- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Caveat Emptor for the Recruit - "Program on the Rise"
Posted on 2/5/13 at 12:16 pm
Posted on 2/5/13 at 12:16 pm
The recruitment of Robert Nkemdiche has been pretty interesting. It reminds me of the recruitment of Sam Montgomery. True, Montgomery wasn't the #1 overall recruited, but he was very highly rated. Like Nkemdiche, Montgomery for whatever reason wasn't interested in his home state schools. He flirted a little while with a historic SEC East power (Tennessee) but in the end it came down to an established power (LSU) and the program on the rise of that day (North Carolina). In fact, when Sam made his call, UNC was more credibly on the rise than Ole Miss is today. Butch Davis had them going places and was clearly amassing a talent base that was no where in line with UNC football rosters of the prior decades.
Yet Montgomery chose the established power and their track record of putting defensive linemen into the league. Montgomery watched Glenn Dorsey go in the top 5 the previous spring and all signs were that LSU DE Tyson Jackson would be a high first rounder (he ended up going third overall). Montgomery decided that he wanted that same tutelage, that same grooming and a more realistic shot at competing for championships. So Sam somewhat surprisingly picked LSU on national signing day 2009.
Flash forward four years and Montgomery is now expected to be himself a high first round pick. So too is fellow DE Barkevious Mingo, leaving a huge hole on LSU's depth chart. Would Sam be in this place if he chose UNC? To speculate would be foolish. It's a little like Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken." But we do know this: at LSU Sam Montgomery got to win an SEC title and play for a national title. He had a stable environment playing for arguably the best defensive coordinator and best defensive line coaches in the country. And the result is a storied college career, with titles and memories of big games that everyone around the country was watching. At UNC, he would have had to go through a grease fire. He would have had to endure coaching changes and tutelage no where near as effective as what he got from Brick and Chief. And he would not have been on national TV, playing in games that mattered. He would not have played for championships.
No, I am not saying that Ole Miss is going to be plagued in scandal (although I will note that dormant programs who suddenly start making noise and nabbing recruits tend to be more cavalier with the rules which, if unchecked, can quickly slide into lack of institutional control). I'm just noting that recruits should not discount the importance of playing for a school and a coaching staff that have proven their competency at training their players for the League, for getting their players highly drafted and highly paid and for having a stable environment, where a tremendous talent can evolve into the type of player that Sam Montgomery has become.
In contrast, lots of talented players have taken the risk on programs "on the rise." And those programs are more more susceptible to instability, which can lead to second tier coaching and which can result in a player not achieving all of the potential he has. And Recruits--particularly those who can pick whatever school they want--should not discount the risk of a program that has no real history of success in half a century. If things go bad at that type of school, the whole thing can devolve quickly and while it may not be fatal, to say it will not impact your development as a player or your entire college experience is to be the very definition of naive.
In the end, logic would dictate that if you have the opportunity to follow a well tread path (Spears-Dorsey-Jackson-Brockers-Montgomery-Mingo) to not only become a high NFL draft pick but also to compete on the national stage for championships, you would never pass that up for a program with a little momentum right now but where you find yourself saying "and even if it doesn't work out I'm good enough to make the league."
Sam Montgomery was smart enough to realize that. The question is, will Nkemdiche?
Yet Montgomery chose the established power and their track record of putting defensive linemen into the league. Montgomery watched Glenn Dorsey go in the top 5 the previous spring and all signs were that LSU DE Tyson Jackson would be a high first rounder (he ended up going third overall). Montgomery decided that he wanted that same tutelage, that same grooming and a more realistic shot at competing for championships. So Sam somewhat surprisingly picked LSU on national signing day 2009.
Flash forward four years and Montgomery is now expected to be himself a high first round pick. So too is fellow DE Barkevious Mingo, leaving a huge hole on LSU's depth chart. Would Sam be in this place if he chose UNC? To speculate would be foolish. It's a little like Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken." But we do know this: at LSU Sam Montgomery got to win an SEC title and play for a national title. He had a stable environment playing for arguably the best defensive coordinator and best defensive line coaches in the country. And the result is a storied college career, with titles and memories of big games that everyone around the country was watching. At UNC, he would have had to go through a grease fire. He would have had to endure coaching changes and tutelage no where near as effective as what he got from Brick and Chief. And he would not have been on national TV, playing in games that mattered. He would not have played for championships.
No, I am not saying that Ole Miss is going to be plagued in scandal (although I will note that dormant programs who suddenly start making noise and nabbing recruits tend to be more cavalier with the rules which, if unchecked, can quickly slide into lack of institutional control). I'm just noting that recruits should not discount the importance of playing for a school and a coaching staff that have proven their competency at training their players for the League, for getting their players highly drafted and highly paid and for having a stable environment, where a tremendous talent can evolve into the type of player that Sam Montgomery has become.
