Yasin Willis transferring to Kansas

[Dinkyspond]

As far as Yasin's next destination I'd take Pitt against the field. It almost feels preordained.

and watch him go for 160 and 3 TDs against us

 

[IHeartSUFball]

It’s crazy to me that people don’t really follow cfb in here outside Cuse, there is 20-30 kids leaving each year from every program lol… we usually don’t lose many impact guys… however RB is very easy to recruit and maybe upgrade

 

[sufandu]

The potential was obvious but it never really clicked. I don't think he ever had a 100 yard game. Yeah, I know he wasn't running behind the best lines, but something seemed off beyond that.

I don't really get the "never really clicked." He was only a sophomore. There are lot's of guys that don't click their first couple years.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I don't really get the "never really clicked." He was only a sophomore. There are lot's of guys that don't click their first couple years.

Also fair.

I think we expected a 4 star RB to be a star. That part never really clicked.

 

[phsyra]

Willis is good. This is not great news.

 

[qdawgg]

So isn’t Fran’s thing, give me 3 years. And then if it doesn’t work out. Transfer and I’ll help you transfer. Seems like a lot of the higher rated guys are not even coming close to 3 years in the program.

It’s also a thing with all coaches. Do what you’re supposed to, we’re here to win games and if what you’re doing impacts that. No, you don’t get 3 years.

I have no idea if this applies to Willis. But the little things we heard half the year, the players weren’t stepping up in the way they should. Whether it was attitude, practice habits or combo of things.

 

[IthacaMatt]

The discussion with these guys shouldn’t be either big loss or no loss. We should be treating this like the NFL now - because in effect there’s a salary cap.

Sometimes you gotta cut ties with a decent restricted free agent because you can replace or improve his production for equal/less and use the cash elsewhere.

Unfortunately for any running backs (and slot receivers last year if we think back to April) that’s probably a position where we shouldn’t be overspending.

I get your way of thinking. But when you lose too many guys from any particular position group, it is a cause for concern. You don't want to rebuild from scratch every year in football. You need more team work to develop line play in football. Basketball, you can bring in 3 or 4 new guys who can totally change your team.

 

[kcsu]

What are the chances we upgrade via the portal?

I did not like what we had last year and coming back next year at RB with him. Now it is even worse. I guess we are playing 5 WRs at a time now.

Lets just say the chances look very good

 

[kcsu]

Let’s go get CJ Baxter from Texas. He’s built like Willis but brings a much higher ceiling.

Are u sure you're only a walk on

 

[tep624]

He’s without a doubt a loss. However, there should be a chance to replace him with a better fit. He needs to be in a different offense.

We need versatile backs that can catch the ball and provide that release valve out of the back field as needed. You need to recruit RB’s for the line you have, not the line you want to have.

I think this is an opportunity to get the RB room situated properly for our offense and not fall into the trap of playing the “best” player that isn’t the best player for this offense.

 

[tep624]

at 235 pounds never really moved the pile never kept his legs moving and never saw obvious un frequent holes. Add to that concrete hands.

That’s not his strength, his strength is getting to the second level and utilizing his mismatch strength / speed. Hes a powerful back, but not a power back and for an APB he has terrible hands.

 

[Newhouser]

It can't be a good thing when the player transfers who Brown called our best offensive player. The after effects of a terrible and lost season is showing. Players are losing confidence and faith in the direction of the program. 8 straight non-competitive blowouts will do that. Went from 10 wins to arguably the worst team in P4 football. Brown has his work cut out from him. Less than 6 wins in '26 and it's time to end this high risk experiment with Brown.

Fran says things.

 

[Irt4su]

Root for the jersey not the player. College football has always been a four year love affair with a player, now it’s down to one year. Is what it is, next Orangeman up and hope you are as good, or hopefully better, than the last guy.

Maybe Coach P was right when he removed the names on the jerseys that one or two years.

And the 100% committed statements are about the same as wedding vows with a 50% divorce rate in the real world.

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate.

 

[tep624]

It can't be a good thing when the player transfers who Brown called our best offensive player. The after effects of a terrible and lost season is showing. Players are losing confidence and faith in the direction of the program. 8 straight non-competitive blowouts will do that. Went from 10 wins to arguably the worst team in P4 football. Brown has his work cut out from him. Less than 6 wins in '26 and it's time to end this high risk experiment with Brown.

