a 27-25 loss to Ohio.
Desmond Morgan (Defensive Assistant, Memphis): Morgan is a defensive assistant at Memphis this season.
Biff Poggi (Head Coach, Charlotte): Charlotte is 3-3 and had a bye week.
Denard Robinson (Running Backs Coach, Lead Prep Academy): Robinson has been hired as the new running backs coach at Lead Prep Academy in Michigan.
Rich Rodriguez (Head Coach, Jacksonville State): Jacksonville State improved to 3-3 after a 54-13 win over New Mexico State.
Roy Roundtree (Wide Receivers Coach, Miami-OH): Roundtree is in his first season at Miami-OH as the wide receivers coach.
Tyrone Wheatley (Head Coach, Wayne State): Wheatley is 0-6 after a 27-14 loss to Ferris State.
8/14 passes for 108 yards against Washington? Must have lost the game with such modest pass stats.
ReplyDelete...unless they avoided turnovers and kept the opposing offense in check and ran the ball down their throats.
LOL. I know turnovers aren't literally everything but Iowa is 4-0 when McNamara doesn't throw any INTs and 0-2 when he does. McNamara averages less than 90 yards passing a game, excluding their 2 cupcakes.
There's still a path for this Michigan team to have a nice solid top 25 finish after going 9-4. But if they do it they are going to have to cut out games where their QB is handing multiple turnovers to the other team.
JJ was 7/8 for 60 yards against Penn State last year. We won and no one was complaining. Given the current roster, Michigan should try to run the Iowa offense (disclaimer: I do not watch Iowa games just the highlights). But it looks like they run a lot (70-80% run) and pass via play action (almost no designed pass for Cade). Then we choose the QB that can do what Cade does in the 33yards TD pass against Washington. I think that QB is Tuttle (followed by Davis then Orji).
DeleteIf you want to use Orji as the main QB, that is fine too. But design an offensive scheme that makes use of Orji's supposed running ability (the coaches have not done that). They are trying to shoehorn Orji into a dropback passer which he is not. I am not a coach but I think Orji is the perfect triple option QB. But for the current offense the coaches are running? He should have more run attempts than pass attempts.
I'm no coach either, but doesn't an option offense require a QB who is *really* good at seeing things in real-time, and making good decisions at the very last moment?
DeleteThe problem with Tuttle is - even when the rust is off - he's still very injury prone
Deletematt & seth had a PFF nerd on the other day, who was much higher on Warren than most, and interesting data to back him. I just don't see it. But my guess is that the longer Tuttle starts, the more likely Warren is next man up, leaving Orji in his 2o23 gimmick role
We cannot really do anything about injuries. Hopefully, by running 75% of the time, we can reduce the injury risk. At the end of the day, Orji can still play an important role as a "gimmick QB". Give him a drive or two with specific play call in mind. Might work if the opponent has the wrong personnel on defense.
Delete@Anon You are right that you need to have good decision making ability as an option QB and Orji has not shown it thus far. In any case, we are not going to see that happening at Michigan.
DeleteIn my eyes Tuttle and Orji are pretty alike in how they are used in this Michigan offense. Yes, Tuttle is a better passer - but he is not a good one and did not throw downfield much more than Orji. Yes, Orji is a better runner - but he is not used in a way as a runner that is substantially better than how Tuttle is used.
DeleteThe decision-making ability is a tough thing to assess because we as fans (and arm-chair analysts) can't even agree if a read is live or pre-determined. But FWIW I agree - they are not repping the zone read decisions that you need to rep to turn this into a strong Qb-run. Tuttle can be a more effective runner (due to decision-making) even if he has less talent as a runner than Orji.
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@FTOctober 15, 2024 at 2:55 AM
"JJ was 7/8 for 60 yards against Penn State last year."
It's not an issue if you win and we have faith that you can throw when we need to. Orji beat USC and Minny but he's never had an impressive passing game. So folks are unhappy about that.