In contrast, lots of talented players have taken the risk on programs "on the rise." And those programs are more more susceptible to instability, which can lead to second tier coaching and which can result in a player not achieving all of the potential he has. And Recruits--particularly those who can pick whatever school they want--should not discount the risk of a program that has no real history of success in half a century. If things go bad at that type of school, the whole thing can devolve quickly and while it may not be fatal, to say it will not impact your development as a player or your entire college experience is to be the very definition of naive.
In the end, logic would dictate that if you have the opportunity to follow a well tread path (Spears-Dorsey-Jackson-Brockers-Montgomery-Mingo) to not only become a high NFL draft pick but also to compete on the national stage for championships, you would never pass that up for a program with a little momentum right now but where you find yourself saying "and even if it doesn't work out I'm good enough to make the league."
Sam Montgomery was smart enough to realize that. The question is, will Nkemdiche?
This post was edited on 2/5/13 at 1:54 pm
Posted on 2/5/13 at 12:27 pm to Mike Linebacker
Agree with all of this, but RK's brother is the wild card LSU can't match, right or wrong.
Posted on 2/5/13 at 12:28 pm to Mike Linebacker
This isn't a program on the rise issue. If not for his brother he would be committed to LSU already. This is a momma gets what momma wants issue.
Posted on 2/5/13 at 12:30 pm to Mattwells90
Right, but Nkiemdiche is going to have to swallow the program on the rise risk.
Posted on 2/5/13 at 12:30 pm to Mattwells90
I feel pretty certain that Caveat Emptor blew the mental fuses of the majority of any university's football recruits.....nice try though.
Posted on 2/5/13 at 12:31 pm to Mattwells90
quote:
Mike Linebacker
The man that 1st coined "The Honey Badger" as a nick name for TM14.
Posted on 2/5/13 at 12:40 pm to Mike Linebacker
I found it interesting that RN's father just last week mentioned Ole Miss and Florida, "good schools, very good coaches" but never mentioned LSU. I think they've know for weeks that it's LSU.
Posted on 2/5/13 at 12:42 pm to Mike Linebacker
Very well thought out post.
Posted on 2/5/13 at 12:45 pm to Rebel
quote:
The man that 1st coined "The Honey Badger" as a nick name for TM14.
I use to think this made Mike cool. Now I just blame him for TM's downfall because the "Honey Badger" persona was too much for him to take. Damn you Mike Linebacker.
Posted on 2/5/13 at 12:54 pm to Mike Linebacker
Well said Mike. Here's to hoping RN wakes up at 6 AM tomorrow, logs onto his favorite website tigerdroppings.com and reads this right before making his decision
Posted on 2/5/13 at 1:00 pm to GeauxGus
quote:
..TL/DNR ..
Such an awesome response, thank you so much for letting us know you DNR. You're like the coolest dude ever.
This post was edited on 2/5/13 at 1:03 pm
Posted on 2/5/13 at 1:06 pm to tigerfan4120
quote:
Well said Mike. Here's to hoping RN wakes up at 6 AM tomorrow, logs onto his favorite website tigerdroppings.com and reads this right before making his decision
+1000 to both of you rfine gentlemen. Greta read an well thought tact.
I pray Someone is in Robert corner dropping as he tweeting the facts!
Posted on 2/5/13 at 1:28 pm to Mike Linebacker
Great post, but I agree with the guy who brought up Denzel. That is a wildcard unlike any that your example of Sam had. I really hope he picks LSU, but you can't discount the strength of a family's desire to have their sons at a particular place.
Posted on 2/5/13 at 1:39 pm to Mike Linebacker
Can someone make sure Nkiemdiche reads this?
Posted on 2/5/13 at 1:44 pm to Mike Linebacker
Start thread "Is is bad parenting/brothering to push your son/brother into a mediocre program when he could join a great one?"
Posted on 2/5/13 at 1:45 pm to USMCTiger03
quote:Probably should spell his name correctly first though (Nkemdiche)
Can someone make sure Nkiemdiche reads this?
Posted on 2/5/13 at 2:23 pm to baytiger
Ole Miss is on TV only when it plays programs like LSU and Alabama
LSU is on TV (CBS or ESPN) 90% of the season ..
LSU is prime time
Ole Miss isn't...not disrespecting them, just stating the facts~!
LSU is on TV (CBS or ESPN) 90% of the season ..
LSU is prime time
Ole Miss isn't...not disrespecting them, just stating the facts~!
Posted on 2/5/13 at 2:34 pm to GeauxGus
quote:
GeauxGus
I really, really hope that was a failed attempt at humor, because the OP made some of the most lucid, intelligible, and well-thought-out points regarding Nkemdiche's recruitment that anyone on this board has made.
To the OP
Posted on 2/5/13 at 2:35 pm to brewhan davey
I'm still convinced Denzel is gonna transfer here, sit a year, then take the BCS Crystal Football to the HOUSE with his brother!
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News