Love for Heisman
Other gray hairs like me might remember when Mack Brown joined Texas; as soon as his team was out of position for a national championship, he ran the team to get Ricky Williams the Heisman, and it was critically important for recruiting to Texas. Granted that was 20 years ago, but I do wonder if Love winning the Heisman (like Williams...and like Tim Brown before him) could be a precursor to a true national championship run that involves 5-star recruits saying "I can get all of the individual accolades I want" AND win a NC at ND.
Unrelated, next year's OL should have Craig at Center, Jagusah and Knapp at guards, Lambert and Wagner (who has had a rough season) at tackles. Behind that line, a second year with CJ behind center, some more depth at TE, and this team should be decent (even with Price and Love leaving).
Replies to: Love for Heisman
Like for Heisman. It's a nice award.
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Next year's team will be better than decent. They are our best chance at a championship!
CJ with more experience and possibly our best QB since Jimmy Clausen.... talent at RB (even without Price and Love), WR, TE and all starters on OL.
Defense will have the majority of the talent back with upgrades coming in the freshman class and transfer portal.
Depth that could handle injuries and the playoff run and coaching staff that have all been together long enough to turn the corner.
I have always felt this year was transition year with CJ and Ash getting acclimated and next year would be our best chance at a Naty. I think we will have several players stick around another year who feel the same way.
Outside of Love, I don't see anyone getting drafted high enough to warrant leaving early. Some OL
and #5 would get drafted, but I believe waiting a year will help their stock. Shuler could leave, but I think he'll be better off staying. His cover skills are suspect.
2027 is the big year...KVA, Moore and CJ could all leave early and be top 15 picks. If the light bulb goes off for Young, he too could be a top 15 pick.
Wagner's case
He's having a good year for the most part, but he really has nothing to gain by staying for another year, unless he absolutely dominates his matchups.
Give how he's a smaller tackle in today's game ("only" 291 lbs), it's extremely unlikely he'd be a day one pick even if he had a dominating year in 2026.
While 290-ish lb offensive linemen were considered big back in the 80's and even 90's, today's offensive linemen are at least 20 pounds heavier, and just as athletic.
Right now, he's being seen as a day three pick by most scouts, because he lacks the physical bulk and strength that most right tackles have. I don't think that he has much more room to pack on more quality pounds, since he's actually a pretty lean, skinny fellow (for that size), who does most of his work with speed and technique.
My best guess is that if he were to stay for a 5th year and wanted to significantly improve his draft standing, he'd have to play left tackle, and improve his footwork. That would seem to be a much more natural fit for him.
This way, move Anthonie Knapp to guard or center, which would also be a better fit for him.
I can see some transfer like several of our OL last year, unless they buy in to ND chances next yr.
If we see players leave (by draft or transfer) or if we see players return, it will tell us a lot about what to expect next year.
I think there is a chance that Price returns...IF the NIL number is right...
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We should accept that Price has little to gain in staying
1. If Love can't win the Heisman, there is no chance Price, who hasn't had the hype of Love, is going to win it. It is almost impossible for a RB to win the Heisman unless he has truly freaky numbers. In any case, retuning to just win the Heisman isn't worth it.
2. With the last pick in the 3rd round in '25 (and Price will likely go no later than 3rd round) getting $1.4 and Love allegedly getting $1.6 in NIL, Price has little monetarily to gain without even considering the injury risk. On top of that, Price also gets to his 2nd contract a year earlier (and one year less wear/tear) which is where the real money is for the pros. RBs have short shelf lives and Price is already in his 4th year of college football.
3. Price is a quality back but nowhere near as dynamic as Love. He has plenty of game tape re: the kind of back he is and playing another year in college isn't going to move the needle much to warrant the injury risk. In other words, leaving now at the likely the high point of his college career makes the most sense.
While having a quality proven player is always good, we have very good depth and quality at RB and it isn't worth "overpaying" Price to stay.
I accept the situation as I described it.
I think it is not likely that he stays. I think there are circumstances where he may.
If I’m wrong? I’m wrong… he’s coming back.
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Quinn Ewers should have stayed.... UT
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Here is the list of potential/hopeful returners:
RB Jadarian Price
TE Eli Raridon
OL Ashton Craig
OL Billy Schrauth
OL Aamil Wagner
DE Josh Burnham
DT Donovan Hinish
LB Jaylen Sneed
Link: https://18stripes.com/scholarship-roster-update-gathering-talent-at-an-alarming-rate/
Raridon can't come back
Raridon looks like he's out of eligibility.
2022 - Played in 5 games, all 5 being regular season. This exceeds the 30% threshhold for a medical redshirt.
2023 - Played in 7 games
2024 - Played in all 16 games
2025 - Played in all games so far
I lot will depend on NFL grades. Price could make more staying but the life of a RB is limited. I'
m guessing Eli is gone. Craig and Schrauth will have tough decisions. Wagner will have a difficult time in the NFL at his weight; he should stay and collect NIL. Hinish will not play in the pros, so he should stay. Sneed is a wildcard. He'll probably make a NFL team based on his athleticism alone, but I bet it's as a free agent. I think if he stays and is used correctly, he would get drafted. I'd like to see him become more of a pure rush LB. Burnham should stay.
Why take smaller paycheck intentionally, if your career may be shorter?
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if you are referring to price, I’m not sure he couldn’t make more in NIL.
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I think if he can make ENOUGH in NIL...he may be willing to risk for upping the starting NFL salary.
...by achieving a higher draft pick.
Increased NIL may allow him to insure better as well...