Adrian Cole and Luke Benson in the portal.

[Toga]

Not surprised by Benson

His family was very vocal almost every single game about their displeasure

I don't freaking get it. A good TE for a less than stellar passer seems like something a 10 year old could have figured out. Pissed and perplexed.

 

[rrlbees]

I knew about Benson. Surprised about Cole. He is in line to start at CB. At the same time he hasnt shown anything great. I think we can bring in someone that can do what he does. The freshman CB's that are coming in are taller and more athletic. I wish the best for them both. Maybe they find a P5 school that can get something out of them.

Wouldn’t Williams and Duce be the projected starters?

 

[dollarbill44]

The real winners will be those perennial top ten or top 20 teams who will accept a purge of their non-contributing players so they can stock up on more “sure things.” Teams like SU will grab some kids here and there, will lose some kids here and there, and the only thing the portal will mean is an inability to keep a kid long enough to develop him.

Anyone who thinks that every change - transfer portal, NIL, conference expansion, etc. - doesn't primarily help the top teams is either not paying attention, or can’t see reality when it slaps them in the face.

Maybe, maybe not. You're assuming a bunch of guys are going to leave starting roles to go compete against guys that were recruited over them. It's just as likely for depth guys at the factories to go grab a starting role at the unranked masses of the P5, a la Bleich or Shrader.

The reality is we just don't know how it will work out, since it's a pretty new system. I will guess that teams will have failures and successes with the portal in roughly the same percentages as HS recruiting. Don't forget that the top programs will still get the top HS recruits that will be better than a lot of the portal players.

 

[rrlbees]

FWIW, Cole graded the 3rd highest defenseman on the team while Williams was 10th.

 

[syrBossHogg]

Was that an issue of coaching, utililization or talent?

Prolly a little of everything

 

[phil77]

Cole is a big loss IMO

 

[Trueblue25]

I don't think Cole would be a starter next year.

He’s experienced depth at a position where our starters get hurt or played hurt annually under babers

 

[PhatOrange]

Surprised about Cole. He is in line to start at CB. At the same time he hasnt shown anything great. I think we can bring in someone that can do what he does. The freshman CB's that are coming in are taller and more athletic.

huh? Williams was hurt A LOT this season and when Cole came in we did not miss a beat. He played 2 or 3 quarters against Pitt and I'm not sure if they even threw at him. Cole was first off the bench for a reason. He has great speed and is also a pretty good tackler at 5-11 185.

Who are all these corners you speak of? You think the 3 unsigned freshman corners are better than Cole? Peterson 5-11 170, Perry 6-0 175 and Wilson 6-0 170 ? ... Chase Atkinson 5-11 190? Nunn buried on the bench?

 

[All4SU]

Maybe, maybe not. You're assuming a bunch of guys are going to leave starting roles to go compete against guys that were recruited over them. It's just as likely for depth guys at the factories to go grab a starting role at the unranked masses of the P5, a la Bleich or Shrader.

The reality is we just don't know how it will work out, since it's a pretty new system. I will guess that teams will have failures and successes with the portal in roughly the same percentages as HS recruiting. Don't forget that the top programs will still get the top HS recruits that will be better than a lot of the portal players.

I’m assuming the Alabama’s, Georgia’s and Clemson’s of the game will be okay when they lose a third string QB or WR to the portal… “You’ll always be one of us, son. Best of luck.” {wink… wink} and then they will back fill with a few guys from the portal, and more 5-star wonders from the HS ranks. Keep churning and let the cream rise to the top.

 

[money3189]

huh? Williams was hurt A LOT this season and when Cole came in we barely missed a beat. He played 2 or 3 quarters against Pitt and I'm not sure if they even threw at him. Cole was first off the bench for a reason. He has great speed and is also a pretty good tackler at 5-11 185.

Who are all these corners you speak of? You think the 3 unsigned freshman corners are better than Cole? Peterson 5-11 170, Perry 6-0 175 and Wilson 6-0 170 ? ... Chase Atkinson 5-11 190? Nunn buried on the bench?

Im saying he didnt show any flashes of greatness, which is true. I also said he is in line to start so that tells you I think he's a solid player. When did I indicate that the incoming CB's are better? I talked about their length and athletic ability. You dont think the staff is looking at transfer CB's?

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[Killdozer]

And so it begins. We fire a coach to help you, and you still leave. Why night wait to see where it plays out? But this is the new world of football transfer portals. Got to get in early so you can grab a spot with a scholly.

They left because Dino is still there and he is not a very good coach. Can't trust that he will select the right OC and not be part of the play calling.

 

[PAcuse]

This is going to be the new norm
Kids are going to jump quickly if they don’t feel used or get passed over etc
Sucks to lose kids but I’ll be more concerned if we don’t use the portal heavy this year

 

[PAcuse]

Bet both end up at Kent State playing for Sean Lewis.

They also do not throw to the TE soooo

 

[PhatOrange]

Im saying he didnt show any flashes of greatness, which is true. I also said he is in line to start so that tells you I think he's a solid player. When did I indicate that the incoming CB's are better? I talked about their length and athletic ability. You dont think the staff is looking at transfer CB's?

Show any flashes of greatness? He's a Redshirt Freshman (and good cover corners are a premium. We've long struggled with it.)

There are no other corners on the roster that have better length or athletic ability so you must be talking about the incoming CBs. I'm bullish on Wilson but it's a stretch to say they have better length and athletic ability. Cole is proven. Cole is very rangy and has long arms to. He's a lot like Iffy and imo ahead of Iffy at the same stage of development.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Wouldn’t Williams and Duce be the projected starters?

Uh...

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Whoa, dude's a grad transfer?

Did he come in with loads of credits or something?

 

[721Comstock]

Props on getting your degree already, AC!!

Best of luck at the next stop.
You will be missed.

 

[blizz]

It's like a daily kick in the nuts. This is great. Hope every day of the off-season is like this.

 

[721Comstock]

It's like a daily kick in the nuts. This is great. Hope every day of the off-season is like this.

It sounds like you're going to need a safe word.

How about "playmaking Tight End"?

You won't have to worry about that being used accidentally in conversation.

 

[Chip]

They also do not throw to the TE soooo

It's kind of funny that Hackett and Benson had identical receiving stats this year.

 

[sutomcat]

Im sorry but I have to agree with this. lol

I was high on him a year ago but between the injuries, thw issues catching the ball and blocking, I don’t think he was going to play much in the future.

I think he was called for some foolish penalties too. I wish him and Adrian well wherever they end up.

 

[Newhouser]

And so it begins. We fire a coach to help you, and you still leave. Why night wait to see where it plays out? But this is the new world of football transfer portals. Got to get in early so you can grab a spot with a scholly.

Tell that to the kids at ND, Oklahoma, etc.

 

[UpstateSM]

If these are our two best guys who portal we’ll be fine.

Given what we’ve put in the league recently and how Duce performed this year I can’t imagine it’ll be too hard to find a starter in the portal, if the staff doesn’t think we have a ready-room as is, to replace AC.

I had been assuming Williams was gone after this year since week 1. Would be cool to be wrong.

 

[DocFlanders]

Props on getting your degree already, AC!!

Best of luck at the next stop.
You will be missed.

Yeah has his degree and 3 years eligibility still remaining, wowsers!