The classic dilemma in football...Redshirt or don't redshirt?

WANTED: Passionate Sycamore Fanatics. That You?

Register NOW to join our community of die-hard Sycamore fans.

Register Log in

Does Kendall Walker redshirt?

  • Sit him, his future could be very bright if so

    Votes: 8 38.1%

  • Play him now he can make a major impact on this team

    Votes: 2 9.5%

  • Wait and see if he is that much of an upgrade at his position

    Votes: 11 52.4%
  • Total voters
    21
C

Callmedoc

The Nicks Level
I will use a particular player in question:
Kendall Walker Linebacker out of Ohio is our highest rated recruit. He was recruited by IU, Air force and Buffalo.
It is highly likely he could come in immediately and make a difference for us. So, if you are the decision-maker does Kendall Walker play or Redshirt?
 

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
With this kid in particular, I think he can start immediately as an inside linebacker in our system. His athleticism could make him an immediate impact as an inside linebacker in our system. It will take some adjusting but I think he could do it.
 
Ian Allen, the linebacker from Kansas, could also push for time....

If Dennis was still the head coach, I could pretty much tell you what he would do.....REDSHIRT....all incoming freshmen....REDSHIRT....you only use them and waste that true freshman year if there were injuries at the position that decimated the depth.

Even with a three-star recruit, they may not be physically able to match up with 21 and 22 year old redshirt seniors.
 
I wouldnt say "waste" if he can change this team from a 5th place team to 3rd or 4th and a playoff team. Who knows if we get another Ronnie Fouch as our next QB.
 
His play in the camp should dictate that. I would like to see him put on about 15 lbs--this year he would likely be similar to Aaron Archie; a little undersized, but moves well and finds the football, although not enough at the line of scrimmage. The Kansas LB (Allen I think) is probably in the same boat. I'm just wondering whose spot they would take with Washington, Archie, Roberts, Bashir... It's a good issue to have. I agree though, if they can make an immediate impact, they play.
 

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
Redshirt...if you have Seniors on a mission who have been used to playing together...redshift redshift redshift! I think our current LB's are pretty good. I'd sit those kids and use them when the team needs them most. 2012-2015.
 
We already have a lot of experience and depth at LB it seems, and we have a transfer coming in as well. That being the case, I'm thinking redshirt the LBs, who can get bigger and stronger at a position where size is important. Having said that, I think option three is the obvious choice right now.
 
The dfifference being that Ronnie wasnt a true freshman....

He was an experienced college quarterback when he arrived at Indiana State. As a backup to Jake Locker, when Locker was injured, Ronnie played against top notch competition.

There's a big difference coming in from the Pac 12 and being a true freshman right out of high school.
 
Ian Allen from Kansas

TJames said:
If Dennis was still the head coach, I could pretty much tell you what he would do.....REDSHIRT....all incoming freshmen....REDSHIRT....you only use them and waste that true freshman year if there were injuries at the position that decimated the depth.

Even with a three-star recruit, they may not be physically able to match up with 21 and 22 year old redshirt seniors.
Click to expand...

I am a firm believer of redshirting...the philosophy of trading your worst year for your best year...makes a lot of sense to me. If Indiana State can...they should try and make it a rule...that all incoming freshman will be redshirted.

However, I will tell you that the two from the KC area are acceptional...Ian Allen and Connrad Nichols are studs. They may surprise you...physically they are both ready...I saw both of them play in the KC All-Metro game...and they are ripped. Allen must have put on 20-25 pounds...he is easy 225 now. Nichols is probably 240-250...and they are both very physical.

I will say this about the rivals.com, maxprep, espn rating systems...albeit, I would admit that I wouldn't want the job...however, they are (in my opinion) a bit distorted...based on where that athlete is today. A prime example is Ian Allen...his junior year he weighed 185 pounds, but finished the year with 130+ tackles, his senior year he came in and improved immensely...he weighed in at 205 pounds and finished the year setting a record for Blue Valley with nearly 170 tackles...over 14 tackles a game. He was rated prior to his senior season...and I have personally talked to a couple of analysts for espn and rivals.com...and they told me he clearly is between a 3.5 to 4 star player...one of the analsyts was a national analsyts (I'm a coach in the KC area). My point is that I know these two in particular, Allen and Nicholls, are exceptional...

