LB Aundre Kearney De-Commits

[Bennubird]

No way we don't take the 2-3 top LBs coming out of SF this year. We'll figure it out through competition, which will only make us better. Creme rises to the top.

 

[AllAboutTheU]

He's also not a SFLA kid. Isn't he from Jax?

 

[MarcoD70]

Maybe he just wants to commit to CMR instead of Golden

 

[SoCalPete73]

Look guys, as much as we love The U some of these guys don't have our loyalties...they're 16-18 year old kids who have their buddies influencing, street agents offering stuff, family pressures, etc. The fact that this kid or that kid changes his mind does MEAN anything...it happens. We'll be fine.

 

[The Franchise]

My guess.. 1. He wants to play RB 2. He is doing his Homework and knows that there are 3 studs in class before him and they may have to wait to get on the field..so he will to wait that much longer...UF needs LBs right now...These kids want to play.. And they will go where they can play early...He knows Shaq and Mike played against Shaq in a camp setting... He know what they are capable of...We did the same thing UF AU UGA UM MICH were Shaq's choices cause they had the biggest need...Bama has 5* backing up 5*...OSU has a stud fresh. 5*..its a business for the school and the kids alike

Frank Gore committed here when Willis Mcgahee was 3rd string behind Portis and James Jackson... But, as Butch said, one of the main characteristics he looked for is a player not caring about who was infront of him.

B.B.B hypothetically. ..you have a son and he is a pretty good RB and he loves Metro U...but Metro U already have the top three RBs in the Nation committed in the same class...how do you advise your son?

Tell him he better get used to competing and quit trying to be a depth chart scientist. He'll have to compete his whole life, so he better get used to it.

Go interview for a real job after college and tell the company you don't want them interviewing any other good candidates. See how that pu$$y **** works out.

That doesn't really make sense, because 'loving' metro U in this hypothetical isn't itself a logical reason for picking it. Is it a better school? Better fit for the kid? Equal program overall?

When most people go for a job interview, they ask about career advancement opportunities. Companies whose ability to offer opportunities for growth to young people will recruit less talent. That's not different in real life from football.

The question of whether a kid is 'scared' of competition is not so simply answered as this thread makes it seem. All kids want opportunities. Not all of those kids will compete equally. Butch knew how to read kids, but he wasn't turning down kids he liked because they _were_ attracted to our competition. He was turning down kids who he thought disliked competing. It's not the same thing.

Everything you said makes sense, but I thought I was pretty clearly talking about guys making decisions based off the depth chart and an unwillingness to compete with other guys. Clearly, if he just likes somewhere else better for non depth chart related reasons that has nothing to do with analyzing a depth chart.

 

[The Franchise]

I like Kearney. . He is a good kid.. i think he may have made a choice that will be to his best interest. ..Good or bad...there are 10 backers on Scholly now...and of that 10 ...9 will be back next year...as a matter of fact... 8 of the 10 are Soph or Fresh..People don't realize Owens is a RS Soph... Shaq Zach and Mike will all see alot of action this year...I think there is room for 1 maybe two backers in the next class its a numbers game... They would have to distribute the scholies evenly... Their are 85 scholies. ..40 for Off...40 for Def...3 for Spc Team... 2 for the nice to have ace...U have 4 DBs...4 DLs and 3 LBs..DL rotate and get hurt the most so they should get 15 of the 40... DBs represent your next biggest group and the most likely for leaving early give them 6 Safeties and 8 corners for a total of 14 DBs then there is 11 LBs two of which are hybrids or stars.. that can play in the box and that aren't too much of a risk in coverage..The hybrids practice with the LBs and safeties...thats just my two cents

I'd be willing to make a friendly wager with you that we take at least 3 LBs in this class. The combination of current JAGs on the roster and the unreal local LB pool would make it a colossal mistake to take less than 3.

