Underclassmen across the College Landscape

[KrazyCane]

This has been going on for decades why is this board acting like this is some new shxt??

 

[dudenate]

This has been going on for decades why is this board acting like this is some new shxt??

Lol- who knows? It’s nothing new. NFL U is a blessing and a curse.

When we...a) are fielding a roster of 75 some odd scholly's & trying to get back to 85 b) just got beat by a team that had 10 SR’s on it’s starting defense c) are actually close to being really good again ...all this leaving early talk is compounded.

 

[HarpDawg]

The only reason our fanbase is b!tching and complaining about early declarations is because we have no one to replace them. If we did, we'd be thanking them for their service and putting together appreciation threads with their highlights and stories.

Other schools fans likely do the same, but this fanbase demonstrates their selfishness pretty regularly in these discussions. Its always a strange discussion, too. Norton stinks, but we NEED him. RJ McIntosh got pushed around late in the season, but he's VITAL to our success next year. If they are good enough and important to us next year, why can't they be good enough and important to an NFL team next year while getting paid to do it?

Then there is the "well, they are losing MONEY by leaving early"...which is the dumbest discussion when it comes to early declarations. Like any of us have a crystal ball that tells us what kind of money they are missing out on.

70% of underclassmen declaring for the draft end up getting drafted (or some number like that)...and the ones that don't usually fall into a few categories...players never really on the radar anyway (small school kids or D1 backup types), grade or discipline issues (would have gotten kicked off the team or something), incredibly poor athletic testers (like...bottom 5% types), or ones with an injury none of us are privy to.

Lots of fair points there Robes.
But in fairness, some of the disappointment within our fanbase has merit.
It is one thing for a kid who is an underclassman, who has dominated at his position, to leave early.
I think everyone gets that.
Another thing to see a kid who isn't a finished product to bolt early.
That is what irks folks.

This is my thought process...

More and more, players are becoming educated on their short shelf life in the sport. The business side of the game has become more important than the love for it. Especially with the recent (generally speaking) knowledge of the long term effects of head trauma, players are weighing risk v. reward a lot more. With that, comes the cash grab as soon as possible...maximizing your time in the game with your earning potential. For many players, playing for free until 22, 23 years old is buffoonery.

Even if you are an unfinished product, one year playing the game for free in a limited capacity (the grind for a CFB athlete is intense, even with limited practice time as they balance school and the game) versus playing the game with a hefty salary - even as a mid-late round draft pick seems like a no brainer, to me. If football is my life and my goal as a short term career, I am going to bounce, even if I am going to go 75 picks later this year versus next. Especially for a defensive position...I'm on the clock and I've got limited time to make as much money as possible. Its not just about the money I am making as a pro athlete...its the business ventures I can start with that money (even a mid-late round pick can start investing in real estate or whatever) or business ventures I've had to hold off on as an amateur athlete.

All players are "unfinished products"...but how much better will some players get (for free, mind you) versus what they could do in the NFL? You've got limited, split time versus unlimited time and the best resources. The same goes for athletes in other major sports. Its a risk versus reward for college these days while doing it for little to no money.

McIntosh is what...21 years old already? Norton, too? Age matters in the NFL evaluation process, too. Both dudes birthdays are in June...22 years old versus 23 years old starting your first NFL season does matter.

When you draft a player I would rather have them a year older and more nfl ready most players don’t get a second contract anyway. Also the second contract a lot of players leave or are overpaid anyway.

 

[Swampcity]

Got the piece below from the 'Noles board:


7-6 team thats maybe going to have 10 or more players drafted...just unreal

Nnadi, Sweat, Thomas, TMac, Derwin, Tate, Izzo with Hoskins, Marshall, Lane being maybe, and still yet to be seen what Patrick does. Did I miss anybody? Assuming Leonard does not get drafted but maybe because of his size goes really late.

 

[PlanoCane]

CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE CTE

 

[LPK2006]

How much money do you make if you end up on a practice squad somewhere? It can't be that much. It may well still be much more than some of these families have ever seen....but if you flame out within a couple years, what are you left with? No job and no college degree.

I understand wanting to grab the cash ASAP, but many of these guys really should be hedging their bets, graduating school and thus giving themselves *something* to fall back on if/when the NFL doesn't work out for them. In my opinion, of course.

 

[Papa_Cane]

Lets get real - 95% of the people on this board would make the exact same decision to leave early - this is their dream
- Stop arguing that they are costing themselves money
- That is crap --- they make NO money by staying and even if they are drafted late will make more money than their families have ever seen

Wish them well and understand that Coach Kool is texting future Dline recruits TODAY and telling them he can help them play on Sunday

Your logic is flawed. Coming back to school does not guarantee them increased profits. Leaving to the draft does not guarantee them decreased career earnings. They could get drafted in the 4th round, get injured in training camp, and never play another down of football. Alternatively, they could come back to school, get injured, and never play another down of football.

What most people are arguing on this site about is that their collective ceiling right now is a mid round pick. Zero to small signing bonus and not very much guaranteed money. Whereas, if they come back to school, get their degree (if they haven't already) they could potentially (emphasis added) increase their draft stock to the top two rounds and solidify better career earnings. Coming back to school also has the added benefit of finishing their degree and potentially competing for a national championship.

There are pros/cons to both decisions but to think that everyone should jump at the chance for a little bit of money is simply a not informed decision when being patient on investments (in this case investing in themselves and their career) usually pays bigger dividends.