Underclassmen in the Draft

Case of instant gratification vs. long term investments.

quote:

---

Why go to college when you can get 25k right off the bat

---

That’s that muh frickin Kia Sorento kind of money boi. Straight cash

We have a problem, no doubt about it.

We need a culture change. Players shouldn't all be coming in thinking 3 and done. Players should be thinking what can I do to better the team and win a championship.

It's impossible to be great when everyone wants to leave even when they aren't at their potential peak. Toliver is a great example of a kid who could have came back, got his degree, started a full season undoubtedly opposite Greedy Williams this year and short of an injury or doing something dumb, DEFINITELY would have been drafted next year...and have a degree to boot.

Why did Toliver leave after not even being a Top 2 corner this past season? Because 3.5 years ago when he came in, he decided he was declaring regardless of how well he did his first 3 seasons, and this line of thinking has to stop.

Key basically ruined his draft stock down to the 3rd round after a sophomore season that had folks pegging him in the Top 10/15 picks. Why? Because he was immature, tanked an otherwise money season, and still decided to declare. He could have came back, produced like he was a sophomore and quelled all the questions of "is he unstable" "can he be a professional" etc...

Clapp already graduated so I wouldnt lump him in with others. He was a 4 year guy and got his degree, cant ask for much more.

quote:

---

We educate our young men (on) how it works, your value, where you want to go and getting the most out of your value,” Ausberry said. “Just don’t go to the NFL to go to the NFL. You have outside consultants Coach O has used very well and you see the numbers of guys who have come back.”

---

Who came back?

quote:

---

Clapp already graduated so I wouldnt lump him in with others. He was a 4 year guy and got his degree, cant ask for much more

---

I agree. I just copied the list.

quote:

---

Key basically ruined his draft stock down to the 3rd round after a sophomore season that had folks pegging him in the Top 10/15 picks. Why? Because he was immature, tanked an otherwise money season, and still decided to declare. He could have came back, produced like he was a sophomore and quelled all the questions of "is he unstable" "can he be a professional" etc...

---

100%. He should have been told to come back and prove to NFL guys that he had the drive to change his ways. I get that he had a kid and probably need the $$. but He could have made it better on himself in the draft. He went to a good place tho. He will do great things.

quote:

---

O wants Miles players to leave...so that he can hire his guys. Thats how you change the program.

---

I hope this was in jest. Otherwise..

quote:

---

Who came back?

---

recently or just this past year?

Recently good players have included Tredavious White, Kendall Beckwith, Jalen Mills, and La'el Collins. This year, no one

Obviously, we have dealt with this more than anyone but we also have had more talent than most schools. Regardless, this is becoming a problem all over. This year a record 106 players declared early and 37 of them went undrafted. 106 is 38 more underclassmen than declared just one year ago and double the number that declared in 2008. Nearly as many players went undrafted that declared 20 years ago (41). College football is turning into college basketball with guys declaring that shouldn't. Only problem is football doesn't have all the options basketball does where players can still earn a good living playing overseas.

quote:

---

That sounds nice in theory, but the reality is the vast majority of top 200 or so recruits ALL think they are destined for stardom in the NFL and that college is just a necessary "evil" for three years. You, I and many college football fans would LOVE the opportunity to play for our school for four years, but that's just not the mindset of most top recruits.

---

The reality is we keep sending more underclassmen to the draft than anyone and several times now they have gone undrafted or gone very late, and we have nothing to show for these guys leaving early.

That's a problem. Alabama players are leaving early and being drafted 1st, 2nd round. Our guys who were high 1st round locks screw up their career enough to drop to the 3rd round and are perfectly fine with that instead of coming back and trying to right things. Guys going undrafted even. We have guys who, like you said and agreed, are coming in here being sold on NFL 3 years, and thinking that regardless of what happens after 3 years they are done, despite coming back would not only earn them a degree, but the chance for MUCH more initial money than some random $25k-$40k free agent deal that could see them cut and jobless by summer time.

This is absolutely an LSU problem, and it's been discussed in articles even. Former players have stated the line of thinking is just that throughout the program - look out for yourself and just care about the NFL. There's a problem when the entire culture around the program is focused more on the NFL than getting things done in college. Sure, several talented players want to go to the NFL, that doesnt mean they have to have this lackadaisical mindset that after 3 years here regardless what happens they are taking a hike.

3 of the past 4 years now we haven't had a 1st round pick, let that sink in with all the early departures we've had. All 4 years Alabama has had at least 1 player drafted in the 1st round and they've had 10 total to our 3 in that time frame...but guess who has had more players declare early between the 2 schools the past 4 years? Not Alabama...

It’s a culture thing definitely.


I had a girl in one of my kinesiology classes say how she went out on a date with Weathersby around the time he was a freshman , and was saying how he can’t wait to be in madden in 3 years. So that should tell you something.