We should sign the kid today!!!!!!

Latest update...Zak is still on Memphis' radar. They visited Zak last week. Still at preferred walk-on status. Zak went to Miss State this weekend instead of LSU. They are considering him for a scholly. Illinois was the Big 10 school interested. They are limited on schollies this year, so extended the preferred walk-on offer. Eastern Illinois has offered a full-ride.

(02-01-2014 11:12 PM)Tiger87 Wrote:  Latest update...Zak is still on Memphis' radar. They visited Zak last week. Still at preferred walk-on status. Zak went to Miss State this weekend instead of LSU. They are considering him for a scholly. Illinois was the Big 10 school interested. They are limited on schollies this year, so extended the preferred walk-on offer. Eastern Illinois has offered a full-ride.

He should take the full ride. He stands a better chance to play and it s a full ride.

(02-02-2014 12:07 AM)TigerEdward Wrote:  

(02-01-2014 11:12 PM)Tiger87 Wrote:  Latest update...Zak is still on Memphis' radar. They visited Zak last week. Still at preferred walk-on status. Zak went to Miss State this weekend instead of LSU. They are considering him for a scholly. Illinois was the Big 10 school interested. They are limited on schollies this year, so extended the preferred walk-on offer. Eastern Illinois has offered a full-ride.

He should take the full ride. He stands a better chance to play and it s a full ride.

I believe Eastern Illinois won the OVC this past season. It is where Tony Romo played.

(12-28-2013 08:15 PM)oldtiger Wrote:  "OK" doesn't equal "sucks".

I've never understood why "sucks" is a bad thing, anyway...

Where is Zak signing to play?

(02-05-2014 11:16 AM)MM4Memphis Wrote:  Where is Zak signing to play?

I did not locate an article on this morning's Jackson Sun regarding Zak. He was also not on the signing list of Eastern Illinois (full ride offer).

Memphis walk on?

Sorry for the delayed response. I was waiting to hear back. They had many 1A schools extend the preferred walk-on offer and they had hoped one would come through with a scholly offer at the last minute. None did. So they have a few lower division offers in hand and they are still considering one of those versus walking on at 1A. Zak is a confident kid and he's always dreamed of playing 1A ball. IF they go with the walk-on, last I heard he was leaning towards Miss State.

(02-09-2014 10:39 PM)Tiger87 Wrote:  Sorry for the delayed response. I was waiting to hear back. They had many 1A schools extend the preferred walk-on offer and they had hoped one would come through with a scholly offer at the last minute. None did. So they have a few lower division offers in hand and they are still considering one of those versus walking on at 1A. Zak is a confident kid and he's always dreamed of playing 1A ball. IF they go with the walk-on, last I heard he was leaning towards Miss State.

No saying he won't make it at MSU. I hope he considers the following:
A) How many years is he willing to be a walkon and can he afford out of state tuition for that duration.
B) What is likely hood of seeing the field, how often, and in what capacity?
C) Remember teams always look to improve recruiting year over year. Many BCS teams are 2 to 3 deep in top tier players that "ride the pine." Every player is "all everything" at the college level.

Good luck to the kid wherever he goes. Wish it was Memphis.

(02-10-2014 09:26 AM)MM4Memphis Wrote:  Good luck to the kid wherever he goes. Wish it was Memphis.

+1 on both of what you noted.

According to a message I received this weekend on Facebook, he still has "no idea" where he's going to be this Fall. Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance. I did all I could. :(

If he does indeed have a scholarship offer to a lower level school, he should jump on it. Those schools have a lot less scholarships than D1. If he waits too long, the scholarship might not be there. It seems like a no brainer to me. He could possibly play at that level and have a chance at some good playing time. Why pay for school to be a walkon and have only a small chance of ever seeing the field? Someone close to him needs to help him make a good decision.

(02-10-2014 11:40 AM)TigerEdward Wrote:  If he does indeed have a scholarship offer to a lower level school, he should jump on it. Those schools have a lot less scholarships than D1. If he waits too long, the scholarship might not be there. It seems like a no brainer to me. He could possibly play at that level and have a chance at some good playing time. Why pay for school to be a walkon and have only a small chance of ever seeing the field? Someone close to him needs to help him make a good decision.

agreed, the Hope Scholarship argument can be made to stay in TN, but he's just spending money to go to MS State. makes no sense.