As far as going forward -- I would love for Davis to get to a place where he can be on the field but it does not sound like he is close.
Given the above I think we should rotate Tuttle and Orji. If you have 2 QBs you have none is a dangerous game except when you already know you don't have a QB LOL. Need to focus on who is getting most out of the offense (not the most passing yards) and avoiding putting the defense in bad positions (turnovers, field position, time-of-possession).
Two things that are completely unrealistic, IMO
1 - Pretending that Michigan is going to change it's offense to optimize for Orji. Orji is a stop-gap QB and will not be the starter in 2025 unless there is an injury. They have said it and shown it - they are not changing the offense. It's a fantasy to think they will do that for a guy who is different than every other QB they are bringing in.
2 - Pretending that Warren is legitimate option to start again. The notion that Warren has the talent to play at this level is a fantasy and has always been a fantasy. He showed that against Texas (compete ineptitude until garbage time) but he showed it even more obviously against Fresno and Arkansas State.
Unfortunately, none of Michigan's QBs (Orji/Tuttle/Warren/Denagal) are good QB but someone still has to start at QB for Michigan. Is there another Power 4 school with a worse QB situation than Michigan?
DeleteWell in the Big Ten I would start with Northwestern.
DeleteI think you could make an argument for UCLA too. Which is kind of interesting because for all the complaining about the 2022 QB recruiting class (Orji and Denegal), Michigan's top target that year Justyn Martin has been a backup for UCLA (until filling in last week for Garbers). Garbers is bad. Martin is seen as filled with potential though. So they have that hope going for them.
Finally, I'm not sure the guys at Iowa or Rutgers are substantially better than our group even though they have more experience.
But this is a quibble - I can't say our poo platter is clearly better than the ones listed here. Clearly the MIchigan QBs are in the bottom tier no matter how you slice it. The talent just isn't in the room and the supporting cast isn't enough to lift them up enough to cover it up.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/qbr/_/group/5
Notable that everybody who is above the bottom tier is either a blue chip recruit or a Portal addition. The teams playing the guys they developed themselves either recruited a blue chip talent (PSU, USC, Nebraska) or they have been bad (UCLA, Northwestern, and Michigan). The Portal is the path for most schools and Michigan would join the list if Tuttle starts the rest of the way.
not getting a QB in 2o2o, settling for Denegal & Orji & in 2o22 and then skipping 2o23 hurts
DeleteMICHIGAN "should" get a top 25o recruit at QB every cycle. That would put us at least a fifth year senior (2o2o), one or both Denegal/Orji (2o22) buried on the bench, and a RSFr (2o23). Who knows if Tuttle is in the mix, but Davis Warren would almost certainly not have started. We'd have two better options (maybe 3, as this alters standard of quality in 2o22). That's a healthy QB room, allowing for a random bust/transfer, but quality competition rather than the walk-on, gimmick and career injured reserve guy
Lesson learned: make a quality QB a priority every single year
The best case scenario where Michigan hit on every recruit it prioritized in high school recruiting each season since JJ came would still yield a QB room that is bad in 2024. Dante Moore, CJ Carr, and Justyn Martin are "answers" in a sense that they will probably be better QBs at some point than Tuttle/Orji/Warren are now, but they are also young players who are still developmental prospects. I don't know that that would fix much for Michigan.
DeleteThe issue is they did not hit the portal.
That's on Harbaugh as much as anything because if JJ had missed the Maryland game last year I have zero confidence that Jack Tuttle would have been capable of winning a single game while stepping in for him. That said, if Harbaugh had stuck around he very likely would have fixed it and found somebody as good or better than Patterson/Rudock to step in.
Don't forget 2o2o ... that's potentially four guys better than what we have today. Not great, but not WTF embarrassing
DeleteBut agree. Debore went after Will Rogers before the playoffs last year, while we sat & wondered about JJ & content in case he left. Here we are
Anyone recruited in 2020 who was capable of being a starter at MIchigan would have dipped by the end of 2021. In 2021 you had an incumbent starter with 3 years of eligibility left who ended up winning a big ten championship... AND JJ McCarthy.
