I think this is a great post..level thinking. I would just add…why not ask Simmons to greyshirt? In other words “Son..we still want you to prepare to play after Lagway”
We don’t need him to grey shirt. He can just stay in high school. If he wants to come this year to fill the Rashada void, we have the available scholarship, and don’t have a “counter” issue. Grey shirting rarely makes sense, but to do that in this situation makes even less sense.
I agree on the experience issue with certain positions, none more so than QB. I agree with HisDoc. I came into college as a two way player, QB & DB, and the biggest thing to adapt to was the speed of the game. You hear players talk about it and it's not that a certain player you're playing against might be faster than or as fast as you but the GAME is faster, the plays EVOLVE faster, and everyone is a PLAYER. The few weeks I got to attempt to play QB in the spring (shoulder seperation running the option) it was shocking how quick everything flowed vs high school. That's why it is always so impressive when I see a freshman play outstanding at the QB position. I relate it to standing in the middle of traffic in your local interstate and trying to pick out a paticular model/color car down the road, with all the activity and danger flying around you. I think Middle Linebacker is the next most difficult position for a young player due to the speed of the game. Give me a guy who has been taking college practice snaps for two years if possible. With the transfer rules now that's gonna be hard to have that guy on your roster anymore.
I'm trying to figure out how he stays in HS? It is being reported that he finished all his HS required courses as a freshman and already has 15 college credits as a dual enrolled student. He will be 18 in November. That makes him older than Lagway. You have to take him in 2023, he will graduate in 2026 if not sooner and be eligible for the draft. If he keeps up his pass % (68%) he is a 1st rd prospect. Adding: Apparently he is in the admissions process for summer A.
Too much overthinking on this. A really good QB coming to UF is ALWAYS a good thing. Having 2 really good QBs coming to UF is even better. We should be over the moon excited about having this kind of problem.
Nothing reveals the angst of a fanbase like an off season after a mediocre season and before an anticipated one.
So true. There’s not a lot to look forward to this upcoming season unless we get a surprising team. We’re hoping for is improvement for the future.
My kids high school graduation was yesterday. Until he actually receives a high school diploma, that’s when his three years towards eligibility, for the NFL will start.
He’s a sophomore. They don’t make you move on, even if you’re ahead of schedule. He COULD continue on doing what he’s doing, and sign with us in ‘25 if he wanted to. I’d rather have him this year, personally. Fills the Rashada void, and keeps him from reclassifying to ‘24 and going somewhere else, which, to me, seems like a likely scenario if he hangs around in hs. He’s old enough and big enough to come now, and I’d like to have the extra body. Also might shut up the “Billy whiffed on hs qb’s” idiots, though I’m sure they’ll find something else to bitch about. Main point of my post was a grey shirt makes almost zero sense. You use a grey shirt when you’re trying to oversign. We have scholly’s available, and there’s no counter limit this year. If he wants to come now, he can come now. No grey shirt needed.
Nope. Three years separation from hs I believe. Just because you get your ba in one year, you still aren’t draft eligible.
I agree. But I'm still stuck on the sophomore part. He is home schooled, so he isn't technically anything. He has all the credits to get his diploma. I read an article from last year quoting his father. It said Austin is a freshman athletically but a senior academically. So are they basing his level on his athletic availability not his academic standing?
If we can get Simmons now, you take him. We need young prospects on campus ASAP so they can be preparing to start as soon as next year.
I don’t know anything other than he was scheduled to sign in ‘25, and he doesn’t need to grey shirt if he reclassifies to ‘23.
The sooner UF coaches get their hands on him, the sooner he'll develop physically and mentally for the job and push the other QBs. He'll need a year to catch up to Lagway physically. I'd love to see both of them competing for the starting QB position next spring assuming Lagway will enroll in January. Wish it was Lagway who was reclassifying. He's played in a better system against better competition and already has the size to be a starting QB in the SEC.
Simmons is 6'4 205 Lagway is 6'3 225 Not that big of difference. I have seen it reported he also consistently throws a 90-92 mph fastball. So his arm strength is not in question. Mentally I think Simmons is ahead. 15 credits of college level courses and a father who is an offensive coordinator puts him on another level. As of now he is classified as a sophomore and he is already a 4 star. It is not that much of a leap to say he is 5 star material with more seasoning.