(02-10-2014 02:28 PM)mphsfan Wrote:  

(02-10-2014 11:40 AM)TigerEdward Wrote:  If he does indeed have a scholarship offer to a lower level school, he should jump on it. Those schools have a lot less scholarships than D1. If he waits too long, the scholarship might not be there. It seems like a no brainer to me. He could possibly play at that level and have a chance at some good playing time. Why pay for school to be a walkon and have only a small chance of ever seeing the field? Someone close to him needs to help him make a good decision.

agreed, the Hope Scholarship argument can be made to stay in TN, but he's just spending money to go to MS State. makes no sense.

I got ran down earlier in this thread for pointing out reasons the kid MAY not be D1 material. But the whole point is that just because a kid WANTS to go to a certain school doesn't mean it's the right fit. I covered recruiting for a few years and Zak is a perfect example of a kid that can probably play and contribute at a lower level instead of spending his career on the bench as a walk on. For every walkon tha gets playing time or a scholarship, there are 5-10 others who never see a scholarship or playing time. If he is just determined to go walk on at MSU or wherever, that is his
prerogative. I'm as big a Tiger fan as anyone, but if he was my kid I would steer him to the offer and a chance at a couple years of real playing time. It is just the more realistic approach for the kid to be happy in the long run. I hope the I'd doesn't blow an offer. They won't hold it forever since those schools have 30+ less scholarships than D1.

Hopefully we will get an update from some of the locals from Adamsville posting. I wish the kid the best and hope he has some good people helping him with his decision. What confirmed offers does he actually have? Not any if he waits too long.

(02-09-2014 10:50 PM)NDTiger Wrote:  

(02-09-2014 10:39 PM)Tiger87 Wrote:  Sorry for the delayed response. I was waiting to hear back. They had many 1A schools extend the preferred walk-on offer and they had hoped one would come through with a scholly offer at the last minute. None did. So they have a few lower division offers in hand and they are still considering one of those versus walking on at 1A. Zak is a confident kid and he's always dreamed of playing 1A ball. IF they go with the walk-on, last I heard he was leaning towards Miss State.

No saying he won't make it at MSU. I hope he considers the following:
A) How many years is he willing to be a walkon and can he afford out of state tuition for that duration.
B) What is likely hood of seeing the field, how often, and in what capacity?
C) Remember teams always look to improve recruiting year over year. Many BCS teams are 2 to 3 deep in top tier players that "ride the pine." Every player is "all everything" at the college level.

First, they will waive the out-of-state. That's the first thing that goes when you are talking. Second, he has the grades that they might be able to provide some academic money.

(02-10-2014 11:40 AM)TigerEdward Wrote:  If he does indeed have a scholarship offer to a lower level school, he should jump on it. Those schools have a lot less scholarships than D1. If he waits too long, the scholarship might not be there. It seems like a no brainer to me. He could possibly play at that level and have a chance at some good playing time. Why pay for school to be a walkon and have only a small chance of ever seeing the field? Someone close to him needs to help him make a good decision.

I don't know which way he's going. But good news is that he has a strong support group. Mom, Dad, Coach and Peyton Hillis. No doubt they will make the best decision to meet THEIR priorities.

(02-10-2014 04:02 PM)TigerEdward Wrote:  

(02-10-2014 02:28 PM)mphsfan Wrote:  

(02-10-2014 11:40 AM)TigerEdward Wrote:  If he does indeed have a scholarship offer to a lower level school, he should jump on it. Those schools have a lot less scholarships than D1. If he waits too long, the scholarship might not be there. It seems like a no brainer to me. He could possibly play at that level and have a chance at some good playing time. Why pay for school to be a walkon and have only a small chance of ever seeing the field? Someone close to him needs to help him make a good decision.

agreed, the Hope Scholarship argument can be made to stay in TN, but he's just spending money to go to MS State. makes no sense.

