Recruiting Football Talk VIII

[Enki_Amenra]

What a sh!t show!
Been absent from VN for quite a while. Wanted to enjoy my sons sr season and work with as much as possible on recruitment, finding a college and enjoy his time at home. After dealing with recruiting, I began to have a true disdain for college football and the landscape of where it sits currently!!
My son finished his sr year with 2K yards on O, 1st team all state, and several honors. Found out after the season, he played the 2nd half of season on a broken fibula, tough kid!
He ended up with 14 offers to play in college, d2/3, couple naia, and couple of fcs offers. He committed to Glenville state over the winter on a nearly full scholarship. Very proud of his accomplishments, and they want him to compete right away, no RS. They’re also building a new $40+M football facility!!
What we learned during recruiting was incredibly, heart breaking, for lack of a better term. Had coaches tell us they won’t take kids from WV. Had coaches completely ignore him after putting on clinics to go gush over a kid that fell down 6 times running pads. Found out crootin is very “black and white”…
The 3 fbs schools we had the most traction with all had HC changes, Marshall, WVU, and Ohio. All hit the portal hard, flipped rosters, and the traction we had was lost. Marshall even visited him, essentially, suggested to stay in touch, they were very aware of him, but needed game day ready players.
Trying to keep it short here, but I have seen several kids hang their cleats up that easily would have gone to the next level 5+ years ago! Mine nearly did as well. Sad what football has become!!
Then, you throw **** like the Nico deal out there, and mediocre kids making 2.5M a year want MORE?!? Gtfoh!!! Pathetic, when’s there are literally 1000’s of kids that just want a chance!
Rant over. Hope Vols find their path and have a successful year!

If anyone is bored at work today and wants to see his sr film. 6’0, 190, 4.51 laser at 17 yo.

Very good. People that never played don't realize how tough it is to get a single offer. It's tough for most players to just get some financial aid. Getting more than a 50/50 ride is solid.

Glenville is a great choice. It seems like the new structure is to get some college game experience and then transfer up if you can or even want to.

It's a huge opportunity to just get his foot in the door and have a chance at the next level. Hope he does great things. That "discounted" degree will give him a big boost on a good life after football.

 

[LaagerVol]

I would not say I feel very bad for Nico. Trusting your parents and doing what they say is not some unforgivable sin. Now whatever idiot told him to skip practice and he listened, that's on him. Very hard to come back from that one from an image perspective. Nico has been around team sports long enough to know that.

But the family of sociopaths angle... cmon'. It is much simpler than that. A polynesian family with zero ties to the area saw East TN as a check to be cashed. They did not care about the people here, the university, the football program as a whole, nothing. We saw the exact same thing happen with TooToo.

What you called "toxic control, lies, and manipulation" I would simply call a group of incompetent people barely qualified to tie their own shoes play-acting as agents. And they screwed up their kid's image. Not because of some Machiavellian angle, but because they were out over their skiis.

Eh, you can tell by dads tweets that he has some issues

 

[Orange_Crush]

If I was in my 70's and had a 20 something year old GF, I would be "whooped" as individuals call it as much as the next one.

OMG. Dealing with a 20 year old girl (especially one with with daddy issues)? No thanks. Hard pass.

 

[Checker_the_Shire]

My thoughts - 2 desperate ships headed toward 1st year iceberg. Belichek proving he sold all his high ground when getting a 20 year old girlfriend and sliding to college.

I just hope we’re ready for when that SOB tries to poach Matthews.

 

[SpringBokVol]

“This baseball team just isn’t that good”

I know! The seem "lost" ... I hope they figure it out soon.

 

[Adam Sandler]

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

This dude ain’t from Knoxville don’t let him claim that

 

[Orange_Crush]

I have no insight into this....

my speculation is that he is not going to get 4M from anyone, and now Nico/fam is in a tight spot, with the whole carton of eggs heading straight for their face

luckily for them, UNC and BB need a QB

so, Nico side takes the same or less than what they would have gotten here, but they save face by getting with BB

door still open to have a good season and represent himself well. if so, he will have the same NFL opportunities that he would have had before this whole situation blew up in their face

he would have been best to just stay put here and excel in the system he was poised to soar in

unfortunately they gambled poorly and were nosediving towards absolute failure

I think the message from UNC/Bill is "I'm not paying you that but I'll give you a place to land, and if you play well, I will exhaust all of my resources and connections to make sure you go pro"

not the perfect scenario for either side at all, but a scenario that can work for both sides, given the other options for Nico continue to look less and less promising

I would be amazed if they got the same as they'd have gotten here. They had ZERO leverage.

