GMG_Dallas

I'm sure the HC can pay for that final semester with the bonus money he got from his star player helping get the team to a bowl game. Surely 23 TFL and 10 Sacks had something to do with the 9-4 record.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think anybody said players *should* skip their bowl game. Speaking for myself, I understand and respect the decision even though I would rather the best players compete through the end of their college career. After all, it is their decision and their future. I used to disagree with the decision but seeing the financial impact late injuries have had on some of these guys, I really can't hold it against them.

Soooo would it be wrong to assume his interest in us is minimal? Also, should the staff pull back efforts to get him here and focus on others instead? Asking because I truly don't know how they should go about something like this.

I addressed this in response to somebody else a few posts up. Essentially, you are correct in that kids will do this even if they haven't officially declared yet. Your recent examples of players sitting out who had already proven themselves are Clowney (South Carolina 1st overall to Texans) and Fournette (LSU 4th overall pick to the Jags). Both of the aforementioned had "down" years their final year in college and even missed games for what appeared to be minor injuries or in some cases just laziness in the game. They weren't trying to get banged up and ruin their draft stock. Clowney even ended up having some question his motor. This happens throughout regular seasons more than you think from players and coaches at the pro and college level.

Quick answer is, no. We've seen it recently with Jadavious Clowney who was consensus number 1 pick before he played his final season at South Carolina. They knew they weren't competition for the championship most of the year and you could see it in his effort. Most scouts started to be concerned with his motor because of it. Unless the player plays for a top contender, I've seen several slow down as the year goes on once they are eliminated. Leonard Fournette is another who had a "down" final year at LSU. Look at him now in the NFL. That talent didn't wash away for a semester.

You're confusing regular season from unrelated random bowl game barely 2 months ahead of the NFL combine (next one is February 27th). If you can't understand the difference then I'm sorry. And in case you hadn't realized, pro teams do it all the time. Cowboys have placed Tyron Smith and Orlando Scandrick on IR. Packers placed Aaron Rodgers on IR 2 days after being eliminated from the playoff race (currently being investigated by the NFL at the request of other teams). NFL and NBA teams do it all the time before the playoffs when they've locked up their division/playoff seed. You're looking at it from a fan percpective. From a business perceptive you are wrong. That is, unless you know better than all the pros doing it. In case you hadn't noticed, this a business decision for those getting ready to be drafted.

Just checked and this guy seems to be a consensus top 10 or even top 5 pick just like Jaylon Smith was. Just not worth the risk for him.

I agree as a fan but from his perspective I understand why. Injuries can happen during any game but if you don't have to play the game and you're already viewed as a first round or high second round pick, why risk your future? He has the opportunity to provide for his family and set himself up financially for the rest of his life. An injury in a meaningless game takes all of that away. No amount of "injury insurance" or whatever they call it will make up for what they COULD get as a first round pick playing a full career. Yes, his teammates would appreciate him on the field one last time but they won't be the ones paying his bills in 10 years and neither will the school.

It's about being a decent human being and not wishing to turn the holiday season into a bad experience for him and his family. On top of that, coaching at the D1 level is about relationships. That's what has gotten SL multiple coaches from the P5 since he's been here and I'm sure if want more experienced coaches or if we want to eventually see SL have a successful career in the P5, burning bridges is not the way to go. I've never been critical of your posts, either because I didn't care about the subject or because to an extent I agreed but what you're requesting is simply irresponsible. Who's going to want to work for a guy who fires you during the holidays.

Especially with very few proven D1 contributors. We have no idea who of the the recruits from the past 2 years will actually stick and be D1 players.

