(There were more than quite a few comments I could have replied this comment to, but i thought a Thread on the subject could also be nice)
On a Base Level
The Pro's
From Calipari 30 for 30: 'One And Not Done' former Memphis star Dajuan Wagner wanted to return to the Tigers after his freshman season.
Calipari was having none of it. He called Wagner to his office and tore up his scholarship, telling him he would be a lottery pick and that he had to put his name in the draft. Sure enough, Wagner was a lottery pick for the Cleveland Cavaliers and made $7.4 million off his rookie deal.
That was big: Wagner was diagnosed with colitis after his third season and needed surgery to remove his colon, ending his NBA career. If he had stayed at Memphis, he likely would not have ever played in the league.
The Con's
Jerrod Evens
On to improving where no improvements can be made
2013: Earned selection to the Conference All-Freshman Team ... A true rookie who played in all 13 games (eight starts) ... Was unit's second-leading receiver with 62 catches for 604 yards (9.7 ypr) and five touchdowns
2014: Ranked second on the team with in receptions (81), while standing third in receiving yards and receiving yards per game... Was Conference leaders in receptions (3rd), receptions per game (3rd), ... Rated 29th nationally in receptions per game
2015: Became the eighth in school history to eclipse the single-season 1,000 receiving yards milestone ... Caught 98 passes for 1,099 yards ... Ranked fourth nationally in receptions per game, 18th in receiving yards per game and 25th in overall receiving yards ... A Second-Team All-Conference selection who led league in receptions per game and stood second in reception yards per game ... Started all 12 contests ...
Three years (HOW) do you come back
2016: Led all NCAA FBS receivers in receptions (158), receptions per game (13.20 rpg), receiving yards (1,746) and receiving yards per game (145.5 ypg) ...Started 12 games
Owns FBS, Conference and career (399) and single-season (158) standards in receptions ...in 2016 A Fred Biletnikoff Award, William V. Campbell Trophy and Senior CLASS Award Finalist ... Was also formally recognized as a Heisman Trophy candidate by the Heisman Trust ...
Pick #(37) Bills Jones, Zay WR 6'2" 201 East Carolina
If you're going to declare for the draft and want to be a top pick you have to put up top numbers. Tech hasn't updated Ford's roster with a similar bio to copy on here so will just wing it
2016-
31st nationally in receiving yards
4th in conference for receiving yards
83rd national in receiving TDs
2016 was a down year from 2015 in yards receiving and TDs caught
National Awards and Recognition
Honorable mention All-ACC (2014)
First Team All-ACC (2015)
Second Team All-ACC (2016)
What could one year have changed. A whole lot.
For one thing this was Ford's first year being in the spot light. Coming back next year he is able to better handle competitors having a year of understanding now. A year to make better offense as the coach and players shift out of the first year. A year to be nationally recognized
Bucky Hodges = Marcus Davis. There, both times, was great athletic talent but both times to much of the pros and lazy plays got in the way.
Respect. All Hokie and CFB players are 1,000 times more talented than me and have personally taken on these descions
And to finish up on Calipari
Calipari says he talked Camby out of staying at UMass, since he was going to be a top pick in the NBA draft.
Calipari, "(Camby said) 'I want to get my degree.' I said 'Wait a minute, you're online. You can come back in the summer and get your degree, if that's what you really want to do.' 'Well, I want to win a title.' 'That's about us, not about you.'"
In other words, make the best decision for you. You may only get a few years
-2016 Draft
1. QB Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams: Signed a four-year deal worth $27.9 million over four years. He gets a $18.6 million signing bonus.
2. QB Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles: Signed four-year, $26.6 million deal.
Round 7, #230 overall (Bears) Annual Contract Value: $495,000
Comments
Hope this helps the next guys making these decisions look at the situation objectively. Good job.
All good points, but comparing Ford to a guy like Zay Jones isn't even. ECU has a pass-heavy offense that targeted Zay sometimes 20+ times per game. Our offense never would have given Ford the opportunity for those levels of production simply due to our system.
Simply due to our system or could gains in the system help the player. Of the 204 rushing plays by Evans if half were rushes because no one was open is that the system or the lack of development. What if 10% of those plays a Sr player could have created a play to receive a pass, that would have let Ford get to 100+ receptions and based on the same averages a 1400 yard year. Thats what is gained. That is Semi finalist numbers for awards. What if ECU didnt have such a bad year could a conference championship and Bowl game help out.
In writing this the 2 biggest eye opening stats that I would have thrown out there, was same production with poorer quality results. same receptions less yards and half the TDs,
Second, 2015 1st Team All-ACC 2016 (should be better), 2nd Team All-ACC, Need nation rec if going for the pros early)
Isaiah, Cam, Bucky, Pimpleton, Patterson, Kumah, Denmark, Murphy, Carroll, maybe Farley.
Could have been a pass heavy offense, hope it is even without Isaiah and Bucky.
And if they had stayed, would teams have been able to double team Isaiah next year? Doubt it, so he would have had solid one on one opportunities, maybe more yac, who knows
The way we're recruiting OL combined with the way we run blocked last year... we might see the offense forced to go pass-heavy just to remain viable
Ford wasn't going to be WR1 in the League. So the only way he could benefit from another year would be to a breakout WR2/slot in our system. I don't think the coaches could've sold him on that.
Bucky should've stayed to work on "catching"'and blocking, but with his physical skills you would figure someone would take a flyer on him. Might as well get paid to practice.
Evans was a mystery. He should've stayed, of course. But I think the biggest issue for him was age (for staying in school). We all remember getting ready to graduate and make some dough. Factor in his family, being the feature RB, loosing his leading 2 receivers, etc.
I agree, but I would like to point out that Cam was far more productive than Bucky last year (76 catches for 983 yards vs 48 for 691). He certainly would have been losing two of his main weapons, just not his two leading receivers.
Fair point. We could safely say 3/4 of his receivers (including Sam "Safety-valve" Rogers).
Yes, three of his four top receivers and just over 50% of receptions, yards, and receiving TDs.
I think we will be just fine at WR. Cam P should be improved, Farley looks like a future star, Keene should replace a lot of Rogers receiving production. Kumah, Patterson, Pimp, Carroll, Murphy should be solid. Just got to hope the QB can replace evans production
I just want to know who this Jerrod Evens guy is...