Class of 2023 QB Malachi Nelson (CA) TRANSFERRING TO SYRACUSE (1/16/26)

[wfschrec]

If they only used 13 guys on D that means they never rotated at all on the dline.

The way injuries happen at SU we wouldnt survive 1 game

Well injuries are another story I don't disagree considering IU had Dailey pretty banged up.

That's fair and certainly no ill will behind any of it. Also, I actually think you and I chatted many times over the years, I don't always pay attention to posters names.

I think 16 is the bare minimum as it gives you 1 backup at each skill group. Versatility helps for sure but guys that run a lot OR are 300+ pounds can't play 60+ snaps a night. You can have a core group for sure but guys get dinged, injured, or need breathers.

I would agree ... I would go as far as 20 on each side O/D and then another 20-25 reserves ... this is why Cignetti goes after the older players .. more time in S&C and they hold up far better over a full season. My thought process works for a Cignetti style ... spend more money per player (on a smaller volume lets say 65 guys) and get more experienced battle-tested guys. Go hard after roughly 15-20 recruits ... if you pay attention to IU they are roughly 50/50 portal vs HS with Cignetti. In the end I think reducing the number of total players as we move closer to NFL behavior make sense. Much like having a 53 man roster and adding 7-12 via draft UDFA. Except in the NCAA free agency is an annual thing not many guys with multiyear deals and no real enforcement anyway (Mensah cough cough).

This allows you to reduce your player acquisition spend since you are chasing less recruits by volume ... players get more focus from coaches as there are less to manage and a reduction in overall expenses such as scholarships and other related budgets which can be applied to other areas of the program. You can be more selective with who you chase, how much you pay them, and use it on guys other programs have "built" while you bring along higher end recruits because you could pay a little more to make splash moves for 4-5 stars ... it requires a very tough balancing act no doubt.

 

[Offthedome]

Does anyone think this will eventually force programs to make a decision - rely on heavy investment in seasoned portal players and chase titles on a yearly basis, or plug holes with the portal and develop your young guys for as long as you can keep them and hope to catch lightning in a bottle every few seasons? I find it hard to see anything in between.

I'm not as well-versed in this stuff as our more knowledgeable posters, (due in large part to not investing the time necessary to understand the finer points and details of the college football landscape), hence my rather vague question.

 

[ImperialOrange]

Well injuries are another story I don't disagree considering IU had Dailey pretty banged up.


I would agree ... I would go as far as 20 on each side O/D and then another 20-25 reserves ... this is why Cignetti goes after the older players .. more time in S&C and they hold up far better over a full season. My thought process works for a Cignetti style ... spend more money per player (on a smaller volume lets say 65 guys) and get more experienced battle-tested guys. Go hard after roughly 15-20 recruits ... if you pay attention to IU they are roughly 50/50 portal vs HS with Cignetti. In the end I think reducing the number of total players as we move closer to NFL behavior make sense. Much like having a 53 man roster and adding 7-12 via draft UDFA. Except in the NCAA free agency is an annual thing not many guys with multiyear deals and no real enforcement anyway (Mensah cough cough).

This allows you to reduce your player acquisition spend since you are chasing less recruits by volume ... players get more focus from coaches as there are less to manage and a reduction in overall expenses such as scholarships and other related budgets which can be applied to other areas of the program. You can be more selective with who you chase, how much you pay them, and use it on guys other programs have "built" while you bring along higher end recruits because you could pay a little more to make splash moves for 4-5 stars ... it requires a very tough balancing act no doubt.

Right but those 40-50 that aren't playing regularly could be developing prospects that you don't have to back fill the following year. It's a delicate dance but Syracuse cannot buy 30 players a year the same way Ohio State or Alabama can.

Now would be interesting to net spend on only 10-15 portal players here IF you can also retain all your top talent. That said the market is insane. If Mensah is worth 8-10m I'm not sure how we can compete. We're a second world GDP at best in terms of school finances.

Scholarship cost is a non factor for me, Syracuse costs way too damn much and could have fixed that long ago. In light of that, I can't count a 70k+/tuition against Indiana charging 13k in state and 40 out of state. That's a hurdle the school chose and upholds. In the days of walk on that really hurt. Now tuition is just a made up number and will be subsidized elsewhere to "balance the books".

 

[dasher]

I'm just disappointed the 3 portal QBs we picked up weren't all P4 starters with proven success and production.

Finally someone makes sense.

 

[dan7800]

I'm just disappointed the 3 portal QBs we picked up weren't all P4 starters with proven success and production.

I was pulling to bring in Mendoza as a backup.

 

[rrlbees]

FWIW, last night vs Miami, Indiana played 16 players on defense. However, 2 of them played 2 snaps and 1 snap. Player 14 played 18 snaps.