I would agree with this but it’s the exception that the NCAA is keeping their “evil” eye on us because of our present dubious penalty situation. Thanks “dick” Pitino 😒 for absolutely nothing.🙄
GO CARDS!!!
Just chatter time
- Thread starter billoliver40
- Start date
GO CARDS!!!
They are because of that, but also the FBI sting and the fact we got caught up in it right after the Katina Scandal was honestly just awful luck. I mean they were going after someone for an unrelated matter that moved into college sports, but then happened to reach a point where we were on a wire tap talking about money for a prospect that wasn't some Zion Williamson.
Today really does make me just feel worried about next year's offense.
We just lost 2 legit NFL wideouts, really great players. We're losing a 1k rusher and one of the most explosive players we've ever seen. I mean I'm cheering, but again this is where I just wonder how we think we'll be anything but a step back on offense next season? Just saying it will work out "just because" is reminding me quite a bit of the worry I had transitioning from Lamar to Puma.
Not that Ole Miss is a National Title contender, but they will put up points at will on us and I just don't see the optimism that we should just feel good about a group of less talented & unproven skill players being able to put up points. Because naturally, with all of this lost production it will be a step back.
We just lost 2 legit NFL wideouts, really great players. We're losing a 1k rusher and one of the most explosive players we've ever seen. I mean I'm cheering, but again this is where I just wonder how we think we'll be anything but a step back on offense next season? Just saying it will work out "just because" is reminding me quite a bit of the worry I had transitioning from Lamar to Puma.
Not that Ole Miss is a National Title contender, but they will put up points at will on us and I just don't see the optimism that we should just feel good about a group of less talented & unproven skill players being able to put up points. Because naturally, with all of this lost production it will be a step back.
I mean they’re a great offense, not a juggernaut, but it’s not like our defense will hold them. And I just can’t say how we will score points with all the new parts and pieces as it will be a less talent bunch on offense.
And if I get off work, yes I’ll be in Atlanta for sure
If he wasn't drafted this year, unlikely that one more year would've helped much.
Running-backs like Hawkins have a short shelf life with a small body like his and he's really built for explosive plays. All 1 more year would do is risk more bad hits on him and add more miles to his body. Other players can gain by returning, but a guy like Hawkins had to leave.
I agree with 233’s opinion on Hawkins. Not sure now one can say another year wouldn’t have helped much. This kid made a bad mistake OR he took some bad advice from someone.
GO CARDS!!!
He wasn’t going to improve his stock with another year. He didn’t get drafted because of size concerns, durability because of size. There’s nothing to improve on those issues. He has the speed and talent, one more year is lost money.
But one more year could risk an injury and for a guy his size it would destroy all his pro stock.
He gave us 3 years of his life and stayed through a coaching change and played behind a shaky offensive line. Go make your money kid.
He needed another year to gain strength and to demonstrate that he had the physicality to compete at D1 college level without being injured off and on based on his size.
if he was ready, and had nothing to gain by even finishing the regular season and returning to UL; then please explain why he was not even drafted and how he would be less likely to be injured in the NFL than in college?
Hawkins was following advice that was misguided and his free-agency is only going to delay the inevitable realization that the odds of becoming an NFL running back are extremely low.
if he was ready, and had nothing to gain by even finishing the regular season and returning to UL; then please explain why he was not even drafted and how he would be less likely to be injured in the NFL than in college?
Hawkins was following advice that was misguided and his free-agency is only going to delay the inevitable realization that the odds of becoming an NFL running back are extremely low.
That's the way to look at it from a UofL perspective where we want him 1 more year. But stats, history, and just logic says that a small running-back does not last and that's why teams do not draft them that often. More strength training isn't going to make him taller or much bigger. He's not going to become Jerome Bettis in an off-season.
Hawkins is a speed back. He's not a back that takes hits. He needs to maximize his speed and explosiveness while he can. The more hits and older he gets, the less useful he will be in the NFL. Adding strength won't matter, because he'll be drafted to be fast and when he's not as fast as the next young group, they'll draft someone else and he'll be cut. The second he loses his youth and speed, he's done. Get your money as quickly as you can.
Running-backs have an average career of 2.5 years.
The average age of a NFL RB is 28 years old.
And if they’re smart? They are set for life.
Or at least have a very very good start.
So you have to evaluate everything. Even if Javian had been told 6th-7th round is his best option this year as his advice, he still would've been told to go. This isn't just me thinking it, I watch the draft every year and RBs like Hawkins go later and almost ALWAYS declare. A lot go undrafted, that's kind of known that unless you're Christian McCaffrey, you're going undrafted.
