Is Deshaun Ford from Opelousas a take with 105 scholarships?

He’s more likely to land at Miami or Alabama.

quote:

---

After this season we'll only have 3 scholarship running backs on the roster (Durham, Holly, Jackson),

---

And the two stud freshmen who are coming.

I would take him. Whether he plays RB or LB, we could use him at either position

I was very hopeful you'd be around to see this thread and provide your input.

quote:

---

Per his desires or the fact that he was heading there due to 85 to offer? Does 105 change that?

---

Publicly at multiple times he has stated these guys are his leaders. It’s also a game of see what he does and not what says. In that case, he’s visited those guys way more than us.

From what I understand, the case is he’s just too short for LB but not quite fast enough for RB.

I dont know if the staff has a fully fleshed out strategy for filling the 105.

In the end, 85 was already too many scholarships, you're never keeping anywhere close to 105 D1 level football players happy on 1 roster so I dont know what approach we end up taking just giving a handful of walk ons some schollies, take maybe 30-32ish freshmen and then fill out the rest with the transfer portal.

Like it makes no sense to have 7 or 8 scholarship RBs just because now you have 105 scholarships to fill.

Either way, outside Jackson, Durham, Berry, Holly and Lindsey are all lighter backs. We need to add another between the tackles runner that can grind yardage. If we don't get Ford, we still need one more big back.

quote:

---

I was very hopeful you'd be around to see this thread and provide your input.

---

I don't have much to add in regard to specific schools.

I asked at their picture day. They're keeping it close to the vest.

quote:

---

Do you think 105 will help the rich schools?

---

I'm not sure it helps any 1 thing specifically school wise. I think it benefits walk ons who might be good enough for a mid-major or FCS/DII scholarship but decided to go to a big D1 school as a walk on, those guys will probably get D1 scholarships now way more often because theres that room there. I dont think theres more "talent" out there waiting to get scholarships, cant just create talent out of thin air.

Again I'd argue 85 scholarships was way too many to begin with. The transfer portal is INSANE every offseason with the number of guys jumping ship to try and go play elsewhere, the majority of them because they didnt get enough playing time where they were at in their mind.

I dont think any school is going to be paying what they perceive as the 100th best player on their scholarship roster any sort of life changing money via NIL because whats the point? You're going to be paying your starters, your backups who are playing occasionally. You get no value from cutting a $100k check to a 5th year senior who only plays some special teams occasionally (not as a punter/kicker/LS) and is 4th on the depth chart at his position.

Ultimately 95-98% of guys WANT to play, they are coming to a D1 school because they think they are good enough to play and a small NIL check wont keep them around anywhere when there's always somewhere else they can transfer to and play. You cant make the NFL if you never play and you know a ton of these kids think they have that potential in their future. I'd argue if you havent played much for 2 years at a school and have no much prospect of starting or playing significantly in year 3, you should transfer. Maybe some nuances to that, obviously I would not have wanted Nuss to transfer the year Daniels came in for instance then decided to come back for 1 more year on top of that....but overall most of those type of players should transfer if they want to play and not ride the pine forever.

My guess is that he'd rather be RB1 or RB2 in another class than RB3 in this one.

Those 105 scholarships are more going to be for the fringe takes in the class. Those that you wouldn't likely take on your board in a capped 25 recruit class.

Think of kids late in the game that show promising senior seasons that you have already been watching.