I got ran down earlier in this thread for pointing out reasons the kid MAY not be D1 material. But the whole point is that just because a kid WANTS to go to a certain school doesn't mean it's the right fit. I covered recruiting for a few years and Zak is a perfect example of a kid that can probably play and contribute at a lower level instead of spending his career on the bench as a walk on. For every walkon tha gets playing time or a scholarship, there are 5-10 others who never see a scholarship or playing time. If he is just determined to go walk on at MSU or wherever, that is his
prerogative. I'm as big a Tiger fan as anyone, but if he was my kid I would steer him to the offer and a chance at a couple years of real playing time. It is just the more realistic approach for the kid to be happy in the long run. I hope the I'd doesn't blow an offer. They won't hold it forever since those schools have 30+ less scholarships than D1.

Hopefully we will get an update from some of the locals from Adamsville posting. I wish the kid the best and hope he has some good people helping him with his decision. What confirmed offers does he actually have? Not any if he waits too long.

I don't think you really got "ran down". I was just asking you to give some substance to your rhetoric.

I spoke with his coach this weekend. He has a firm Eastern Illinois offer. And he has a handful of NAIA offers. And a handful of preferred walk-on offers. Mississippi juco's are interested too.

None of us know what the family's priorities are for Zak's future. It certainly IS his prerogative to make the choice he wants to make. The family has the money to pay for school if he wants to walk-on. None of us can say that he can't make it or he should give up on his dream.

He may give the walk-on a shot for a year or two, then transfer if that doesn't work out. Or he could go juco for 2 years, then see what offers he gets. There are still lots of options for the kid with ability, grades and the funds to supplement whatever scholly money he gets.

I will let you know when he makes the decision.

(02-10-2014 07:00 PM)Tiger87 Wrote:  

(02-10-2014 04:02 PM)TigerEdward Wrote:  

(02-10-2014 02:28 PM)mphsfan Wrote:  

(02-10-2014 11:40 AM)TigerEdward Wrote:  If he does indeed have a scholarship offer to a lower level school, he should jump on it. Those schools have a lot less scholarships than D1. If he waits too long, the scholarship might not be there. It seems like a no brainer to me. He could possibly play at that level and have a chance at some good playing time. Why pay for school to be a walkon and have only a small chance of ever seeing the field? Someone close to him needs to help him make a good decision.

agreed, the Hope Scholarship argument can be made to stay in TN, but he's just spending money to go to MS State. makes no sense.

I got ran down earlier in this thread for pointing out reasons the kid MAY not be D1 material. But the whole point is that just because a kid WANTS to go to a certain school doesn't mean it's the right fit. I covered recruiting for a few years and Zak is a perfect example of a kid that can probably play and contribute at a lower level instead of spending his career on the bench as a walk on. For every walkon tha gets playing time or a scholarship, there are 5-10 others who never see a scholarship or playing time. If he is just determined to go walk on at MSU or wherever, that is his
prerogative. I'm as big a Tiger fan as anyone, but if he was my kid I would steer him to the offer and a chance at a couple years of real playing time. It is just the more realistic approach for the kid to be happy in the long run. I hope the I'd doesn't blow an offer. They won't hold it forever since those schools have 30+ less scholarships than D1.

Hopefully we will get an update from some of the locals from Adamsville posting. I wish the kid the best and hope he has some good people helping him with his decision. What confirmed offers does he actually have? Not any if he waits too long.

I don't think you really got "ran down". I was just asking you to give some substance to your rhetoric.

I spoke with his coach this weekend. He has a firm No Illinois offer. And he has a handful of NAIA offers. And a handful of preferred walk-on offers. Mississippi juco's are interested too.

None of us know what the family's priorities are for Zak's future. It certainly IS his prerogative to make the choice he wants to make. The family has the money to pay for school if he wants to walk-on. None of us can say that he can't make it or he should give up on his dream.

He may give the walk-on a shot for a year or two, then transfer if that doesn't work out. Or he could go juco for 2 years, then see what offers he gets. There are still lots of options for the kid with ability, grades and the funds to supplement whatever scholly money he gets.

I will let you know when he makes the decision.

Cool. Juco would be a good route to give it a shot to make D1 later. The advice was not about financially being able pay for it, it was about a kid wanting to play ball to go to the right fit (level) to actually have a shot at playing time and a chance to be a part if a programs future instead of being a career back up who gets little if any playing time.

You had said he had no D1 offers but now N Illinois has offered? That is the best D1 program in the MAC. That should be a no brainer.