This Collins development is pretty brutal. Some thoughts:
1. Seems like we have a massive hole at the RB2 spot -- a pretty important spot when you've got a RB1 like Duke, who is probably at his best when he's getting 15 or so carries and 5-7 other touches. I think Duke and Collins would have been like a Bush and Lendale White combo -- very effective, complimentary backs. But that said, are we overstating this loss? We have a AA-type as our starter. Yea, the backs behind him don't excite or even inspire much confidence, but in the end, I'm of the opinion that, for the most part, RBs at a certain level are interchangeable. Mind you, Clements was a very effective local running back.
2. I think there is a 100% chance that, in a year or two, we regret not offering another local kid as a Plan B tailback. As Larry has said in another thread, there HAS to be another UM-level back in SoFla that we can bring in if the coaches think we need the help. I love Dalvin Cook and Michel. I really love Cook -- think he's going to be a top-20 national recruit next year. But we can't count on him or anyone else, as we've learned. If there is a kid in SoFla that merits an offer as a Plan B, I'd make the offer.
3. The most important recruit in this class, besides Olsen, remains out there for us -- Thomas. I think Thomas, by his sophomore year, can have a 50% bigger impact on the game than Collins. Landing Thomas is like landing Willie Williams back in the day -- he's a crown jewel prospect and landing him would make up for tonight's bust.
4. I repeat: when it comes to what some of these "undecided recruits" are thinking, no supposed insider knows ******* ****. All of the information out there is highly flawed and likely subjective. Very few people know what these kids are thinking, and I doubt those people are voicing their opinions to random board posters. I think a lot of people have sources in our AD, which, unless there is a silent committment and even in that scenario sometimes, is not a reliable source because they're highly vested in the outcome. I say from here on out we just wait and see what happens, rather than pretend to read the tea leaves.
5. I don't know how he's going to do it, but Golden has to make amends with these ****-sucking racist piece of **** local coaches, even if it makes him squirm. He's gonna have to take a Xanax, down a scotch, and mend fences with any local coaches who feel aggrieved. The cornerstone of this prorgram is our local recruiting base -- if we don't get these kids because their coaches are pushing them elswhere, there is no difference between us and any other mid-level ACC school.
6. I seriously believe that our stadium situation is a HUGE impediment. Collins went to one of our games where we had like 5 people in attendance. If I was a recruit, that would be a HUGE consideration -- playing in a true college atmosphere. For that reason, I hope these stadium renovations are approved, so the stadium can be made more fan frienfly. Even then, I really think losing the OB may mark a fundamental shift in our program's trajectory.
