A short article but basically has Fuente saying that he's talking with Bucky about next year. Not whether he should enter the draft or not but how they are going to do things next year.
I assume he's trying to tell Bucky that he will be of great value in his system and will benefit from it.
Fuente has talked with tight end Bucky Hodges about his upcoming NFL decision. He declined to get too specific about their chat but said it wasn't him trying to make a case for Hodges to return as much as he outlined what the offense would look like going forward and how Hodges would fit.
"I try to counsel with him and let him know that we're here for him, that we want to support him in his decision, that sort of stuff," Fuente said. "And kind of go from there. Bucky and I's conversation is kind of between Bucky and I, but I can tell you that it wasn't me trying to convince him of anything. I didn't feel like that was my place. I felt like my place was to educate him on what we're going to do and how we're going to do things."
Fuente noted that the Hokies "would obviously love to have him back, but we're going to support him in whatever decision he makes."
Comments
David Wilson and Ryan Williams left and made some big money, and also found injuries in the bargain and are no longer playing (could be wrong on Williams). Darren Evans felt compelled by his situation, it appears, and took a chance when he wasn't that highly regarded. He hooked on to some practice squads for five grand a week for a couple of seasons and that was that. Deangelo Hall - who in hindsight says he regrets it, but has had a fairly steady career. Who else? Bucky has potential. Is he ready to unleash it? He'll have to search deep and hopefully is getting real advice from people who don't view him as their own cash machine.
Me, I'd stay - if only to see what I could do in a system such as Fuente's. I like those odds better.
Michael Vick left early, but that was obviously a very different situation. If you're going to be a second day pick it's probably not worth it unless your family's needs dictate otherwise as they did for Evans.
I think you mean third day now that the draft has expanded as the 2nd day is rounds 2&3 IIRC. I think it all comes down to injury history or concerns, see Williams, KJ, Wilson and whether or not your confident in your ability to stick in the league. The real money you make is in your 2nd contract and getting to that a year sooner by going early plus only having a rookie deal for 3 years as opposed to 4 years if your first round makes a difference.
You're right, I forgot about the ever-expanding circus that ESPN is turning the draft into. I think injuries is a good point to consider as well. Obviously any player can get hurt, but if you play a position that takes a regular beating like RB, you should definitely factor that in.
All drafted rookie contracts are 4 years. The first round only adds the fifth year option.
Undrafted rookies get 3 year contracts.
link: Explaining NFL Rookie Contracts
Kevin Jones also left early, had initial success before injuries also played an unfortunate part into his career. For how good we were during those 1990's through 2010's years we were pretty fortunate to not have a lot of players leave early.
Here is a table I made of all VT players that were drafted and spent less than 5 years in college, since 1996:
VT has only had 6 players spend 3 years, which we can conclude they left early. (Kendall Fuller will be #7. Bucky possibly #8.) 4 of which were 1st rounders, 1 barely a 2nd rounder, and a 3rd rounder. In other words, these guys pretty much thought they would be a 1st round pick... (maybe not Hosley).
If any of the 4 year players redshirted, they too would have left early. Didn't have the time to figure out who redshirted and who didn't.
*These are only the players who were drafted. Therefore, Darren Evans isn't listed.
Hosley dropped to the 3rd round due to his failed drug test at the combine.
So this just backs up the argument that we never had anyone declare for the draft after 3 years that wasn't expected to be a 1st round, possibly 2nd round pick. Bucky would break that trend, if he left early this year.
You're a freaking madman. Nice post.
For the win: What 40 time Bucky would run at the combine?
Hodges would run somewhere in the 4.55 - 4.60 range at the combine. I think he tested around 4.5 here at VT via hand timing, which means +0.8-1.0 for a computer/laser combine time.
Mike Evans was drafted in the first round as a WR... think he ran a 4.58. Yes, better stats etc than Bucky, probably better overall measurables.
But that doesn't bode well for those wanting Bucky to stay.