DeleteIt would have had to have been someone with next to zero ambition of starting for their first 4 years (2020-2023).
The 2019 recruit (Cade) was functionally a 2020 anyway, despite his advanced age. Because of the extra year.
And he left of course. The coaching staff certainly could have recruited a better QB than Villari in 2020 but it's a moot point -- Villari left, and a better QB would have done the same.
So, again, I don't think 2020 is too relevant for this 2024 roster.
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The high school recruiting in 2022-2024 went poorly, but even if it had gone well, the answer at QB was still via the portal, for 2024.
I think taking only Bell coming of the Denegal/Orji class was a mistake. They should have taken another QB to develop there, even if he was a 3-star type. But with NIL being an issue and staring at 1 or 2 more years of JJ as starter, it was going to be a 3-star type of kid that they were going to get anyway. Very likely NOT an answer for 2024 in any case.
I am less grumbly about Villari, or Denegal/Orji, or even Bell. in the post-JJ wake, than I am about Davis being the wrong type of recruit to bring to Michigan at this point. He is developmental prospect. That's fine and good except we also need an immediate starter in 2024 (and it seems 2025 as well). We could have used a guy who was ready to contribute as a freshman (a la Tate Forcier) and Michigan seems to have somewhat righted the ship on NIL prior to signing day, so it would have been nice if they could have a more ready freshman to at least turn to as an option.
Regarding a 2o2o QB transferring, you offer two assumptions presented as certainty. We differ in opinion, SHOCKER ... But not trying? Derelict
Delete"I think taking only Bell coming of the Denegal/Orji class was a mistake"
I made this point last year, and you argued against (even insisting Bell was a QB)
Take a look at QB rankings. Are you telling me Harbaugh and his scouting resources couldn't have unearthed one of those G5 or low tier P4 quarterbacks? As middling three stars, they aren't as likely to bolt from a place like MICHIGAN. So, even if we're missing on blue chips, taking at least a development guy is critical, and doing this should be in ADDITION to shopping the Portal. Skipping both? Dereliction of duty
""I think taking only Bell coming of the Denegal/Orji class was a mistake"
DeleteI made this point last year, and you argued against (even insisting Bell was a QB)"
Bell was a QB recruited to play QB. He moved positions - it happens sometimes, far less than you and Thunder predict whenever an "athlete" is recruited at QB. Guys change positions. It's OK. I acknowledged that Bell might, and that Orji might, but I said that both probably would not, given the depth chart -- which is what has happened.
But go ahead and find the quote and link where I was proven wrong. You won't, of course. This is typical twisting of Jelly reality. #fantasyland #fake victories after taking Ls
You can talk about recruiting hypotheticals until you are blue in the face. Maybe they could have done better but My assumption is that Harbaugh and company generally recruit the best guys they think they can get.
DeleteThey targeted better guys than they got, but didn't land them. It happens, just like it happened when Don Brown tried to recruit Alim McNeil (and many other true DT) to Michigan.... The issue is that even IF they had been successful, with the guys they targeted at QB in 2020-2023, we would STILL be in trouble in 2024 at QB.
Middling 3 stars is what you want? This is what we got buddy. That Orji and Denegal and Bell were ranked. Denegal had a bunch of SEC offers. Orji was stolen away from Va Tech.
Let's be honest -- You don't want middling 3 stars. You want 4 stars. Had we gotten the 4 stars we wanted, we'd be in the exact same place. Anyway -- we got some 4 stars. Jaydn Davis is a 4 star. Jack Tuttle was a 4 star.
