85 players on scholarship max allowed, minus 25 = 60 players left plus walkons. Still should be enough, but some positions could be dangerously thin for bodies and certainly experience.
Yeah, I was mentally adding about 10 walkons, shouldn't have. I also agree the biggest issue may be positional depth. But ultimately we suck it up and play with what we got
AR and Dexter to the NFL. I think we’ve lost someone at just about every position - quarterback, running back, offensive line, defensive line, linebacker, defensive back. Any of our kickers opted out yet? How many players has Oregon State lost to the Portal and NFL so far?
I have a much, much better idea that will save a lot of money.....the NCAA can just cancel itself completely. The organization is and has been morally bankrupt and the schools need all the money they can get to fund their NIL recruiting efforts.
Jalen Lee to the portal. Mugharbil to the portal. Looks like we may have some walkons playing in the bowl game. That is, unless they’re entering the portal, too.
DT depth was already thin prior to departures for portal or draft. We need to hit that area big time for next year. Need some of these Hall or Walker types to plug middle and also some a starter from another team to come in and get snaps.
I didn’t think he would be so quick about it because that pretty much guarantees two 6-6 seasons to start with. Gator fans are not a patient bunch. We fired Zook for less. And Napier is in danger of starting out with a losing season, something Zook never did.
This is a rebuilding job, not a reload. If we don't want to give Napier time to do it, then we can start all over again with someone else after next season. I don't think any of those players who are being "run off" are going to be missed long term, especially the ones on the defense. Napier doesn't think so either.
Yes this is a complete rebuilding job, in one of the biggest pressure cookers in college football, with one of the most rabid and impatient fanbases. You are given time as long as you put forth a product that shows improvement. A couple of 6-7/7-6 seasons to start with and your seat is scorching hot, no matter who you are or what circumstances you faced. Your three predecesors were fired with better records, and the big boosters know the man who hired you goes as you go. Recruiting is going well, but a pair of meh seasons will make for really bad optics.
I mentioned previously that we'll have a good idea by the end of year two as to what we have. He is all in on elevating the talent level. Even inexperienced players can show promise and win if they are talented. I have no problem with culling the dead wood and there is no reason to wait until year 3 to do it. Go through your pain early. Mac and Mullen had a different approach. Patch some holes with temporary fixes and start strong. It didn't work long term.
I think that CFB fans are going to have to adjust to the awful realization that CFB as we know it has been fundamentally transformed. Early departures, sitting out for the Combine, and the Portal will change how we approach "progress." Florida has the money to overcome much of these, but none of us really know how it will all work out. We just hope the Gators at the AD level ride the crest of the wave and think ahead of the others how to adapt to the new paradigm...
We couldn’t even take a normal sized class this year unless we pushed a bunch of players out. This had to happen.
Whoever it was from rivals that gave him 5 stars must have been smoking weed but, you’re right, I remember seeing him as a 5 star on their site. That’s why we need to pay attention to the composite rating.
Two very well connected people (one a former UF all SEC QB and a beat writer) both said tonight that next season this will be a more talented team that will win 2 to 3 more games. The QB has forgotten more about football than I'll ever know. Take it for what its worth.
Summerall to the Portal. It’s amazing so many players are leaving the team. How was Napier able to get these players to play at all and hold the team together? Back in the old days (3 years ago?), if you sat on the bench as an underclassman, you could move up the depth chart when the guys ahead of you moved on. I’ll bet some of our guys have been waiting for months for the Portal to open up. How do you put your heart into practice if you know you don’t have a future with the team?
Because future coaches will know you straight up quit on your current team. They will be hessitant to offer you a spot.