If they can help Indiana State with a MVC title...let'em play!
 

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
wow...good news and you sound like you know what you are talking about....there is always exceptions to the rules...if they are just absolute studs like that...then by all means how can you not play them...but...if they come in...and they are good..I will redshirt them...if they come in and just destroy everything....play them...but if they are just good then you should redshirt them...
 
Regardless of talent it takes time to adjust to the speed, intensity, and complexity of the game at this level....especially at linebacker. A year in the system is likely good for these guys.
 
In Trent We Trust!

I say leave it up to the HC. He'll consult with the position coach and the def. coordinator.

If Coach Miles says any kid needs to RS, than I'll trust the coach. That's one of the reasons we're paying him...

:sycamores:
 
4Q_iu said:
I say leave it up to the HC. He'll consult with the position coach and the def. coordinator.

If Coach Miles says any kid needs to RS, than I'll trust the coach. That's one of the reasons we're paying him...

:sycamores:
Click to expand...

The first post states "if you were the decision maker"
 
REDSHIRT or NOT???

I would tend to agree...that MOST kids at this level need to be redshirted. But, let's also keep in mind that there are pockets around the country where at the high school level...they have training facilities that are much more sophisticated than most or equal at the D1 level.

It's not what it used to be...where you have summer weights and that is it. In some of these communities it is a year round activity...winter weights and conditioning, 7on7 activities, Lineman's challenges, summer weights, regular season, training during the regular season, some programs even go as far as focusing on nutrition and incremental speed and agility activities...much more sophisticated than it used to be.

The outcome is a much more conditioned, stronger, bigger and more athletic athlete. Especially in the Kansas City area, many ex-chiefs have started a year-long academy that trains football players year round...at all age groups.

There is a transistion happening in all college sports where...you may have athletes coming in that are better than what you have...especially in programs that are in improvement mode.

Ideally, you do want to get your program to a point where the upperclassman are outpacing the level of play that is coming in...there is a real step change going on right now in football. I would agree, once you get to that level you are in dynasty level...where you start to produce winners year after year.

That is assuming that all the recruits that you bring in can play the game of football...not only physically but also mentally...they have to have a passion to play at this level. But, let's not sell short they have to be able to play the game...many times...colleges put too much emphasis on physicallity of an athlete...and they don't look at the productivity of each athlete...what does he produce...that is the bottom line. Any college can make a kid faster, bigger, stronger, etc. That's why I am not a big advocate of the rivals.com, espn, maxpreps...they generate much of their ratings on what these kids score at the rating organizations camps...not a true picture...and believe me colleges put way to much credance in those ratings when they are evaluating talent...they miss a lot of kids that can play the game.
 

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
The Rivals and Scout ratings aren't worth a dime. I followed them for the past 5-6 years, and I would guess less than half of their 3 stars or less are even playing at the college level much less excelling. The 4 and 5 stars they do better with, but there are also many "no shows" in that group. Plenty of kids never get mentioned, much less rated, on those sites--look at the roster on this team; many of the best players didn't even get listed, while other 2-3 star recruits are either sitting on the benches at other MVFC schools, playing at DII or DIII schools, or not playing.

Bottom line is if a kid can play they will find the field (IF they get the opportunity).
 
Speed, quickness, size, strength are one thing.....

but if they can't get acclimated to the speed of the game. It is a faster, quicker game at the college level than it is at the high school level. You have to make decisions faster and quicker. You have to be able to recognized things and react quicker and faster.

When I worked at ISU, we would have kids come in....all-state kids....think that they could just step in and play. They found out differently very quickly.

They weren't the big men on campus any more. Those that adjusted to the differences thrived. Those who didnt didnt last very long. And in the rare case where you had a true freshman who could compete at all the different levels, then you have something really, really, really special.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top