I'm not sitting here telling you stars don't matter or high school recruiting is a waste of time, but we did exactly what you are arguing for after JJ -- recruit developmental prospects. 3 of them in the 2 classes after JJ. Davis is a 4th. Of course, None have panned out and that wouldn't be a problem if they did what they should have done and hit the portal for a starter.
You're pretending to be mad about the strategy but that's lie -- you're just mad about the outcomes. And the same thing happened in regard to Don Brown's recruiting of "true" DTs vs Tweeners. The confluence of events, great success followed by recruiting busts, failures of development, unexpected departures have led to a void in the depth chart. The strategy wasn't the problem it was the execution and development that failed.
Michigan failed to develop any of Orji, Denegal, or Bell into viable QBs. They seemed to have treated Warren as another legit option and failed to develop him into a viable QB also. Going 0 for 4 on development is a problem. They seemed to think Tuttle was a worthwhile option too, which is perhaps the worst part of all of this mess because it's bad talent identification, even AFTER someone is on campus.
The above is a failure of development and talent identification. It's a recruiting failure in the sense of the portal but not of high school because recruiting success (Moore, Carr, the kid at UCLA) wouldn't have addressed the situation at QB anyway. It's tough to recruit the next JJ when JJ is still on campus, but Michigan had other paths available than high school recruits from 2022-2023 and in 2024 they could have recruited a player who is ready to contribute instead of a guy who needs years of development (it seems, in Davis' case).
That's my argument -- this HS recruiting isn't the problem for this 2024 team, nor was it a problem in 2023, or 2022, or 2021. We hit a HR with high school recruiting in getting JJ from 2021-2023. His shadow is long and it's hard to replicate that success out of high school. Less hard out of the portal.
The guys they got are not great but they have been developed very poorly. I would say that's a mark against whoever the QB coach was in 2022 and 2023 more than anything else.
The guys they got have not been accurately assessed and managed to limit their limitations. You can coach around a bad QB -- we saw that in 2021. I would say that's a mark against whoever the OC is in 2024 more than anything else.
re: "athlete" QBs changing positions
DeleteI think you're overstating whatever was said. Several QB/ATH types have changed positions, including Dan Villari (TE at Syracuse), Zach Gentry (TE), and Bell (WR).
I don't think I ever said that Milton would change positions. The only other option with his body type is TE/EDGE, and I think I was pretty consistent saying that I don't think he has the mentality/toughness to play those positions.
The only one I can remember who has stuck at QB is Alex Orji...and he's only in year three. There's still a real chance that he changes positions, either at Michigan or if he transfers elsewhere. If he had any hopes of becoming an NFL player, it's probably pretty clear to everyone (or at least most people) that he's not going to be a QB. If he can't even be trusted to play a regular QB position by his third year at Michigan, it's probably not in the cards.
So...I would say I'm batting pretty near 100% so far. Orji's career is "incomplete" at this because he still has 1-2 years to see where he ends up. And if he does play QB for the remainder of his career, I guess I won't be 100% anymore . . . but if Wildcat QB is essentially his ceiling, I'm going to go ahead and shrug it off. I can almost guarantee that if NFL scouts have him on their radar at this point (after all, he is technically draft-eligible), it's as a FB/TE/LB.
" If he had any hopes of becoming an NFL player, it's probably pretty clear to everyone (or at least most people) that he's not going to be a QB. "
DeleteI believe similar assertions were made about Joe Milton. I thought it was you Thunder, but it may have been other commenters talking about him being a TE around the time of the transfer but also AFTER he was drafted (as a QB) to the NFL.
I think I recall a conversation that went something along the lines of "I'm just saying, people are saying things" and "I'm not making this stuff up". Which was true -- because Milton heard it too and commented on the rumor -- "not happening".
I don't think you can call it 100% if you didn't call it on Gentry or Villari. And how many times was it predicted for Denard I wonder (and yes he played RB at the end of his career, but that was after a severe elbow injury that effectively ended his QB career).