 

[drylo]

“This baseball team just isn’t that good”

If you’re not first, you’re last.

 

[BigSteve09]

I would be amazed if they got the same as they'd have gotten here. They had ZERO leverage.

I agree. I think whoever gets Nico will get him on a bargain bin deal

wondering if someone finally got through to their camp on 1-year decisions vs 5-year decisions

the hit his potential NFL earnings took could be massive, and his PR/marketability took a monster hit

seeking an extra 1-2M for 2025 could have cost him 10-20M through 2030.

Grandpa Bill rehab camp is about the only option they have, and he's holding a Nico coupon

 

[Enki_Amenra]

No mowing for me for a while. Having the first of my hips replaced on Thursday, so I will be unable to complete my lawn care duties and responsibilities. Good news is, crocs are not forbidden in the recovery phase.



<insert joke>

Hip replacement? Those bull riding days of your youth are coming back to collect their due.

 

[BigSteve09]

 

[JT3]

Nico better hope they also buy a Dylan Sampson and the 85 bears defense.

Have you seen their schedule? If he were to go there he may win the damn Heisman. They play no one except for Clemson @ home.

 

[peaygolf]

Is this true????

 

[Enki_Amenra]

7 wins

I don't care if we only win 7. I'd rather win 7 with loyal players and coaches than be held hostage by Pre-madonna's for an extra win or 2, maybe 3.

 

[SpringBokVol]

So this might be a bad take, but I don't think Merk is the guy. His motion and mechanics are just too far off at this level to be a fast processor and accurate at the same time - the game will be too fast for him. The coaching staff is working with him on changing the mechanics but under pressure people normally revert back to the old natural style and it just won't work. His head will be spinning iMO.

GMac on the other hand has the tools, but how fast can he get up to speed over the summer. Could we see a two QB system for a few games? Can GMac get the playbook down enough to start as a freshman? If he does, does that have any impact on Brandon Faizon?

Portal QB - I think for all the reasons above you shoot your shot for a starting portal QB. I have heard some names floated but no one really knows until the portal opens this week. For any short term success I think you have to take a portal QB with the intent that he starts the season and then maybe GMac is your No 2 and get's up to speed quickly.

 

[SpringBokVol]

Is this true????

In fact, true!

 

[BigSteve09]

Is this true????

if Pate is talking about it I would say it's true

players and staff around the country give him solid info, he is well-respected

and rightfully so

 

[Garren04]

Is this true????

Yes it is.

 

[LaagerVol]

OMG. Dealing with a 20 year old girl (especially one with with daddy issues)? No thanks. Hard pass.

She’s out there walking around on a football field in 4 inch heels. What level of high maintenance is that?

 

[Enki_Amenra]

Well, I have put this off and put this off because I kept thinking I am just too young. However, when taking a leisurely walk around the neighborhood with the Mrs. leaves me in deep aching pain it is defiantly time to act. Not sure what purthes disease is, but prayers that you are living life to the absolute fullest.

We can just get Coach Kilmer to give you a secret shot in the hip and get you back up to full speed for summer ball.

 

[jpope9]

She’s out there walking around on a football field in 4 inch heels. What level of high maintenance is that?

She's doing her part aerating the field. She's truly all in to do what is necessary for UNC football lol

 

[Orange_Crush]

We can just get Coach Kilmer to give you a secret shot in the hip and get you back up to full speed for summer ball.

Mr. Miagi, or bust.

 

[LaagerVol]

She's doing her part aerating the field. She's truly all in to do what is necessary for UNC football lol

True love

 

[peaygolf]

In fact, true!

Yes it is.

if Pate is talking about it I would say it's true

players and staff around the country give him solid info, he is well-respected

and rightfully so

I’m so happy these kids are finally getting paid the money so “earned”
Things are so much better.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

AP came off like someone who has friendly relations with the Iamaleava family and didn’t want to speak ill on anything related to them or what went down. Which makes sense because he became close with them during the recruiting process. But definitely felt like damage control by AP.

Plus he said “ya know” 48 times