Sorry in advance for the long post... Honestly, I feel much more comfortable with this class than previously higher rated classes (2014, 2015, 2016). Many of our B or better guys (even C+) from '14 through '16 either never made it to campus, left after a year, haven't contributed (still holding out hope for Dillman and Means while Chumley is showing progress but he was an A+ guy), or were kicked off the team due to discipline. The list of the afformentiomed includes (quick glance): 2014 - Greer, Andrew Jones (minimal contribution), Means, Jalen Adams, Fonzale Davis, Goree. 2015 - Grindle, McNair, Bradley, Bendy (C+, 3* 247), Dillman, Cinco Howard. 2016 - Johnson, not sure about Anthony and Thomas. In other words, we signed more talent but we didn't win more recruiting battles. The more talented kids who came here had baggage and were a risk to take on. Under Seth we aren't blindly taking chances as much since 2017's class (first class was a bit different due to the short time frame to fill up the class). I can't think of any Seth recruits who have been kicked off the team or transfered out other than Tyler Wilson but I don't believe he was a scholarship guy. His recruits are here, redshirting or contributing with the exception of the few high calibar JUCO transfers from year one (Raveon, William Johnson, and a few others). Obviously, things can change this off season since it's still so soon in his tenure but things look better in that aspect. We can't make progress signing only Bs and up if those guys just don't do anything for us. We need guys who will buy in and contribute. Guys who are here because they want to be here. In that sense of recruiting, SL is turning things around. It's just not as noticeable in the numbers. Yes we still need to improve for success to be sustainable but we also need depth which we can't create with Bs and up who don't show up.

40th per 247 and 36th per ESPN last year. Right now they're 21st per 247 and 16th per ESPN for 2018.

So far Baylor has a top 20 recruiting class this year so they'll be back to playing good football soon. Depending on the sanctions, it seems like teams are definitely able to bounce back from scandals quickly nowadays. Will be interesting to see if a G5 can do the same.

That needs to change...

Fair point. We still don't know what FAU's recruiting class will look like. Regardless, they will both be tough to beat if these high star signees pan out.

Posting this because FIU signed their second 4 star Juco DT yesterday. He picked FIU over Alabama, Mississippi State, Ohio State, Arkansas, and Kentucky. 247 still has him crystal balled to Alabama at 100% so for whatever reason they had him going to Bama. He's 6'4'' 295 lbs. Along with 4 star Tayland Humphrey who stands at 6'5'' and 350 lbs who also signed yesterday, this might have just become the team to beat in the east if not all of CUSA next year... https://247sports.com/player/teair-tart-spencer-88417

Let's hope that's the norm for him as the ponies HC. Small side note: does SMU have the money to fire him after the game and hire somebody else? Rhetorical question. Of course they have the money.

That 16 yard TD throw was amazing. Edit should specify the catch.

Seems to have filled up a bit. Great game for CUSA so far! Go Bulldogs!

Kind of made me wonder where each G 5 conference's best recruiting class stands nationally so far. Sun Belt: Arkansas State. National ranking: 87. 19 commits, average rating: 79.99, total score: 124.66. C-USA: Western Kentucky. National ranking: 69. 23 commits, average rating: 81.48, total score: 150.13. MAC: Western Michigan. National ranking: 62. 20 commits, average rating: 82.64, total score: 162.45. Mountain West: Boise State. National ranking: 60. 18 commits, average rating: 83.72, total score: 164.97. AAC: Cincinnati. National ranking: 45. 21 commits, average rating: 84.40, total score: 181.54. We would just barely be ranked 6th in the Sun belt, 5th in the MAC, 7th in the mountain West, and last in the AAC. As far as G5s go, we're right around the middle of every conference but one. We've made progress over previous years but yes, it needs to keep getting better.

I would argue that because Smith and White's spots were taken by other players of equal or greater caliber, there were just too many players for those spots anyways and somebody was going to be left out. It's not like those schools told White and Smith their offers were gone and they just left the schollys unused. My feeling is there will always be a few guys left out to dry, we just need be sure we're there for them when they need a place to play.

Still don't know how he was committed to Texas state. He's been really solid from the get go. Excited to see him for two more years.

With most of our commits being signed, any players left out there that are either committed but not yet signed or just uncommitted we should expect to see the staff pursue?

Anybody else notice our hashtag #takeflight18 is also being used by ULM... And Monmouth university.

He represented the school admirably and his story is still one we should be proud of. He'll be successful no matter what he does and I'm sure still has the support of the mean green family.