 

[UknowWhat]

I like Kearney. . He is a good kid.. i think he may have made a choice that will be to his best interest. ..Good or bad...there are 10 backers on Scholly now...and of that 10 ...9 will be back next year...as a matter of fact... 8 of the 10 are Soph or Fresh..People don't realize Owens is a RS Soph... Shaq Zach and Mike will all see alot of action this year...I think there is room for 1 maybe two backers in the next class its a numbers game... They would have to distribute the scholies evenly... Their are 85 scholies. ..40 for Off...40 for Def...3 for Spc Team... 2 for the nice to have ace...U have 4 DBs...4 DLs and 3 LBs..DL rotate and get hurt the most so they should get 15 of the 40... DBs represent your next biggest group and the most likely for leaving early give them 6 Safeties and 8 corners for a total of 14 DBs then there is 11 LBs two of which are hybrids or stars.. that can play in the box and that aren't too much of a risk in coverage..The hybrids practice with the LBs and safeties...thats just my two cents

I'd be willing to make a friendly wager with you that we take at least 3 LBs in this class. The combination of current JAGs on the roster and the unreal local LB pool would make it a colossal mistake to take less than 3.

You may be right...that would be my opinion to take two. Inside Backer make smallest impact to a football game.. look at the NFL draft and where inside backers are taken...collegiate roster should resemble...to have more than 8 inside backers on a roster is an indications that you have issue somewhere else on the roster

 

[jw410]

I like Kearney. . He is a good kid.. i think he may have made a choice that will be to his best interest. ..Good or bad...there are 10 backers on Scholly now...and of that 10 ...9 will be back next year...as a matter of fact... 8 of the 10 are Soph or Fresh..People don't realize Owens is a RS Soph... Shaq Zach and Mike will all see alot of action this year...I think there is room for 1 maybe two backers in the next class its a numbers game... They would have to distribute the scholies evenly... Their are 85 scholies. ..40 for Off...40 for Def...3 for Spc Team... 2 for the nice to have ace...U have 4 DBs...4 DLs and 3 LBs..DL rotate and get hurt the most so they should get 15 of the 40... DBs represent your next biggest group and the most likely for leaving early give them 6 Safeties and 8 corners for a total of 14 DBs then there is 11 LBs two of which are hybrids or stars.. that can play in the box and that aren't too much of a risk in coverage..The hybrids practice with the LBs and safeties...thats just my two cents

The way i see our LB unit is like this (listed in order of decreasing seniority):

STAR=
Grace (SR)
Perry (SO)
King (r-FR)

MLB=
Young (JR)
Gordinier (r-FR)
Shaq (FR)

OLB=
Owens (JR)
M Smith (SO)
McCray (SO)
Pinckney (FR)
McCloud (FR)

I know you've been focusing on how much LB depth we have. We're only gonna lose Grace to graduation after this year. But don't you think we're also gonna have a ton of kids transfer out? I'm thinking Smith, McCray, and King are all candidates for transfers, especially if they get passed by the 3 incoming freshmen. Smith is a tweener that doesn't have DE size and lacks LB athleticism esp against the spread. McCray is never talked about. King is tiny and lightly recruited. Even Gordinier looks out of place as a 4-3 LB, regardless of his spring practice Greentree hype. Have you heard things about any of these kids that make you think they'll actually remain on the team come 2017?

Personally, for 2017, i think we should take Wilder for the STAR position, Steed as the OLB, and Ventrell Miller as a MLB.

I find it absolutely hilarious that you are writing off redshirt freshman.. Please keep typing I truly need a Monday laugh.

 

[bransuperpower]

I like Kearney. . He is a good kid.. i think he may have made a choice that will be to his best interest. ..Good or bad...there are 10 backers on Scholly now...and of that 10 ...9 will be back next year...as a matter of fact... 8 of the 10 are Soph or Fresh..People don't realize Owens is a RS Soph... Shaq Zach and Mike will all see alot of action this year...I think there is room for 1 maybe two backers in the next class its a numbers game... They would have to distribute the scholies evenly... Their are 85 scholies. ..40 for Off...40 for Def...3 for Spc Team... 2 for the nice to have ace...U have 4 DBs...4 DLs and 3 LBs..DL rotate and get hurt the most so they should get 15 of the 40... DBs represent your next biggest group and the most likely for leaving early give them 6 Safeties and 8 corners for a total of 14 DBs then there is 11 LBs two of which are hybrids or stars.. that can play in the box and that aren't too much of a risk in coverage..The hybrids practice with the LBs and safeties...thats just my two cents