Running backs aren't taken highly like they used to be anyways. That's why I'm saying 1 year wouldn't change much. 12 of the 20 backs taken this year were taken in the 5th round or later. 10 of 20 in the 6th or 7th. So truly speaking, that's where the backs are going, later. So that's why I'm saying, 1 more year wouldn't change much. 1 more year to say, well if you work hard you can be a 6th or 7th rounder, which isn't much different than going undrafted.
From 2011-2020, only 14 Running Backs were taken in the first round.
From 2001-2010, there were 30 Running Backs taken in the first round.
Here is the reality .............no NFL GM encourages any underclassmen to enter the draft who is not inclined to be drafted; as the League would not experience anything positive by doing so, but would be the recipient of negative publicity if they engaged in that practice.
No one, not a single legitimate source identified Hawkins as a candidate for being drafted, so there was no surprise that his name was never called. Agents have a way of attracting kids like Hawkins to sign contracts that have very little chance of producing for either side, but even 1 out of 10 serves the Agent well, while the other 9 end up sacrificing their college degree with nothing to show for it.
So often the parents, or the Guardians for the athlete lack financial sophistication to see anything beyond the short term. was not drafted by anyone. I have no knowledge of what Hawkins received from the agent to sign, but it would be my suspicion that he was the recipient of some small deposit to leave the team before the end of the season.
As far as the benefit of "one more season" for Javian, I think it is pretty obvious that it would have been an opportunity to demonstrate that despite his size, he could be a featured back with impressive production without injury over an entire season of D1 football. More importantly, he would come that much closer to getting his degree, which checks another box for perspective GMs looking for kids who have the level of maturity and judgement that translates to responsible behavior.
Lastly, a 6 or 7 round draft is significantly more encouraging than "going undrafted". Imagine for a moment what message "undrafted' says to the athlete who just quit his team and lost a college scholarship all together; talk about a slap in the face!
No one, not a single legitimate source identified Hawkins as a candidate for being drafted, so there was no surprise that his name was never called. Agents have a way of attracting kids like Hawkins to sign contracts that have very little chance of producing for either side, but even 1 out of 10 serves the Agent well, while the other 9 end up sacrificing their college degree with nothing to show for it.
So often the parents, or the Guardians for the athlete lack financial sophistication to see anything beyond the short term. was not drafted by anyone. I have no knowledge of what Hawkins received from the agent to sign, but it would be my suspicion that he was the recipient of some small deposit to leave the team before the end of the season.
As far as the benefit of "one more season" for Javian, I think it is pretty obvious that it would have been an opportunity to demonstrate that despite his size, he could be a featured back with impressive production without injury over an entire season of D1 football. More importantly, he would come that much closer to getting his degree, which checks another box for perspective GMs looking for kids who have the level of maturity and judgement that translates to responsible behavior.
Lastly, a 6 or 7 round draft is significantly more encouraging than "going undrafted". Imagine for a moment what message "undrafted' says to the athlete who just quit his team and lost a college scholarship all together; talk about a slap in the face!
Unfortunately, VERY good college players don't always become NFL players. Archie Griffin won the Heisman TWICE...and never set the league on fire. Snell from Kentucky is going to have to grind to stick with Pittsburgh as a back up. And yes....NFL GMs don't put a high premium on backs. There is a monster of a back for the Titans thwarted until the second round....and folks questioned that then.
Hawkins took a chance, and still has a chance with the right team, right situation. I could see him contributing in Kansas City, but it will take some luck to end up in a system like that.
Hawkins took a chance, and still has a chance with the right team, right situation. I could see him contributing in Kansas City, but it will take some luck to end up in a system like that.
Even though I agree with the majority of your comments there is one that I question. Archie Griffin was one of the most over rated college players ever. Just look at his NFL non-career. Snell will make it so long as he doesn’t give up and not work hard. Snell’s attitude might be his major drawback, but he does have sped and size.
GO CARDS!!!
North Carolina beat Miami 62 - 26 last year. We return 18/22 starters and it'll be a home game. Pretty sure the Coastal goes through Chapel Hill.
Major Harris and Pat White, both QBs from WVU were extremely athletic and talented, but neither one enjoyed an NFL career.
That WVU team with White...goodness. Back when Rich Rod first introduced the power spread. They had a really good back or two as well, but their names escape me.
State's crossover games this year are North Carolina and Miami - another reason I don't think they finish second in the Atlantic. I don't know exactly who all you guys have coming back. FSU has enough talent to wake up and beat just about anyone except for maybe Clemson. If you're even slightly better than last season, they're probably your competition for second. Then I'd go with State and BC, WF, Syracuse in no particular order.
Used White and Slayton quite a bit on NCAA Football video games.
I bet they were lightning... they were fun to watch
And in the ACC we are competing against ND, UNC, Duke, etc. And if you don’t believe those schools push the recruiting rules to the “edge” then you are living in an alternate recruiting world. The difference between being an accomplished and successful recruiter and an also ran is whether you get caught or not. Cynical you say, but truthful. And it’s the NCAA that creates this environment.