"If he can't even be trusted to play a regular QB position by his third year at Michigan, it's probably not in the cards"
Orji has played QB at Michigan in every game except Illinois this season and has started 3 times so far. He has been trusted, so maybe it is in the cards. He has two more years of eligibility left after this year.
I doubt he is an NFL QB! But suddenly moving to some other position like LB or H-back is probably not a fast track to the NFL either. But stranger things have happened.
Okay, so your evidence for me saying Milton would change positions consists of me saying "These are what NFL scouts are saying" and then what I was sharing was widespread enough for Milton to comment on...it's almost like I might know what I'm talking about!
DeleteAlso, regarding Villari, for example...
"All that being said, I do not see Villari finishing his college career as a quarterback. I think he will be a tight end, but he could play quarterback, fullback, or linebacker, too. His competitiveness, toughness, and athleticism are admirable and could translate to other spots on the field, too. I have also mentioned before that I like guys with quarterback experience, because quarterbacks are often good communicators and leaders, and they’re usually smart."
https://touch-the-banner.com/dan-villari-wolverine/
The comments about Orji are pretty much nonsense at this point. Not even worth debating.
What's really funny is that I never said either would switch
DeleteI said Bell was recruited to play WR, and he did in fact come in and go straight to that room
I never said Orji would or should switch either. I said he should never start, or we'd lose 4 or 5 games. I was wrong, only because that was too optimistic
Go ahead and prove me wrong ... maybe a bet?
"You can talk about recruiting hypotheticals until you are blue in the face. Maybe they could have done better but my assumption is that Harbaugh and company generally recruit the best guys they think they can get"
I stopped reading when you complained about hypotheticals, then made assumptions about what Harbaugh & Co want or try for
Too easy!
Looks like Karmello English maybe angling for a promotion and NIL payday this offseason.
ReplyDeleteI'd missed that Vanderbilt beat Kentucky this past weekend. Good for them ... after an emotional win over Alabama the week before, a let-down loss to a team like Kentucky would not have been shocking. But Vanderbilt stood tall and notched another win. Again, good for them. There's hope for the little guy.
ReplyDeleteTyrone Wheatley might best start thinking about what he wants to do, other than being a head coach. An overall record of 8-33 (Morgan State and Wayne State) does not bode well long-term. Don Brown might best start thinking about retirement.
The world of college football is becoming both discouraging and interesting, in that players are shuffling about so rapidly. For every one 'good story' about a player transferring to a lesser school and getting a starting role, there's several cases of players transferring and riding pine, then transferring again and riding pine. The psychology of that would be interesting to study; that is, how young players cope with the transition from dreams of stardom to the realization that life is offering them something else.
I don't think this transfer-mad era will last. It's good for individual players who are getting paid by jumping around but it stinks for fans and IMO it's not good for student athletes.
DeleteAs much as we focus on the elite players who are NFL bound it's worth remembering that most college football players are going to be accountants, salesmen, and middle managers than pro football players. Probably jumping around from school to school is not in their best interest.
Anyway some struggle is good for character. Jumping to a lesser challenge where success is ensured is not the best path for many.
I agree it's not generally good for the young person, and I agree the era of frequent transfers will come to an end. How it comes to an end may not be a move to the better however. It seems the trajectory is towards some kind of contractual commitment between school and athlete, and with that we'll see stories of young people exploited and locked into situations where they'd be better served elsewhere. How the details of all this are going to shake out, I don't know. But i have a bad feeling.
Delete@ Anonymous 3:01 p.m.
DeleteThat seems like it would be pretty similar to any pro league. Lots of young players are under contract around the world, including soccer and basketball players in Europe . . . and 19-year-old NBA players, NHL players, etc.
Thunder ... yes, I agree. But there's something about American college football that's different: there's so much money sloshing around that it makes people do things. I hope things settle out in a reasonable way, but I'm not so sure it will at first.
DeleteWho transfers OUT first, Orji or Warren? Do either have options?
ReplyDelete