The way i see our LB unit is like this (listed in order of decreasing seniority):

STAR=
Grace (SR)
Perry (SO)
King (r-FR)

MLB=
Young (JR)
Gordinier (r-FR)
Shaq (FR)

OLB=
Owens (JR)
M Smith (SO)
McCray (SO)
Pinckney (FR)
McCloud (FR)

I know you've been focusing on how much LB depth we have. We're only gonna lose Grace to graduation after this year. But don't you think we're also gonna have a ton of kids transfer out? I'm thinking Smith, McCray, and King are all candidates for transfers, especially if they get passed by the 3 incoming freshmen. Smith is a tweener that doesn't have DE size and lacks LB athleticism esp against the spread. McCray is never talked about. King is tiny and lightly recruited. Even Gordinier looks out of place as a 4-3 LB, regardless of his spring practice Greentree hype. Have you heard things about any of these kids that make you think they'll actually remain on the team come 2017?

Personally, for 2017, i think we should take Wilder for the STAR position, Steed as the OLB, and Ventrell Miller as a MLB.

people say this every year and it never happens. two players leaving from the same position hurts us more than it helps, and if a kid is transfering for playtime you think he is going to waste a year because of the transfer rule then only play a year maybe 2 ?

 

[Ethnicsands]

Frank Gore committed here when Willis Mcgahee was 3rd string behind Portis and James Jackson... But, as Butch said, one of the main characteristics he looked for is a player not caring about who was infront of him.

B.B.B hypothetically. ..you have a son and he is a pretty good RB and he loves Metro U...but Metro U already have the top three RBs in the Nation committed in the same class...how do you advise your son?

Tell him he better get used to competing and quit trying to be a depth chart scientist. He'll have to compete his whole life, so he better get used to it.

Go interview for a real job after college and tell the company you don't want them interviewing any other good candidates. See how that pu$$y **** works out.

That doesn't really make sense, because 'loving' metro U in this hypothetical isn't itself a logical reason for picking it. Is it a better school? Better fit for the kid? Equal program overall?

When most people go for a job interview, they ask about career advancement opportunities. Companies whose ability to offer opportunities for growth to young people will recruit less talent. That's not different in real life from football.

The question of whether a kid is 'scared' of competition is not so simply answered as this thread makes it seem. All kids want opportunities. Not all of those kids will compete equally. Butch knew how to read kids, but he wasn't turning down kids he liked because they _were_ attracted to our competition. He was turning down kids who he thought disliked competing. It's not the same thing.

Everything you said makes sense, but I thought I was pretty clearly talking about guys making decisions based off the depth chart and an unwillingness to compete with other guys. Clearly, if he just likes somewhere else better for non depth chart related reasons that has nothing to do with analyzing a depth chart.

Fair enough. This topic comes up year after year, and i used your post to note the distinction between kids who are scared of competing and kids who may be very competitive but like the opportunity somewhere in part because they can play earlier. It's a judgment call, imo, and butch was the best at making it. Urban Meyer sells depth chart when he can. They all do. Nothing wrong with a kid thinking he can play early at Alabama, as long as he knows he'll have to compete there, not just for depth chart reasons but culturally, and in the weight room, and in practice.

Clint Portis came to UM because we let him play RB. Marshall Faulk didn't because we wanted him as a DB. Both probably could have signed elsewhere and tried to compete at RB but they went where their options looked best. But both those guys are competitive hombres.

Some of it is also practice tells you a lot. A competitive dude goes hard in practice. Kids who don't can sap a team of its culture.

Anyhow, end rant.

 

[grover]

King already moved to SS. I was never a McCray fan, and question Smith's ability to move laterally. Hope they prove me wrong. But I'm sticking with 3 LBs in this class