Recruiting Football Talk VIII

[Checker_the_Shire]

All this noise is BS. The kid is an athlete, but he’s not a baller. He was the 9th ranked SEC QB (per ESPN QBR), not some second coming of QB Jesus. If you don’t want to dawn the orange and white and you’re just gonna be a locker room cancer, we don’t need that nor do we want it. The program is on the up and up, and this just proves yet again he’s not the leader we need.

 

[Ttucke11]

I don’t care if he leaves or stays.

It sucks that we didn’t get Merk more reps, but oh well, I personally don’t think we were hitting 10 wins this season anyways.

I’m not gonna support giving more money to a kid that gave us JG like results in a much more dynamic offense. Sampson and defense was the reason we played so well last year.

Let the kid leave. Get Merk ready for game 1. Take all the Nil this kid tied us for and give it to some portal guys.

Agree. I don't think subbing in another 4 or 5 star QB lowers our ceiling. Nicos floor in SEC play was pretty damn low. We couldn't score for a month in the first half.

 

[DD4ME]

The friend said the family loves their NIL deal.

And then his dad said there was no negotiations. And now UT is telling you through Chris Low it is bs...

 

[Midas]

If they “love” the deal then why would you skip practice?

Yeah doesn’t make sense. But just elaborating more on what Cordell Landers said on Twitter since HypeVol asked.

 

[tyonthefly93]

To be fair, I don’t think this is all Nico. I think it’s less him and more his agents trying to get more money for him and a bigger commission for them.

This all reflects on Nico, regardless.

Exactly right. At the end of the day, Nico has the power to say “I’m content” and move on.

 

[Newman]

As a single data point only. Now add in the domino's if he is not living up to the full scope 0f the position. Everyone is saying the guy is not a take charge dude. No one is talking about great progress. Hell every reporter the other day cited he had an off day. If he stays he has my support, but he does not have my support over Heupel and this team. He has earned 0 to support that and no single player ever will.

I agree and believe this is a sh***y situation. I know the hope was he would take the next step this year. My concern would be if he leaves do you have others, such as MM, leave as well bc he was concerned about Nico’s status during the last window? So potentially you have Merk with unproven receivers and oline. Just seems like a risky proposition. As we are going to pay someone anyway why not try to keep some continuity with the roster with experience for another year and see if he takes the next step? The lack of experience on offense if he leaves could cause us to nose dive next year and we all have seen how that affects recruiting. They have got to get the players under contract to stop with this bs. I dunno man it just sucks.

 

[TrippieRedd]

I agree and believe this is a sh***y situation. I know the hope was he would take the next step this year. My concern would be if he leaves do you have others, such as MM, leave as well bc he was concerned about Nico’s status during the last window? So potentially you have Merk with unproven receivers and oline. Just seems like a risky proposition. As we are going to pay someone anyway why not try to keep some continuity with the roster with experience for another year and see if he takes the next step? The lack of experience on offense if he leaves could cause us to nose dive next year and we all have seen how that affects recruiting. They have got to get the players under contract to stop with this bs. I dunno man it just sucks.

“You have Merk with an unproven line”

Okay….you have Nico with an unproven line.


I’d wager $1000 Merk could put up close to the same numbers Nico did last season.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

All this noise is BS. The kid is an athlete, but he’s not a baller. He was the 9th ranked SEC QB (per ESPN QBR), not some second coming of QB Jesus. If you don’t want to dawn the orange and white and you’re just gonna be a locker room cancer, we don’t need that nor do we want it. The program is on the up and up, and this just proves yet again he’s not the leader we need.

It's literally not his fault. Every report I've heard is its his dumb family and agent. Just like with Ricky Gibson.

 

[TrippieRedd]

It's literally not his fault. Every report I've heard is it’s his dumb family and agent. Just like with Ricky Gibson.

I get that, but his family and agents can’t make him not go to practice.

That’s the issue.

 

[Jimmy Football]

It's literally not his fault. Every report I've heard is its his dumb family and agent. Just like with Ricky Gibson.

Ultimately, it was his choice not to attend practice today. That’s a crossed line.

 

[VolsFan-TX]

To be fair, I don’t think this is all Nico. I think it’s less him and more his agents trying to get more money for him and a bigger commission for them.

This all reflects on Nico, regardless.

It’s on Nico if he allows it to impact practice.

 

[VolNash17]

We need one of the biggest NIL budgets but we also need to be smart about it. Be effective and efficient

 

[jmacvols1]

nil has it where for the players it's all about the money and not about the wins and losses.

 

[knoxvol52]

Ultimately, it was his choice not to attend practice today. That’s a crossed line.

Also if Nico was "content" he would've showed up for practice no matter what his handlers told him to do....

 

[DD4ME]

Usually I hate stuff like this getting out, but this time I am kind of proud. Spyre and our coaches have worked hard to keep all of this classy. I believe that. The track record speaks for itself.

 

[Checker_the_Shire]

Reading between the lines: he’s got another deal somewhere else and we didn’t counter how he wanted or we didn’t think it was a serious move. I’d say he’s either gone or he didn’t show to prove he means business. Either way, I say shut the door and move on. Not worth the fight.

 

[TrippieRedd]

Usually I hate stuff like this getting out, but this time I am kind of proud. Spyre and our coaches have worked hard to keep all of this classy. I believe that. The track record speaks for itself.

No…everything needs to get out and be public especially if fans and donors are spending this money

I can use my $25/month on something else.

 

[DD4ME]

Also if Nico was "content" he would've showed up for practice no matter what his handlers told him to do....

I agree and either they are moving on or have no clue the level of bridge burning they just committed.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

Also if Nico was "content" he would've showed up for practice no matter what his handlers told him to do....

I dont know.

But I know our fanbase is about to make things 8000000000% times worse though.

 

[Checker_the_Shire]

It's literally not his fault. Every report I've heard is its his dumb family and agent. Just like with Ricky Gibson.

He’s the player. He has the final say. It’s his fault whether it’s an agent, a family member, or his roommate’s brother’s former lover’s second cousin. He can make it stop but is choosing not to, so that’s on him. Unless he’s been kidnapped, he made the decision not to go to practice.

 

[Midas]

You know this has to break Heupel's heart though. Remeber the way he looked at Nico after his first bowl game in the interview.

If we got to this point it was on the agents not the staff.

From what was being said in the winter, Nico was torn about it cause he wanted to be here and it was his dad/agents stirring stuff up. If that’s the case again Nico needs to be an adult and tell his dad/agents to back tf off. He needs to realize that people around him will always want him to do what’s best for them and he needs to do what’s best for him and make his own decisions.

 

[Jimmy Football]

I don’t see how this gets fixed. Really, really sucks.

 

[kemotoe]

What if some of this is being driven by Merk outperforming Nico?

 

[KPT_VFL]

College sports need to be fixed.

 

[vols 30]

College sports need to be fixed.

I think it's too late