Or maybe take a step back, take a deep breath and let the offseason play out. We literally haven’t even landed a single player out of the portal yet and honestly, the best RB for this offense is already on the roster and his name isn’t Yasin Willis.

 

[Sherman20]

I missing what makes people think running backs are so easily replaceable? Before Sean Tucker we hadn't had a 1,000 yard rusher since jerome smith in 2012.

That was before the transfer portal and no sitting out a year.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

Or maybe take a step back, take a deep breath and let the offseason play out. We literally haven’t even landed a single player out of the portal yet and honestly, the best RB for this offense is already on the roster and his name isn’t Yasin Willis.

Who would that be?

Honestly from a running stand point I don’t think the right guy exists. Through 25 games we have seen a RB hit 100 yards only 3x with a high of 120 yards. We use a RB like most teams use a TE, more of an after thought.

 

[tep624]

Who would that be?

Honestly from a running stand point I don’t think the right guy exists. Through 25 games we have seen a RB hit 100 yards only 3x with a high of 120 yards. We use a RB like most teams use a TE, more of an after thought.

I like Tylik Hill.

 

[JKinUtah]

Or maybe take a step back, take a deep breath and let the offseason play out. We literally haven’t even landed a single player out of the portal yet and honestly, the best RB for this offense is already on the roster and his name isn’t Yasin Willis.

Hell, the portal isn’t even open yet - let alone getting anyone signed out of it. But let’s all jump off the collective edge anyway.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

I like Tylik Hill.

I like him too but we have only seen him during garbage time. I also don't think he is physical enough to be the only RB. He can be RB1A but we still need a RB1B. To put it another way he is an OR on the depth chart.

The coaches gave up on the season after SMU. Hill only had 22 carries and 1 catch after that. For comparison Nixon had 53 carries and 10 catches. If Hill is the guy for next year, shouldn't that have been a lot closer? Nixon was getting PT late into some of these games too.

That worries me a bit, Daddy ball. Nixon is not an OR, at best he is a RB2. Before his injury I thought he looked better than he did this year. But I was still surprised he was taking so much time away from LQA last year.

 

[kcsu]

I like Tylik Hill.

Me too. He's got stuff you can't coach

 

[ImperialOrange]

Do his injuries play into this, I think he's had an uncomfirmed concussion or two.
Hope he has a great career, as long as it's not at Pitt.
Always seemed to need another gear and was hoping he would find it this off season.

The child of his offseason speed coach was given the talk. If he feels his friend was agreived, as do those in his inner circle, it's not a big surprise. I've wonders about Willis returning ever since the James departure.

 

[PAcuse]

The child of his offseason speed coach was given the talk. If he feels his friend was agreived, as do those in his inner circle, it's not a big surprise. I've wonders about Willis returning ever since the James departure.

Yeah I'm sure that has something to play into it and maybe he knows we are trageting/bringing in a good RB this year like the kid from TN and the James thing tipped the scale.

 

[tep624]

I like him too but we have only seen him during garbage time. I also don't think he is physical enough to be the only RB. He can be RB1A but we still need a RB1B. To put it another way he is an OR on the depth chart.

The coaches gave up on the season after SMU. Hill only had 22 carries and 1 catch after that. For comparison Nixon had 53 carries and 10 catches. If Hill is the guy for next year, shouldn't that have been a lot closer? Nixon was getting PT late into some of these games too.

That worries me a bit, Daddy ball. Nixon is not an OR, at best he is a RB2. Before his injury I thought he looked better than he did this year. But I was still surprised he was taking so much time away from LQA last year.

We’ll get someone out of the portal too - but I like him being part of the rotation.

 

[ImperialOrange]

Yeah I'm sure that has something to play into it and maybe he knows we are trageting/bringing in a good RB this year like the kid from TN and the James thing tipped the scale.

We also don't know for sure who is leaving that has entered the portal. It's a weird state from what we're historically used to but also there are so many more things in play now in addition to what we used to consider such as grades, off field activities, etc. Some of these guys will come back and a lot of negative posters will back pedal faster than Deon in his prime.

 

[ImperialOrange]

Yasin is another mountain of potential that hasn't yet panned out on the field. He may well still do it here, or elsewhere, or not at all. His production certainly didn't match the hype for whatever reason.

That said this threads obsession with guys that can catch out of the backfield is pretty wild. I'd love a running back that can actually run the ball or pass block when called upon. 3rd down backs exist for a reason but if we get a solid RB on 1st and 2nd down we'd be much better off for it.