I never realized how fast he was til he took that QB snap and ran it into the end zone. Yes the hole was big, but he looked good moving through it.
Off the top of my head I know Brandon Flowers left as a RS-Junior and I think Worilds did too.
I think Fuente is handling this situation correctly. Inform Bucky of what he can expect if he stays and let him make his decision. Honestly, Bucky getting drafted as a WR that can play TE would be better than a TE that can play WR.
Agree with Fuente's handling of the situation and his prospects as a WR that can play TE.
At the end of the day, he's gotta make the decision that is best for him and his family.
I'd love to see stay, though. I imagine he'd be able to put up some good numbers and make an impact in the new offense. With a new QB it would be good to have another experienced guy out there running routes.
Bucky I thought was grossly underutilized- only when forced by Motleys injury did Loeffler put him back a wild turkey. That, touches on screens, end arounds, etc- he needs the ball in his hands. I'll bet he's a huge piece of the puzzle next year.
Wild turkeys, screens, and end arounds are not good uses of Hodges, IMO.
I'm confused as to why we would not get the ball in space any way possible to the most explosive athlete we have.
Hodges is not the most explosive athlete we have.
6-7 245, high 4.4... If Travon is 1, Bucky is 1A
just because he's big and runs about as fast as your average football skill position player does not make him our most explosive athlete. Travon is more explosive. I would argue that Ford is more explosive than Hodges as well. Hodges is a gifted athlete and he could definitely be a weapon I would love to have and use offensively but he's not the most explosive.
tall guys have a harder time starting stopping cutting etc
he did look good on the TD in the independence bowl... had no idea he was that tall on that play
Do tell....
I think McMillian, Ford, and at times Rogers would have something to say about it. If Hodges would learn to hit back instead of taking the hit, he would pass Rogers in my book.
If I was Fuente I would have had a bag full of football in my office during the conversation and then just kept passing them to him ever few seconds. After about 5 minutes Bucky would ask "Coach, what is this all about?" then Fuente just says "Get used to it, this is what next year is going to be like"
Then I would throw my hand around Bucky while we laugh our way over to West End for a Hokie Club.
FIFY
Chicken Caesar wrap.'
FTFY
Oh, how I miss these. Definitely my go-to at West End when in need of a wrap.
Blackened Chicken Wrap on Garlic and Herb tortilla w/provolone cheese from the sandwich line, then thrown on the panini press
Whenever I get back to Blacksburg again, this is on my food list. I loved these far too much. The blackened chicken wrap was also a regular LunchOnATreadmill
Buffalo chicken wrap and cheese fries. Grab two packets of ranch when getting the fries. One for the wrap and one for the fries. That was my favorite lunch at West End, unless they had the buffalo chicken pizza. They should have that on the menu all the time.
Yup.
Man, dinner was 20 minutes ago, but I'm hungry now....
No way. Hokie Club is tops. That bread and mayo betting put on with a trowel.
My wife loves the Asian Chicken Wrap though.
Oh, and miss the bread bowls, such as their crab soup.
Do they still have London broil?
Always.
I always wondered, did that awesome dish take on a new significance between 2010-2015?
You're probably thinking of the London Sliced and Diced and Dumped Head-First in a Garbage Can.
With a side of Zima.
with a side of mashed potatoes with the chicken gravy and onion straws.
They don't have onion straws anymore, although I wish they did
8:35 in the morning, already ate my hearty healthy breakfast, feeling good about myself.......Check out latest from TKP
And I'm starving!!
Those heart healthys will get after ya!
If that TE from Bama comes out that pushes Bucky another round IMO. .. dude looked beastly last night and just because Bama didn't use him as much he still had the speed and shiftiness to break some tackles.
The game changed when he was able to get the edge on that Clemson DB. Guy took a bad angle to try to make a huge play in the backfield, not so much.
YESSSS
Great news! Thanks.
Hell yeah!!