GO CARDS!!!
Creates and tolerates it for the money and popularity of the Football World of fans...and they have their favorites too!!!
Breaking in to recruiting different states is essential for the Kentucky schools. We have fine players and good kids in Kentucky, especially the Louisville area (usually) but just not enough of them. Stoops somehow used his growing up connections to get kids from Ohio....which is amazing in itself, and has managed to grab some nice players out of Michigan.
But to be really, really successful.....I think Florida is the key. You guys had a good connection going there for a time, and it paid off really well.
Im not trying to belittle the Kentucky High School players....but fact is Kentucky has a top 10 high school list, Ohio has a top 30, Florida has a top 100/ 150. Just more kids.
But to be really, really successful.....I think Florida is the key. You guys had a good connection going there for a time, and it paid off really well.
Im not trying to belittle the Kentucky High School players....but fact is Kentucky has a top 10 high school list, Ohio has a top 30, Florida has a top 100/ 150. Just more kids.
Pennsylvania for sure...I think we all (including coaches) got so used to Penn State and Pitt getting those kids we kind of just looked elsewhere. As many players that come out of the Virginia/ Carolinas looks like some of those would slide over as well.
UK has tried to make some inroads into Missouri....but so far not much, even though theres a real good O Line prospect they really are working on.
Florida USED to be the big three...Florida, Florida State, Miami. Now you can throw South Florida and UCF in there as well....and every national power sends some recruiter to Florida.....but still has a lotta great players.
Tennessee's recent downslide (sans their yearly win over Kentucky no matter what) has opened that state up. Vanderbilt just won't invest in the program the way they could, and Memphis isnt a powerhouse but produces a scad of fine talent. Kind of surprised the Cards haven't dipped a little heavier into that state.
All part of the reason teams can afford to have a guy listed as 'coach' that really is 10% coach and 90% recruiter.
UK has tried to make some inroads into Missouri....but so far not much, even though theres a real good O Line prospect they really are working on.
Florida USED to be the big three...Florida, Florida State, Miami. Now you can throw South Florida and UCF in there as well....and every national power sends some recruiter to Florida.....but still has a lotta great players.
Tennessee's recent downslide (sans their yearly win over Kentucky no matter what) has opened that state up. Vanderbilt just won't invest in the program the way they could, and Memphis isnt a powerhouse but produces a scad of fine talent. Kind of surprised the Cards haven't dipped a little heavier into that state.
All part of the reason teams can afford to have a guy listed as 'coach' that really is 10% coach and 90% recruiter.
every NFL team has undrafted free agents....and some of those guys have been on three or four teams before hitting a home.
Lotta luck, timing, and above all health.
Trying to figure out a draft is insane. A lot of it is folks like me forget the NFL is full of the best of the best. I thought Drake Jackson, the UK center would have been at very worst a fourth round pick. Instead, he was UDFA and signed with Detroit...who just made their returning center the highest paid guy in the game at his position.
Unfortunately for players like Hawkins, by and large the guys listed as UDFA are on the lines. Teams seem more than willing to take a flyer on these guys and hope they grow and develop.
Did Hawkins make the right choice? If he gets picked up by a team or sticks with Atlanta.......heck yeah. I would have to agree he wasnt going to get any bigger staying at Louisville.....and a running back only has a few years life expectancy overall.
Good luck to all these kids. They bring a whole lot of joy to their teams.
Lotta luck, timing, and above all health.
Trying to figure out a draft is insane. A lot of it is folks like me forget the NFL is full of the best of the best. I thought Drake Jackson, the UK center would have been at very worst a fourth round pick. Instead, he was UDFA and signed with Detroit...who just made their returning center the highest paid guy in the game at his position.
Unfortunately for players like Hawkins, by and large the guys listed as UDFA are on the lines. Teams seem more than willing to take a flyer on these guys and hope they grow and develop.
Did Hawkins make the right choice? If he gets picked up by a team or sticks with Atlanta.......heck yeah. I would have to agree he wasnt going to get any bigger staying at Louisville.....and a running back only has a few years life expectancy overall.
Good luck to all these kids. They bring a whole lot of joy to their teams.
He honestly got picked up in a great spot though. It may be better for him than getting drafted to be a 3rd string guy somewhere. Atlanta has an opening that can be snagged. Will he be able to grab it?
NFL injuries open up roster spots weekly hopefully some of these guys work their way onto the field
These kids typically leave school without completing their academic work. Now if they don’t make an NFL roster they are really behind the 8 ball in life. Becoming a coach/teacher is a good spot for these former college football players.
GO CARDS!!!
GO CARDS!!!
